Does Citizenship Mean Anything In Africa?—The Case Of Ghana And Nigeria

No two countries in Africa click more than how Ghana and Nigeria do. Growing up, I always thought Nigeria was the closest country to Ghana. Outside the precincts of Africa, Ghanaians and Nigerians easily flow than they do with nationals of the other sister countries in Africa.

Perhaps, the bond between Ghanaians and Nigerians is not by sheer serendipity – the mucilage we have in common could be because we are all condemned to the same fate – holding mere identities. Being a Ghanaian or Nigerian does not come with anything greater than having a nation for you to be identified with – that is all.

Boko Haram militants stormed a secondary school in the north eastern village of Chibok on April 14 and seized 276 girls who were taking exams. Some have since managed to escape but about 200 remain missing. Per CNN accounts, the residents of Chibok village said they received phone calls from family and friends from surrounding villages that there was a convoy of cargo trucks, pickups and motorcycles heading their way which information they passed along to the local police. The villagers said the local police called for reinforcements, but none came. Everyone, including the police, fled into the bush during the attack. But the girls were asleep in their dorms.

Apparently, the military knew of the impending attack as early as 7pm before the raid occurred at 11.45pm according to Amnesty International, a claim flatly denied (not unexpected though) by Goodluck Jonathan's Information Minister, Labaran Maku. However, given the Military's earlier blatant lie that all but eight girls had been freed, I am cautious to disregard the claims of Amnesty International.

It took global campaign “BRING BACK OUR GIRLS” and the late decision of the US to help until real and decisive steps were seen to be made to rescue the poor girls. I learnt the Nigerian police have offered a $300,000 reward to anyone who can give credible lead to the abducted girls. President Goodluck Jonathan too has promised the world that they will “get [the] girls out".

These are all promising developments and I pray that all the girls be rescued hale and hearty. However, my surest bet is that but for the international uproar and the intervention by the US, this sad case of the more than 200 girls in Nigeria will have fallen on all fours with the case of the 82 victims of the Melcom Disaster in Ghana.

On 7 November 2012, Ghana suffered a major man-caused disaster when Melcom's five story Shopping Mall at Achimota near Accra collapsed and trapped many people inside. With the support of Israel some of the trapped victims were rescued. Sadly, 14 died, 68 suffered life threatening injuries. The preliminary report of an eleven member committee set up by the Ghana Institute of Engineers clearly pointed out that “THE MATERIALS USED IN CONSTRUCTING THE STRUCTURE WERE VERY WEAK”. The then and now President of Ghana and extant Chairman of ECOWAS who was campaigning for re-election suspended his campaign, rushed back to Accra and issued a stern warning that “WHOEVER [WAS] RESPONSIBLE FOR [THE] NEGLIGENCE WILL PAY A PRICE”.

Today's date is 13th May, 2014, the Melcom disaster happened two years ago and we are still waiting to see when and what price will be paid to those whose clear negligence caused the disaster. The case of the Melcom Victims in Ghana unlike the 200 Nigerian girls could not secure a global campaign and US intervention, so their case is resting sine die. 14 blood-filled human beings have died in their own country, 68 others have suffered lifetime injuries and for two years, we are yet to bring those responsible to justice.

The last time I checked, Tony Hall-Rivas had been convicted in Washington for sexually assaulting HORSES and his sentence was due on July 1st 2013. Boko Haram has been traumatizing Nigerians and it didn't start with the 200 girls. The difference now is the global outcry.

When things like those noted above happen, then one begins to wonder the essence of the preponderance powers, and oil monies vested in the hands of political leaders and the state. You wonder if being a Ghanaian, Nigerian or African comes with any valuation aside mere identification. The less valuation of human life in Africa leaves much to be desired.

If a whole state' military establishment can lie unworriedly as did in Nigeria; if reckless people cannot be brought to justice as happened in Ghana in circumstances where human lives are involved, then you wonder the essence of nationality, the exact motivation of leaders seeking for election and re-election in Africa.

FESTIVAL GODWIN BOATENG
An ordinary Ghanaian