African Syndrome: The Young Person Is Always NOT Right!

At 28 years, my work experience in many fields of education over the past five years coupled with many informal experiences have prompted me put this write up. In fact, the syndrome of always regarding the young person's decision as almost always immature is a problematic area in our society. Many young people have been killed severally because they faced the challenge of battling the truth against elderly people.

Many have lost their jobs because they spoke the truth against an older person. It is so annoying when you go to a palace and a case is to be settled, the young person is normally commanded to sit down and keep quiet!

Even in our courts today, young people suffer huge sentences for the same offence, which an old person may only be asked not to do that again. It looks so painful and it looks like our elders have decided to cripple the young people and deny them the right to defend themselves when the case demands.

I have cried and wept severally and my heart is filled with pains as I write, because my continuous 'begging for forgiveness from adults when in fact the result of the case is against them!'

In my recent one, which I burst furiously was when I was humiliated by my boss on a private issue, specifically 'an incompetent MTN Mobile Money Merchant who tried to cheat me'. I got so down and when I sent the case to Prestea Magistrate Court, the elder involved was only called and advised to give the money to me. I was queried by my boss and reported to education office just because I defended myself and proved them wrong. At the end, I asked render apology to them because it is like 'the old is always right in this country!'

Going by scriptures, the Bible said 'we should respect the old that our days will be long on earth'. However, when the young were prevented from Jesus Christ, he said 'allow them to come, for theirs is the kingdom of God'. So clearly, the Bible has never condemned the young as unwise people whose ideas are always wrong, as it is made to look like here in Ghana.

'The age of Methuselah can never be compared with the wisdom of King Solomon', is one lesson I cherish so much. The young people must resist this culture of impunity against young people everywhere in this country. The freedom that that we are enjoying today in Ghana is due to the handiwork of the young people who went round through demonstrations and struggles.

From henceforth, 'the young person must not see himself as a future leader, but a leader'. We must resist cultures which cripples development.

FRANCIS MIKE ESHUN
BSc AGRIC, UCC, Dip Ed, UEW-K
P.O. Box 54,
Prestea.
Email: [email protected]