State Of The Nation: From An Apolitical Viewpoint

I have a lot to say about a lot of issues in Ghana and I thought penning it down will prove a useful outlet. First of 'Dumsor', I do not think it can get worse. This is the worst, I believe, we can be subjected to. Why in God's name will energy supply be rationed on a 12/24 on/off basis (which is not even adhered to)? Is it because our leaders have failed us? I believe so.

How difficult can it be to get intelligent, goal – oriented, selfless and Ghana-loving people across regional, sectorial, religious, and political lines to sit and draft a national policy and plan on where Ghana should be in a year, five, a decade, twenty and fifty years from now? We have limited ourselves to the present so much that thinking about next week seems like an impossible task. Why won't we be in this fix right now? It doesn't take a genius to know that if the population is growing exponentially, you don't provide extra power sources on an arithmetic basis. There will definitely be a deficit. This means two nights out of three, I sleep in the dark and two days out of three, I don't have power for my small scale business.

Abeg oh, the way the sun is scorching in Ghana, are our leaders not experiencing it? Or are they always in a/c cars and move to a/c offices and homes so they don't experience it? I am asking this question because I think a solar power plant will help. Do not look at the initial cost and shy away from such a project because it is not going to reflect well in your political records. If you take such a stance on Ghana's future, I put it to you that you are SELFISH. I think I have said enough on dumsor.

Errrm, our natural resources erh, who owns it? What actual percentage is for Ghana? I have always insisted that if partnering up with other nations and nationals is the best we can do but a large chunk (30% or more) goes to others apart from Ghana and Ghanaians (real people not fronts) then let those resources remain in the ground till Ghana and Ghanaians have the capacity and ability to extract them. If you like wait for me. In 20 years my colleagues and I would be able to explore and find our reserves and start mining or drilling. Why can't we preserve what is naturally ours? Do we have to exploit our resources as and when we find it without Ghana getting the maximum for what Ͻdumankoma gave her? Again our greed is evident.

How seriously do we take our leaders? To me a leader is not only in government; opposition,opinion leaders, journalists and anyone who is given a platform to talk for a number of people to listen is in a leadership position. I read the international news and read of leaders apologising for conduct and comments or resigning their positions if the matter infringes on basic human right or is criminal. Oh but not in Ghana!!!!!

We hear of Attorney Generals authorising payments to people with whom the state has no business. And such people do not even apologise let alone resign. What a SHAME!!!!

We also hear of chauvinistic MPs telling us to stone adulteresses as a check and nothing is done to him. Our Ministry of Gender didn't even take this issue up. I kept waiting, I got only a condemnation. These are the sort of people who alert us to their terroristic tendencies and yet we do not monitor them. I consider myself a feminist so such a statement from a leader infuriated me so much I kept wondering 'how will such a scandal be resolved in the developed world?' the only response I could give myself was ' not like we did in Ghana'. As for the MP, you may think the issue is dead and long forgotten but I suggest you resign and go attend to your wives wai. Leave the position to fairer-minded people.

As for the state prosecutors, the least said, the better. If Woyome can be ordered to pay back the money, shouldn't that mean fraudulent behaviour was at play? And yet free he walks. Why wasn't the one who authorised payment also prosecuted? In her line of work, due diligence should be non-negotiable. Negligence is what got us here in the first place. How difficult is it to prove fraudulent intent? Please do your work wai. Political parties do not employ you, Ghana does.

And our leaders please do us a favour and stop trying to resurrect tribal lines. We have worked hard for such lines to fade. Don't try to redraw them. We and posterity will not forgive you.

As for we as Ghanaians we have been conditioned in such way that whatever political party we 'belong' is right always and wrong never. Are we trying to say we cannot discern between good and bad, right and wrong? Shame on us.

I recently learned that we import tomatoes, onions and other vegetables. I have three questions: Why? Where are our farmers? How are we supporting them?

It is no wonder someone will come from their country in the guise of helping us (again oh, please remember how colonisation began) and offer us GMO foods, when we have always had organic foods. Their countries are also trying to have more organic foods. It is like they assume we don't have enough problems without increasing cancers because we exchanged organic for GMO foods. And for this to be presented to parliament for consideration is not only sad but depressing. Our politicians, why? How has Ghana wronged you? Whatever it is, we are sorry wai. Please put us first.

Can you imagine going to the UK or US and proposing something to the House of Lords or Senate?It will be scrutinised to see how well it will impact English and Americanlives first but not in Ghana oh. As long as some money will flow, it will pass. SHAME on you.

I suggest that when dealing with the west, we should move from a sceptical point of view instead of the blind faith we usually go with.

We should be wise enough to know that they do not offer to help out of the goodness of their heart. They have a plan.

Another issue is the fact that in this modern day and age contactors build gutters without covering it. How do our minds work? I can't seem to fathom why anyone will do that. It is a contract; incorporate all that into your cost erh? I know for a fact, most of our leaders have travelled outside the country. How many places have they seen open gutters on the side-walk? We are fortunate; we don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just watch, learn and adapt too we can't seem to.

As for the filth, I blame everyone who takes a step on this land. DON'T LITTER. Two words we can't seem to understand.

A major concern of mine is the filth which has been heaped and is decomposing in our cities and bus stations. Whose duty is it to collect them? This also is corruption. Once a need is identified, our leaders and their cohorts establish companies to address those needs so they are given contracts. After a month or two, work ceases. Yet they've been paid.

I recently asked a friend if it will be possible for me to be paid if I organise a group of unemployed youths to ensure the Kwame Nkrumah circle area is clean day and night. And the answer was no, because you haven't promised to line anyone's pocket for a contract. But for a yet-to-be-employed graduate, identifying such possible lucrative areas is not difficult to me at all. The only problem is the message from our leaders is not to do anything for free. I should be greedy and think of my stomach first before Ghana, so the heaps of rubbish remain.

I guess I should end here.
The point I have tried to make is that our leaders from 1957 have failed us. But it is not too late if only they could put aside their political ambitions and sit to draft a national policy and plan for the next century. Let's remember that for time, it will come, our preparations is what will make us stand up to it.

Next time I am tired of keeping it inside I will write my thoughts on education, health, tourism, security and other issues. Thank you for reading. (Please remember I have not claimed to be an expert, I just have ideas and thoughts and love Ghana to the degree I can.)

Nancy N. Tamakloe
BSc (Admin), ACCA
[email protected]