Jesus Christ At Kukurantumi Presbyterian Primary School

I remember the first time I ever went to the cinema to watch a movie. It was in 2007, and the title of the film was Love Brewed In An African Pot, a 1979/80 movie which was being relaunched at that time. I and my friend Asase 'Labito' just got into the place by accident after seeing a little crowd at the entrance of the popular movie theater opposite the Ato Austin Memorial Garden in Cape Coast. It was a movie that changed my perception about the Ghana movie industry. It is a classic, and as I later found out, it is the work of Kwaw Ansah. I was so excited, and as we left the place, I told Labito that it was the best Ghanaian film I had ever watched. It was then that he mentioned "Kukurantumi." He said the movie we watched reminded him of Kukurantumi: Road to Accra, another great old film. To this day, I haven't seen Kukurantumi (the movie). I don't think I have seen more than ten full movies since 2007. Clearly, I'm not a movie person, but I'll leave everything aside to watch Kukurantumi: Road to Accra.

A movie. Yea, a movie. All this while, that's what I associate with Kukurantumi, even though I know it's actually a town somewhere in the Eastern Region. Unfortunately, since Wednesday (last week), Kukurantumi has become a 'chalk town,' but I hope it'll just be a temporary issue, because it's not even an issue.

“The head teacher has shocked me. She said you lack chalk and log book. I am very shocked that you are today asking me about chalk. How much is a box of chalk? I won’t give you chalk today, I won’t give you chalk tomorrow. Design a database of old students of the school and together with the PTA and teachers, provide your own chalk.”

To be honest, I would have done worse than what Mrs. Amissah-Arthur did. Yes. Except the very rural schools, most of these government schools collect PTA contributions. They collect a lot of other fees. They even collect 'worship offering' from pupils twice a week. If you still want chalk and log book from someone who is bringing you computers, then you're not fit to be headteacher of such a school which apparently receives support from the Presby Church. Such a woman is not innovative. She is lazy. What are you teaching children?

The government is messing up trying to look good -- trying to let people know it's providing every little thing to schools, so these teachers are just sitting down, doing nothing, and waiting to receive receive receive. Look, in these schools where parents don't pay school fees, how can't you get enough PTA contributions to buy chalk and log book? You asked for computers the other time, they brought them, now you want chalk and log book. Next, she'll be asking for canes.

The head teacher must be ashamed of herself. It's also a disgrace to the Presbyterian Church in the town. Isn't it a shame that it's a Presbyterian School? The name of the school should be changed to Kukurantumi Government Basic School if they don't want to take responsibility for anything at all.

You know why we can't move forward? People who are bold enough to say or do the right things are the very people we want to silence. Hypocrisy is the thing. You have to look at the face of nonsense and smile, and be diplomatic and nice, and acknowledge it every time. Do the opposite -- drop some common sense, and that's arrogance, and you should apologize. And if you're in politics, you're dead. You have to be nice and all smiles to get votes. Votes are used to blackmail common sense. Political/electoral repercussions are real, and they'll hit you if you say or do the right things, so our leaders don't have the guts. This is our so-called democracy. You need to be a hypocrite to be cool.

Interestingly, this is the first time I have seen or heard anything about the wife of the vice president, but unlike what almost everyone is saying about her, I think she nailed it. That's all.

Revolutionary.
Revolutionary, that's an appropriate word. She acted as one, and it's a shame such people are not celebrated. They have rather become endangered species -- constantly being poached by a corrupt society.

Normally, a politician will do this kind of donation, take those demands and smile and say some sweet words and leave -- just to save his career. And those demands, forgotten! Yes. He will definitely not bring you chalk and log book. But he won't say it to you. He doesn't care where you'll get it from. He won't even think about those demands. After all, he's brought you computers. Another politician will go into his pocket and give you money to take care of those demands. That's a 'smart,' 'honourable' move to boost your popularity right there, and you're rest assured about that. They'll receive the dough and shower praises on you, and render no of it to anybody. That is the norm, and those who play along are the nice people we adore.

Mrs. Amissah Arthur, and people like her, are what we really need. Everyone is busy attacking her, and I'm not surprised. To me, she has caused a change. She has challenged the status quo. She has taught the town, the teachers and the pupils one of the most important things in life.

She has made a great statement that will forever remain. Now the same people insulting her are sending chalk to the school. Now the same PTA and residents of the town whose wards attend the school, have sent in several boxes of chalk and log books. The same politicial party that is condemning her has sent two boxes of chalk. Now, the time for celebrities to cash in, and they're sending theirs too, and as expected, posing with the same head teacher for photos which they're sharing on the internet. But still, the Presbyterian Church (which the school is named after) is quiet. And I'm not surprised at all. And none of those picture-taking donors has thought about changing the chalkboards to markerboards. Carrying chalk, they commute from Accra to Kukurantumi. Hypocrisy.

Now people are saying the school doesn't even have electricity. Interesting. So who requested for the computers? If the Presby Church in Kukurantumi has electricity, why is the Presby school at the same place not connected?

One thing people must acknowledge is Mrs. Amissah-Arthur was not trying to sound like the classic African politician. She wasn't doing regular politics She might not be even interested in our type of party politics. She was speaking as a true patriot. She wasn't playing to the gallery. And I am convinced Jesus Christ would have done same.

As for me, I would have taken the PCs away. They can't maintain them.

However, pressures from a corrupt society won't make you sleep. You'll need to apologize for hurting people with the truth. Personally, I think she shouldn't have apologized to anyone, but obviously, for the good of her husband's party, ...

"On Wednesday, I went to Kukurantumi to make a presentation of five computers and 500 books to the Presby Basic School upon a request I received. A comment I made has been in the media since then. I have for some years now been supporting them in my own small way by making donations to them. I was completely taken aback when the headmistress asked for chalk. My response was intended to encourage community participation in the school. If what I said has offended people, I use this opportunity to say I'm very sorry."

I rest my case.
Lord Kweku Sekyi is a freelance writer
Email: [email protected]