A Dead Goat Syndrome

Devoid of all odds, the meaning of “leadership” today has no value and is empty as it carries no weight in terms of the masses expectations and expeditions. Upon principled ideology, numerous reforms vividly gives it’s a clear indications that as Africans, one of the tip-hole crisis is lack of competent and well-minded leaders. Symbolic development of Africa and its people can be assured if we are able to fight against this incompetent and hollow style of supposed propaganda leadership.

This is to say it’s a play on the intelligence of the black race and a mark of slavery in the hands of our own people. This makes the fight for freedom in the past meaningless and baseless. Not only has African leaders failed its people but they have also insulted the integrity of the Negro.

As to say our leaders in the said continent have failed us remains a debatable question with the reason being that we are the same people who queued in the scorching sun and gave them our mandates. Radio and television presenters as well as commentators are noted for echoing the false promises and falsified manifestos of their political parties.

Political shows hosted on the radio and television presenters intentionally cut the questions into bite-sized pieces so that the representatives from the ruling party will comfortably chew on those and boast about the services of such a party – although in reality is a fallacy. In some cases, when an interviewer asks questions that are of a national interest and concern, the political representative will blink at them owlishly while coughing nervously.

From morning to evening our radio and television stations across the length and breadth of this country is hallmarked with political talk shows which are full of propaganda and deceit.

The time for political campaign is just around the corner and politicians and politics enthusiast will in no time jackal across the length and breadth of this country to beg for power. This is not a prophecy but a sacred fact. These aspirants aside their numerous insults on the masses will now show some signs of concern.

It is comical when these so-called leaders who are said to be changing lives and transforming the land will now perform their art of generosity in front of an organized media crew and numerous rally and usher empty promises we just heard from them when they were begging for our mandate years ago, just to invest unforeseen trust in the heart of the masses. I get bored when I see them as members of a church. They can be seen feigning deep affection for the masses problems they demonstrated on it numerously, even forgetting they told the same electorates they are dead to their societal ‘topsy-turvy’. A dead goat syndrome.

Sooner or later, the government pays workers bonuses they demonstrated on years ago, they create black unprecedented manifestoes, the kissing of babies and hugging of the aged and young in exchange for votes and the creating of shadow jobs. Some are well known for their uncontrollable appetite to kiss the aged and poor in front of the camera, some even cry upon seeing the abodes of the poor. The intrinsic value of our black society is devalued by such Johnny-style of leadership.

This scenario leaves the ‘thinkers’ wondering if is the same people who said they are deaf to agitations but can only howl when tagged as incompetent and corrupt. Isn’t this sincere stupidity?

Upon realizing that the mere word “incompetent” could resurrect a dead goat, I choose to use it as another name for them. Lives that are said to be changing are truly changing to the worst. Basic education is even not free, why then do you boast of secondary education. If we live in a society where ‘syringe’ could even convince an electorate to vote for a politician in an election regardless of his/her competencies.

Then election in such an environ is not worthwhile and credible. We don’t lack leaders but we lack the real structures and electorates to elect them. Come 2016, the tune of discomfort will be played and we will all see whether the dead goat will dance to that or not.

Derrick Akwasi Brobbey

(Offinso College of Education, Offinso)