Dear Editor, it came to some of us as a surprise the removal of Dan Botwe from the list of the recent reshuffle. Undoubtedly Dan Botwe is the pivot of the in NPP. I will not miss words he is the ?Pope? among the NPP youth.
But one significant change that the President needs commendation was the creation of the National Orientation. It is a huge responsibility given to Hon. Kwamena Bartels.
For me our economic emancipation hinges on a total discipline from all Ghanaians, Politicians included. It is a fact that countries have developed based on the premise to take the path of change and embrace Nationalist ideals. I have repeatedly said elsewhere that the Ghanaian mentality needs greater orientation. With all the noise being made by both the Government and the Opposition, if the attitude of Ghanaians is not orientated (oiled) there is no way our country can move forward. As to whether Hon. Kwamena Bartels can deliver this noble agenda is left to be seen but I trust he can deliver. I have wept uncontrolled in observing the deteriorated attitude of some Ghanaians. A society where rubbish has become sand- found everywhere. People indiscriminately dump rubbish into rivers and urinating, defecating anywhere without the council enforcing their laws. If I was one of the President?s advisor, in appointing a DCE or a Mayor I would ask him/her to document how he would tackle the rubbish in his/her area. Frankly speaking a zero tolerance for rubbish is needed. The health consequence of dumping rubbish anywhere is catastrophic for Ghanaians to play with. Another area where Ghanaians need orientation is our attitude to work. A sickness culture, stealing of government properties and working lottery while at work, workers sneaking from work to attend prayer session, laziness and lack of maintaining state properties have been the culture of some workers. These atmoded working culture has prompted governments all over the world to privatize state enterprises. Ironically, any Director who tries to change the bad working attitude in his/her department is booted out even before s/he celebrates his/her first anniversary in office and we want to develop as a Nation?
Another area Hon. Kwamena Bartels need to focus on is his own colleague. It is totally unwise to admonish a government official on how to speak in public and dress modestly, but when the nation has resolved to embark on development agenda then it is imperative for government officials to control their tongue when speaking in public, for some of their utterances tend up to de-motivate workers thereby forcing them to adopt a Militants posture when agitating for wages increments. Equally worryingly is seeing some government officials wearing their most expensive dress as if they are going to party. There was this incident where a chief and his subjects refused to follow a government official because of his extravagant appearance compare to theirs; the psychological signal sent to these people in the rural areas, is that this government official is using state money. The modest appearance of Tsiatsu Tsikata won him the sympathy of the general public even in the midst of the alleged corruption. Do we see how the World Bank Representatives in Ghana dress? Some people may naively say that all these are irrevalant; they have no idea of psychology and how to adopt a strategy to woo the masses to your side. Another task for Hon. Kwamena Bartels is the increasingly love for money among Ghanaians. It is very unfortunate that Christian Pastors whom the world look up to for wisdom have themselves placed so much emphasis on prosperity to the extend that these days some Pastors claim richness is a sign of God anointing. The days when wisdom overrides all other consideration have given way to richness, not surprisingly a rightful person who is supposed to be enstooled or enskined as a chief because of lack of money is bypass and the throne given to the man with plenty of money. Such is the degree of our love for money that some politicians take all means to be rich in order to be respected in the society. Many Public and Civil servants embezzle state funds in order to meet the Respect Tag given by the society. As a result some devilish Ghanaians- in pursuant of richness- who have no idea about the dangers pose by drugs to the health of the Nation are exporting narcotics in order to get the recognition needed in the society. Sadly also some chiefs are also selling stool and community lands, in some cases a particular land is sold to many people all in the name of getting rich to be regarded as ?somebody? in the society. Some Police Officers also anxious not be left out on the richness Tag are also engage in collecting bribes from all sources, they rise up their hands to stop a vehicle and it attract some thousands.
Another significant area we need orientation, is on our roads, death the roads has given the nation plenty of orphans and some of these children will end up in society being drug addicts and armed robbers, for there is no one to shelter them after the death of a father or a mother through road accident. The strategy to adopt in order to orient the attitude of pedestrians, drivers and the general public are numerous and hope the minister in collaboration with other sector ministry are for once have the package to solve this menace on our roads.
On conflict the minister has to be able to put in place a pragmatic policy to discourage those who rampantly engage in conflict.
I was extremely surprised to hear some people criticising the government on the creation of this Orientation Ministry, the least I suspect to hear shouldn?t have come from people who have Professor and Doctorate titles, in some emerging Developed Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand etc. they were always changing and creating new ministries just to meet the demand or expectation at a particular time. So President Kufour?s frequent changes of ministries is not a new thing in the world for it is an indication of a government who want to follow in the ideals of the developed world. I will admonish those critics to read the history of some of these countries. I must conclude that if the President wants to achieve his aim of changing the attitude of Ghanaians he and his team will do well to send the clearest signal to the general public that Government is so serious about this agenda then the number of motorcade that escort the President must be reduced drastically, for too many of these motorcade escorting the President, send a wrong signal to the average Ghanaian that Government is wasting money and therefore nothing the Presidency will say in the Orientation agenda will they ever listen .Again it is time our Mayor and DCEs are given a target to achieve, any DCE who failed to accomplish he/her task is booted out. For we cannot be having a DCE who does nothing and always confide in the office. Frankly, if all DCEs were doing their jobs well that aim at elevating the poverty level of our people in the rural areas there will be no need for Governments to appoint Deputy Regional Ministers.
Finally this Orientation Agenda should address a sense of unity among Ghanaians. There is too much hatred among the leading Political Parties that is not good for economic agenda. Regardless of the best policies that will be adopted by Government, if the people are polarised nothing can be achieved, that is the truth.
LONG LIVE ORIENTATION AGENDA
LONG LVE GHANA.
CERNARVON CLOSE
MITCHAM, SURREY
LONDON, UK
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