A letter to parliament

Episode 1:

17/09/2015

I vs Mr. "chief security" at the main entrance of the new job 600/ Parliament House/Fitting Shop and "Funeral Yard"

RACISM AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE/JOB 600.

At around 12pm "Ghana man" time, I upon having a tryst with a fellow citizen around the premises of the aforementioned institution, decided to arrive in time gowned in my "casual" short and a t-shirt. Not having any idea as to the existence of a so called standing order applicable to none but Ghanaians living on their motherland, I proceeded to enter the same premises on which one can situate a fitting shop, food joints and oh! a funeral yard!

Time for Questioning

After almost bobbing in into the premises of parliament, I was accosted by the latter's "bouncer" and this is an in toto description of what ensued between myself and the security don:

Mr. "Chief Security": Gentleman where are you going to ? You won't be allowed to pass because of your short!

Martin: why is this a no-man's land or a war zone ?

Mr. CS: Ass hole ! Why do you ask me such a question ? Don't you know there are standing orders here with which we work? This is an official place and as such no entry is granted to individuals in shorts.

Martin: Oh really? Never knew of such orders. Well this is not my first time locomoting on this public ground in shorts. Moreover, I ain't entering into the job 600 premises neither am I going into the main parliament building-the "official building". You shouldn't be at the gate of such an "honorable territory" if the justest answer you could give to a constructive question is "Ass hole"

The Arrival of the Police Personnels, alias "law enforcers".

Four uniformed and a non-uniformed man in black, who were stationed at this same gate, arrived at the scene of event and gazed silently and unperturbed by the actions on the set. In an attempt to bring tranquility, an apparently concerned police officer approached and queried if I had got trousers in my bag so I could put on and subsequently get a pass onto the graceful habitat of Plato's Craftsmen or of the Arostocratic Tool Makers.

Pidginizing, the CS roared saying " You people think say you go to School and can do law law" . " You come dey ask me if this be no man's land". Fool!

(Jolting and repeatedly heckling tantrums at me while intimating with me)

Oh hail the "White-Skinned King"!

As though, we staged an educative programme on justice and equality for all and sundry irrespective of their race and background, a certain "Kwesi Broni" alias colonial master or better still modern day "bread winner" of the ever anaclitic African populace approached the scene of event where strict standing orders are applied to only "shorts-riffraffs".

Fulsomely amazing, the white man almost clothed as though we both were twins but in a 'chale-wote' and a fully-loaded rucksack with anonymous "personal belongings", he entered via the main premises of the parliamentary yard at the full glimpse of all spectators-the gateman and police personnel. Yet the Ghanaian standing order never saw its implementation on the handsome Obroni.

Lamentations of Martin

All attempts to contact the ever reliable ally of the Ghanaian citizen's-Ghana Police's- emergency contact proved futile after none of the other five on-field men were unwilling to provide any assistance discerning the insults ,embarrassment and a visible racial discrimination against me.

End of Episode 1:

On hearing a signal from me that all should be prepared to face legal actions for infringing on my fundamental human rights: right to movement, and for discrimination, "an-awoken-from-slumber" officer who had ascertained the consequences of the actions and in actions of the "CEO" of parliament's gate and his party then came to usher me into the premises.

Where was Akwasi Broni found again? He was not an inch away from that very "heaven's gate";he was inside the main house in which members of parliament deliberate de die in diem about national policies as well us formulate laws.

After I was done with my schedules for the day at the front yard of the job 600, I decided to exit not until I get at least some debrief with regards to the standing orders 'bossu' made mention of.

If not for the timely intervention of another Good Samaritan of a Ghanaian, Mr. C.S in his own lyrics "would have given me a dirty slap" inspite of his racial abuse and verbal assaults.

Dear Parliament,

I'm very much aware that most of the public sentiments that come to your door-step are a no news to you most definitely because you almost always discern them personally or hear others intimate about it. Visiting most institutions, private and public alike, some Ghanaians at most times try to display their bossy attitudes or are perhaps very ignorant of the professionalism attached to their jobs. But wouldn't it sound ludicrous, if the rights and privileges of Ghanaian citizens were being infringed on under the legislature's eyes? I wouldn't wish to see the rights of my fellow Ghanaians abused, neither would you, I suggest.

I, herewith , pray that you save the image of this noble state institution by making sure that laws are being properly implemented, professionalism by both staff and non-staff members within all scope of the parliamentary institution is evident ab intro and ab extra. I, therefore would also suggest that you make the public aware of the right ways to channel their grievances and also endeavor to educate the masses about certain "standing orders".

I would end by saying that, I wish not to see this first episode of my letter to you go through all the little bureaucratic runways through which issues are being dealt with in Ghana and I plead that no committee whatsoever is formed on this letter.

Sincerely,

I'm also a Ghanain,

Martin Luther Akor