Ama Ghana: “We don’t love till we go yonder”

Ama Ghana’s prominence started resonating as far back as the arrival of the first Europeans, who nick-named her Gold Coast. It started stamping its beauty and ambidexterity among her peers when the struggle of independence started. She finally gained love and became a beacon of hope for Africa’s liberation.

Independent attainment got us on an industrial path and we became a delight for many other nations from Africa to the diaspora. Her sons and daughters started making exploit in many endeavors.

But today, her children run to seek greener pastures, most especially based on movies featuring beautiful scenery of other develop countries, stories told by family and friends from 'abrokyire' (western world) to whet the appetite of many.

The youth of Ama Ghana are those who leave our shores with many hope based on stories told and movies watched. Ama Ghana has lost many sons and daughters due to this adventure with some of her children patronizing desert route, “stowaway” among other avenues.

What is sad to tell is that, not everyone succeeds, irrespective of the fact that he is educated or least educated. My encounter with some Ghanaians who left home better off are being battered by unspeakable hardworking life out there and many will never come home to meet their loved ones. I couldn’t hold my tears when I entered Ghana house in Yeovile, where someone has been stranded for over 20 years.

Many wish they could tell their stories but who will listen? These are able hardworking Ghanaians we are talking about. For us back home, we do not see meaning in their suffering when they tell it. Many don’t even know what to say, when their dear ones call them from Ghana. Many are simply on AWOL (Absent without leave).

Many of these Ghanaians abroad who I spoke with would simply say, “If anyone says Ghana is difficult, then they don’t know what Ama Ghana has and her value”. One of them asked me, “What is more painful than to die without knowing what will happen next because you’ve found yourself in ‘Obi manso ooh’ meaning ‘foreign land’.

They advised; never believe what you see on TV for those are mere tales ‘burgers’ tell. Yes, some do make it, but in sincerity, only few are genuine. The jobs a graduate in Ghana will not even open an eye to look at, is hot cake in the ‘abrokyire’ world. If you don’t have what it takes to get a decent job, it’s best to drink your ‘koko’ (porridge) and live with some dignity.

Let’s all build Ama Ghana, she has many to offer if we dedicate and commit to her development. Also, we implore the government to put the rights structures in place to develop our mother land.

Long live Ama Ghana

Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah

scofray@gmail.com