Power corrupt absolute power corrupt absolutely. Mr. Andrew Awuni has once again exhibited his arrogant and pompous side contrary to his northern upbringing. The backyard of President Kufuor’s sidekick is the poorest of all the regions in Ghana. Yet Mr. Awuni has the filthy audacity to tell Ghanaians to get rid of their “poverty mentality. “
Why not. When a pauper and cattle boy like him become rich overnight at the expense of Ghanaian taxpayer, why won’t he undermine the very people whose sweat he is enjoying as they struggle with their daily lives? Can he travel up North, look the people with pin point eye contact and belch satisfaction of life of his people? How many hours does it take him to travel to his village by road? Are his people provided with JUST basic social needs such as education, healthcare, water, electricity, motorable roads, and accommodation? Pupils up north study under trees, walk to school on barefoot, carrying their own stools and lack of uniforms.
The last time I was in Ghana, last year September, I travelled up north and the daily hustle of the people was graphic and grotesque. The poverty level of the northern sector stares and welcomes you as you approach the region. What contribution has Mr. Awuni made to the development of the north? Let’s put political propaganda aside and tackle real issues. The government of which he is a member constantly diverts development projects for the north to other regions and uses the chieftaincy disputes as a smokescreen. Has he ever protested to his boss President Kufuor about this apparent vicious act?
Most of the old primary and Junior High School buildings provided by previous governments are repainted and HIPC written on them, including the very primary school I attended. What a hypocrisy, and is Awuni not aware of this injustice meted out to the people of the north? Is he not abetting this criminal act? I am aware as he Mr. Awuni that his government is the only government in the annals of Ghana which has failed northerners and I can prove this point to the mischievous Mr. Awuni if he denies it, since that is his stock in trade.
The facts are there for discerning minds to check. Most of the infrastructure that we have in northern Ghana was either build or provided by CPP, Acheampong or NDC governments. For instance, electricity, boreholes, hospitals, storey buildings for offices, bungalows and feeder roads. Andrew Awuni’s government has failed to provide meaningful developmental projects for the north and does he care? After all he gets everything free including his pet’s feeds.
The person, who hitherto was as poor as the average man on the street, is now spewing rubbish and lying with impunity. I must confess here that his arrogance on TV in the early years of Kufuor’s administration and his lack of indebt analysis of issues coupled with his naivety made me gasped for breath when I heard that he was appointment a government spokesman. That tells a tale that those of us, who risked our lives to ensure fairness in the 2000 elections did so for the heartless, wicked, greedy and liars like Awuni.
His call on Ghanaians to pretend to be rich is rather a dangerous mentality created by this present government. If in the midst of abject poverty, desolation, hopelessness, and constant tax imposition and price hikes, the government displays vulgar opulence and corrupt attitude without regard to the plight of the citizens, then God help Ghana.
On the flip side, I blame Ghanaians for tolerating this government’s nonsensical behaviour for far too long. The people’s power is the real power. Take a look at Haiti, Ukraine and New Zealand, the people’s power triumphed over government brutalities and insensitivity. When the government of New Zealand introduced TV license, nearly four hundred thousand people refused to pay and asked the government to take them to court. The New Zealand government had to review this policy because it could not prosecute these people whose number increased by the day.
In Ukraine a sustained protest brought the corrupt and heartless government down. So why can’t Ghanaians use civil and legitimate action to stop these disgraceful and shameful acts of impunity by this government and its officials? Whoever knows the London official residence of the Prime Minister, that is, 10 Downing Streets will agree that it is not a magnificent edifice. Yet Britain supports our budget every year and we end up spending the British taxpayer’s money on celebrations, presidential jets and palaces.
A journey to our hospitals is a journey to any cemetery. It was reported recently that the delivery suites of our hospitals use sachet water to deliver babies in this 21st century. With all these facts staring us in the face Mr. Awuni and his government led by president Kufuor will tell Ghanaians that the comfort of a unknown future president is very important than the provision of social amenities and to equip our hospitals. Who dares mention 10% kickback here? Where is Haruna Esseku?
I am amused about the number of so-called journalists parading as government spokespersons. These journalists have no clue of modern journalistic practices. At a time the media has turned to protect the public against the slippery deception of politicians, we find people calling themselves journalists, apparently protecting their greed, trying unsuccessfully to defend the government without asking critical questions and putting issues in proper contexts.
It is with regards to such journalists that Mr. Awuni disrespects honourable and dignified Ghanaians. He knows these unrepentant crooks of journalists will defend him for whatever tantrums he rains on us.
I urge Mr. Awuni to drive through Volta region through Bimbilla to Yendi and honestly tell Ghanaians if his car has not been taken to mechanics for repairs. Between Bimbilla and Yendi, a journey of about 45 minutes takes 3-4 hours minimum. And the living standard of most people in this area is nothing to be proud of as a northerner. Why have I sited this route? The reason is this, the Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, is from Yendi and the President of ECOWAS, Ibn Chambas is from Bimbilla and yet between these two towns the road is almost unmotorable. Awuni who is also from the north doesn’t find problem with the state of roads in the region let alone the provision of job creation opportunities.
What did he tell his boss Mr. Kufuor when the three northern regions together with Central region, were used to justify poverty level in Ghana and to qualify us for the HIPC initiative, but these regions have not benefited significantly from the HIPC funds?
Though government officials don’t know honour, Mr. Awuni should do one honourable thing in his life by apologising to Ghanaians particularly the northerners for his unguided and unscrupulous statement. The reality of poverty of his people up north is beyond believe. But because he has no scruples and showing political dishonesty, he doesn’t want to accept a human basic fact that his people are poor materially but not morally.
Northerners will not forgive Mr. Awuni who together with other gutless northern politicians only cares about their stomach to the detriment of the development of the regions. They are satisfied being used as second rate citizens who are only considered for DEPUTY positions and dumped after they exceed their sell-by dates like Hon. Kofi Addah and a chain of them. Andre Awuni will surely follow suit. As the leaves on the trees in the Savannah area wither so are the hopes of the people in recent times.
Source: Sandow Seidu Kpebu Kpebu@yahoo.com
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