Ghana Suffering From Lack of Quality Leadership & Corrupt Politicians

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 Source: Adofo, Rockson

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I bury my head in my palm awash in shame when it comes to discussing the quality of the Ghanaian leadership and the perpetual hoo-ha by our politicians. The demise of Ghana with the chronic impoverishment of her citizens is to be blamed on the heads of our politicians who are intrinsically, morally deficient.

Baba Jamal, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC has vindicated me on my solo crusade against the venality of the Ghanaian politicians. He confessed on Peace FM's morning show "Kookrokoo" presented by our knowledgeable handsome baldy, Kwame Sefa-Kayi, on Wednesday, 5th September 2007 that, and I quote, "I don't know of any member of the NDC who has/had not taken a bribe, and the NPP are also doing the same". I was flabbergasted to hear this from no less a person than Baba Jamal, a high ranking member of the NDC, a lawyer and also, a seasoned politician.

I appreciate the honest confession of Baba as to all NDC members especially, those who were and are in government, be it in the Executive, Legislature or the Judiciary arm, are corrupt. However, Baba becomes a confused meander effortfully denying any culpability of the Rawlingses when mentioned in association with corruption. One may then enquire if Baba Jamal is sane? He makes a sweeping statement and when caught in the web reminded of his boss J.J Rawlings been incriminated, he then tries to undo the harm he has already done. As a lawyer, he should ponder over asked questions before attempting to answer them or else, he will always make a fool of himself. Why try to deny the truth that has just come forth your own mouth a minute earlier, Baba Jamal?

There was that other day when he lent his intellectual weight to defending Professor Evans Atta Mills when the Professor had a few days earlier asserted that the seemingly gang-style killings in Ghana are "contract killings". He tentatively argued to give credence to the views as expressed by Atta Mills on the current spate of killings in Ghana, resorting to the application of "circumstantial evidence" as proof. At this juncture, the vanity of the sweats and the unsubstantiated employ of the legal dictum by Baba became crystal. He was only to be shamefully corrected on air by one of his own Law professors who wouldn't let him get away with such a diminishing law-intellectualism, when he went on a wild goose chase in the jungle of law jargons or terminologies but woefully failed to relate them correctly. Baba just jumps at the crack of the gun, following the layman's view in consonant with the negative air pressure as may exert by the public. He forgets that as it takes two to tango, so does it take two or three parties to formulate and execute contract killing where also, there should be the convincing proof extracted from or established by at least one of the congruent parties.

Anyway, for him to be taken serious as a trusted politician, having welcomed his frankness on bribery and corruption, he and his entire clique of aberrated politicians should go the Zacchio way, restore to the nation and the suffering Ghanaians all that they have/had robbed them of with interest or in double portion payment as the biblical Zacchio did after encountering Jesus Christ.

It must be noted, inferring from Baba Jamal's own words that Rawlings who he will die for, defend him when there is no need for, leaving no stone unturned to exonerate him of blame, is corrupt, following the logic of his statement.

Now, how can Ghana hit any stride in her quest for middle income status with "mo nkye de", that is, stinking corrupt leaders and politicians at its helm of affairs? It is the gospel truth that almost all the recent past, and the current crop of Ghanaian politicians fall under one of the underlying negative category-descriptions, which are all retrogressions on our efforts to rid ourselves of the derisive negativities knitted into shackles to chain the conscience of many a Blackman. They are,

1) CORRUPTION: A corrupt politician is one originally honest who has succumbed to temptation and begun questionable practices.

2) DISHONESTY: A dishonest politician is one lacking in native integrity.

3) VENALITY: A venal politician is one so totally debased as to sell patronage

Rawlings, like P.V. Obeng and almost all the NDC activists are corrupt! He misused his position to enrich his friend/s who is/are now paying him in kind by shouldering the educational responsibilities of his children in his "Papa's" land.

Rawlings is dishonest because he has committed same but worst crimes than those he hypocritically executed by firing squad. Air Marshal Yaw Boakye was executed by altruist J.J. Rawlings for taken a genuine bank loan of then fifty thousand Cedis. Rawlings has not only enriched his friends to enable them buy him bullet proof cars but also, enacted into the nation's constitution exonerative clause of "no accountability and no probity" for only himself and his AFRC/PNDC cohorts to cushion himself against any likelihood of being held culpable for his excessive misdeeds against Ghanaians when in hallucinations, he saw himself as the second coming of Jesus Christ into that part of the world called Ghana, to save people from economic and social hardships.

Rawlings is venal. Is there not the slightest truth in the unfolding events related to how SCANCEM gained monopoly in cement production in Ghana? Had the monopoly accorded that Norwegian Cement Company not stifled the Ghanaian economy and impinged on the welfare of Ghanaians somehow? Has there ever been smoke without fire in the history of human civilization?

Out of greediness, lack of vision and sheer stupidity, our politicians keep letting Ghanaians and the country down. P.V. Obeng, for example, thinks he can enjoy his booty in peace by keeping out of politics, keeping his silence and living outside Ghana far away from the public scrutiny. That is erroneous. The noose is closing up on him and God willing, the truth will be in the public domain for all to see. All the "Alan Cashes" will soon be in for a big shock that will disorient them from their political course. How can they keep spending money in a way as to arouse suspicion even in a foetus? The hawkish probing eyes are lased on them.

“I am but a poor struggling soul yearning to be wholly good, wholly truthful and wholly non-violent in thought, word and deed, but ever failing to reach the ideal which I know to be true. It is a painful climb, but the pain of it is a positive pleasure to me. Each step upwards makes me feel stronger and fit for the next.” My determination to gradually or radically effect changes in our humiliating-incompetent leaders is resolute. What at all is holding them back from behaving as rational human beings able to earn the respect of their fellow country men and their White contemporaries to whom they run with pan in hand soliciting alms?
In conclusion, I say and quote, "You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”

Rockson Adofo, London