Ghana, the hope and future of Africa

Some time in 1984 I came to Lagos on holiday during the long vacation and having just past out from primary school in my remote village in Enugu state. The first impression I had about Lagos as I saw it then was heaven or paradise on earth with the beautiful houses and bridges that dots the city,

The well tarred roads and running taps I felt I was in heaven. Then as a student I formed the habit of reading old newspapers when ever my uncle comes back from Enugu with that old Daily star or Satellites newspapers. But coming to Lagos I have the privilege of seeing current papers with vendors.

Then I got stuck to reading the statesman and the observer of the old Imo and Bendel states respectively. It was in the course of reading these titles that I got to know that Lagos, my assumed paradise was the dirtiest city in the whole world, I was wondering why this beautiful place is tagged dirtiest then it means that every big city in the world were built with gold ornament. At about that time there was this crusade going on among Lagosians and Nigerians.

That was “Ghana must go”. The federal government had asked Ghanaians to leave Nigeria as they constituted nuisance and cheap labourers which was denying Nigerian citizens the opportunity of getting a good job with good pay. Ghana’s economy was then in very bad shape and her citizens were leaving the country in thousands and were heading to Nigeria to seek for greener pasture, Ghanaians were every where doing all sort of things from menial job to prostitution and anything that can be done to earn a living. To identify a Ghana man is just by his complexion and their girls are no difference. Any prostitute then was a Ghanaian as was assumed.

Thousands of them were sent home by the Federal Government of Nigeria that was in the mid eighty’s (80s) when Generals Mohammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon were in the helm of affair and Nigeria was just smarting from the ravage of corruption inflated on her by the disposed civilian Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Ghana as a nation then command no respect except coups and counter coups, though they were known for exporting gold and coco. But that was then, today am at lost on where the problem started with Nigeria, that a country that was walking with hope twenty five years ago is now crippled while the crippled Nation is now not only walking but also running even faster than an Antelope.

That is the Ghana of the 21st century. THE HOPE OF AFRICA, THE FUTURE OF AFRICA THE PRIDE OF AFRICA. The country of Jerry Rawlings the country of John Kuffor and Koffi Anann the home of black stars and black starlets. When I traveled to Ghana for the first time in 2004 I was shocked at what I saw and how we Nigerians have been seeing Ghana over here in Nigeria, they were far ahead of us in everything. On December 7th2004 when Ghanaians went to poll in their county’s general election I cancelled my trip to that country for fear of electoral violence but alas nothing happened and I hit Ghana on Wednesday December 8th 2004 to a peaceful country with the present President Mr. Atta Mill congratulating the then president and the winner of the poll Mr. John Kuffor over his victory in the poll, Mr. Atta Mill and his supporters issued a press statement praising their electoral body for a job well done and promise to work hard come next election and they did and won. Ghanaians will go to polling booth cast their votes and go off to their work without fear of cheating or stuffing of the ballot box with already thumb printed ballot papers like their Nigerian counterpart. It was one man one vote and the winner emerged.

Even at all these achievements Ghanaians still lay low, not wanting to blow their trumpet. Again in 2008 they went to poll to elect their new president, that election was adjudged one of the best election in the world so far and this is just a few months the self acclaimed giants of Africa Nigeria had a dismal outing on April 2007 in the name of (S)election which ushered in the current Disable President Umaru Yar’Adua. Now my question is where are we going from here? During my first visit to Ghana a brother that relocated to that country in 2002 came to my hotel (Frank Davies) by 11.00pm and ask me out to see the city , I was scared but knowing how related we are in the village I obliged and went out with him at that odd hour, my greatest surprise was that all the street light as well as traffic light were all working in perfect condition, “full current” I thought I was in (obodo oyibo) America or London as they appear in our Television because I have not been there either.

By 3.40am when we are done with our merriment I just flagged down a taxi and within few minutes I was in my hotel and was warmly welcomed by the staff on night duty, no wetin you carry, no area boys to harass one, no policeman wielding gun, they are civil and well behaved, traffic lights are obeyed to the last point. Since then I have been visiting and recommending Accra to friends as the best place to spend one’s holiday at least to see what life is outside the hell called Nigeria. While our leaders opted for vision 202020, the Leadership in Ghana was busy providing the good leadership that gives them joy, peace and the quality of life that makes them the envy of the black race, yet Ghana has no oil. While Nigeria is battling to achieve 6000 megawatts by December 2009 Ghana has for over ten years now been enjoying uninterrupted power supply yet they are not making noise over it.

But we deceive ourselves by still laying claim to the giant of Africa. “GIANT MY FOOTH”. Today most of the companies are closing down in Nigeria and re locating to Ghana with attendant job loss by their Nigerian employees all because of high cost of powering their machine by Generators and the cost of diesel. In every area of national life and development Ghana is taking over from infrastructure to economy and to sports, they are every where making Africa proud, rewriting history and setting new records.

In sports while Nigeria the sleeping giant of Africa is still praying for Tunisia to lose their last match against Mozambique with hope of beating Kenya in their home ground come November 15th 2009 Ghana had already booked their place since September and is looking forward to June 2010 kick off date, yet we claim to be the giant of Africa. In the recently concluded Under 20 world cup in Egypt Nigeria could not go beyond the second round but Ghana despite all odds went ahead to prove to all that they are the new giant of Africa.

What Nigeria cannot do with eleven men (boys),Ghana did with just ten men (boys). Nigeria is just a nation living on their past glory, while Ghanaians and their leaders know their needs and the aspiration of her citizens, Nigerian leaders are all corrupt, selfish and greedy. While Ghana was busy re-branding their country through the act of their leadership and respect to the constitution, Nigeria is doing the opposite. Recently the Nigeria senate invited the Ghana electoral chief to come and lecture them on how to organize free and fare election, but did we really need a Ghanaian to conduct free election? Professor Humphrey Nwosu is not a Ghanaian he is still alive but the question is are we ready to play according to the rule? Ride on Great Ghana keep the flag flying. God help Nigeria.