Leadership Is A Call To Serve And Not To “Chop”.

Politics is about the food we eat. It is about our health needs. It is about our education. Not only that but also, it is about the rule of law which is no respecter of person’s etc.etc. This is however not often the case in many African countries including Ghana. Our politicians to me are the same, whether N.D.C or N.P.P “the value is the same”. During electioneering, they promise us heaven to win our votes only to turn their back against us when it is time for them to deliver their promises.

As Dr. Kwame Nkrumah put it, “I am not concerned with plans for exploring the moon, mars or any other planet. They are too far from me anyway. My concern is here on earth where so much needs to be done to make it a place fit for human effort, endeavour and happiness”. Equally on this occasion and this day, we are not demanding that our government provide us with jets to take us to work or to the market but all we ask for are the basic necessities of life including water.

To start with, our graduates need jobs. Every year thousands of graduates come out of our universities and polytechnics yet the available jobs for them are far less than their number. Corporate bodies take advantage of the situation to organize so-called aptitude tests for these graduates with the reason best known to them. The question is, do they doubt our institutions of higher learning? Are the people task to impart knowledge into these students not competent enough? Or is it that the examinations these students often write in school not up to standard?

Most organizations fail to invest in education and complain when some graduate under-perform. They always want to reap where they have not sown. In my view, all private and public institutions should be made to employ students during vacation to offer students practical knowledge and skills so that by the time they come out of school, they will be equipped fully and ready for the job market. These are issues politicians should spend time discussing instead of what we hear or read in our media.

It baffles me when I hear that “The teachers’ reward is in heaven”. Will all teachers go to heaven? Why don’t we give them 50% on earth so that those who will not make it to heaven will at least know they have enjoyed 50% on earth instead waiting to enjoy 100% in heaven? It appears funny, but think about it. Most people now go to the college of education by chance and not because they have the love and passion for the teaching profession. There are poor incentives for teachers. Meanwhile, our politicians have spent the past 16 months or so talking about ex-gratia and the next elections in 2012. Are we serious as a country? Let us give the teacher his/her due if not we will remain the same whether educational reforms or not. Travel to the countryside and you will see poverty in the eyes of millions of Ghanaians. One does not need glass eyes to see the poverty levels in the country. We do not need the World Bank or I.M.F or even a Bachelors Degree in Economics to know how poor we are. We are poorer now than during the early 60’s under Nkrumah. The more we grow the more poor we become. A careful and objective study of Ghana’s history tells me that without the legacies of Nkrumah, there would have been “no Ghana”. Why? Take away Akosombo dam which is the largest man-made lake in the world, Tema harbour, Tema motorway, Tema township, the many industries across the country, the many schools in the country, in fact, the first secondary school in the north was built by Nkrumah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T), University of Cape Coast, University of Education, Winneba inter alia and you will understand what I am talking about. Other people may have different views. What have the other leaders done or have been doing with our resources? Their best have not been best enough! Ghana is a dirty country. At 53 years, we cannot keep our environment clean. Do we need the Whiteman to tell us or show us how to keep our surroundings clean? We litter anyhow and everywhere, we are simply indiscipline. Until we change our attitudes, the better Ghana promised us by the Mills administration will not see the light of day.

Further, one problem I have observed over the years is that, we talk too much and seem to be all knowing. Just tune in to any radio station in the morning and listen carefully to issues discussed on our radios. We have politicized every issue on N.D.C and N.P.P lines. A black colour is seen differently by these two parties likewise a white colour. Why should that be the case? Foot soldiers believe that they must “chop” when their government is in power. But when will a particular party ever finish “chopping” before all Ghanaians can “chop” from the national cake? In conclusion, “the resources are there. It is for us to marshal them in the active service of our people. Unless we do this by our concerted efforts, within the framework of our combined planning, we shall not progress at the tempo demanded by today’s events and the mood of our people. The symptoms of our troubles will grow and the troubles themselves become chronic”. DR. KWAME NKRUMAH

Tuokuu Francis Xavier (fxtuokuu@yahoo.com) University of Ghana P.O.Box LG 59 Legon-Accra Ghana.