Former President, John Mahama
Folks, I am in a Suhum-bound trotro, and I am honestly irked by the deceitful behaviour of the driver and his mate. The minibus was almost full when I boarded it. Unknowingly, most of the passengers were 'fake.' They had been hired to occupy space to make it look like the bus was full and about to move. But to my disappointment, the 'rented' passengers started getting down one after the other, and the bus is nearly empty.
Time is slowing to an agonizing crawl, and I want to take the opportunity to write my article for the day.
Africa is a continent rich in history, culture, and diversity. Throughout the ages, there have been many notorious people who have played significant roles in shaping the continent's past. From powerful kings and conquerors to controversial leaders, appalling fibsters, and notorious criminals, these people have left lasting impacts on Africa's history, often marked by violence, corruption, and human suffering.
These individuals, who ranged from strong monarchs and conquerors to deceitful politicians and infamous criminals, had a significant influence on African history.
Possibly, one of the most well-known and infamous figures in African history was Shaka Zulu, who was renowned for using cruel military strategies and was the creator of the Zulu Empire.
Early in the 19th century, Shaka gained prominence and swiftly established himself as one of the continent's most dreaded commanders.
By introducing new strategies and armaments, he completely changed the way the Zulu people waged battle, and there was much violence and cruelty during his reign.
Idi Amin led Uganda as president from 1971 until 1979, and many people view him as one of the most brutal tyrants in African history.
Under Amin's leadership, crimes against human rights like rape, murder, and torture were frequent occurrences. It was alleged that he slaughtered an estimated 300,000 people during his reign, and even though he was finally overthrown, Uganda is still plagued by the injustice and murder he left behind.
From 1965 to 1997, Mobutu Sese Seko ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo with an iron grip, having risen to power through a military coup and instituting corruption, repression, and violation of human rights. His personal wealth was estimated to be worth billions of dollars, despite the fact that the majority of his people lived in extreme poverty. Mobutu was eventually overthrown in a rebellion spearheaded by Laurent Kabila.
Joseph Kony was the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group that operated in Uganda and other parts of Central Africa. The LRA was known for its brutal tactics, including the use of child soldiers, rape, and mutilation. Kony has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but despite a global manhunt for him, he has not been captured yet.
Who is whispering that the list is incomplete without the names of certain people? Please, I am sitting somewhere and do not want any trouble. Oops, the bus is now almost full. Let me help the driver and his mate by calling out more passengers: 'Suhum, Nsawam; Suhum, Nsawam; Suhum, Nsawam; ready going, two more passengers.'
Whatever the case may be, there is still hope for Ghana and Africa in terms of compassionate leadership. The visionary and nation-builder, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is poised to rescue us. Let us remember him on December 7.
