The Chief of Staff needs our prayers, not condemnation

“Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks”—Heinrich Heine.

Ever been hit by a devastating punch from a stronger opponent in a fight before? Maybe yes; maybe no. But trust me when I tell you it is not a pleasant experience at all!

My first and only encounter with a devastating punch dates back to my secondary school days. It was in the early 1990's and I was in form four. I had a little misunderstanding with a senior and never suspected it could degenerate into fisticuffs.

I never saw it coming. It was a single blow, but it sent me crushing to the ground and left me gasping for breath. It took me close to two minutes to regain my bearings. And when I did, the only word I had in mind was 'revenge'.

Without any specific plan in mind, I rushed ferociously on my opponent. Realizing that he was the stronger of the two of us, I used the only weapon that first came to mind: my teeth. That is what I now refer to as survival instinct. The bite I gave him could pass for the bite of the century. His scream was so loud that even the deaf could hear him. Though I was still angry, I felt sorry for him as I saw blood oozing from the bitten spot.

When later my friends tried teasing me for biting an opponent, I told them the fight had no rules so biting was a defensible weapon to use. Some disagreed but many others supported my stance.

Was I, therefore, surprised when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear in their fight dubbed “The Sound and the Fury” in June 1997? No, I wasn't and I would tell you why.

I wasn't surprised because I know how it feels to be dazed by a blow. You tend to lose your sense of reasoning and rely only on your survival instincts. The first survival theory to come to mind is the theory you would use. And in both cases, Tyson's and mine; it was the “Biting Theory”.

Figuratively speaking, it is obvious that the “Kalyppo craze” by the opposition Osono has dazed Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, making him resort to the use of the “Biting Theory”. He was so dazed that the first thought that came to his mind was to condemn Kalyppo, a product that gives employment to thousands of his compatriots.

For sure, the Chief of Staff has planted a poisonous seed that must not be allowed to grow. It must be uprooted before it germinates and contaminates the whole system. Indeed, no Chief of Staff worth his salt would open his mouth and vomit such poison in the atmosphere.

Many have condemned him for the indiscretion. I agree with them that an efficient Chief of Staff should rather be promoting local businesses, and not destroying them. He should be explaining to his countrymen how his government would ease their suffering and what measures they are taking to stop the wanton looting of state resources.

I do understand the anger and rage by my compatriots. They are all justified, but I would entreat them to calm down. The man was dazed by the efficacy of the “Kalyppo craze” and only reacted without thinking. What would he gain if people stopped drinking Kalyppo? Would he feed the employees that would lose their jobs as a result? Clearly, the Chief of Staff reacted on impulse. He needs our prayers, not condemnation.

Nana D acknowledges this fact that is why he did not condemn Efo Debrah. Nana D only exposed the deficiencies in his ill-conceived statement. Listen to him: “If, indeed, sugar was bad, why have they set up the Komenda sugar factory, a factory they have made so much noise about? To them, sugar is bad and, yet, they spent so much money on the Komenda sugar factory, which is not even working? This propaganda will not work.”

Madam Chavez Doe has publicly thrown her weight behind the “Kalyppolities” nonsense by the Chief of Staff. Unlike Mr Debrah, she does not need prayers because not even prayers can cure her of her disease. She rather deserves our pity.

I've known her for close to two decades, and I'm yet to hear her make a coherent statement on any issue. Such a woman deserves nothing but pity. It is even more pitiable that such a character was once a minister of state and is currently a member of the Council of State. Is it any wonder that the country is in such a mess?

Not too long ago, Koku was heard screaming and calling Dr Mahmudu Bawumia names. He specifically called him “Mutum Banza” (useless person). I've since tried to see the uselessness of Bawumia, but to no avail. Between the two, the one whose foolishness is beyond doubt is very clear for all to see. The one in whom we see many traits of “Mutum Banza” is certainly not Bawumia.

Indeed, the “Mutum Banza” traits can be found in many Zu-za activists. They can be found at the Presidency, party headquarters and in the Council of State. Some deserve our pity, while others deserve our prayers. One doesn't need to “think far” to spot them.

See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!