Where Are The Wise In Our Nation?

The current debate about Education in Ghana has revealed several deficiencies in our society. I wish to use this piece to address a few of these issues and I hope well-meaning Ghanaians all over the world will join me to stand for our motherland once again like some legends have done several decades ago. I will start with these questions that have bothered me since this debate begun; where are the wise men and women on our land? Where are the selfless and patriotic Ghanaians? Who are the statesmen of our nation? I will be glad if anybody can help me answer these questions.

As I carefully listen to some of our leaders and politicians all over the media, I realized one thing, our pursuit of human riches and glory have led us to abandon Godly wisdom and what many will describe as “common sense”. We have reduced everything in our motherland to party politics. We have traded our natural reasoning to political parties and tribal affiliations. Has the wise on the land sold their wisdom to feed their stomach? And is every Ghanaian now being fed by the politicians?

This cancer has eaten so much into our society that very basic rights and necessities of life have been subjected to this disease and Education has become the next victim at large.

I watch with surprise how our prospecting leaders are discussing Education of all things on a campaign platform. I think Education in our nation deserve better than campaign platform. It is in my opinion too important than party manifesto. Because manifesto’s come and goes just like the politicians who write them but Education stays with us just as Ghana remains. It is with this regard that I think our Educational system deserve a higher level of discourse than what I am currently witnessing. I think the Ghanaian child deserve better than trying to score a political point or win power. The future of the Ghanaian child is more important in my opinion than any politician seeking power. That is why we cannot play politics with Education just to get elected.

I want to state that Education is a fundamental right of every Ghanaian and not a privilege as it has been for some time now. Quality Education in Ghana is as equally important as is availability and affordability. I have listened to both sides of the argument and I can state that none of the two sides can be effective on its own. Ghanaians need free basic education and it is a good time to implement it but we also know that we do not have all the needed facilities. I don’t want to go into why over 50yrs we still have classrooms under trees. That’s just another topic on its own.

In light of this, I think it is only helpful to the ordinary Ghanaian that this conversation be taken out of the platforms, handed to a committee including high profile and well-meaning educationist from all sides, policy and stakeholders to draft a well-coordinated plan to attain this full status in the next five to ten years. Parliament will enact this into law compelling every government to allocate funds to implement the plan. They will then be held accountable by parliament without fear or favor. If politicians truly mean well about all the rhetoric going on, it should be easy to come up with a well fitted plan for the nation in no time.

“15 Skillful and Godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast” (Prov. 3:15-18). I believe most of us know this as we profess to be Christians. But we have decided to go after the riches and honor and ignore the main focus which is WISDOM. It is unfortunate that we are Christians but have no GRACE or WISDOM in dealing with each other. We are saved by Grace and yet cannot give grace to others. We claim to have Jesus Christ (the Wisdom of God) but luck the wisdom to deal with one another.

I pray God grant the wise men and women in this nation the courage to speak wisdom in times like this and to instruct us in the right path. I hope that we can begin to demonstrate to ourselves children and our creator that we are unique and have our own purpose on earth which is free from our tribes and political parties. God Bless Our Homeland Ghana.

Patrick Kwadwo Kyei Eagan, MN pkyei2012@gmail.com