By Diboriyom Kasim Hassan
I read with shock, dismay and serious concern about life threatening text messages being sent to the author of the above caption that was published on July 5, 2013 on Ghana’s biggest news website, Ghanaweb. The particular article was a follow up to an earlier one captioned: “A Soldier As Tamale Mayor Can Help Restore Sanity” which was also published on Ghanaweb on June 22, 2013. I must admit I’m still scratching my head in shock because I didn’t find anything untrue about what he said in that write-up.
The author as I understand is a seasoned and socially oriented journalist based here in Tamale, so expressing his opinion about the attitude of some residents should not warrant these unnecessary verbal attacks on him and his parents; in fact, he should rather be applauded.
Thus, I write to agree totally with some of his assertions as captured in the write up which content has brought discomfort to some people who have refused to listen to the voice of truth. I begin with:
1. SHEEJE: It is unfortunate some people are denying that this derogatory remark [insult] is not a singsong among most residents. In fact, it is the first word my 3year old son started spewing when he first stepped his foot in Tamale, but what became very clear to me when I tried to stop him from spewing that garbage is that, he learned it from the children in the neighbourhood.
2. POLYGAMY: This is sanctioned by tradition and Islam. Even though I don’t know the traditional law regarding that, but I know for a fact that Islam has regulated a serious condition for polygamy where the Quran stated emphatically that “If you fear you may not be just among women, marry only one”. This is the divine law which most of us have violated as Muslims which end result is the children on the streets and I was once upon a time one of them.
I must confess that street children constitute social nuisance. I take the trouble at times to counsel people on how to treat such children with compassion and care, so let’s kill the guilt in us and accept responsibility for the fact that, most of us married people have failed in the way we’ve brought up or bringing up our children.
3. ETHNICITY: I have risen above this canker. At least, let us show some degree of civility when we are dealing with this sensitive issue. Throughout the narrative, the gentleman referred to RESIDENTS. I can’t recollect him mentioned DAGOMBAS which others want to imply. In any case, a tribe is a collection of individual persons with different human values; some good, some bad. You may be good and can speak for yourself, but what about those who are bad? I have always maintained that one doesn’t have to respect someone base on his ethnic background or tribe.
In the nutshell, I am of the strong belief that the aforementioned are very rare areas among Dagombas and we must therefore, be very careful and quick to brand people anti-Dagombas or anti-Islam when we differ in opinion. Our cherished tradition frowns upon all these likewise Islam. However, let us not pretend that all is well when we know that all is not well. Let us always understand that life is about good reasoning and sound judgment and not about rhetoric. God’s peace be with you all.
The writer is an Islamic Scholar and a Gender Advocate based in Tamale. Anyone with views or comments can reach him via +233 243878773 and +233 266487183.
