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“You live in faraway United Kingdom, so what is your motivation for relentlessly nagging, shrieking, scolding and writing about the affairs of another country?” Apparently, this is the usual question I have been receiving from some inquisitive discussants.
Take my word for it, dearest discussant, I have an illimitable and unflinching affection for my country of birth, Ghana, in spite of the long-standing British connections.
Understandably, to inexorably grouch, speak and write about the revoltingly ugly state of Ghana’s economy under the erstwhile NDC government which the party loyalists would convivially perceive as innocuous or an inconsequential issue, is to be seen as a political fanatic, or even as a notorious conservative, mischievously seeking to discredit their beloved party.
Well, whatever the case, the inquisitorial discussants have every right to express their concerns over my ceaseless criticisms. But all said and done, I, for one, won’t abandon my duty as a bona fide Ghanaian, far from it. But I will rather stick to my guns, be true to the faith, and, keep upholding and defending the good name of our beloved Ghana.
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country (John F. Kennedy)."
Let us face it, though, it is absolutely true that anybody can hide behind patriotism. However, patriotism is not mere rhetoric and political gimmicks. Indeed, we could only evidence our patriotism through our actions and inactions. That is by showing our affection, solicitude and strong inclination towards our country in whatever we do.
How can I keep mute when some obdurate criminals are gleefully hiding behind political coloration, devoid of patriotism, and committing heinous crimes against the nation?
Truly, I could not have dropped my keyboard when people we entrusted with the national purse abhorrently inflated contracts to the tune of over GH5.4 billion. Isn’t that criminally-minded venture which deserves to be censured with no uncertain terms?
How could any real patriot keep quiet when a sibling of a former president disgustingly refused to pay import taxes to the tune of GH12 million? How can we develop as a nation with such irresponsible citizens?
No true patriot, in all honesty, would keep his/her silence when a group of public officials decide to conspire and clandestinely withdraw a whopping $400 million of Ghana COCOBOD’s money meant for the upkeep of poor farmers.
I could not have kept my silence when individuals who nauseatingly claim to be social democrats incredibly dipped their hands into the poor farmers money and built a luxurious mansion at an alleged cost of GH7.7 million for their own comfort.
In fact, I had no option than to grumble, shrill and highlight the inflated cost of the vice presidential palace as disclosed by the contractors, AESL. According to the contractors, the officials of the erstwhile NDC government disgustingly inflated the cost of the project to a staggering $13,968,252.66 covering the cost of stone fencing works, hard wood panel doors, eternal electrification works, sculpture and emblems.
To be quite honest, it would be boundlessly unconscionable for any true Ghanaian to sit aloof while some conspiratorial plotters blissfully squander funds meant to transform the lives of the penniless in society through dubious deals such as the Brazil World Cup, the infamous bus branding, SUBA, SSNIT among others.
How can any true patriot assume that it is alright when some cabals conspired and paid dubious judgement debts to the tune of GH800 million?
Why wouldn’t I scream and upbraid the shameful racketeers who squeamishly created loot and shared monies belonging to GYEEDA and SADA, which were meant to transform the lives of the needy in society?
I will venture to state that in so far as the elites among the ‘four legs animals’ continue to exhibit existential selfishness, lack of patriotism, and revoltingly look down upon the ‘four legs downtrodden, Ghana may never develop meaningfully in our lifetime.
Ghana, so to speak, has been lagging behind in terms of economic advancement largely due to lack of true patriots to oversee important positions in the past.
Apparently, greed, selfishness and lack of empathy have been the order of the day. Indeed, it is an illustrative case of ‘every man for himself’.
Disappointingly, though, the unpatriotic and selfish attitudes of the men and women we often put in responsible positions have indeed cost this nation dearly.
But all said and done, it is never too late; we can undo the wrongs by working honestly, collaboratively and diligently towards a meaningful advancement.
Of course, we have in our midst other honest men and women who have the wellbeing of Ghana at heart to put things right.
The fact of the matter is that if some nation wreckers elsewhere choose to hide behind a political party and steal from the national purse, we will nonetheless need courageous and ever prepared law enforcement bodies and the judiciary to crack the whip without fear or favour.
Frankly speaking, we need unwearied and honest strong men and women who are ever willing to defend and uphold the relevant laws and regulations.
In sum, henceforth, the interests of Ghana, your country, my country, must supersede any other interests regardless.
