GHANA, MY LAWLESS COUNTRY

 

If only the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had lived till this day, I can vehemently state that his independence speech would have been something different! The popular quote, “Ghana, our beloved country …..”, I believe, would have replaced it with this alternative “Ghana, our lawless country ….” From all indications, and by every standard, Ghana is a lawless country! Most Ghanaians, if not all, are lawless! From the humans to the livestock, it is constantly a parade of lawlessness! Yes, this country plays host to lawless animals because elsewhere, meeting stray livestock in cities and market places is not the norm! Ghana, my lawless country!

I am told that the only functional law in Ghana is at our public toilets and urinals! Yes, at our public toilets and urinals, we strictly adhere to the signs ‘Male’ and ‘Female’! These days, it is being breached! Ghana, my lawless country!

The streets in our various cities have been taken over by vendors and hawkers! Pedestrians and vehicles have to practically struggle in moving around! State owned lands, are being encroached! People keep building in waterways! Filth surrounds us, as our gutters choke with garbage and faeces! Whenever a new road is constructed, the locals create their own speed ramps! Lorry stations keep spring up along our roads without authorization! Of course, our law officers, the bribe officers and experts, also carry on with their trade! Criminals are operating freely because our law officers are their friends! It is now the reign of illegal mining activities, especially by foreigners! Our villages have been taken over by Fulanis whiles our borders lie open to invaders! Ghana my lawless country!

Is it then surprising that foreigners and visitors are equally behaving or operating as they well please? They are merely keeping up with the trend! Ghana, my lawless country!

Are we actually in Ghana? Ghana, the proud country for which the Osagyefo fought for! Ghana, the gateway to Africa! Ghana, the shining black star of Africa! Ghana, the pacesetter! Certainly not! Our cedi is losing its value because the medium of exchange in this country is now the dollar! Of course, our government is oblivious! The government is oblivious because her members are the perpetrators! They are all guilty! The efforts of the Bank of Ghana, in closing up all dollar accounts is a step, but definitely, not a giant step! Ghana, my lawless country!

The African punctuality is our bane, for that matter, we conduct our businesses as such! Workers show up at work as and when they please! No seriousness! No commitment! Non-performance is further endorsed by the usual strikes and demonstrations! People make demands although they do not merit it! Ghana, my lawless country!

Our country is facing so many hitches! Monies to be channeled for specific projects usually get diverted for other things! Monies get squandered, and no one takes responsibility! Projects get abandoned, and everyone looks on, unconcerned! Our water supply and distribution system is failing! Our power supply is failing! On our roads, we see the marks and heights of our irresponsibilities; the shoddy works! Huge contracts are being mismanaged and not executed on time, if executed! Incompetent people obtain the jobs! People get paid, but for nothing! Of course in the end, they all go scot-free! On one is questioned! No one gets punished! Because there are no laws! Ghana, my lawless country!

Like many others, I sometimes lose hope whenever I critically examine the disturbing trends in this country! Things are rotting but nothing concrete is being done to rectify these defects! As always, our leadership is only interested in the grammar! Big English, no results! Empty words, empty promises! How then do we progress as a nation? Is there any hope for Ghana? By all standards, the old Ghana was much better! But in the blame game, all are shareholders! If only our foundation as a country had been more solid, all would be in a much better place today! Ghana, my lawless country!

During President Mahama’s recent state of the nation address, I was a bit disappointed! My disappointment stemmed from the fact that in tackling the issues of the inefficiencies in our various governmental institutions, I expected a more drastic measure! I expected him to tell us of the punitive measures defaulters would be subjected to, in the event of non-performance! But as always, it was an appeal! Our various public officers or politicians keep failing us because in the end, they are not accountable! They give no account for their non-performance or failures!

I am tired of the constant appeals! All the president did was to make an appeal! At best, we qualify, and call it a passionate appeal! For how long would the appeals persist? The time has come for more drastic measures in tackling the issue of bribery and corruption, non-performance, embezzlement, misappropriation, fraud, and other criminal offenses confronting our society today! Those are the marks of a nation that is bent of righting the wrongs! We need punitive measures! That would be the surest means of putting an end to the canker in our Ghanaian society! That would be a surest means of putting an end to the lawless Ghana! Less talk, more work! Only in Ghana, my lawless country!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

 

OH GHANAIAN DOCTORS, GIVE US A BREAK!

I am yet to encounter professions in this country, who always seize the least opportunity to make noise, other than our dear doctors! Doctors in Ghana make too much noise! They are always creating fusses! I am tired of hearing or listening to how important their job is! I wonder how God himself might sometimes feel, when he watches our actions and inactions! He is supposed to be the one and only! Rather sadly, our dear doctors want it all! Each day, it is one demand after the other! Over the years, this issue has persisted and right now, it almost seems like a tradition or routine! It is an annual event! Indeed, they need not be told, for they love that, and yet, I would again comment, that our doctors should give us a break!

Doctors are not the only professionals who spent so many years in school, as they usually claim! They are also not the only qualified ones, or perhaps, the best students, as they make it seem! Most certainly, they are not the only important professionals, this country can boast of! If anything, they owe this nation much more than they are willing to admit! A lot of our resources were invested in their education, and yet, after leaving school, it becomes a battle; their usual bluff! One sit-down strike after the other! Give us a break! This nation can certainly not spend her entire resources on a group of professionals simply because they regard themselves as the most important! Ghana spends enough on the training of her doctors and other health personnel! Our country deserves better from this group! This also goes for our nurses!

This country of ours has several other professionals, who are all playing equally important and life-saving roles from various angles! We have farmers, fishermen, food vendors, manufacturers, engineers, bankers, economist, teachers, and lawyers, to mention but a few. All these play several equally important roles. Imagine a day when the technicians involved in power supply decide to go on a break. Quite recently, let us examine the problems that have come with our power outages! Let us also consider water supply and distribution; imagine what would happen when all those responsible decide to go on a break! What about our law enforcement officers; what would become of us all, if they all decide to take a break? But it always has to be the doctors!

Most professionals in Ghana are dissatisfied! Yes, I am also dissatisfied with my income! But what do I do? I just do not get up one morning and take a hike! In fact, a lot of workers are not well-motivated! There are so many people laboring and toiling for practically nothing, in this country of ours! The only difference here is that, they hardly take a hike! For our doctors of course, that is their slogan! Rather sadly and annoyingly, during these strike actions, patients are usually referred by these doctors to their private hospitals! Yes, they practically close down the government hospitals, and then quickly run to their individually owned hospitals for consultation! Very selfish and heartless indeed!

Doctors in Ghana always play on their lifesaving roles! Yes, they are lifesavers, but must not constantly rob it in the face of their patients! They expect to receive as much as their counterparts in the developed countries do, but let us be realistic! In truth, no value can be placed on the role of a doctor, and so, our doctors must desist from this practice! Their profession is more of service, than reward! On all the occasions doctors in this nation have embarked on a strike, several lives have been lost. In as much as we would all fight to ensure that the government attends to their demands, they equally owe it to this nation to remain at post! No money is worth the life of a person! They should be careful of their actions and inactions because in the end, we all have to give accounts of our lives!

What about the non-performing doctors or other health practitioners that are in abundance in our various healthcare centers, especially the governmental ones? Such carry out their duties in a rude and inhumane manner! What measures are being put in place to monitor the activities of these people? In this country, can be found doctors, who hardly show up at work! In our various governmental hospitals, these people usually report late, and then leave early! Of course, they can be found working tirelessly in their private hospitals! Many of us have stories to tell! And yet, they all scream each year, strike! They are all making demands, and expect it to be met! Only in Ghana!

They are doctors, but certainly, not God! This country has other equally important professionals who equally deserve better conditions of service! The periodic strike actions of doctors must be put to rest! Our government needs to as a matter of urgency, meet with their administrators, in order to find a lasting solution to this persistent problem! This issue is a matter of life and death! It has to do with the lives of several people! In the past, several lives have been lost as a result of our dissatisfied doctors, and so, must not be allowed to continue! Their needs ought to be met or perhaps, a compromise, reached! Again, I would admonish our doctors to be more sympathetic to the plight of their patients and not solely watch out for their interests! In truth, no monetary value can be put on their profession!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

HOMOSEXUALITY IN GHANA; THE PRICE OF DEMOCRACY

 

Ghana is in a transition! It is now the age of perverts! The perverted country, Ghana! In Ghana today, it is now the debate on homosexuality! People have now become so embolden that they are lobbying for the recognition of gay rights in Ghana, Africa! Homosexuality in Ghana! Time does indeed change! That is the price we have to pay for democracy and acculturation!

Ghanaians are now advocating for the acknowledgement of gay rights! The new Ghana! This is an issue that requires that we do away with any form of double standards! If indeed we have values or principles as a nation, and as a people, homosexuality should not be entertained or encouraged! No form of homosexuality should be encouraged in this country! This is an issue that goes against our very existence and substance as humans! I have said this before, and would again; animals are setting better examples! Human are supposed to be at the top of the hierarchy of the animal kingdom but rather sadly, we keep sinking to the bottom each day! What is the difference between humans and animals? It is our ability to exercise a bit of self-control, and our ability to dissent good from bad, right from wrong! Are there homosexual animals apart from humans? The lesser animals are better than us all! Homosexuality is an animalistic behaviour!

There have been diverse reactions to this issue of gay rights. This is because globally, several countries are endorsing the recognition of gay rights! Our late president declared his position on this issue several months before his death. As a country, our customs or traditions see this as a taboo! The modern Ghanaian however, is in the phase of acculturation, and so, homosexuality! We have been preaching about democracy and human rights to the extent that homosexuals in this country are being empowered!

The time has come that as a country; clarity is given on this issue of homosexuality! This issue has been debated for far too long! It does not need to be given further discussions! What does the law of Ghana have to say? If there is none, then we seriously need to enact one! Our laws must speak! Our laws should be emphatic! We keep talking about it, the lip service as usual! More needs to be done! Our law should be binding! No gay rights! No homosexuality! If there are no laws binding, then on what grounds do we fight this social evil?

Each day, more homosexuals troupe into this country. These are the problems confronting many developing nations! As long as we encourage tourism and investment in this country, our doors will forever be open to homosexual tourists, migrants, immigrants and business men and women! Our government goes out soliciting for loans, aid or other forms of funding from these very people! For these reasons, they look on unconcerned! It is as if the problem does not exist! Is it then surprising that there has been an influx, and now, advocacy? Absolutely not! This country keeps borrowing from foreign donors! Who are these donors? What is their interest? What are the terms and conditions for these loans? Homosexuality perhaps? If we love their money, then we might as well gladly go to bed with them!

The real problem is how to fight this cancer! I am personally of the opinion that our rich older men and women in our society are the main perpetrators! Our youth are being enticed with money, jobs and greener pastures! In our major cities, this is a very serious issue confronting our youth! That is the sad reality! Sexual corruption, in the form of homosexuality! For the struggling youth, that is the only way out! As a country, we need to find a more stringent approach to tackling this development issue! For a fact, a lot of our influential people in society are the masterminds! They have been in the closet for practically, their entire existence, and are now finding ways to legitimize this orgy, as advocates! Such people ought to be decried! Homosexuality is a bane! Homosexuality goes contrary to the purpose of man’s existence and so, must neither be condoned nor connived! In as much as we strive for the recognition of the rights of all, there are limitations! However liberal we might want to be seen, homosexuality is a matter of values and principles! As humans, and as a country or continent, Ghana has her values which must supersede all other things! Our values as a nation, and as a continent, do not acknowledge homosexuality, and all other forms of sexual malfunctions! It is only a matter of time that people would be advocating for that of humans and animals!

I live in fear of the future! What does the future hold for this nation? What does the future hold for our younger ones? For a fact, Africa as a continent is boldly against any form of homosexuality. Our traditions and values as a continent set us apart; it is binding! These are the elements of our culture that we all need to strive to uphold! We can tolerate acculturation in several forms, but certainly, not homosexuality! Yes, homosexuals might enjoy their fundamental rights as humans, but their sexual desires in totality, goes contrary to any acceptable and comprehensible human behaviour! They should for the sake of decency, stay behind the closet! At least, animals are sticking to the original plan for which they were created! If anyone thinks differently, I stand to be corrected!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi credited to Cosmos Azprila Segbefia.

A MODERN GHANA, ON THE REGRESSIVE SCALE

Ghana is growing! Ghana is developing! That is what we keep saying, each time we look at the multi-storey structures springing up in our big cities! We keep saying that, each time we look at the spree of vehicles on our various routes! Each time we look at the new businesses on our markets, this very comment escapes our lips! Indeed, Ghana is developing, but from which angle? This country seems to be moving, but only in circles! Yes, it is clear we are moving, but this movement keeps bringing us back to the starting point; we are moving in circles! Our scale of development or growth can only be measured with a regressive scale! No progression! Only regression!

How many Ghanaians can boast of access to a basic utility? It is an undeniable fact that in Ghana today, access to potable water is a major problem confronting us all; be it in the city or village! When it comes to the issue of electricity, it is a nightmare!

Each day in Ghana, we hear a new story; a new excuse! Sometime back, it was about inadequate water for power production! Later, it was about the breakdown of machines! After a while, we were told it was routine maintenance and perhaps upgrading! Last year, much to everyone’s relieve, Ghanaians we were assured that the power rationing would be over by the end of the year. It is 2013, and things seem to have only worsened! At least, the power cuts last year were scheduled! This time around, there is no schedule! No rationing! As always, there is an excuse! The Ghanaian always has an excuse prepared as to why something was not done! Instead of trying to actually carry out the task or find a solution to a problem, all we ever do is prepare an excuse; a reason not to get something done!

Our honourable Electricity Company of Ghana, as always, has reasons! The reason being that some companies are defaulting; they are not paying their bills! Ironically however, most of these companies are governmental; as usual! If so, are we all then supposed to suffer? Why must we all be punished when we know the perpetrators? Somehow, the management of ECG sees no crime being committed! They see no injustice because to them, it is no loss to the consumer! No power, less bills! That seems to be their slogan, and they want us to endorse it! What then becomes of the Ghanaian business man or woman, who needs power to make ends meet? We have been told that it is a power rationing, but I do not see any rationing! In fact, a lot of us are in perpetual darkness! What then is the rationing? Can there be an actual power rationing, when there is no power at all? At the end of each month however, people are served with bills! Bills for nothing! Only in Ghana!

As if that is not enough, our water supply is no different! No electricity! No water! And what is the excuse this time? None! The Ghanaian prefers to sit and watch as all the equipments, meant for the production, supply, and distribution of both electricity and water all breaks down, before something is done! Are people really working in their respective offices or companies? A lot of businesses are bearing the consequences! In our various homes, the story is no different! Our appliances are at their mercy! When it comes to water, we are all at the mercy of a potential hygiene-related epidemic! At the end of the month, the water bill comes in! No water, yes bill!

In the wake of industrialization in Ghana, the issue of power and water supply becomes paramount! It can be counterproductive! Each day, our government goes out extending her arms to foreign investors. These investors need power and water in meeting their business demands! How then do we expect a major turn out when our basic structures are non-functional? As a country, we ought to get our priorities right! Most of our local businesses are suffering! What then becomes of the new entrants? Ghana’s inadequate and unreliable power and water supply is a major threat to her growth and development! We need to start finding lasting solutions to this problem! If we want to take pride in calling this nation, a developing one, we need to start finding solutions to our problems, because they are all related to our so-called development!

Our main problem as a country has to do with our maintenance culture! Yes, our poor maintenance culture! It makes no difference how many plants we build, if we do not learn to maintain our structures! We only sit and wait for our machines to breakdown, before the right thing is done!

What is the government doing to ensure that this periodic or perhaps consistent and persistent power outages and water shortages become a thing of the past? It is obvious that the Public-Private Partnership by the government in the area of water supply and distribution still has some loop-holes! What about our electricity; are there any workable plans to ensure consistency in their delivery? What does our Public Utility Regulatory Commission have to say? From all indications, our utility regulatory commission itself is not functioning! Ghanaians are waiting!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), credited to Nana Appiah-Agyei (brainiboxi@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

IRONIES OF ACCULTRATION

 The scramble is on, and this time, it is not for Africa, but rather, the scramble for continents, by continents! As I writer interested in social commentary, I love to observe the changing trends, and each time I look around me, I cannot help but laugh to myself. The ironies of acculturation!
The African is trying so hard to turn white whiles our counterparts are fighting to become like us! People are purchasing all sorts of diseases through bleaching lotions! In the end, the successes, if any, are short-lived! We only succeed in destroying our skin! The stigma can only be shared by the victims! Most often, such unfortunate people become showcases, subjected to ridicule! Our white counterparts are not spared! For them, it is sun tanning! They would travel all lengths of this earth, to all manner of holiday destinations with sunny beaches, just to get the full attention of the sun. When they succeed, they practically spend the whole time laying exposed to the sun, in order to make their skin darker! Other also subject themselves to artificial tanning in the form of the sauna! How far would man go? The ironies of acculturation!
One thing that baffles me is the fact that locally, we have a faction of musicians trying their possible best to master the hip-hop genre or perhaps, rap. Some of our musicians are fighting so hard to sound like hip-hop artists on the international front. Ironically though, in trying their possible best, they also want to be known internationally for that! How do we expect typical African rappers or hip-hop artists, to compete with the well-known American or perhaps English artists, who have the advantage of owning the original language, English? This is something I keep asking myself and yet, cannot find answers! Rather naively, some Ghanaian musicians are practically killing themselves to go international and perhaps, be identified by the Black Entertainment Television (BET) or Music Television as worthy enough!
Arise o African! Wise up! How long would it take us to realize this truth; the truth that we are unique just as we are! No matter how hard we try, we would never get the acclamation that we so much desire, if we try to be just as others are; ordinary! Most Ghanaian musicians who have made it huge on the international front marketed themselves in their original or true nature; Ghanaians! They never hid behind foreign clothes or jewellery, nor tried to dope their music with other blends. It was purely Ghanaian, and hence have been accepted and celebrated as such. The likes King Ayisoba, Kojo Antwi, Osibisa, Ambuley, to mention but a few a living tributes. Our local musicians need to perfect their art by inculcating the typical Ghanaian or traditional elements through language and perhaps dressing. That would evidently put them out there! That is good marketing! How do you expect to be different or identifiable when you only seek to copy from others?
When it comes to our fashion sense, it is another issue! Ghanaians and perhaps, Africans are now going all out to be foreign. The usual African attire is fast being replaced. I know for a fact that some Ghanaian gentlemen would frown if asked to dress locally but would go all out to dress in the suits and ties! Our ladies, the fashion polices, are guiltier! Dressing traditionally is a thing of the past; the colo-fashion! Ironically however, on the international front, it is all about Afro-centrism! People are going Afro-centric these days! At the various international fashion shows and exhibitions, our African designs are now the order of the day! They are being showcased, marketed and sold! Even in hairstyle for some time now, dreadlocks, typically African, has now become a favourite. The ironies of acculturation!
Indeed, it is always a sight that fills us with awe, whenever we encounter foreigners, who are keen on taking up our culture. We have on several occasions encountered people from our western world who have taken pains learning our language, and taking up our dressing. As Africans, and proudly Ghanaians, what do we have to say for ourselves? Do we only say proudly African, or proudly Ghanaian, without actually meaning it? How do we look or sound?
Within this country are people who loathe their own complexion! They loathe their very skin! They loathe their native languages! They loathe their local music! They loathe their local cuisine! They loathe their traditional way of dressing! They loathe the very country from which they originate; even the continent! That is the story of the so-called Ghanaian!
This is the cancer on our continent and in our country today! It is no longer about the scramble for Africa, but rather, the scramble for Europe and America! All are guilty because if we should critically examine our choices or preferences in terms of our culture, evident in our music, dressing, language, cuisine, to mention but a few, we would come to acknowledge the fact that we have been drowned by acculturation!
Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

CORRUPTION IN AFRICA; CONSPIRACY THEORY

 


 The African continent, among the rich, if not the richest, is perishing! Many of our countries are reeking of diseases, poverty, filth, famine, illiteracy, to mention but a few! Each day, reported stories of war and clashes, are the usual news from the continent. It is always news about aid to
Africa! The hungry continent! The pictures are always gruesome, depressing and again, degrading! It is always news of anguish, chaos, fear! This has gone on for several decades, to the extent that for those who have never had the chance of visiting this continent, the mere mention of her name sends shivers down their spine! That is the story of Africa!
But there is an untold story! It is the story of the lovely, beautiful, and proud African men and women! It is the story of a continent, endowed with all the God-given resources that we can ever imagine! It is the story of a rich continent, an envy of many! It is the story of the continent with several talented individuals, living in a culturally diverse environment, all sharing a common history! It is a continent of varied climate and rich vegetation! By all standards, Africa is complete! It is the story of the richest and strongest continent!
Rather sadly however, the former story is better known, and better told! The latter, to most people, is but a dream! This is because, Africans, are failing Africa! Corruption is killing us! This continent, host to several riches, also plays host to the most corrupt nations on this planet! The continent, although the richest, is also the poorest! That is the sad reality, and in Ghana, Ghanaians are failing Ghana!
In Africa, it is all about loans! Yes, every African government, no matter how rich the nation, needs a loan! Each day, one form of loan or another is handed out. Each day, various sword-cutting ceremonies are conducted. And yet in the end, we see nothing! The question is: What happened to the money?
O yes, what happened to the money? Which money? The money that was meant for the road project! The money that was meant to provide potable water! The money that was meant to provide power and electricity! The money that was meant to build more health facilities! The money that was meant to provide improved educational infrastructure! Last but not the least, the money that was meant to rid our cities off the filth! In our various communities, where are these projects? What happened to the monies? That is the story of Africa! Several projects begin, but never end! These projects sit abandoned in bushes at various locations in our towns and cities! Each day, we pass by, look at them, and only wonder! Of course, our politicians have several stories to tell us; the bunkums!
Projects begin but never end! This is because the loans are squandered even before the projects begin! Yes, our leaders would rather share our monies, rather than service our needs! I sometimes wonder if the loans were indeed sought to cater for the needs of some particular individuals, rather than the needs of our communities! Do people have any conscience at all?
On streets, in our various communities, the evidence is visible! Children cry out in hunger! The sick can be found moaning helplessly! People have no access to decent accommodation! Our limited educational infrastructures lie in shambles! We have no access to potable water, food, clothing, electricity, good roads, and healthcare, to mention but a few! And yet, the aid and funding that governments receive as a solution to our socio-economic problems are sold off, split and squandered! That is the African! Proudly African!
In our oil –rich nations, the stories are usually horrifying! The oil resources, meant to serve the needs of the people, are again squandered! Proceeds meant for development projects, rather develop corruption! Most of these nations could survive on these proceeds, and yet in the end, these countries still seek international aid for development! It is always about bunkering! The Bunkering of our wealth and resources; the politics of Africa! It is only in Africa that leaders would gladly give away their people and wealth! That has always been the story of Africa! Evident in our history!
Our leaders embark on all sorts of journeys, in the name of soliciting for loans to facilitate various projects, usually adorned in all kinds of ridiculously expensive suits! They go out, begging for alms, and when they succeed, are only interested in sharing these loans!
We are not being told the truth! Africans sit and watch as the continent is ripped apart by wars! The destructions, in the end, leave the continent vulnerable to the advantage of some unscrupulous nations! We are made to believe that things are so bad, whiles our leaders sell off our wealth! We are being told of hardships, whiles our continent is being sold off! We are given loans, at what expense? Our politicians should let us in on the terms of trading! What are the terms and conditions for the huge loans and funding that we keep receiving in Africa?WWW.GHANAWEB.COM

LAW ENFORCEMENT OR BEGGING?

There seems to be a trend of law enforcement in Ghana, which has been so for several years and perhaps, forever remain. Our law enforcement is rather a ground for begging! A platform for soliciting for alms! I am sad to admit this but the fact remains; our law enforcement agencies are professional beggars!
One cedi! One cedi! One cedi! They actually call it Vodafone! For the police in Ghana, this issue is quite disturbing! Many of us have complained over the years about the humiliating or disgraceful manner in which they conduct their affairs! They know no bounds, and have no shame! Irrespective of the personality from whom they are soliciting for alms, it can be a disgraceful sight to behold! Quite disturbingly, a religious literature usually handed out by the Jehovah's witnesses on evangelism; in the form of the 'Awake' or 'Watch Tower' is their collection bowl. They normally give out this literature to offending drivers, who in turn, put in their bribes! At the various checkpoints, that is the norm! When it comes to commercial vehicles, drivers are at their mercy! Whether it is sachet water, plantain, tomatoes, oranges, charcoal, firewood, beverages distribution vehicles respectively, our gallant police want it all! All they ever seem to be interested in is extortion!
With the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure, Ghanaians all heaved a huge sigh of relief, especially when it began with our law enforcement agencies! We thought the corrupt days were over! That was a fallacy!

At our ports and harbours, the situation is worse! Most of us have our stories to tell! A lot of potential investors have untold stories to share! That is the story of the exploitation, bribery and corruption, and theft at our harbours, especially the Tema harbor! It is all about exploitation! The monies being exchanged at our harbours is a retardant to development! People are paying all sorts of monies as duties! These monies in the end, fail to make their way into government coffers! Most local businesses, usually in the areas of imports and exports, are running at a loss each day, due to this problem! People are forced to hand over their profits, even before they actually make those profits! How then do our businesses survive? How then do we expect investors to come in? Our harbours are rotting with thieves, dressed in law enforcement clothes! Most people have had to abandon their goods in the process of clearing, due to the huge sums demanded as duty and bribes! The monies are sometimes more than the actual value of the goods! Most potential investors have had to abort their missions due to the stinking situation at our harbours! Criminals are operating freely in Ghana today, simply because they can afford to bribe their way into the country! All forms of illicit goods are being released unto our local markets due to the activities of these unscrupulous custom officials!
At the airport, this trend exists! It is a normal occurrence for people to bribe their way into the departure halls when they are not travelling! That is an occurrence at the Kotoka International Airport, departure entrance! Our immigration officers are no saints either!
Do we really have laws in Ghana? By law enforcement, I am not referring to the so-called or perhaps, imposters we often encounter. I am actually talking about honest people! Incorruptible people! People who would stand for the truth! People who would fight to uphold the rule of law in Ghana! That is what we need! I am tired of seeing the professional beggars on our streets, parading or perhaps masquerading themselves in various law enforcement uniforms! I am tired of seeing professional beggars or thieves at our harbours, who are only interested in looting! Our custom officers like to play God!
Ghana deserves better! This country is making her marks internationally! Rather sadly however, she is making her marks for the wrong reasons! A lot of foreign investors have bitter stories to tell of this nation! The story of corruption! Ghana deserves a better reputation! Law enforcement is a noble profession; consequently, our agents ought to act right! Instead of begging, they ought to do their true job; the job that the nation pays them for! The job that our taxes are paying them for! They are not tax-collectors, and so, ought to leave that to the real professionals! They are no beggars, and so, ought to leave that to the actual beggars! At least, they should not create an undue competition for the real beggars! They should leave the begging to the beggars! They should leave the looting to the thieves! Who do we seek refuge from, when our law enforcement agents are themselves guilty? Or must we now go around effecting a citizen's arrest on offending law enforcement agents? If there are indeed laws in Ghana, they need to be re-enforced now!
Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.

ARE THE BEAUTIFUL ONES BORN?

Are the beautiful ones born? Are they yet to be born? Or would Ayi Kwei Armah forever be right in his assertion, 'The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born'?

Indeed, this novel has become my all-time best African novel. It highlighted so many truths in our Ghanaian society. Our African writers in the past have stated the obvious truths! These writers can indeed be classified as visionaries because the trends they predicted and wrote about still live on.

'The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born' dwelt mainly on the themes of corruption, and perhaps social classification and neo-colonialism. In the novel, the protagonist fights not to succumb to bribery, despite his desperate family situation. At his workplace, the platform was set, and for most people, would have succumbed! Again, we have a government official who surrounds himself with corruption, taking undue advantage of the opportunities as his mandate affords him but in the end, pays dearly; he has to flee Ghana in the event of a change of government, leaving behind all that he unscrupulously amassed! Again, our law enforcement agents are not spared; towards the end, Ayi Kwei Armah highlights the point that the very institutions established to check this canker, are no better examples. How then do we build our motherland, Ghana? That is our problem in Ghana today!

Are the Beautiful Ones yet born? Most people have taken the literal meaning to this. The superficial beauty is all that matters to us! In the choices we have made in life, and continue to make, it is all about the outward or phony! We forget the most important, which is the inner beauty; the beauty of character or virtue! A lot of us have fallen victim to this! All that glitters is certainly not gold!

As a Ghanaian, I keep asking myself this same question; are the beautiful ones born? At our various workplaces, it is always about the shortcuts, fictitious deals, illegalities, bribes, to mention but a few! In our hospitals, educational institutions, offices, private residential facilities, and rather sadly, or very own law enforcement agencies, one thing is pretty obvious; Ayi Kwei Armah's 'Beautiful Ones' are yet to be born! Our churches, the morality-check institutions, are not innocent either!

Corruption has become our way of life! Most people have turned pathological; pathologically corrupt! Whatever we do is always conditional! Will there ever be a solution to the issue of corruption? How do we go? Where do we start from?

Indeed, people have called for more stringent rules and regulations but in truth, those are no solutions! The real issue is enforcement! And who is responsible? Our various law enforcement agencies and agents are all guilty of this very crime! Institutions that have been established for the sole purpose of checking corruption are themselves guilty! Who then do we trust?

It is a matter of discipline! Ghana needs a revolution! We need a reform in our way of life, and in our way of thinking. Our children ought to be brought up on stronger moral foundations because for most parents or perhaps grownups, it is too late! It is the case of 'The Ugly Ones have been born'! With our children, there is still hope!

The foundation of our nation must be made secure, and so, our children ought to be brought up to fight for a positive change in all spheres of endeavour! We keep talking about change, but in truth, are unwilling to change! We are resistant to change, especially one that is positive! Let us endorse positivity, and decry negativity! In our country today, it is the battle of political parties! In the end, we keep voting in failures, who keep failing our country! We vote on grounds of outward beauty! Are the beautiful ones born?

I believe in a new Ghana! I believe in our future! I believe in the possibility of a corruption-free Ghana! I believe that Beautiful Ones have been born! Of course, all this is possible if we change our attitudes for the best. Ghana deserves our input! Ghana requires a collective effort from us all, as citizens! Our demands for better roads, improvement in utility services, improved healthcare and education, freedom and justice, compliance to our laws and other rules and regulations, to mention but a few can only be made possible by a change in attitude from us all! All these sectors of the economy are being managed by Ghanaians! It is not only the politician, but rather, you and I! We are the government! We are Ghana! Let us make Ayi Kwei Armah's dream of 'The Beautiful Ones', a reality! Are there any beautiful ones in Ghana? If so, where are they?

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), Takoradi.