FREEDOM OF SPEECH: A MIRAGE IN AFRICA

In as much as we fight for freedom of speech in Ghana and Africa, the fact remains that for most people, it is a mirage. As humans, we all have our fundamental rights to life, association, property, among others and most importantly, our freedom of speech. This particular freedom cuts across all the various rights that we have as humans and hence is of grave significance. This freedom gives us all the right to voice out our opinion especially on issues that affect us. From so many indicators, these freedoms or rights that we do enjoy are all subject to various influences; as Africans and Ghanaians, this is subject to our culture.

Although we make noise on our various media about freedom of speech and have fought over the years to exercise this particular freedom to the maximum, we know very well that in truth, this can never become a reality for a group of the populace mainly women and children. Perhaps through continuous education, this dream will become a reality although the evidence remains that education has still had no impact on some people in our society.

As Africans, our culture enforces respect for the elderly by the relatively younger generations. Based on this particular cultural heritage, it is difficult to challenge an adult although the temptation may arise but the fear of the consequences alone does not propel one to take such a risk. Our culture as Africans requires the younger ones to keep quiet when elders are talking and in some cases, leave the premises. Women are expected to keep quiet and not utter a word until their opinion is required. Indeed, our culture makes the African world one dominated by men and that has been the case until quite recently through education and perhaps changing trends, African women have become more vocal.

In line with modern times, people have become bolder each day. Gone are the days when only the grey hairs met to deliberate on issues concerning society. These days in all decision making, the younger generation is actively involved and so are women. Now, the younger voices can be heard loud and clear. With all that is happening, this courage is only limited to some of our public and private organizations; when it comes to our typical home settings, this freedom of speech stops right at the entrance to most homes. Parents still dictate for their children however old they may be. It is difficult for the African child to challenge his parents or elders since it is considered a taboo and a great form of disrespect when a child talks back even if the issue concerns that child. Any child who dares is branded as disrespectful which calls for severe punishment to the extent of some parents mainly the fathers disowning their children.

The African child or better still the Ghanaian child is brought up to be quite timid compared to children in western countries who are more vocal and forthcoming in their opinions. Even in the school environment where comparatively, some tolerance is expected, the same trend exists. With all the education most teachers and lecturers claim to have, they practice this same trait in the school environment.

Students are forced to accept whatever their teachers or lecturers put forward without making any suggestions however viable. Any student who opposes is blacklisted and most often, consequences are grave; students are deliberately failed in exams for challenging something a teacher or lecturer said. How far will we carry our outdated culture? I thought education was mainly to impart knowledge? Can knowledge be found with only one person preferably the older generations? Can a young mind not come up with equally innovative ideas? Has the western world not proved that already considering how many young brains have come up with so many inventions especially in the world of IT? How can the African child go beyond the cultural barriers and equally excel when we are still bound by some of our archaic cultures?

The effects of this archaic culture are unfathomable. We often meet people who are naturally timid, cannot look one in the eye and are sometimes hesitant to voice out their opinion. During job interviews, a lot of people are scared of answering questions and expressing their views however brilliant the idea or submission may be. In the classroom, a lot of students exhibit this same timidity in the way and manner in which they answer questions. Most often, such students have brilliant ideas but are too scared to answer since at home, their opinions are best left to themselves. How do we expect such students to excel when they have low self esteem?

Currently on most of our television stations, we often watch various reality shows and on these shows are judges. It is sometimes rude and annoying when contestants are prevented from voicing out their opinions just because a judge feels it is inappropriate for contestants to talk back; often, contestants are addressed rudely. The irony of this is that, these ideas were copied from similar shows that had been organized in the western countries but the difference is that in the original countries, contestants are allowed to speak freely. If we are replicating parts of some people’s cultures, we might as well copy all the positive ones and put a stop to the remix carried out back home in Ghana. This story is no different in most governmental and private institutions where employees are not allowed to express their opinion on certain decisions taken that might affect them for fear of losing their jobs. Even in some hospitals, patients are not allowed by some doctors to contribute to decisions affecting their health. That shows the gravity of this issue. If we are embracing freedom of speech and expression, we need to do so in totality.

It has been several years down the lane when people fought to abolish some of our outmoded cultural practices but clearly, we are still enslaved by some. We all talk about colonialism and neocolonialism although other forms of slavery still exist in our various homes and organizations both private and governmental. The younger generation is still being enslaved by the older generation, by families especially. When will we allow the young ones to spread wide their wings and fly?

A lot of women and children advocacy groups and human rights activists have toiled over the last decades to ensure equal rights among women and children but again, in our homes, the story is no different. Women are not allowed to express their views on pressing issues. Some husbands keep their wives in bondage mentally and physically and prevent them from taking any initiatives; they deliberately make their wives so reliant. For some men, their wives are just to cater for the home and nothing else. For this reason, some wives are not allowed to take up any jobs although the contribution to the maintenance of the household through these jobs can be immense. With all these happening, we still have the audacity to talk and complain about slavery and colonialism when people are being enslaved in our individual homes.

In some homes with house helps, it is unbelievable when you sometimes hear the dilemma and hell most house helps have to endure. What makes it more depressing sometimes is when you consider the type of households that these crimes take place. Most often, these things happen in the homes of the so-called educated elite in society. Clearly, most people just past through the educational systems without receiving any form of education. Education is to impart knowledge and give us a better understanding of things; something that should make us all better citizens and better humans.

Some people are still so deep-rooted in their culture that nothing will ever make them change, not even when the heavens come down. Our culture was made by us and not the other way round. It is subject to change and time has taught us that. Our culture is a necessity since it defines us but the elements that go contrary to the fundamental human rights of any individual should be disregarded.

Women and children are always the vulnerable and most of these archaic cultural practices go against them. Things are changing around us and we need to change positively. If we are embracing various aspects of the western culture, we need a holistic approach. If we are screaming for freedom of speech and expression, it should be to the advantage of all especially the vulnerable in society. In line with all rights come responsibilities. We ought to take responsibilities for our actions. Just as we are crying for freedom of speech and expression, we should be careful of whatever we say. Where your right ends is the starting point for someone else’.

Published: Daily Graphic (17^th Nov. 2010).