IN THE POT OF LIES: THE AFRICAN MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT

They are still at it o… I thought things would take a positive turn but rather sadly, it is only getting worse. I believe some people failed to make any positive new year’s resolutions. We are still being deceived. 

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article challenging us all to get involved in the things that concern us; ‘The Passive Ghanaian: The need for a focus group’. In this article, I admonished us all to show interest in all that goes on around us notably what our governments claim to be doing for us. I believe that most of us are not doing our homework, whiles our news media, our partners in ensuring accountability in governance, keep failing us. For this reason, the charade continues.

I particularly hate watching our local news, because embedded in its core, are scripts of falsehood. Yes, on the television, we are told that all kinds of projects are being initiated and executed. In our various offices, at our various workplaces, especially in the public sector however, we all know the truth. Nothing is being done! Most government workers receive information on what is happening at their workplaces, on the news! Yes, it is news, because we have never heard of it. It is news because they are fabrications! That is how deceit is built and propagated.

We are told that projects are on-going. We are shown pictures! We watch documentaries and other news feeds and get excited. We are even given brochures and then we tell ourselves; oh, the country is doing great! Only to realize later on that, they are all lies. Our talented video editors and graphic designers are testimonies to the world of deceit in the form of video or photo editing. Rather sadly, our various news media are partakers in this act of betrayal. We see projects being commissioned, and yet, they are not even close to completion. Most of these projects lay abandoned at the various sites. Of course, the pictures are usually subjected to editing or are taken elsewhere.

This is the story of Africa! That is the story of the African! We only believe what we read or see on our screens, but like movies, people are only acting based on powerfully written scripts and camera tricks! Yes, this world itself is a huge stage, and us all, actors. We only play our various roles, take the applause, and then, bow out! The realities however, are on the ground! They are in our towns and villages; in our localities. They stare us in the face all the time, and yet, we do nothing.

We know the minister is telling a blatant lie, by making claims to certain projects. In truth, they have not even been proposed. We are told that certain structures are near completion, but truth, they lie abandoned at the sites. We are told that some logistics have been distributed to our communities, when all is nonexistent.  We are told that jobs have been created, and yet in our localities, we are still unemployed. Where are those jobs? Each year, workers in this country go on strike, and yet each year, there is the usual talk of negotiations, promises of which are never kept. Disbursements of funds are often delayed because someone is profiting from the delay. We know the truth, and yet prefer to remain silent.

Who do we talk to, in trying to reveal such conspiracies? The best tool would be our news media but again, they are the very tool being used to propagate such fallacies. They have become the vehicles of propaganda! In our mundane politics, the opposition would have been the best tool, but of course, in their debates, it is the reign of trivialities. We trivialize everything through our cheap political debates. The one who seeks to uphold the truth falls prey to cheap propaganda. For these reasons, no one takes anything or anyone serious.

In making reportage, our media are most often dictated to, as to what is to be reported. This is common among governments. And so, our reporters keep lying to us. We are being fed with lies. Ghana needs frank or candid journalism, and journalists, who would give clear pictures or true images, and not necessarily what someone would conveniently want to be reported. Failure to do so is a betrayal of the trust of the people of this nation.

As Ghanaians, our taxes fund the national agenda. Rather sadly, these monies are being misused and mismanaged. As citizens, it is our responsibility to probe into such fictitious dealings. We have to keep our governments in check. Until we take charge of this nation and her affairs, our elected leaders would keep squandering our wealth and resources. Let us not sit in the comfort of our homes and listen to the deceit being concocted by our leadership, but rather take a keener interest in the affairs of this nation, by getting ourselves involved. Our politicians keep lying to us because Ghanaians endorse the lies each day; Ghanaians say or do nothing about it!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), esociocomm.blogspot.com

HOW HONOURABLE IS THE HONOURABLE?

It is said in our local adage that ‘The one who climbs the good tree, gets the push’. Encouragement or praise ought to be given to the one who merits it. Rather than a push, some people in this nation deserve to be pulled down. 

 Our leadership keeps failing us and yet, instead of hitting the nail on the head in telling them of their failures, we have rather coined a decent name for these people, as though they merit it. They are being addressed as ‘honourable! I have thought about this issue, and cannot seem to wrap my head around it. Even when they show us gross disrespect, even when their promises are not being fulfilled, even when their behaviour is far from honourable, we still call them honourable!

We keep calling them ‘honourable’, and yet, they are not honourable. How honourable is the honourable? Of course, they respond to it with feigned importance.

Honourable is an adjective of the word ‘honour’, which is to have a quality that commands great respect or esteem, or allegiance to moral principles. To be considered honourable therefore implies that you should be worthy of the calling. What do principled people do? Having a principle requires a code, standard, rule, law, attitude, belief, or an opinion that does not wane whatever the circumstance.

Rather unfortunately, in our part of the world, this word seems to have another meaning, or perhaps, no meaning at all. At least, hawkers use this word to lure people into purchasing their wares. The con-artists also love to use this word in their trade. It therefore has a cunning appeal or sting. It is more or less, a word or tool of seduction. When someone uses that word unwarrantably, it is because the person perhaps needs a favour or we are being conned. At such times, we watch out for what follows, and as always, a request follows.

The African loves to call all politicians honourable, who in truth do not deserve such appellations. The conducts of our ‘honourables’ are inappropriate and undeserving and yet, we keep calling them... I am most certain that at times, some of them actually have a great laugh at the irony behind their appellations, because they are very much aware of the fact that their conducts and misconducts, do not warrant such appellations.

We call them honourable, and yet, when we demand that they carry out their responsibilities, our requests are usually denied! Our demands must be accompanied by a bribe of one form or the other! In our society where bribery and corruption is killing us, our honourables are the usual perpetrators. They are the most corrupt people in our society! And yet, we call them honourable! We call them honourable, even as we watch them loot our nations, dry. We call them honourable, even as we watch them scramble among themselves, the best that this nation has to offer; even when we know that every decision taken by them, is for their own selfish interests. Let us look around us because around us are the results of a society being run by a principle of no principle.

The invasion of this nation by unlawful foreigners in the form of  illegal miners, thrift shops, black market operations, to mention but a few, can all be traced to our ‘honourables’. Viable lands and water bodies in this nation are being destroyed each day, all being endorsed by our ‘honourables.’ For these reasons, the call to rid this nation off these people has not gone far! They are the very brains behind these illegal operations.

In this dear nation of ours, the laws governing this land are non-functional. Simply because our laws are being disregarded! People receive various forms of law exemptions each day! On our roads, we usually encounter them over speeding; they break traffic regulations all the time, and of course, we usually excuse them. They are on national assignment! We have made people so powerful that the very laws by which they must rule, and therefore must be upheld, are being broken. The very people, who have given them the power and authority, are being trampled upon!

For most people, it is more of fear than respect. People live in fear of authority, and so, are forced to call them by such names, and not for the actual meanings. Of course, who would defend us should we fall prey to the monsters we have created in the form of these ‘honourables?’  How honourable is the honourable? 

Not so honourable, I would say!

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com), esociocomm.blogspot.com (Published 14/5/13)

FOR LACK OF WILL, GHANA SUFFERS!

"Ghana is our country. We have nowhere to go. This is where God has placed us and the earlier we realized this the better for all of us." Ako Adjei

Most Ghanaians live in oblivion! Selective oblivion perhaps! We are oblivious to the fact that Ghana is not moving! Ghana needs to rise above her presumptuous middle age development status! I am doubtful of our economic status, because whenever I look around me, and whenever I consider our economic predicaments and perhaps level of institutionalization and professionalism in this nation, one thing becomes clear, Ghana has a long way to go! We live in self-professed or self-acclaimed glory!

Our leaders tell us; oh, Ghana is doing great! All is well! The economy is growing! We are not doing badly at all! Inflation has been constant or stable, and then, the gullible Ghanaian believes! We take solace in their words!

What is your standard of living? How much can you comfortably spend a day in this country? Most salaried workers count each single day to the end of the month! It is a continuous struggle however the qualification! Should that be the case, considering the wealth of this nation?

I am tired of the frequent strike actions! Simply because our governments are always looking for ways of ripping us off! I am tired of the stories of youth unemployment! Simply because the country is failing to be self-sufficient! I am tired of the frequent shortages in basic amenities and utilities; power cuts, water shortages, fuel and gas shortages! I am tired of hearing stories about child mortality, maternal mortality, and the inadequacies in our health delivery! Again, I am tired of the usual stories of inadequate educational infrastructure, liaised with the unrealistic cut-off points by our institutions, a deliberate attempt to reduce the numbers of entrants into our various institutions! Access to basic goods and services in this beloved nation of ours, is still a nightmare! And yet, we get excited, whenever we are told the elusive stories of our progress! A snail pace! The works of mediocre minds!

It is quite clear that our democratically elected leaders have no will! The will to correct the canker, reeking in our society! The will to enforce the law and kill corruption! Our dictators however, exhibited much more will than they are credited for!

Having a will or willpower means having a spirit, force, motivation, strength of character, determination, resolve or self control! Can we therefore say that this beautiful country of ours, with a population of over 24million people, cannot boast of people with the above qualities? Are we then saying that none of our leaders have such qualities? If so, Ghanaians need to seriously reconsider the qualities by which we elect our leaders!  Because from all indications, most of us lack self control! That is why Ghana is beset by so many problems!

God gave us all a will! It is either you chose to be good, or you chose to be bad! It is either you are law-abiding, or lawless! Can we therefore not say no to corruption? Can we therefore not ensure that we carry out our individual national assignments or jobs as we might prefer to call it? Can Ghana ever boast of a democratically elected leader who is actually willing to fight corruption and preserve the rule of law? All we see are leaders, who are willing to compromise on the truth! We are willing to bend the rules! Why must we always veer off our course; can our leaders for once stay on course in securing the national agenda, if any?

The marks of a developed nation, or its secret, lies in the rule of law! It lies within their institutions! As a nation, Ghana is always quick to embrace new policies and other legal frameworks! Perhaps, only to keep herself abreast with the times; like fashion! When it comes to the implementation however, their lies the shame!

The rationale behind most policies and legal frameworks has been trivialized in this nation! I am sometimes surprised whenever I am told that certain clauses or legislative instruments or laws exist in our constitution! This is because they are not being used! They are all gathering dust in our constitution!

We know of the stories of the struggle for independence; as a nation, and as a people, what have we learnt from these stories? They are stories of great men and women, who fought for our liberation. They had a will to make a difference! Today in Ghana, Ghanaians are trading off their liberties! We are trading off our liberation! It is because we lack the will to do things for ourselves! We sit and watch as foreigners take over our industries because in truth, we are incapable! We have no will!

Ako Adjei once said; ‘Ghana is our country. We have nowhere to go. This is where God has placed us and the earlier we realized this, better for all of us.’ What do those words mean to you?

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