THE ORDINARY THIEF VERSUS THE CORPORATE THIEF
It
is an undeniable fact that in Ghana today, all sorts of crimes go unpunished.
Culprits go scot-free each day. On the other hand, and rather unfortunately, a
group of people get punished for these same crimes. Yes, the corporate thieves
get a pat in the back for the very crimes for which the ordinary thief gets a slap
in the face! That is how unfair life can be.
A bodyguard
has recently been sentenced to 20years for attempted forgery and theft. He has
gotten the full sentence. What baffles me is how quickly he was prosecuted!
Indeed, it was fast-tracked! And for what? 800 Ghana cedis. 20years in prison.
But
what happens to a minister or an MP, accused or arrested of the same crime? Did
I say the same crime? My apologies; let me re-phrase it. What happens to a
minister or an MP, accused or arrested for gross misappropriations or diversion
of funds? He is asked to proceed on leave! Only that? Yes, just that! Proceed
on leave, and the crime goes away. And what happens to our money? This is the
Ghana we are nurturing.
In
the same way, in our various organizations and institutions, the junior worker
gets arrested for a petty theft, whiles the senior staff gets transferred or
quietly discharged. And so, the era of double standards, continues.
As
citizens, we ought to be concerned about such issues. What happened to “What is
good for the goose is good for the gander”? Indeed, what is good for the goose
is good for the gander! People steal from this nation each day, and continue to
do so comfortable, to our unfortunate admiration. Our leaders are stealing each
day and yet, we act ignorantly. Of course, as soon as an ordinary thief is
caught, he quickly gets the full penalty.
Do
not get me twisted. I am no advocate of crime, neither am I an advocate for, or
of criminals. I am but an ordinary and concerned citizen who wants justice. I
believe that all crimes are, and should be punishable. I am not in support of
any crime or criminal but in enforcing punitive measures, we need justice. If
we want peace, we need to embrace justice. The law was made for us all, and not
just the ordinary man.
Why
should our leaders go unpunished for the kinds of atrocities they keep
committing? Have we ever stopped to consider the fact that situations influence
our actions or inactions? People commit all sorts of crimes out of desperation.
As a people, we ought to be more concerned about the root causes of problems,
and not just the solutions.
Countless
people live in poverty and desperation in this country. People are finding it
difficult making ends meet. Several go to bed on empty stomachs. To make a
single meal a day is a hurdle for many people. Paying utilities is practically
becoming impossible with each growing day. Our currency is fast losing value. Prices
of basic utilities and amenities are becoming an impossibility. For many
people, obtaining jobs is only but a dream; jobs are not available. In the
midst of this struggle, taxes are increasing. To make things worse, our
leadership seems only interested in squandering our already scarce resources.
Our taxes are being squandered lavishly.
And
what do we do? Nothing! And yet, as soon as an ordinary and hungry man steals a
piece of bread, he gets beaten or even lynched. Or gets a full penalty of
several years in prison, for a common loaf of bread, a goat, fowl, cell phone,
a few coins, whiles the man in suit, who is looting this nation, gets a pat on
the back. He only has to append his signature, and the crime goes away.
Imagine
the millions of cedis that have disappeared from our national coffers due to
corporate theft. We only have to use a pen and paper. Consider the number of
shady deals this nation has encountered in the past, and in recent times.
Consider the number of times such cases have been covered up. And so, the theft
continues. Corporate theft!
We
must wake up before it is too late. Yes, there is a punishment to every crime,
and our law makes that possible. Even without a law, there is the natural law
of karma, but what do we do as a people, in ensuring fairness in the rule of
law? In our prisons are people convicted for crimes they have not committed.
Rather unfortunately, they are rotting in jail; some, forgotten by their
families and friends. Rather ironically, the real criminals operate freely, under
the umbrella of our laws. They move around freely, under the umbrella of
government. We even help cover their crimes! Have our laws only be made for the
ordinary people?
Where
is this nation moving? Where are we going as a people?
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