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Opinions of Friday, 31 December 2010

Columnist: Dankwa Jr, Fredua

Wikileaks Ghana: The Aftermath

By Fredua Dankwa Jr.



Earlier this month I wrote an article entitled Wikileaks: Special Ghana Cables. It
was a satire with a sarcastic twist pointing out some of the social-economic woes
and the misplaced priorities of our so-called leaders. I also touched on the
nuisance on our FM radio airwaves and other ills.

Fast forward.

If you have been following the legend of Julian Assange and wikileaks, you know that
he heeded my frustrations and released "something small" on Ghana, but as my
American friends will say; 'is that all ya got?'. The most significant of the "real"
cables on Ghana had to do with the pervasiveness and infiltration of drug barons;
and the lapses in the Ghanaian law-enforcement system to curtail it, especially
during the previous administration. Come on Assange! This 'filla' is weak man.

Even 10-year old Ghanaians are not terribly shocked by these revelations. There were
drugs-related news almost every single day during the last administration;
culminating in the arrest and subsequent conviction of a member of Parliament in the
US. Are we supposed to be blown away by the fact that there were elements in our
security outlets aiding and abetting the drug lords? That the so-called gate keepers
didn't have the political will to fight the drug war?

Back to Bataan.

I have to rely on my imaginary 'classified' sources once again; so here we go.

They are finally moving their seat of government from the Danish-built slave castle
to the Indian miniature Taj Mahal and the hot subject is what to call it, albeit
spending a little fortune on curtains and accessories. They can't build anything for
themselves, what a shame? The Chinese constructed their Ministry of Defense building
and they're preparing to build the Ministry of Foreign Affairs too, imagine bringing
in the Russians to build the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon.
Our main concern here is that the darn Asians are taking over all the sensitive
joints in this country. Ghanaians import even toothpicks from China - ridiculous.

They live along clogged open sewers (gutters) with stagnant, smelly water and wonder
why about 60,000 of them die each year from malaria. It's a pity how a country the
size of Oregon, abundant in mineral and natural resources could be so poor. As I
said in the earlier cable, thousands of children are still going to school under
trees. Four million dollars was invested in some gold medallions in the name of
national awards, so that a certain "leader" could pat himself on the back whilst
those children still go to school under trees. Did I say there are children going to
school under trees? Anyway, there are efforts underway to make sure they all get a
cup with their leader's picture on it - yea how thoughtful huh! When it rains they
will have a cup to catch some rain water under the tree-school.

Pipe-borne water is a luxury here, electricity supply is as regular as snow in South
Florida; yet they borrowed more than 50 million dollars to celebrate their fiftieth
independence anniversary. It's tragic not only because of the waste, but the idea
that they were celebrating INDEPENDENCE. You can't help but think that they are hell
bent on self destruction. The so-called lawmakers only sit around and legislate fat
pay structures, bonuses and ex-gratia for themselves.


This "classified" cable was brought to you courtesy of www.FreduaDankwaJr.com.
Visit my blog to comment on the original article as we continue the Ghana
consciousness dialogue.
Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year