COMMENT: Mr President, I resign as a Ghanaian

A Ghanaian I have been very proud to be, I have been proud to be counted everywhere around the world as coming from Nkrumah’s Ghana, the Gold Coast.

From the times of Nkrumah to now I still kept my hopes up, believing that one day things are going to change; that another breed of leadership and a new Ghanaian will emerge from somewhere among us.

I resign today because I am tired of hoping for the best when nothing is being done.

I am tired of seeing children knocked down on the streets by irresponsible drivers because their desperate mother is somewhere struggling to make ends meet.

I am tired of going to the hospital and being told that there are no drugs or my health insurance is not working because government has not paid previous claims. I am tired of being stopped by the police every night to pay fifty pesewas for just passing their way; even if I were an armed robber.

I refuse to talk about the witches’ camp and the ‘trokosi’ camps still in operation, the increasing rape and defilement reports.

After 56 years, there is nothing happening in Ghana to be proud or hopeful of but a lot to be ashamed of.

More kids are homeless today than 50 years ago, people still die of malaria, hunger is everywhere and a growing state of hopelessness is pushing more and more people into crime.

The institutions of state have been hit by corruption and scandals, not to talk of the irresponsibility, waste and the erratic supply of water, electricity, gas shortage and cruel fuel price increases.

Bad policies have led to the formation of the Association of Unemployed Graduates.

At 56 we can only boast of changing government through the ballot box which, to a large extent, is not an achievement considering the issues surrounding it and the fact that Ghanaians are genetically preachers of “leave everything to God”- even when injustices are being done to them.

At 56, Ghana still has not found a way to utilise the energy of the youth whilst their dreams hang on political activism, party politics and computer fraud.

Leadership in Ghana is nothing to write home about. The educated ones trapped in party idiocy would gladly do anything to satisfy their chosen groups.

Parliament has become a shadow of its self and completely brainless; members will vote for everything on party lines whether good or bad and drag any tax payer who dares question such acts before the privileges committee to be bullied.

The media, the fourth estate of the realm, has become a punch bag of politicians who determine what will be discussed by owning most media houses or manipulating the news trends behind the scenes. The media has let itself to be used to destroy a lot of careers and people who probably had good intentions for this country with its tomfoolery.

Mr. President, my nightmares have doubled and my fear of dying still broke drives me to this decision with a heavy heart. In your three addresses of the nation you have failed to connect with me, you have allowed yourself be led by dubious speech writers who know what the people want to hear (but not what they want to see) even if it is not actionable.

Maybe things might change, maybe there might be something to hope for in the pipeline; but Mr. President, I don’t see it happening if people will simply not change and be accountable not to you, but to the poor people of Ghana whose strength is the only thing that keeps this country afloat - not you, not your politicians but us.

Mr President, I resign.