Plastic Chairs Down Senior Military Officers

The issue of shoddy goods on the Ghanaian market was manifested this past Wednesday afternoon when two retired senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces were sent crashing to the floor during a public discussion on private security companies at the lecture hall of the African Security, Dialogue and Research (ASDR) offices at North Legon.

The hall was hosting important personalities who have served and are still serving this country in various spheres. Col. Coker Appiah (Rtd), General Edwin Sam (Rtd), a former Chief of Defence Staff, Mr. Kyei, a former IGP, Mr. Quantson, a former Director of the Special Branch and a host of other important personalities were all there.

As the lecture gathered pace, a loud bang shattered the silence of the hall and startled or rather frightened participants. It sounded like some firearm going off. Everyone stretched out to find out what had gone amiss. A participant, obviously with the New York bombings in mind, jokingly said he thought some terrorists had landed in the hall! The bang was the explosive sound from a plastic chair which had failed: broken, unable to carry the weight of its occupant! The casualty was the venerable Col. Coker Appiah who was sent sprawling on the floor until he was given a helping a hand to stand on his feet.

The worried countenances of the assembled showed sympathy but also apprehension as to who could be next. The apprehension was to come sadly true moments later when the second victim, Lt. General Sam was also sent sprawling on the floor. Another chair had broken, also with a bang. There was a ring of irony here because Colonel Coker Appiah had warned the General to be wary of the chair he was going to occupy when the latter came in after the first incident, to occupy his seat as chairman for the function.

The General too was given a helping hand to stand on his feet. With their dignities slightly bruised, the two distinguished military men continued as if nothing had happened and presented the image expected of them: officers and gentlemen.

Dr. Niyi Alabi, who was present, did not want to fall victim to the disrespectful Ghanaian-made plastic chairs and at a point left the hall, only to return with a firmer chair from an inner room.

It has often been said that the country has to do a lot to improve the quality of its products if it is to make an impact on the international market. Consumer protection is another area to be developed in Ghana. Two chairs breaking at the same time, in the same venue clearly point to shoddy work. Consumers deserve the right to sue companies which produce such shoddy products. The culture of suing manufacturers with shoddy life-threatening products must be applied if we are to progress as regards the production of good quality products and services. What could have happened if the victims of the shoddy chairs had sustained serious body injuries? Would we have just given everything to God as is common here?

Unusually boring was the presentation of the private security companies representatives at the discussion, who seemed to lack a coherent and articulate position of their profession in the country's overall security strategies.