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Opinions of Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Columnist: Kwaku Badu

Ghana: The witch-hunting noise typifies an isolated thinker’s sad complexion

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Of course, I do not want to be part of the witch-hunting trumpeting bandwagon. In fact, if anything at all, I will dare state that such a stance is an instance of an isolated thinker’s disposition.

As a matter of fact, I cannot remit my fury in condemnation when the witch-hunting trumpeting Ghanaians keep suggesting that if an authorised investigative body invites a suspect (as in the case of the businessman and the brother of former President John Mahama, Ibrahim Mahama) for interrogation, it amounts to witch-hunting.

Perhaps, the individuals harbouring such disposition are either being mischievous or seeking to pervert the course of justice.

Well, I will humbly enquire: if you are not a thief, why be concerned of the presence of police?

Then again, with all due respect, if you are not a witch, why be worried about ‘witch-hunters?

It is indeed heartrending to keep hearing such a ridiculous claim from the apologists who only follow narrow party coloration, devoid of patriotism and reasoning.

But then again, one has to contain his/her emotional intelligence and composure, for after all, haven’t sycophancy, partisanship and lack of patriotism been our greatest nemeses?

Well, given the bizarre circumstances, we can logically conclude that vague apprehension of patriotism exists in the minds of many Ghanaians, and would, however, choose party interests over the national interests.

It would, however, seem that we, Ghanaians, and Africans as a whole, are possessed with grovelling characteristic of a sordid mind which hates anything that comes with honesty and integrity.

Thus, our leaders, having first-hand knowledge of our servile compliance and hero-worshipping gimmickry, tend to take us for granted and continue to dip their hands into the national coffers.

Paradoxically, however, in Ghana, greedy and corrupt officials are held in high esteem by the brassbound loyalists for stealing from the national purse at the expense of the suffering masses.

How bizarre, how pathetic and how ironic would the apple-polishers eulogise alleged wrong doers who are bent on siphoning our scarce resources to the detriment of the poor?

Let us be honest, and rightly so, we definitely need attitudinal and behavioural change, for we must not and cannot keep on hero-worshipping individuals who harbour ulterior motives.

As a matter of fact, if we continue that way, our beloved Ghana cannot advance meaningfully, indeed, not anytime soon.

Tell me, how long can we continue to unjustifiably defend the voracious and corrupt officials who do not have the nation at heart?

The fact of the matter is that we cannot develop as a nation if we follow narrow political lines, and continue to defend the villainous officials who only harbour vested interests.

Apparently, we are at where we are at the moment, because of the gargantuan bribery and corruption being perpetrated by some individuals in high positions.

The fact however remains that the corrupt individuals close to the corridors of power persistently steal from the national coffers.

If that was not the case, why are we struggling despite all the copious resources at our disposal?

Let us admit, though, some villainous individuals have been stealing from the national purse all this while. And, if that was not the case, how come we command all these resources and still find ourselves in a pickle jar?

To be quite honest, Ghana may not see any meaningful development, so long as we have officials who are extremely greedy, corrupt, and insensitive to the plight of the impoverished Ghanaians.

What’s more, in so far as we have ravenous tax evaders that are corrupt and heartless, I dare say that Ghana may never advance meaningfully in our lifetime.

Ironically, we began with the likes of South Korea, Malaysia and Brazil, but Look at where they are.

They have developed their economies tremendously. They are making cars, Mobile phones, electronics, good roads, good housing, and pragmatic and expedient programmes to developed their respective countries, and just look at where we are today.

Disappointingly, however, we now go to those countries we started life with, and beg for donations, or borrow money--do you remember STX? ‘Mourn your beloved Ghana’.

Well, let us hope and pray for President Akufo-Addo to provide us with the true leadership we so much desire.

Let us however be blunt, and rightly so, we require a true leadership with vision and ideas, altruistic leadership devoid of corruption, greed, Incompetence, cronyism, nepotism and capable of transforming us into an industrialized and robust economy.

K. Badu, UK.