Opinions of Sunday, 28 August 2016

Columnist: Danso, Kwaku A.

The destiny Ghanaians

File photo of Ghanaians at an eventFile photo of Ghanaians at an event

This week has seen the emotional turmoil of a people who believe in forgiveness and at the same time feel there is a need for some control of the tongue and discipline.

President John D. Mahama pardoned or had the 4 months court sentence of three men, called the Montie-3, supporters of his NDC party reduced or remitted to only one month and freed! These men who had passionately threatened High Court Judges on a Radio talk show, had been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of the court! Under extreme pressure and petition of members of his own party and cabinet ministers, the President caved in and petitioned the members of the Council of state, who advised forgiveness!

We are all Ghanaians and should remember our culture of fama-Nyame (Give-it-to-God). In our culture we believe that social justice can only come from a supreme being, either up the skies or in life yonder beyond death.

Many activist young ones are perturbed. I wrote this on a WhatsApp chat forum and share the gist here.

My advice: know when you have lost a battle and plan for the next hurdle!
There is nothing you and Ghana can do about John D. Mahama! We all believe in God but sometimes find it hard when desires are met!

It was our peoples' destiny of seeking a Humble ahobrease man after the Boom-Boom era of Jerry Rawlings and the PNDC that led God to grant us Presidents Atta Mills and then John Mahama!

It was the peoples' desire to get out of colonial rule that brought us Kwame Nkrumah after 100 years under a colonial Bond!

Now that incompetence and total lack of managerial and leadership experience has faced us for over 4 decades, what is our PRAYER as a people?

According to the survey that I did for my PhD dissertation research on Leadership Concepts and the Role of Government in Ghana (2003-2006), the number one and two considerations or desire or expectation of leadership our people look for are:

1. Concern (or Consideration) for their welfare and needs;
2. Management of resources.

Have these been met?
No!

And yet watch how our people vote in the coming elections!
Is it our inability to see quality and even what we want?

How many listened to the Presidential Debates in 2004, 2008, 2012?
I did and took copious notes!

How many cast their votes for the men who won hands down in the debates and made the most cogent and sensible solutions to our problems?

Every people get what they pray for and secretly wish for and deserve!
Anybody who believes in God prays inside; and if your prayers are strong enough the Laws of Nature, aka the Laws of Karma or Nkrabea (in Akan language) allow the opportunity to happen.

Enjoy your days in Ghana! Took me 5 days to recover from my trip to Ghana!

The writer is the author of : Leadership Concepts and the Role of Government in Africa: The Case of Ghana (2007, XLibris)
Author: Life Is War: A letter to Nephews, Nieces and Loved Ones Behind (2014, Page Publishing)