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Marking time |
The
typical Ghanaian has earned the philosophy of faineance. Our indolent
proclivities are a palpable quantity. As one quote I came across reads,
"In a society where average is exalted; genius is usually questioned and
disdained." To such punch of wisdom, I may surmise that the status quo
cannot remain for a country serious about meaningful and radical development.
In
truth, the average Ghanaian is a staunch member of the "No Ko Fio"
band. And in case you are wondering what the phrase connotes, it is what we may
explain as the Ga word for pittance. And when a true micrograph of
the expression is seen, the idea communicated extends its perimeter to the
provincial or parochial thinking of a gifted people who are yet to cease
acquaintance with the quilt. Our slow pace of development incriminates us. But
then again, our dreams are nothing sidereal—sublunary at best.
A
trenchant question may be apropos: When would the average Ghanaian step out of
his/her induced soporific state, and rise to purposeful and stupendous action?
Get some 'koko' or local porridge in the morning; throw in some 'waakye' (rice
and beans) in the afternoon; finish up with some 'banku' (corn/cassava dough)
in the evening; and with a good dose of entertainment: life is good! What?
Up
and down the country, we see—do we even have electricity at night to see
clearly?—a certain marking time to paradise. And at such chelonian pace, it is
an elusive ambition to dream of catching the trailing shadows of our neighbours
across the seas.
A nation
like Ghana needs a very different kind of leader from what we have had over
several years. If Nkrumah still stands as an imposing colossus, and our other
leaders are like pygmies playing "ampe" at his feet, then we have
failed as a nation. Why? The living cannot continue to glory in the achievement
of the dead, and barely leave nothing of significance to posterity. Such
situation, if it occurs, betrays the future of a people.
I
may at this juncture interject a conscientious statement worth considering: A
people with circumscribed ambitions will keep getting the same government. It
would be business as usual. In all sincerity, NDC or NPP does not have the
solution. In fact, they luxuriate in the dullness of shepherding benighted
souls.
Until
every Ghanaian begins to change his or her thinking, we shall continue our slow
procession on the proscenium of nothingness. It is almost delusional to think
we will see much improvement considering our sluggish motion—crawling when
others are flying. So what should we do, "Madam Loudmouth," as some
may shout?
Physical
agitation and joining a certain social chorus, and camping at key public places
for attention, in the zeitgeist replication of what we see on TV occurring in
other regions will yield nought. Show me one country that is better off after
the people hit the streets? Can you quantify the real benefits? Was there any
significant shift? Did they immediately oscillate from perdition to paradise;
or, swing like a pendulum from despair to delight; or, from backwardness to
development?
Even
in our own country when once we chanted as though possessed, "Let The
Blood Flow": Did our lot significantly improve? One website names a person
at the vanguard as being one of the country's richest. But some will swear by
demonstrations till they draw their final draught of breath. Thus, it would be
a personification of inanity to expect people not to hit the roads for some
lawless law-keepers to suffuse them with hot water and pepper spray. Both will
only be pandering to their own decision making systems.
My
puissant solution is what I call "Revolution By Cerebration." Let the
average Ghanaian this year cut down on watching TV—for example—and start
investing in personal development, and we shall all reap the rewards. Let the
citizens of this potentially great country fling open the doors of our frigid
minds to fervid and meaningful thinking. Yes, let's set our minds to work, and
stretch it even further. And such actions will have a domino effect. Indeed, it
will snowball to other areas of our life. And if by serendipitous imposition,
those at the helm push themselves a little more, then solutions will start
emerging for many of our seemingly impossible perennial challenges.
Did
I once hear a member of the government bemoan the fact that we are not
thinking? And did one prominent lawyer who is almost becoming a celebrity of
sorts echo similar thoughts? To both Mr. Politician and Mr. Lawyer, I invite
you to follow up this article with a piece that advances the thoughts echoed
here; if indeed you were both true to what you stated. And yes, you, the
reader, spend some time and think about the state of our country, and what you
believe ought to be done. If you can summon your power of clear thinking and
have confidence in your practical suggestions, then kindly send them to me
using the email address below. I shall upload them as part of the
"Revolution By Cerebration" diaries, for all Ghanaians to freely
read. Let's get this quiet revolution started now.
Until
we fully harness our collective wisdom as a people, lay aside our garments of
laziness, and quit our membership of the "No Ko Fio" band, as well as
triturate the fixed frontiers of thought, we shall continue to mark time all
the way to paradise.
Nevertheless,
I maintain a titanic belief and grounded hope that once this revolution swells,
it will suck many into its vortex, and the stirring spirit of the times will
break the stranglehold of stagnancy, and we shall travel in a volant pace, at
full pelt, and at full bore all the way to our long overdue paradise. Finally,
I shall invoke the sagacity of an Old Testament sage, and previse that,
"Things shall not remain as they are" (Ezekiel 21:26 ESV). Without a
shadow of a doubt, "Nothing will be restrained from [us], which [we] have
imagined to do" (Genesis 11:6 KJV).
God
bless our homeland Ghana!
For
national development,
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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