power can be intoxicating

POWER CAN BE INTOXICATING

“You should not represent the people if you cannot improve their lives” (Philip Atawura student of GIJ).

            It seems no strange that human beings have to assume power or authority in institutions or countries in order to direct their fellow men unto the right path.  But is that really the case in Ghana and Africa? 

            Some people have even asserted that, to know who really a person is, give him power or leadership position.  Simply because it is only when one is a leader that you know his/her true colours. However, could this and many other assertions about power being intoxicating to be true? Political power has become one of the positions that is very corrupt – though I stand for correction.

            Lord Arton, a Political thinker once said, “Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely” and this can clearly be seen in African political leaders both past and present.

Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia abused his office by committing crimes against humanity.  He murdered a lot of Liberians by cutting off their limbs and mutilating civilians as well.  He also used women and girls as sex slaves and raped many. 

            Similarly, Idi Amin, the former President of Uganda has been described as the most notorious of all Africa’s Post – independence dictators.

He also murdered, tortured and imprisoned about 100,000 million people in Uganda.  Idi Amin is popularly known as the “Butcher of Uganda” due to the Outrageous, primitive and barbaric acts he carried out against his people during his tenure.

The obvious question one may ask is, was he trying to do away with his people and then rule over animals?   

Interestingly, the former leaders of Congo, Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda cannot be left out of the accusation against the killing of women and children.

            Consequently, these countries up to date are suffering from development due to the irresponsible behaviours of their leaders.

For instance, Congo, Somalia, Burundi and Ivory Coast have seen no development even though the African Union (AU) is trying its best to help resolve this problem.  All these can be leveled against the leaders who set wars in these countries.

            However, these leaders have not, and will never go scot free.  Either they are imprisoned after their tenure of office or they run in and out of court each time.  Some even suffer severe ailment and are unable to cure them and die as a result.

Indeed, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome was right when he said, “as a leader if you don’t give your best while in office, you will be in pains when you are out of office”.

            It is against this backdrop that Charles Taylor, Laurent Gbagbo and many other African leaders today are spending their lives in jail and are constantly taken to the Hague in the Netherlands for further accusations.

            Presently, Robert Mugabe is sharing power with Morgan Tsvangarai with Mugabe being the incumbent President of Zimbabwe and the latter as the Prime Minister.

This is simply because Mugabe refused to accept election results during Zimbabwe’s last election.  This brought about a lot of tension and mayhem in the country leading to the lost of many lives and many were wounded in the process.

            In 2007 – 2008, under the leadership of Mwai Kibaki the current President of Kenya, there occurred a post – election violence leaving people in torture and pains.

            Meanwhile, Abdulai Wade, the former President of Senegal cannot be left out of the hook as being corrupt in his office.  He managed to change the country’s constitution to suit him when his tenure of office was over.

            Indeed, one cannot talk about Africa and rule out col. Muamar Al – Gadafi, popularly known as the “desert warrior”.  When the people of Libya were tired of his 40years and over leadership, they asked him to organize an election and the best thing he could do was to wage war against his own country men thereby killing thousands of people and leaving many children homeless and hopeless.  Today, Libya is faced with a lot of challenges in the area of development all because of the irresponsible behavior of one political leader – Gadafi.  Unfortunately, in the end, Gadafi died a bitter and shameful death.

            Sometimes the question I ask myself is, were these not the same people who have been begging to be voted for and the reward they can give in return is to abuse the power entrusted in their hands? It is really sad and shameful.

            I am therefore quick to add that, I vehemently oppose William Shakespeare when he said in Hamlet that, “frailty, thy name is woman”.

Frailty has to do with human beings in general hence the afore – mentioned Presidents are all frail.

            In Ghana, the situation is same.  For instance, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who is revered all over the world by every individual, including myself as one of the world’s heroes, also corrupted his position while in office as the first President of Ghana.

History has it that, Nkrumah set up the Bureau of National Affairs which was secretly known as special African service which was to train people in guerilla warfare.

In addition, Nkrumah set up secrete camps in towns like Berekum, Wa, Navrongo, Yendi and Okponglo.  He did all these to protect himself and not the Ghanaian population.  It is therefore obvious to say that, Nkrumah did all these to retain power for long.

It is also recorded that Nkrumah pushed a lot of money belonging to Ghana, to Guinea Bisseau.

He left the Ghanaian economy in a devastating position.  The question to ask is, was this not the same man who helped Ghana gain independence from her colonial masters?

            Under the leadership of Lt. General J.A. Ankrah, the country was faced with high rate of inflation, high prices of goods and shortage of essential provision.

Meanwhile, this very man together with others overthrew Nkrumah claiming that Nkrumah did not deserve to be in office.  He then assumes office and does worse things.

            The order leaders who abused their position include; Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings among others.

            Currently, the country is faced with a lot of problems under the leadership of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.  But this was the same man who promised Ghanaians heaven and earth before he was elected into office.

            It is also surprising to hear when our leaders who are expected to make the lives of the Ghanaians better compete among themselves with what they do and provide for their communities.  Even the provision of social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals has become a competition as to which political leader provided it. 

But is it not the tax payer’s money that is used for the provision of these entire infrastructures?  Why then the competition?  NDC says I have done this and NPP claims, they did that.  Currently, the National Democratic Congress government claims they have provided over 1.8 million jobs all over the country.  Yet people are complaining of not having jobs to do. 

If I may ask, why do our leaders think Ghanaians entrusted the country into their hands?

            On December 7 2012, Ghanaians will be going to the polls to vote for leaders of their choice.  For this reason, politicians will cajole people in their campaigns to vote for them and promise them heaven on earth.  At the moment Ghanaians are witnessing such campaigns where some politicians are making promises they know they cannot fulfill in the long run.  It is therefore obvious that because these politicians need votes from Ghanaians that is why they are embarking on such campaigns.

Eventually, they will tend to abuse such positions when they are given the mandate.

            I will therefore not be surprised to see a new government replicate the same mistakes of our past leaders.

            I am therefore of the humble opinion that, African leaders must recognize that leadership goes by followership.  And leadership or power is given to people not because of their beauty but their competence and ability to serve their subordinates.

 Leadership must be by the concern of the people.  Therefore, our leaders must leave office peacefully when their followers express dissatisfaction in them.  It should not be the time when leaders tend to wage war against their subordinates. The Good Book (Holy Bible) says that, “whatever a man sows, so shall he reap”. Against this background, if a leader sows chaos and anarchy before leaving office, he will surely reap the end result of it. In conclusion; Ghanaians do not need leaders who always claim will die for them but leaders who are committed to make the lives of the people better.  Remember, our leaders, you either “drink deep or taste not”,

Long live African leaders, long live Ghana.  May God bless us all.

Written by Charles Andoh(Ghana ,institute  of journalism).

E-mail: charlesandoh28@yahoo.com.

THE MEDIA AND THE 2012 ELECTIONS

“Ma oman yi ho nhia wo, Ghanaman y1 woara wodze”, goes a popular Akan song.

            As a Student Journalist, I have been made to know that a Journalist is the eyes, ears and nose of his readers, listeners or viewers.

The role of the media in every country cannot be underrated especially in Ghana; being the fourth estate of the realm.

But can we all say that the media in Ghana is up to the task?

            Indeed, there is no denying the fact that, “democracy without the media is like a vehicle without wheels” – Dr. Joyce Aryee.  She further argues that any country without a media is like a country ready for civil war.  Hence, the media in every country is the backbone of democracy.

            The media also play a significant role by reminding politicians about their “gargantuan” promises during election.  It is this same media that add value to people’s lives.

Being the cardinal point in nation building, the media also help build and mould people.

It also takes the media to build and to destroy a society.

            Furthermore, it is the media that is expected to form, inform and transform a society – Ghana.

            As indicated earlier as the fourth estate of the realm, the media is the conscience of the nation to the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.  Simply put, the media play a “watchdog” role to the three arms of government.

            However, the media in Ghana has experienced a lot of criticisms and rebukes from Ghanaians in recent times as being the platform for people to use to cause trouble and confusion in the country.

Election is fast approaching and Ghanaians expect a lot from the media as they go about their duties.  We were all in this country when a minister used the media to incite one ethnic group against the other.  In fact, such a comment from Hon. Kennedy Agyapong (MP for Assin – North) should be frowned upon.

It is this same media Hon. Baba Jamal used to declare “Jihad” in his constituency (Akwatia).   As if that was not enough, it was this same media the flag Berra for the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Nana Akufo Addo used to declare “all die be die” in the 2012 elections.  Indeed, such a comment has become a public critique.      

            It seems the media has forgotten so soon what happened in Rwanda in 1994.  In his book, “The Media and the Rwanda Genocide”, Allan Thompson recounts the major role the media played in fuelling the killings in Rwanda between the Tutsis and the Hutus.

He further argues that the local radio and print media in Rwanda were used as a tool to encourage the two major ethnic groups to fight each other.

Indeed, Radio – Télévision Libre Milles (RTLM) was found and owned by political actors who were associated with the then ruling regime.

Till date, the RTLM has not been left out of the hook as being the platform for the Rwandan war.

Do the media in Ghana want to be known as a platform for causing confusion?  Certainly, this will only be seen through their reportage.     

            On December 7, 2012, Ghanaians will be going to the polls.  For this reason, the eyes of the world will be on Ghana through the media.

I therefore want to appeal to our media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage each time.

The media must also know that like the prophets of old, they speak for people – Ghanaians.  They must also not entertain those who want to use their platform to incite people to cause ethnic violence.  Rather, they must whip up the sense of patriotism of Ghanaians.  The media must bear in mind always that they are building a society in which they themselves will always live in.   

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome once said, “if you build your society as a Journalist based on falsehood, you’ll be living in it in the long run”.

            My humble opinion to the umbrella body – Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is that, they must set their priorities right and be up and doing.  GJA must also wake up from their slumber and set up policies to check on all the charlatans in the system.

I also humbly appeal to Parliament as a matter of urgency to pass the Broadcasting Law to help regulate the activities of the media. 

            Finally, media men will be held accountable for their vocation one day.  Therefore, they must not abuse their jobs.

Ghana needs peace before; during and after the 2012 elections and we are all counting on the media.

Long live Ghana, long live the media.  God bless us all.

                                                                                                            Charles Andoh;

                                                                                                            Student –  

                                                                                                            Ghana Institute of Journalism

                                                                                                            Charlesando28@yahoo.com