Fools Denigrate Martyrdom

"Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools"—Proverb 26:9


 
The first president under Ghana's fourth republic is passionate about many things including discipline, albeit defined in his own terms. His passion for discipline saw three ex-military heads of state and five generals dispatched to the otherworld to 'cleanse' the military. For him, Solomon's admonishing expressed in Proverbs 22:15- Foolishness is bound into the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him- is profound. As a thirty something year young officer who shot his way into power twice, he is used to being referred to as 'the oldman' even by much older men as a sign of respect. So when it comes to discipline ala Proverbs, he is the oldman and everyone else his son. For many years the rumour mill had it that he dished a few slaps to this and that minister at the castle to straighten them out. I only believed them when he pounced on his own vice-president a man far his senior in age at a cabinet meeting. President Mills has received a verbal lashing from him for not living up to the Rawlings standard of discipline resulting in too many 'twits' perambulating the corridors of the castle.

So it happened that a certain 27 year old Nana Darkwa thought the shortest path to fame was to talk his way. At a time the whole country was commiserating with the former first family for losing their house in a valentine day blaze, he alleges on a radio station I personally didn't know still existed that ex president Rawlings set fire to his own house. He goes ahead to throw down the gauntlet inviting the Ex president's aid to challenge his facts. Kofi Adam, haven been schooled in the Rawlings discipline doctrine, picks up the gauntlet the Rawlings style. He gets the police to storm the radio station, arrest Nana Darkwa, present him before a judge who remands him for two weeks under a law that most advocates of free speech didn't know existed, all within a matter of hours.

After he was admitted to bail by another court the next day, Nana Darkwa granted interview to JoyFM. Listening to the interview I couldn't help but admire how martyrdom easily opens its doors to fools once it can find foolish conspirators. Like a beautiful piece of art placed in the wrong setting, lovers of free speech had to rally round Nana Darkwa, an epitome of what we don't want free speech to become, to assert our right to speak. Nana Darkwa's speech on radio was not only irresponsible but reckless and repugnant, and must be condemned by all opposed to gagging our society. Ironically, such reckless commentary on radio provides ammunition to those who think our freedom of speech must be criminalized. If we allow the likes of Nana Darkwa to run riot with speech terrorism on our airwaves, we run the risk of reversing all the gains chalked in our quest for a free speech society. It behooves all lovers of free speech to condemn such irresponsible use of our priceless freedom to maintain its sanctity and scare off the likes of Nana Darkwa. I understand he went to church with his parents to thank God for his bail. If I was the preacher for the day, I would have read him Proverbs 18:6 – 'A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating'. Criminal libel may be off the statutes but people who feel defamed by unsubstantiated allegations may seek their pound of flesh in a civil court. Going on radio and swearing to things that be not as if they are is not the smartest thing to do. Mama, please call your son at dawn as our elders used to do and find him some words of advice, surely there is something left in the pot for him at 27.

What do we say about the other conspirators in this saga? Kofi Adams says Rawlings didn't know about his actions and I say, Yeah Right! When it comes to making unsubstantiated and wild allegations against people high and low, Chairman Rawlings stands tall. Where are the names of the people who murdered dozens of women in Ghana? Of course we need a lie detector and Atoa Nyama to bring them out. Between what Nana Darkwa said and the many things the ex president had said, from which commeth fear and panic? Would Kofi Adams have found it prudent, if his boss had been dragged before an over-zealous regional police commander when he made wild allegations against President Kufuor and many other people? The last time I checked, the 'twit' Ludwig said he never used a police escort home. Rawlings and Co are the last to throw stones at Nana Darkwa. They live in a tall glass house. If Chairman Rawlings finds a dose of his own medicine too bitter to swallow, perhaps it can help reform him. Unlike Nana Darkwa, there is little advice left in the pot for him at his age, but maybe a dose of his bitter medicine will be more successful. I hear he will be praying for the young man. So are many men slandered and called thieves by him praying for him. It will be interesting to find out from the police commander what she thinks in retrospect. Were all the resources and efforts spent in the dramatic arrest of Nana Darkwa worth it? The melodrama only popularized Nana Darkwa's allegations. Before Nana Darkwa opened his mouth too wide for his own good, I'd read a humorous piece on Ghanaweb that claimed Yaa Beauty saved Valentine by the blaze. Many contributors told the author what they feel about his piece and they were not all complimentary. Because Auntie Rose didn't create operation Cyber Storm, the good majority of Ghanaians never heard the ludicrous meaning the author read into the blaze. I believe if Kofi Adams and the police had acted differently, not many souls will ever have heard of a certain Nana Darkwa or his nonsensical ramblings at the station. How many Ghanaians listen to that show on Top Radio? But I guess now that they have a star panelist, many more will listen including Rose Atinga, Kofi Adams and a certain judge Wilson.    

Legal experts like Ace Ankomah have delivered informed treatises on the contribution of our laws and the judicial system in creating this avoidable saga. From a lay man's perspective, I'm just at a loss as to how our laws allow a judge to send someone to jail for two weeks even before his case is heard just because he shouted arson! Are we serious about decongesting our prisons? I find it difficult to understand how shouting arson can create panic and fear. How come some people can get a battalion of policemen to execute such a needless operation with alacrity whiles majority of the people will be lucky to get one police man (woman) to defend them when they are really under attack. Is somebody running a parallel security system within the state security apparatus?

The real heroes in this drama are all those who stood to be counted when our freedom was under attack. The message has been succinctly delivered; Ghanaians cherish our freedom of speech and will rise to defend it even if the speech belongs to misguided commentators like Nana. Kudos to the GJA, NMC, Prof. Karikari, Kwesi Pratt, His Excellency President Mills (who doesn't respond to Atta anymore) and many ordinary Ghanaians who told Kofi Adams, his employers and other conspirators that we frown on flagrant abuse of power, even if the perpetrators have unfettered access to the State security apparatus. Had it not been for these heroes, Nana Darkwa would have achieved undeserved martyrdom. I find this particular thought very offensive. Fools denigrate martyrdom, but the truth is they can easily achieve it once they find conspirators who have 'it' in equal measure. When the role call of Ghanaian martyrs is made and we hear Nana Darkwa's name, it should be for reasons more noble than his post valentine day babble. This generation have no business soiling the achievements of  Sergeant Adjetey, Lance Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey who we salute today on the 28th of February.  

 

When Will The Horse Stop Dancing?

Once upon a time, the Kings of a city called gold had to occupy the city square. The perimeter of the square was adorned with the great fromtomfrom drums draped in the city's colours that depicted blood, riches and food. The king calls the tune, and as the master drummers pounds the cow skin at the head of the drum, the king will dance and dance and dance. The fate of the animals in the city was dependent on how well the king dances. That the animals prosper, go hungry, are healthy or happy depended on the dance. Among the animals were the horse, elephant, tortoise, cockerel, and the dogs.

Twenty-two years after the three- lions was forced to abandon the city, a dog occupied the square. The king like other dogs of war before him had no royal blood but apprehended royalty by shedding blood. They shared the horse's military tradition, but were soon to share the royal destiny, except that the horse was very ruthless in dispatching the dogs before him to the ancestors. One by one three kings and five advisors were forced to swear eternal loyalty to the gun as they faced their nemesis at the stakes close to the Atlantic Ocean. Who born dog?

The horse was not the most intelligent of animals but his shear bravado won him great following and his ruthlessness inspired trepidation among foes and friends alike. The horse's dances became a great source of worry to many. He galloped, he stamped, he screamed and with great tantrums he remonstrated his dissatisfaction with everything but himself. He made war dances even when a new baby is being christened. He danced Atsiagbekor, he danced Adzohu, he danced Takai and he won't stop dancing Gadzo. He soon acquired messianic status among his followers. Even foul invectives spewing without restrain from his mouth became a religious creed. He couldn't do wrong and he considers himself infallible. He tolerated little descent, to the extent that he beat up his own drummers playing to his tune, to instill discipline. Nobody dared tell him he erred; he was larger than life, who born dog?

After years of dancing unchallenged, the horse grudgingly accepted the will of the animals- A dance for a king, two dances no more. The horse anointed the tortoise to take over the mantle from him. The tortoise was a very learned animal by all standards, but the animals preferred the elephant for a king. So the elephant occupied the square and danced, and danced and danced. Unfortunately the horse couldn't watch the elephant dance. 'An elephant cannot dance' he screamed. 'He is too big to move like I did'. The horse stayed outside the square but never stopped courting attention away from the elephant, so as the elephant shook, the horse danced outside the circle. Even the dogs of war I dealt with, who fears an elephant he assured himself. Who born dog?

As he danced outside the square, many of his followers who knew he was dancing amiss refused to call him to order. More intelligent animals in his fold always appeared to rationalize his rants and pants outside the square no matter how nonsensical. The elephant and the elephant's followers screamed at him, but who born dog? So the horse danced and his sages rationalized his actions as the tortoise and others cheered him on to the chagrin of the elephant.

The animals had decreed, 'A dance for a king, two dances no more', so the elephant had to leave the square to be replaced by the tortoise according to the will of the animals expressed in a vote. Many had been worried about the tortoise occupying the square, because he had sworn openly to seek the counsel of the horse by the minute. But the animals this time had called on the tortoise to dance so he must dance and so he danced and danced but alas the horse is still not happy. Ah, did the tortoise forget his oath to seek counsel? Why is he making the horse mad? The horse is still dancing even with the tortoise in the square. The learned tortoise was too intelligent to attempt to take on the horse in fight; it would be the height of folly to attempt such a feat. So he ignored the horse and went on with his dance. But as the tortoise danced, the horse kept dancing even at a more fervent pace. He prophesied doomsday for the tortoise, poured out vituperations at the drummers who beat the tune of the tortoise. 'Your dance moves are too slow Mr. Tortoise', the horse kept shouting. 'Didn't you see how I danced when I had the square?'  The tortoise and the tortoise's advisors are in a fix. 'We followed him to dance in the square, we cheered him to dance outside the square, now we have the square but he won't stop dancing, we have created a monster, the beast within is more difficult to tackle', they pondered over their predicament.

In another mad moment of rage, the horse described the tortoise, who stood a couple of meters away from him, as only fit to take care of dead bodies, what did the tortoise do? He smiled. But the horse won't stop dancing. Now he chided the tortoise, 'you're not man enough to beat your followers as I did mine' 'you think you have a seer that protects you, bring him from the city called Oil and we will teach him about God.' God is angry with you, he will kick you and your undisciplined, insatiable and fatherless followers out of the square and don't think I will ever leave the square with you, I will always be here dancing and kicking and screaming because I am God's gift to the city called Gold and no one deserves the square but me." By the way, the Horse is calling others fatherless, does anyone know his father?

Even the elephant went from being amused to being worried. He called the tortoise and asked the learned tortoise, "How do you watch this un-concerned?" "Do you need a psychiatrist?" The tortoise replied firmly, 'NO, I don't need one'. "Ponko Abo Dam A, Ne Wura No Dze Ommbuo Dam Bi" (to wit a mad horse doesn't determine the owner's sanity). 'Take this from me Mr. elephant, if you jump off a mad horse, you'll be trampled to death'. 'Hold tight until it is tired and has no energy to jump and kick'. 'Gently get off the saddle and walk away to safety when it lies to catch its breath'. 'My horse may be mad , but I am very sane'.



The moral of the story is simple, when you encourage evil because it feasts on your enemy's flesh, after your enemy is consumed, evil feats on your flesh.

I'm curious to know how this story will end if I have to tell it to my grand children many decades to come. When did the horse stop dancing? Will he ever stop dancing?





Disclaimer: this story is not about any animal, four legs or two legs, living or dead. Any resemblance to any event is a mere co-incidence. It isn't meant to create fear or panic so the police need not bother to visit. It is a story, told the way our grandmothers taught us, to keep the story telling tradition alive.

Yank Them Off, Mr. Joe Gidisu

Living in Ghana is like running a steeple chase. When you overcome one hurdle, another one is thrown into your path. Koo Santana grew up living in a slum called Maamobi. The location in the middle of the capital was great but he hated every other bit of it - the lack of decent toilet and bathroom, filth, poorly ventilated rooms, taps that don't flow, etc – and couldn't wait to get out of the place once he started earning his own money. He struggles out of the mess and finds himself a little self-contained house in Sakumono. To overcome the transportation challenges, he gets himself a second hand car which spends a fair bit of time with mechanics. A good number of the mechanics are Junior High School dropouts who cannot read any manufacturer's manual, yet the engineering monster is at their mercy. Trial and error is their faithful methodology, except that such ineptitude translates to unnecessary cost, downtime and sometimes avoidable accidents for the owner of the car. From Sakumono, any of three routes will get him to his office at the central business district. The route through Nungua is a traffic legend. The Spintex road has fast out-paced its cousin in Nungua. Set off at 6a.m and you will get to the office at 8:30 am already late for work. The third option, through Tema township via the beach road and then across the Tema-Accra motorway clocks over 40km on his odometer daily in one direction, but is the only route that gets him to the office before 8 a.m. This distance was reduced by a few kilometers as motorists forced the authorities to give a tacit approval to the use of a bypass with direct access to the motorway. The damage to his pocket was in the form of high fuel bills which he bore quietly.


He knew he couldn't keep pace with the astronomical increase in rent in this middle class area, so he got himself a piece of land in Afienya , more than 10km from Tema, to put up a three bedroom for himself. This was after his attempt to get a plot of land in Tema which is nearer to Accra was thwarted by the US dollar price tag set by Tema development Corporation( Is it company?) (TDC). When he complained about putting dollar tags on Land in Ghana, the marketing staff at the Ghana government owned TDC scolded him for talking too much and reminded him that TDC serviced plots were meant for people living and working outside Ghana. He was forced to admit that good things, even those provided by the government he pays taxes to, were not meant for him because he chose to live in Ghana after his education. Monkeys, they say play by sizes so Koo Santa moved two towns away to Afienya where he put a little cottage from where he commutes daily to work in Accra. He escaped the huge rent advances demanded by the market but racked up his fuel bills. The longer journey meant he increased his carbon foot print and the environment suffers. Between Afienya and Accra are two toll booths which he had always taken for granted, but alas, no more. A 900% hike in tolls means he must set aside 40GHC (400,000 old cedis) for tolls every month just to commute to and from the office.

My little narration above is about real people and real events. There seem to be some punishment for every step taken to better one's life in Ghana. I have just spent 30 minutes on the motorway between Action Chapel and the Toll booth, a distance less than 2km. A bad situation is exacerbated by the many drivers that lack proper upbringing ("dzimakpla") as a result, they have no conscience-check when they drive on the shoulders of the roads to avoid a civilized queue.

First, the toll booths were creating heavy traffic on the Tetteh Quarshie and Motorway Circles so they were moved. Then electronic gates were introduced to eliminate fraud at the cash point and immediately, traffic conditions worsened, and now the new tolls didn't make it better. Has it occurred to anybody that the toll booths have outlived their usefulness on the motor way? The demarcation between Accra and Tema is long gone. It is not the fault of the average worker that Accra has escaped planning and we must live so far from the business district. It is enough punishment having to spend more on fuel and drive long distances , increasing our stress levels is a price too high for a nation as poor as Ghana. I couldn't believe it when the last government created more toll booths around Accra. I think our governments are just insensitive to our needs because we always turn out in our numbers to vote for non-performing leaders.

The argument that the toll gates are required to collect tolls to improve the road network is neither here nor there. We all know that like the street light levy which we have been paying for ages, there will be no correlation between the tolls and our street conditions. That said, I believe there are better ways of raising these tolls. It is the right of every Ghanaian to drive on decent streets, the cost of which must be borne by all. Tolling particular streets is not helpful to this course. Distribute the cost among all cars, this can be charged once a year when the cars are presented at the DVLA for examination. Foreign cars that enter Ghana through the boarders can pay a road toll before they enter the country. With this arrangement, few roads will need tolling. The toll booths that surround the city of Accra like Trojan walls are unnecessary bother to citizens. Mr. Gidisu, it's time to yank them off. If the gates go, you don't have to worry about who steals the tolls. The money spent on electronic gates will be saved, and the tolls will be deposited straight into your accounts by the banks that operate at the DVLA office. The only loss I see here is that politicians will lose the opportunity to put their "foot soldiers" at the gates in the name of providing them with jobs. Even then, the money saved can be applied to expand the economy to absorb them. Please go ahead and tax away all our earnings as you please, but Koo Santana pleads for his health. The bad traffic situation in Accra is the number 1 stress factor for most of us in Accra and other cities. They may be better here than in some other countries, but we aspire towards greater heights. It is the responsibility of our elected leaders to ease this pain. Stacking us behind toll gates will only make it worse.

By the way, when it comes to taxes, when is enough, enough? When I earn money I pay PAYE, when I buy fuel I'm taxed, when I use my cell phone or browse the Internet I pay communications tax, for daring to use electricity I'm hit with street light levy, drinking packaged water earns me a tax wrath, driving to the office from Kasoa, Afienya, Tema etc is punished for my inability to rent a house in airport with tolls, If I own a cottage I pay property rates , ignore the fact that the roads around my property will never see development in decades and I have to find more money for zoom lion to collect the rubbish I generate, and above all I pay 15% VAT directly or indirectly for all other goods and services. So under all my heavy burden of taxes, I throw my hands up into the air and decide to forget all my problems with two tots of local gin but that doesn't go well with the tax professor president so he gives me a stern rebuke with an alcohol tax. What next Mr President? Please spare the air that we breath. But do I get anything in return for all these taxes? Is that what they call the social contract? I can only concur with Kwaw kese, ABODAM! CRAAAAAAZY! Hey, I hear another tune on the radio. It's a gospel by Ron Kenoly,

"I still have joy
I still have joy
After all I've been through
I still have joy"

Somebody asked me why we're so religious in Ghana. If you take away the con that comes with that too, it is the only avenue to escape the madness.