IN the last few days, I have read lectures, speeches and opinions about leadership and how Ghana can be made better. They contain the same sentiments I have been hearing since I was first assigned my first bed at OKESS.

There is a wilful, collective reluctance to candidly call out those destroying our nation. Despite fine speeches and sermons, our actions don't match our verbal love of country. We claim to be against violence in our country even while we support leaders who support and encourage violence. We claim to be against corruption while supporting the very leaders who practice it. We verbally abhor drugs and yet admire and respect known drug dealers and users. We profess to admire public service but have nothing but contempt for hardworking public spirited men who are poor. It goes on and on.

I first learnt of this gap between our ideals and who we are when I was the NUGS president. I went to visit a friend. His father hugged me and extolled the bravery of the student leaders who were fighting Rawlings. When I left, he warned his son to stay clear of our demonstrations. In return, his son posed a question for the ages, " Dad, if what they are doing is as important as you stated, why should I not join them? If I should not help in that important work, whose children should do it?".

A few years later, I was reminded of this when I saw a recommendation written by the Dean of the Ghana Medical School to support my application for admission to University of Toronto. "Perhaps Mr. Kennedy has learnt the art of living the hard way. I believe that given another chance, he will make better choices and focus on his career". It cut like a knife.
To be fair, our history has witnessed it's fair share of moments or periods of bravery . Here are a few to make every Ghanaian chest erect with pride:

---Yaa Asantewaa marching to war against the British
-- Sargeant Adjetey and Co marching to the castle for their rights and paying with their lives
--- J.B. Danquah delivering his summation in re:Akoto
--- Afrifa, Gbedemah, Paa Willie and others taking on Archeampong through PMFJ
--- Justice Abban refusing to help Archeampong rig the Unigov referendum
--- Ft.Lt. Rawlings giving voice to the suffering of the masses during his trial at Burma Hall after his abortive coup
--- Elizabeth Ohene ' s editorial questioning "Let the blood flow" showing she had more brass in her boobs than a thousand men in their balls
---- Sam Okudzeto inspiring students with his keynote for the ages at the 1983 NUGS congress
--- The students of Ghana opposing the 31st December uprising
---- Adu Boahen denouncing the "culture of silence" and the "men on horseback "
--- The "kume preko demonstrators"
We do not see such acts anymore.We seem to think vigilance is not required during democracy.

That is wrong. Corruption by elected leaders is just as bad as corruption by soldiers.

Violence by civilians is just as bad as violence by soldiers.
We are accountable to God and posterity for the crimes of the leaders we choose with our votes or support with our silence. The ghost of children denied education will ask for the retribution of a just God against us; just like the ghost of those who died because NHIS was killed while we looked on or away!

When we sing, "And help us to resist oppressors rule" we must mean it. When we sing "Aduru me ne wo so so se yebe y3 bi atoa so", we must live it!
The bible says" And ye shall know the truth and it shall make you free" Do you know the truth about Ghana and do you speak and live it?

Let me end with MLK:

" Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?
Expediency asks the question, is it politic?
Vanity asks the question, is it popular?
But conscience asks the question, is it right?
And there comes a a time we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic nor popular but one must take it because it is right"
What question do you ask yourself about Ghana on issues?
Believe in Ghana and stand for it.