INTRODUCTION
Unbelievably, another May 11, rolled around and went by quietly without any event. Do we have such short memories or have the comforts of the democracy we now enjoy shrouded our thoughts from the dastardly events of that fateful day? Could it be the hectic primary electioneering campaigns, which ironically are riveted on the blood of our martyrs, caused us to relegate the remembrance of this day into obscurity?
Or have our own petty ideological differences so widened the gap between us that we can no longer come together as former colleagues who nonverbally, latently covenanted to prosecute the struggle fearlessly, notwithstanding the perilous conditions under which we operated? Friends, let us not forget the cause that bonded us together in the face of death is stronger than the distractions surrounding us during this time of peace. Or is it due to tiredness, laziness, confusion, or complacency? I am at utter Loss—because the common enemy we struggled together to obliterate is being resuscitated by our own inactivity. Murderers like Konadu Rawlings, E.T. Mensah and the like are making deafening noises lately because they believe we are out to lunch. We must not and cannot rest on our oars. FLASHBACK Twelve years ago this month, wee-smoking, truncheon cum AK 47-weilding psychopathic hoodlums, assassins of the then moribund P(NDC) government of JJ Rawlings opened fire on defenseless peaceful demonstrators, killing five cold bloodedly and maiming several in Accra. It is a day of infamy we will never forget. Lately, I have been reflecting on events leading to December 31, 1981 till May 11, 1995, and the parallels today, particularly, utterances of JJ Rawlings and his cohorts make me sick to my stomach. I have gone into journalistic hibernation for personal reasons and would have loved to remain so. However, the current political climate has made it impossible for me to behave like an ostrich-burring my head in the sand pretending that all is well whilst the rain soaks me to death. The questions shredding my heart into pulp are: Which of these multitudes wanting to lead our nation have demonstrated the courage and fortitude to stand with the suffering masses when the need arises? How many will risk their lives for mother Ghana? WHERE WERE THESE LEADERS ON 5/11?
BITTER MEMORY LANE
Since December 31, 1981 when JJ Rawlings criminally interrupted the constitutionally elected government of Dr. Hilla Liman and disrupted the prevailing calm social order, ushering the nation into a very bloody era, hitherto unknown to Ghanaians, some brave men and women worked courageously to restore sanity and rule of law. For these gallant men and women who bore the brunt of the cause, the road to victory was very perilous; pain, torture, and death was the reward for those who rose up to rid our nation from the clutches of Rawlings’ neo-fascist reign. The second liberation struggle to rid Ghana once and for all from the scourge of military dictatorship was very painful—Clumsy and naked force was used to repress dissention. Though the road to the Fourth Republic was fraught with danger because of Rawlings’ callousness, the pro-democracy movement remained undaunted.. One movement after the other emerged and finally the Alliance for Change (AFC), with Nana Akufo-Addo as it’s Spokesperson, finally mustered courage and led over 500,000 men, women, and children onto the streets of Accra to challenge the intransigent P(NDC) government.
Rawlings’ P(NDC) dictatorship used the threat of brute force and it’s actual dispensation but the masses did not relent one iota. The AFC under the able leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo,Kwesi Pratt jr., Kwaku Baakojr., Tony Akoto-Ampaw(sheshe),Victor Newman,Adjiri Blankson, Charlie Brobbey(Tarzan),Nyaho-Tamakloe and Kakraba Cromwell became increasingly defiant. It was a historic march that eventually dealt a final blow to Rawlings’ almost twenty years despotic reign. However, it came at a price—we suffered heavy casualties; Rawlings, seeking to perpetuate his moribund P(NDC) government in power sent Marauding gangsters(ACDRs) to open fire on defenseless citizens of Ghana. Five died on that fateful day but we will never forget them. As another year goes by, the finest flowers we can use to garland the memory of these five fallen Heroes is our continuous fierce opposition to the P(NDC) in all it’s manifestations and the election of men and women who have demonstrated to be willing to defend democracy even in the face of death.
WHERE WERE THESE LEADERS?
It was one of the greatest Americans, Theodore Roosevelt who said: “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well being, to risk his life in a great cause.” To all these presidential candidates who want to lead us, I challenge them to come public with their exact whereabouts on that fateful day, May 11,1995 when Nana Akufo-Addo, Kwesi Pratt Jr., Kwaku Baako Jr., Victor Newman and the other heroes were blazing through gun fire. It is important to recognize that Ghanaians are now politically savvy and can read through all the veiled threats of Jerry Rawlings. They are not about to thrust power into the hands of any chicken or toothless bull dog. WHERE WERE THEY? Action, it is said, speaks louder than words. Ghana is not prepared for any arm-chair-cozy loft-chilling politician. For some of us, Ghana is so precious that and we are willing to defend the fourth Republican constitution with our lives, fortunes and our sacred honor. Courage is what it takes to achieve this and nobody states it better than Thomas Clyde who said “the courage we desire and pride is not the courage to die decently but to live manfully.”
THE CLARION
In 1965, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy said: “Let no one be dismayed by the thought that there is nothing that one man or woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills. Few have the greatness to bend history itself. But each can do some act, and in the sum of these events will be written the history of our generation.” The extent of damage our past military leaders caused the country was colossal. For almost three decades one senseless military intervention after the other completely halted economic progress and almost destroyed our educational system. Undoing these decades of reckless leadership will be a back-breaking ordeal. However, as Bobby Kennedy said, little by little we will be able to turn the corner. That is why any Ghanaian who believes in true democracy has a role to play in the forthcoming NPP delegates’ congress: Families, friends, and relatives must organize into cells and wards and tell the delegates at the constituency level who they think has the intellectual, economic, professional, social and organizational background to win and retain power.
Let’s listen to these men as they campaign and weigh them. You don’t have to be an astrophysicist to detect there are a bunch of light weights out there. There is no room for political apprentices or on-the-job trainees.
Am I being too picky? Absolutely not! The fact of the matter is, this republic did not come off a silver platter. There was a time we did not find leaders to participate in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. Behold the plethora of self-acclaimed leaders after victory is won. That is why we will not quit asking the question:” WHERE WERE THEY?” until we receive some tangible answers. I am encouraging the delegates to ask such probing questions when the delegates come around with their bags of rice and what have you. You are worth more than perishable commodities and the country much, much more! Let them know your consciences are not for sale. CONCLUSION This piece, dedicated to the martyrs of our time will be inconclusive if we don’t pay tribute to our colleagues whose blood was used to pave our path to the fourth Republic; martyrs whose blood should forever invigorate us to defend the constitution with vigor, commitment, dedication, and self-givingness: Justices Cecilia Korangteng Addo,Kwadjo Adjei Adjapong, Fredrick Sarkodie, Major(Rtd) Sam Acquah(abducted and gruesomely murdered by agents JJ Rawlings),Ms. Cynthia Nuama, Capt. Domie, Kyereme Gyan, Mawuli Goka, Odeefo Asare,Odeefo Amoako, Yeye Boye, and any soul that perished under Rawlings’ bloody reign. With this backdrop, the current remarks from Victor Smith and his boss at Coco Beach, the rumors of death threats to an NDC MP, and many more, tired though we are, we must not rest until true democracy is entrenched in our nation.
THE CAUSE ENDURES
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