Some of us, as a matter of principle, were astonished to read that the minority NDC Members of Parliament have run to the US Ambassador in Ghana to intervene in the ongoing Power Distribution Services (PDS) debacle which the Government of Ghana is already probing.

If you would recall, it was the same NDC Members of Parliament who hastily trooped to America to report the Finance Minister over an international bond issued by the Government of Ghana a few years ago.

It is, indeed, extremely worrying that after sixty-two years of independence, some Ghanaians, calling themselves politicians, continue to rely on foreign influences.

Ghana’s independence, I must sadly admit though, will remain meaningless, so long as we continue to elect politicians who cannot think outside the box, but rather prefer to take delight in foreign influences, among other things, guidance and control.

We cannot deny or ignore the fact that our Forebears put in unbelievable efforts in securing the ultimate freedom from the British, far from it.

However, looking at our contemporary political landscape, it would appear that all the hard work put in by the Founding Fathers has been in vain. I bet, they are mourning their beloved Ghana in their graves.

Let us, therefore, remind our ambivalent politicians that independence refers to self-reliance, so, if we chose to depend largely on other countries for survival, then our independence will somehow remain “meaningless”.

Apparently, the minority NDC Members of Parliament are making nonsense of Dr Nkrumah’s wise counselling: “Blackman is capable of managing his own affairs.”

We should, however, bear in mind that, in most democratic and enlightened societies, the bromidic word is reasoning, unlike my country of origin (Ghana), where respect has always been the norm.

Unfortunately, however, in Ghana, one must always seek to discharge his/her emotional intelligence and show deference for fear of being upbraided for upsetting the frumpish and the crude majoritarian Africa culture of respect.

Obviously, it is that trite and dowdy word respect that has given the grown-up people in Africa as a whole the license to misbehave over the years.

For, if that was not the case, how come our shameless public officials continue to run helter-skelter to their ‘slave masters’ for all sort of assistance, including policy credibility?

Actually, there is an admissible evidence of irresponsibility on the part of some public officials who prefer to be called ‘honourable’. Meanwhile, do not exhibit anything honourable.

We should, however, remind ourselves that the word honourable means “possessing honour. It refers to winning or deserving respect and honour. It can be used to mean the earning or bringing recognition and distinction. It is a quality consistent with good name and honour. Honourable can be used to mean illustrious or distinguished” (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012).

In other words, honourable can be defined as upright, honest and sincere. The appellation honourable thus cannot be adopted without honouring the associated responsibilities.

Based on the preceding extant definitions of honourable, how can we refer to some of our politicians as honourable, considering their abhorrent attitudes and behaviours towards the electorates who ensured these lots got to their comfort zones?

Believe it or not, Ghanaian politics has indeed become a scorned profession, not a noble profession it used to be. Suffice it to stress that it takes good people—good citizens and leaders to build a prosperous nation. Yet a lot of good people would never go into politics.

Yes, once upon a time, anyone who gained a seat in parliament was looked up to and respected by all; alas, this is not the case anymore.

In any case, our parliamentarians must earn their honourable appellation by living exemplary lives and desist from desecrating our honourable parliament.

How can the same people claim to have the interests of Ghana at heart when they allegedly imported about 43 vehicles at a staggering cost of $9 million on the blind side of the good people of Ghana?

If those politicians aren’t heartless and unpatriotic, how come they conspired and paid dubious judgement debts to the tune of GH800 million?

If, indeed, they are morally upright, and have the wellbeing of Ghana at heart, how come they conspired, looted and shared monies belonging to GYEEDA and SADA, which were meant to transform the lives of the needy in society?

Where was their much-touted patriotism when they squandered funds meant to transform the lives of the penniless in society through dubious deals such as the Brazil World Cup, the infamous bus branding, SUBA, SSNIT among others?

Let us be honest, there is nothing seriously wrong for anybody to claim birth right to patriotism. However, patriotism is not a mere rhetoric, for we could only evidence our patriotism through our actions and inactions. That is by showing our affection, solicitude and strong predilection towards our country in whatever we do.

In fact, I have always held a contrary view to the sceptics who contend somewhat spuriously that it is hackneyed and unconscionable for anyone to suggest that, even though we started life with the likes of South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, we are happy to secure loans and other assistance from them.

The infamous action by the minority NDC Members of Parliament shows that we have not weaned ourselves from the advanced countries.

If that was not the case, why is it that they continue to seek policy guidance from IMF?

If we are self-reliant, why do we constantly carry our begging bowl round seeking alms? If we are independent-minded, why do we have to import common contractors from China to build our basic infrastructures? If we were that capable and foresighted, why do we consistently import foreign football coaches?

In so far as we have politicians that have no foresight, but are myopic, incompetent; I dare state that Ghana may never advance meaningfully in our lifetime.

In sum, I dare state that in so far as the elites among the ‘four legs animals’ continue to display irrevocable listlessness, inferiority complex and lack of patriotism, Ghana may never develop meaningfully in our lifetime.