Opinions of Thursday, 3 July 2008

Columnist: Bolus, Mercy Adede

Why are our African cousins, the Zimbabweans so helpless?

Ghana must never allow any dictator or the Military rule us ever again.

A nation is innovative, creative and yearns to improve itself if and only if there is evidence of safety, good housing, food, freedom of speech and opportunity for further education.

Reflecting on the crisis in Zimbabwe made me realise how lucky Ghanaians are right now. I am so thankful that the late President Kwame Nkrumah was indeed our first leader. Kwame was a man with a strategic vision for everyone. He saw what the opportunity of higher education could do for an individual like him and therefore seized on this key element and followed it through.

President Kwame Nkrumah brought about free education for all to the extent of earmarking money for uniforms free books, pencils the whole lot. In some case free dental care provision in the grounds of some state schools.

This is why Ghana is so unique as Kwame Nkrumah ensured and secured our current state. He ensured the foundation for other countries to offer scholarships students with talents thus adding that extra dimension to Ghana.

The late President Kwame Nkrumah and his team not only fought selflessly for Ghana but also for Africa.

Such a man of self respect felt betrayed by many of us who were only self- centred those I classify as me, myself and I type. They use their position to better mainly the their immediate families, friends but not the a nation.

Reflecting on the legacy of the late President Kwame Nkrumah whom my late grandmother Mrs Mercy Fenuku had the opportunity of sharing spiritual growth with at Adabraka. Kwame humbled himself to seek to for God’s wisdom and guidance for us all. No one would say Kwame Nkrumah was too arrogant and didn’t reach out to the vulnerable. He was the people’s man because he knew his roots.

The peace we enjoy in Ghana right now was due to the selfless, strategic thinking and the critical analysis of situation with his team, the Big Six.

Today those he offered the free education to are spreading the benefits good education up to this day as generations are benefiting. Hence, the populous of Ghana are better educated, well informed and ask questions better than many of our African cousins.

Thank you so much President Kwame Nkrumah for following that vision you had for Ghana. To educate your people a gift, a weapon to link Ghana to the global world. Your memory will continue to live within Ghana.

On the other hand, reflecting on what is happening in Zimbabwe, the first thing that strike anyone is that it appears they never had the opportunity we had from our late President Kwame Nkrumah who saw educating the nation as a priority even to all very remote villages.

Our cousins lack the opportunities we take for granted in Ghana. Seeing the Zimbabweans reminded me of what could have happened in Ghana if Kwame and his team never bothered to step in at the right time. Thank you so much and those who struggled and fought mercilessly for the freedom we have today.

Ghana must not just sit there and keep mute to the calls and cries of the Zimbabweans. Africa nations must act now for history sake. Let us all reflect on the body language of our cousins. Let’s critically analysis what their body language on 27 June 2008 is saying to us. Why should we let our cousin and feel so despondent as the no one wants to intervene.

The whole world is watching Africa, the AU must do something and all African constitution should state that a term in office must be only two as it appears some African leader enjoy power rather needs of its people.

Seeing some Zimbabweans with sticks and clubs and chasing their fellow Zimbabweans as if they are chasing a snake. This is totally unacceptable. Ghana must not just sit there and keep watching without saying anything. Would we like to be treated in this way when a President goes this way one-day? Come on. Ghana has learnt from past mistakes within our own country. In ensuring that these incidents do not happen on a Ghanaian soil we need to denounce such evil.

Ghana must continue to uphold the legacy that the Kwame Nkrumah gave us. Free education to a higher level with vocational and technical colleges, polytechnics etc offered to all to ensure that the populous are astute and could freely challenge any Government without any intimidation.

It is so obvious to analysis that perhaps only few people in Zimbabwe have had the opportunity of higher education in order to be astute be well informed stand up to any bullying tactics etc.

How can an African President think the power he has to rule its people is a personal thing? Why can’t we accept defeat gracefully so that what ever we have achieved aspires others to even do greater things?

Ghana and the rest of the African nations must learn from these mistakes in the Zimbabwe. Reflecting to the Bible John the Baptist within him self that he was only a process in God’s plan. Why can’t we as humans accept God’s plan to move on and leave the space for others to take over?

A Presidential term in office of a nation is a rollover affair but sadly many presidents just don’t get it.

Our cousins, the Zimbabweans are reaching and stretching to us. I wonder what our answer, as a nation would be?

Intimidation, lack of free and fair election, killing, oppression of the vulnerable and still the world looks on. The crisis in Zimbabwe is simply not acceptable to even in the animal kingdom. What are the U.N, AU , EU doing > This is the question being asked by ordinary people on evevry street around the world.

What is Ghana, the leader of the Black Star leading the light to Freedom and Justice doing about this? The Zimbabweans are watching their true friends indeed. Would it be Ghana to emerge as a true friend of the people of Zimbabwe or just a friend to their President Mugabe? This is the critical issue facing us right now.

Is it about time some African leaders learn to perhaps listen more to the people they represent and talk less. God is watching us all from above and those of us who yearn to lord over people, with torture, bullying tactics, and all kinds of evils watch out as your judgement is awaiting you in heaven. After all our period in this world is only three scores and ten or four scores and ten if you are lucky to enjoy God’s grace in the case of Nelson Mandela.

Let’s hope the AU summit would bring some assurance and a sense of peaceful solutions to the current crisis facing our cousins. No longer would any African leader live in a fool’s paradise when the world is watching 24/7.