"Next to knowing when to seize an opportunity, the important thing
in life is to know when to forgo an advantage" - Benjamin Disraeli
The other day I read about a teenage girl winning a seat in Uganda's
parliament. Proscovia Oromait 19, fresh from high school contested and won
elections in eastern Uganda to fill the seat left vacant after her father 's
death.
Wow! I admired the courage and fortitude of Proscovia who has made a strong case for the youth of Uganda and given them a great motivation to pursue their dream. But when I paused and listened to those who argue that her feat lowers expectations of lawmakers, and that the position was too much of a responsibility for a young girl, I kept thinking.
What struck me was when I read that President Yoweri Museveni's party
had lost seven in eight parliamentary by-elections this year and they were
desperate for a win in that constituency. So whoever won it for them did not
matter, regardless of whether the person could perform or not.
After reading the story, I asked myself whether this may not be a clear
case of subjecting the national interest under parochial partisan interests and
whether this does not present lessons to us as Ghanaians.
There is one patriotic song I like so much. It says "Susu biribi pa
bi fa boa Ghana, se Ghana beye yie o, se ennye yie o, efiri me ne woara o"
which literally translates "Think of something good to help Ghana with,
for whether Ghana will succeed or fail depends on you and I".
I attended Berekum Secondary School (BESS) and Sunyani Secondary School
(SUSEC) for my GCE O'Level education. I also attended Opoku Ware Secondary
School (OWASS) for my A'Level education before proceeding to the Commonwealth
Hall of the ONLY University of Ghana, Legon. Each of these schools has a great
motto but the motto of SUSEC 'Me man nti, ennye me nti' to wit, ‘For the
sake of my country, not for my sake’, has always triggered my patriotic
instincts. It is a motto that motivates one to always try and place the
national interest above personal or other interest.
It is sad that as a country we seem to have become so self-centred,
partisan and unpatriotic that if it must be done it must first inure to our own
personal and partisan advantage. It is amazing how parliamentary
deliberations and debates are often characterised by partisanship, with the
overarching consideration being how to score political points for one's
political party.
It doesn't matter whether it is in the national interest or not. It is
said that party politics is a struggle for the capture of state power for the
authoritative allocation of resources. So even if the struggle assumes a
tendency to degenerate into chaos and threatens the stability of the only Ghana
we have, we do not seem to care.
I dare say that when our political parties are in opposition,
they seem to wish that things must not work and the living conditions of the
people should not improve. For if things work and people see positive changes
in their lives, their political parties may not be voted into power.
So they will do everything to vigorously oppose initiatives which have
the potential to better the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian.
There is a funny story of a certain opposition member of parliament
whose first question to a colleague opposition member everyday he came to the
house was "Charlie, what are we opposing today?" The national
interest did not matter.
The case is nothing different with ruling governments where executive
decisions are not always in the national interest. Sometimes it doesn't matter
if decisions will promote the socio-economic development of the country or not.
Once those decisions score the needed political points to keep the party in
power, it is all well and good.
It is unfortunate that our judiciary which represents the nation's
conscience is as guilty as the other two arms of government. How many times
have we not heard of corruption in the judiciary resulting in some strange
judgements for personal gains? It is a shame that in recent times, it appears
partisan politics is fast creeping into the realm of the judiciary, with
politicians allegedly claiming that particular judges belong to, or are
sympathetic to their political persuasions.
We often consider the media as the fourth arm of government which is
expected to put the other three arms on their toes. But what do we see? Many
are in this noble profession for the wrong reasons - either to satisfy their
stomach or to promote the agenda of their political masters. So it is common
today to find journalists engaging in misinformation, character assassination
or even blackmail for financial and partisan considerations, without recourse
to the overall national interest.
In our selfishness and lack of patriotism as workers, we are quick to
engage in acts which will serve our personal interests, even if they are
detrimental to the national interest. So with the slightest opportunity, we
proceed on strike actions.
I am not by any means condemning legitimate actions of workers to press
home demands for improved working conditions. But let's face it, some of the
strike actions we have witnessed in recent times could only be borne out of
selfishness and greed with no regard for what is in the national interest.
Yet whenever we get the opportunity, we pay lip
service to our love for the country and our willingness to die for it. Our
sense of nationalism and patriotism has descended so low that in the civil and
public services, most workers are only interested in what they stand to gain
and not what benefits the nation.
Before anybody decides to put on their defensive caps, let them be
reminded that as the motto of the Vandal City goes, Truth Stands! It is high
time we changed our attitudes and commit to putting the national interest ahead
of our own personal and partisan interest.
So I was glad when President John Dramani Mahama admonished civil
and public servants during his recent policy statement. The president's
persistent call for Ghanaians to rediscover their sense of patriotism is quite
refreshing and we all need to respond urgently.
This is the surest way of making our nation truly great and
strong.
Me man nti, ennye me nti!
By Attah Arhin
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