Bad roads, bad cedi – tweaa!
In the Friday, January 10, 2014 edition of The Mirror, I wrote an article in this column under the headline; “When politicians live like celebrities…” I must say that I loved the responses that I received from readers.
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Some readers blasted me for “whipping up unnecessary resentment against our rulers”.
Indeed, one reader wrote, “You never know, you might find yourself there one day. John Mahama never knew he will be President six years ago…”
Others commended me for touching on what they described as a very important issue with interesting insights and references.
In the article, I had referred to the selfless character of Swiss politician, Madam Micheline Calmy-Rey, who despite being a former Foreign Minister and President, did not find it difficult to patronise public transportation systems.
Indeed, she travelled on the train and stood throughout a journey from Zurich to Bern because there was no vacant seat.
Barely a month after the publication of that article, a Ghanaian politician was reported to have openly insulted some people at a function that he was addressing.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South, Mr Gabriel Barima, during an end of year programme for the District Health Directorate at Mankranso was seen on video trading words with an unidentified person after the person had chuckled – “TWEAA’’ - when he (Barima) was giving a speech.
Mr Barima was reported to have asked loudly, “Who said TWEAA…are you my co-equal? If you speak, who will listen to you?” He also stated emphatically that he was the only one in the district whom the government (The President) listens to”.
When I read the story in the media, the first person who came to mind was American singer and celebrity, Kanye West, who openly insults and even assaults people who crossed him.
I could not help but compare Mr Barima to Mr West and conclude that the DCE had behaved like a rude celebrity who wanted the whole world to worship him as some politicians did.
The fact is, and shall always be, that politicians are SERVANTS of the people who can never DEMAND respect from the masses but would have to work hard and selflessly earn it.
The government’s code of conduct for public officials enjoins every public official to display utmost courtesy and decorum when interfacing with members of the public. It is aimed at positioning the officials to earn the public’s respect. Tweaa! Who said TWEAAA!
Aha! Did you hear that the police in Kumasi on Monday morning fired teargas and warning shots to disperse demonstrators at Duase and Kenyase near Kumasi?
The demonstrators were protesting against the poor conditions of roads in the area, especially on the Kumasi - Antoa road.
Recently, the people of Prestea also protested against what they described as the deplorable state of the town and worsening economic conditions. Undoubtedly, the poor road infrastructure in the town was one of the reasons for the protests.
According to the demonstrators, the bad roads and general poor state of the town were making life unbearable for them.
I also recall that last year, the chairman of the Amasaman Co-operative Transport Society, Mr Thomas Mensah, called on the Ga West Municipal Assembly and the Department of Feeder Roads to rehabilitate roads in the area to facilitate socio-economic activities. Note that Amasaman is the Capital of the Ga West District.
Mr Mensah, in an interview with GNA, said the bad nature of roads was affecting agricultural activities and trade.
I recently travelled to Akyem Kwabeng in the Eastern Region, which is the Capital of the Atiwa District, and the road I saw in the town was to put it bluntly, an eye-sore!
Indeed, the government should pay more attention to the country’s roads because it is quite clear that the ride to economic freedom is literally getting rougher by the day.
Talking about the economy; why are people castigating the General Overseer of the Action Chapel International (ACI), Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, for praying for the ailing cedi?
The man is a pastor, his duties include praying for the sick; the cedi is sick, he has prayed fervently for the cedi. What is the issue here?
Let all professionals follow his action and do their work well to save the cedi from its current free fall. Worker, work; pastor pray to save the economy…That’s all!
Tweaa, who said the world’s super power, America, does not fly on prayers? In God the Americans trust and in tongues, many of their pastors pray for the country; so Bishop pray on…!
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