Who Investigates the Death of the Ordinary Ghanaian?

It is good to see that even in a country where no rule seems to work, directives can be implemented immediately. Anyone who doubted that has been proved wrong by the case involving the wife of Deputy Minister of Energy, Alhaji Inusah. As soon as the death occurred, the IGP ordered that investigation be conducted since the woman supposedly died “through the negligence on the part of some medical staff”. Barely forty hours after the order, the Director General of Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Board Bureau (PIPS), DCOP Timothy Ashiley, informed Ghanaians in the March 23rd edition of the Daily Graphic that “with the exception of one more person to be talked to, a lot had been done by way of preliminary investigations”. He assured the general public there would be findings before the day ended.

That statement implies the efficiency of the police investigative machinery; in spite of the sad circumstances, Ghanaians can only commend the Service for such speedy action. However, that commendation would also raise issues concerning similar cases and the pathetic pace at which they are investigated. What about the young girl who died because nurses ignored her calls for attention? What about the mother whose baby was stolen at the hospital a year ago? And the mother who recovered from her caesarian section only to be informed that her son had died, and her grandmother had claimed the body for burial, even though she never gave a grandmother’s name as the next of kin and there was no record of the said grandmother? When she was hinted that a certain female employee in the ward had formed the habit of stealing newly born babies so she could sell them; she probed but she could not get an investigation started by the hospital. The case is over three years now; all she knows is that CHRAJ intends to take it up. When, she cannot tell What about the mother who died because a hospital did not have drugs because suppliers could not deliver due to delays in payment of health insurance claims? And the patient who died through side effects from medication he was taking because his doctors never bothered take routine tests that could have alerted them to the possible fatal outcome of his medication? Oh the list could go on!

Considering the high (maternal) mortality rate in the country, it is rather sad when one death is given urgent attention, giving the impression that some Ghanaians are worth more than others. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding her death, and the level of resources of the institution in which the death occurred, more tragic cases occur daily, and at an unacceptably alarming rate throughout the country’s hospitals and clinics. How many of such cases are locked up in police investigation years after occurrence?

Every Ghanaian deserves to benefit from the professionalism of the police. Dear IGP, please dive deeper into your cabinets and old files if you really mean well, for a preventable death is the real human tragedy. After all, the ordinary Ghanaian voter elevated Alhaji Inusah to the rank of a minister, therefore, the ordinary person is also worth attention!

DANGER! CHILDREN, PARENTS

Twice during the second week of  July 2009, I was stopped on the road by two girls, between six and eight years, who asked me for money. The first wanted money to buy water; the second asked for “two thousand” (GH 20 pesewas). The second girl was walking with another female child. In both instances, I refused the requests mainly because I do not subscribe to such behaviour and granting their requests would have bee encouraging them.

However, I have since been very worried about these girls because of the danger in which they put themselves every time they solicit strangers for money. I asked myself a few questions: What if I had been a paedophile, a kidnapper or a ritual murderer? Would I have been able to lure the girls into my room, a kiosk, an uncompleted building or a waiting vehicle, under the pretext of giving them the money, so I could execute my wicked plans? I probably would. What would these children do for money? Probably a lot. My own answers did not ease my apprehensions because those were not shy girls. Both looked me straight in the eye as they spoke and I could not help but get the feeling that they had had practice. Whether they are staying with parents or guardians, what have these girls been told about talking to strangers let alone begging them for money? What do those two girls know about identifying and warding off child abusers? Does anyone even care about what happens to those two girls? I do.

“Charity”, they say, “begins at home”. Those children may be imitating their adult role models or it might be that they had genuine reasons for begging. Whatever the reason, adults raising children have a huge responsibility regarding protection. Children cannot afford to be too trusting these days. Adults are no longer the nexus of safety for children in our communities. The harm caused by an abuser could be permanent or even fatal, children must be told that. No amount of food or money is worth being traumatized for life, as is often the case with child abuse or molestation. Both girls and boys are at risk. Parents, live up to your responsibilities; the best protection you can give your children is to train them to detect danger and take the necessary precautions! It is possible to outwit child abusers but it takes systematic training, love and commitment from parents to raise smart children who can thwart the efforts of adults who are a menace to children. For starters, I have a friendly advice for my young friends out there.

Any child who begs strangers for money signs a warrant for her/his own molestation, kidnapping/death. In other words, such behaviour gives paedophiles, kidnappers and all child abusers a field day!

FOOTBALL LESSONS FROM “GRIDIRON GANG”

“Gridiron Gang”, starring The Rock, is a movie about miscreant teenage boys who are trapped by neighbourhood gangs. Consequently, the boys have social and behavioural problems which send them into a correctional centre, but even there, loyalty to their respective gangs interfere with the corrective training they are expected to receive. The teenagers have problems with punctuality, being part of a team, responding to authority and accepting criticism. A Social Worker opts for one activity designed to help people improve in all four areas: “Football”[1]. The motivation behind the choice is that the game would compel the boys to apply themselves, cultivate mental toughness to endure strenuous training sessions. Constant practice leads to mastery and confidence, teaching the boys how to earn things rather than shoot their ways through life. Above all, the game gives the miscreants a focus in life, unleash their potentials, enabling them to do something with their lives. In the end, the boys break the tenacious hold of gangs, learning empathy through the game. Some progress to college and become assets to their communities, breaking the vicious chain of social liability that had hitherto characterized their lives.

I could not help but make comparisons; Gridiron Iron inmates, before they were reformed, can be likened to the larger Ghanaian society.  As a people, our sense of time is poor to unproductive degrees. About 80% of Ghanaians--young and old--would rather cheat their way through success rather than genuinely earn things in life. We reward mediocrity and non-performance. Ghanaians’ general disrespect for law and order is a source of distress to conscientious residents. Our warped sense of entertainment and passion for recklessness, as exhibited during jubilations create a strong impression of a contemptible hedonist society, devoid of any sense of propriety and aim in life. 90% of Ghanaians will tear to pieces others’ efforts rather than support constructive endeavors. Worst of all, we live for the self rather than for community and nation. Indeed, we compare extremely well with the unruly bunch at the beginning of the movie.

If only football could do for our nation what it does for the gang in the movie! Before football is introduced to the Correctional Centre, 75% of the inmates, upon release, ended up in jail or got killed in drive by shootings. After they accept football and the disciplines that come with it, only 5% suffered that fate. Football actually helps to reform majority of the boys. The qualities that come with football: individual discipline, enthusiasm for work, diligence, punctuality--good time management, team/community spirit, endurance, whole-hearted efforts, appreciation for constructive criticism, empathy, mastery, self-confidence, to mention these, are desperately needed at the Ghanaian workforce and in our communities. The good news is that Ghanaians apply all these qualities when it comes to following football. All we is have to do is extend the passion to work and everyday activities and productivity would soar, Ghanaian confidence would be boosted to sky levels, GDP would shoot up. Our natural resources would get the necessary protection and we will all live in a clean environment. We would end the dependency syndrome; earn things in life and say goodbye to aid. Oh what a beautiful Ghana that would be!

Currently, about 90% of ordinary Ghanaians are infected with a high dose of mediocrity. Instead of embracing possibilities in life, they see obstacles and failure. They simply cannot anticipate progress. Their sense of mediocrity has clouded any possible vision they might have for self, community and nation. Rather than exercise initiative to turn their ways around, brainy Ghanaians frustrate and discourage initiative of visionary ones. They blame others rather than accept their weakness and make amends. Most Ghanaians forget that choices come with consequences; they do the wrong things and blame witches for bad effects. Many have become wishful thinkers; opt for the wrong course because God will not allow any tragedy. The result: Preventable loss of lives and property, sheer wasting of resources and entrenched poverty.

“Gridiron Gang” has such valuable lessons for my country people. If only we would learn!

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[1][1] The North American type of football