Ghana@60: A Time for Reflection

I was happy that I caught the unveiling ceremony of the Ghana@60 logo on Ghana Television. The President asked questions that offered food for thought. In apparent reference to my insinuation that we have no reason for celebrating, he asserted that we do have reasons for a celebration. His other question greatly interests me: “Do we have reasons for reflection? My answer is, Oh yes! We have numerous issues and reasons for reflection.

I have been telling friends that the President currently enjoys so much goodwill among the populace that if he went round collecting arms to set up the industries he has promised Ghanaians, he would receive funds in overabundance. Even the beggars would give to him. The President is apparently aware of that. Therefore capitalizing on that goodwill, he has implored corporate bodies to fund the celebration, the estimated cost of which is about GH¢ 20 million. There is nothing like astuteness in a leader.

I observed keenly the foreigners who represented corporate bodies among the guests. I saw some Orientals, but I did not see any Chinese. If some were present, I missed them. I do not know how to react to the fact that some Chinese companies might be helping us to celebrate independence when they are currently among the worst culprits of slavery in this country. One should travel along, parts of the Ashanti and Western Regions and witness the devastation they have wreaked on our land. Thanks to them, we are losing forests and farm lands, and the worst of all, our water bodies at an alarming rate. Yes, some Chinese have enslaved the land and deprived us of livelihood. Of course, we have the most delinquent of Ghanaians conniving with unscrupulous foreigners to destroy our land, our root, the nexus of our stability and identity, for gold and other natural resources. If such vandal Chinese groups become benefactors during our independence celebration, how much will they contribute in order to compensate for the irreparable harm they are causing us?

That horrible reality has planted me on an uneasy path of deep reflection, which is what the President wants us to do. My reflection has yielded some daring, innovate ideas. Majority of Ghanaians wouldn’t dare to consider my suggestions, but I know that the President has guts and is also wary of this Ghana-Chinese menace, hence, my recommendations:

1.   Through an Executive Decree, halt all Chinese galamsey operations IMMEDIATELY.
2.     No Chinese galamsey operators should contribute towards the March 6 celebration.
3.     Rather, all such Groups should be taxed US $ 3 billion to repair the lands they have ravaged (if that doesn’t suffice, they should be taxed more).
4.    Henceforth, make such wanton degradation of land for gold a treasonable offence. (What would happen to a Ghanaian who dared to attempt such activity in China?
5.  Offenders should be given the highest penalty, according to the Constitution, with no chances of pardon by any government of the day.

I don’t have any qualms at all about my suggestions, especially, the amount, because the equipment alone being used for these nefarious activities offer strong proof that it is a booming trade. Besides, it is penalty for wanton destruction of resources. Oh, if these wicked ones could be stopped by 12.am on March 6, 2017, what a celebration there would be?

 I have been wondering whether the communication service providers would be among the benefactors and how much they offer, considering that they are also robbing Ghanaians in broad daylight. These companies move into Ghana and offer despicable services they would never dare in their own countries. Instead of communication services, subscribers get jammed lines and lies. Currently, communication service providers are better at diverting services. They offer everything from insurance to mobile money; then they sell phones. This is the only country I know where corporate bodies shirk their primary corporate responsibilities with glee and get praised for honouring their social responsibilities.

I have not the slightest doubt that some communication service providers will offer sponsorship, but in reality, that would be fraudulent. They rob us of communication services and sponsor our independence celebration? In October 2016, I paid my subscription fee through Tigo and was sent a Tigo transmission ID. DSTV never received the amount, so I had to pay double. Now, Tigo does not have a record of the transmission. That is how ordinary Ghanaians are being ripped off by these service providers.  Yet, the issue goes way beyond value for money. Those corporations are equally guilty of environmental neglect, aided by the National Communications Authority.

Which of the communication service providers currently operates an e- recycling programme to protect the environment? They bring in all kinds of mobile and other communication gadgets yet have no system for the safe management of the resultant e-waste. In an ideal situation, the Ghana Standards Board and the National Communication Authority will licence a communication service provider only upon evidence that the would-be provider has an operable e-waste management programme.

In fact, the two agencies ought to have ensured by now that all communication service providers operate obligatory e-recycling programmes. The National Media Commission has not helped either. Not too long ago, BBC featured an e-recycling facility in Ireland, exploring its positive impact. It juxtaposed that with the bogus system at the Agbobloshie Market in Accra, where young men rip old computers and other e-gadgets with bare hands, apparently oblivious of their exposure to radioactive materials. During the ministerial vetting process, I thought it was cynical of the immediate outgone Minister of Communication, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, to ask Professor Frimpong-Boateng about e-recycling. Why did his Ministry not implement e-recycling during his tenure, knowing that scrap dealers were exploiting the youth. His statement that plans are underway for e-recycling was really a non-starter. Ghana has specialised in planning, not implementing.

So this is my suggestion to the President: All communication service providers in the country must submit their e-recycling programmes and effect implementation IMMEDIATELY. All can contact the Ireland facility for collaboration; they do not have to re-invent the wheel. It really upsets me that consumers are advised to recycle e-products, yet we cannot, because we have no safe e-recycling programme in the country. If on March 6, as part of his address, the President informed the Nation about operational e-waste facilities across the country, as designated by the communication service providers, what a milestone in waste management that would be!

About six years ago, I asked an employee of Guinness Ghana Limited whether the Company recycled cans. He answered no. I gathered that the Company imports canned Guinness yet does not recycle cans. I am yet to be informed if Coca Cola recycles cans and plastic in the country. Elsewhere, these companies have major recycling programmes of bottles and cans. Why do they not do same in Ghana? Because this is the place where rules are trampled upon, and human interests are sacrificed for money. Government should task these companies into starting recycling programmes for cans. Every entity which manufactures or imports canned and plastic products into the country should start an obligatory respective recycling programmes IMMEDIATELY. That would be a huge boost for sanitation in the country. If the President should announce on March 6, a commencement of can and plastic recycling programmes by all the companies that deal in such products, what a celebration there would be!

This country sacrifices human interests, quality and dignified existence for expensive vehicles. A minister can dip his hand deeply into a major road construction fund in order to purchase a luxurious vehicle for his office. We purchase Land Cruisers in fleet. That has been the bane of Ghana. Funds meant for national development projects are used to purchase vehicles, and the people suffer. Currently, there is a wrangle between the ruling party and the opposition about 200 missing official vehicles. The opposition insists it’s a ruse by the ruling party to purchase more vehicles. It’s about time we invested in human beings, especially, our children. The President would really make our day if he announced on March 6 that the State will not purchase vehicles in the next four years.

Well, this is how far my reflection has brought me; some worrying images I have presented, but that is Ghana’s reality. Hopefully, the situations change and we become care-takers of nation and environment, not destroyers.  Oh yes, we do have reasons for reflection, which should yield remorse for neglect or wrong actions, then motivate conscientious ones to take firm steps for reparation. If such noble implementation characterised Ghana@60 celebration, it would indeed be a dignified celebration!