2012: THE YEAR OF JOB’S PRAYER FOR SELF AND COUNTRY

It has been an activity packed year for many individuals, organisations and institutions and nations across the world. It is that time of the year when all these persons and groups have either completed or are about to finish analysing how the year – 2012 – has been for them. For me and my country, Ghana, it has been moments when we could not hold it but offer the proverbial Job’s prayers of all time. I remember very vividly the 01.01.12 and how I looked forward to have a glorious 2012. I remember the highly admirable look I conceived about 2012 on that fateful day. I am not a believer of numerology but I admired some figures or numbers and letters of the alphabets. I guess apart from the interpretations that are given to some of these numbers which sometimes when I hear may tend to sway me to love them, I think my admiration, to especially numbers, might be the stylish pattern in which some of them are written. 2012 is one of such figures put together. After that highly enviable thought on 2012, the journey began sooner than I thought. I had my first disappointment from a prospective supervisor in school in just the first week of the year. hmmmm! Later, the glorious moments I wished for started unfolding and I thought this might be my year. Going back home to meet my twin sister and other siblings, parents, family and friends took me to another level of what I thought will be the unforgotten year due to its positive happenings. Unfortunately, the tide turned! 2012 started to unfold another stretch of itself and continued in like manner far more than I could ever imagine until now that I have experienced it all. Oh! yeah, on this day, the moments of almost the last quarter of the year is still fresh on my mind as if it just happened in the last 1 second. During the time of coming out with most of these decisions, I trust not only my thoughts but the suggestions of many who spoke to me. However, I cannot forget about the extremely negative aftermath of those decisions but will suffice to state, at least for now, that there is much truth inherent in that cliché that says not all that glitters is gold. It was in the ‘heat’ of that cold winter that I have to learn that excellent lesson of my identity. Ghana, indeed, had her own share of the agonised moments of 2012. Until 2012, the death of a sitting president was alien to us in Ghana. Anytime we hear this, it is a somewhat imagined news to us. Even when the foulmouthed political opponents talk about it, most people just consider it as one of their low blows. It was in the afternoon of 24.07.12, some minutes after 1415 hrs GMT while I was chatting me some colleagues in the EM department of the NMIMR, Legon, that that unprecedented news hit us – the death of Ghana’s then seating president, Prof. JEA Mills. It did not end there for my dear country. In the midst of the rising political tensions in the country, almost every cool headed lover of this country will wish that the peaceful, calm and wise statesmen will be around to soothe others should any untoward occurrence happen. Unfortunately, as a country, we had to lose that gem of a calm character, Alhadji Aliu Mahama (who until then was the only surviving vice president of Ghana) on 16.11.12 @ 0945 hrs GMT. As if these were not tragic enough for Ghana, that peace-loving, unifier, intelligent and forthright man, Mr. Henry Ford Karmel, the then Volta Regional Minister, left us on 25.12.12. What a tragedy we had to face as a country! It is gratifying that despite the acrimony and the few excesses that characterised the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, which I must say is still not over yet, we have manage to still being considered the beacon of African’s democracy. It has been tough and rough, moments when we felt it is about to be over but we have managed to go through 2012 till the last day of the year. It has been by God’s providence and abundant mercies that has pulled us through. 2013 does not look like one of such nice numbers on my mind. Again, interpretations been given it has been one of mixed feelings. However, the God of Daniel is still alive and I trust He will make you, I, Ghana and of course, your country, greater and stronger in 2013. Folk, remember, your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it! Laweregbenya (laweregbenya@gmail.com)

LET THE PEACE BELL RING

Many hundreds of innocent and peace loving Ghanaians over the few months have lined up on our streets singing one patriotic or sober song or the other. It's so common that one does not need to wonder what's happening with these many people: it is the usual maltreatment that the good people of this country on the West coast of the Africa continent are subjected to every four years. The only difference is that that of this year is likely to be associated with the queues formed by Liberian refugees in Ghana in camps such as the Buduburam Camp some months ago or that of the Ivoirians which interestingly is been viewed by many Ghanaians today. But should our adrenalin continue to register record highs during elections every four years, are we not likely to be considering other forms of leadership? Anyways! In less than 24 hours, the people of my beloved country, Ghana, goes to the polls to exercise that inalienable right of electing their President and Members of Parliament. After five successive democratic elections which have seen successful transfer of political power from and to two political parties (since the other many parties cannot make any significant impact), Ghana is regarded as the democratic pacesetter on a continent that has been plagued with numerous instances of dictatorship. Interestingly, this current election has been seen by many people as the one likely to throw the entire nation into chaos. Violence knocks at our door. Indeed, there are many who share the view that Ghanaians have been psychologically primed for violence in these impending elections. This led to the famous Peace Accord (The Kumasi Declaration) that has been signed by the flagbearers of all contesting political parties in these elections. I dare say this Declaration may just have no impact if we, the people, ain't ready to make it work. Despite being the oasis of peace and the living testimony of democracy on the Continent, we still have more to show in our socioeconomic existence. That will be for another day! Today, it is the call for peace! We cannot redefine peaceful, free, fair and transparent election as only a win for the opposition party. No, a free and fair election goes far beyond that. Let us all play by the rule. The standard bearers, their political parties, the Electoral Commission and its agents manning the polling stations, the security officials, the media and of course, you and I must play by the rule on this day of the elections. It is also indeed true that the unemployed youth are those recruited as thugs to cause these troubles. Is that why our politicians (leaders) on the Continent (not excluding Ghana) are not serious about creating meaningful, worthy and sustainable job opportunities for their ever teaming youthful population? If yes, then fellow youth, let's cancel this violence agenda of this election so that after the election we can take on whoever wins to enquire of our due – the jobs. Just look at this: you have a brother and a sister, a mum or a dad that you love so much and perhaps a girl/boyfriend. Interestingly, because they are not at the polling station where you have decided to strike someone's head all in the name of ensuring that your favourite politician wins, you think they (your love ones) are safe. Wait a second! Don't you think someone may just be doing the same 'justice' to them wherever they are in the country at the same time? Think about it. This is the reality! Again, do you think that any of the five or so children of Nana Akuffo-Addo or the seven or so children of John Mahama will take part in any fight so that their respective dad win? NO, they won't! Even some may not be awake to listen to the results as they are declared polling station by polling station, constituency by constituency; they will sleep! Yes, some will sleep and only hear how the results have been trickling in only on the next day. Have you also thought about the fact that most of the top politicians who ask you to and pay you for violence have their children and wives outside Ghana? Think about this! Do you know that should violence break out, you may die within some few hours or days but neither Nana Akuffo-Addo nor John Mahama is likely to die immediately as a result of the violence? Think about it! But to the so-called men of God (yes, I said so!), opinion leaders, traditional leaders, influential people and the so-called big wo(men) who in this time of a 'possible' chaos chose to be silence obviously for their parochial interests should remember they might just be the targets of some of the “well-thinking” youth who may be on rampage during those times. It is also a fact that in times of trouble and war, citizens go to neighbouring countries. Just to remind you about our neighbours: Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo. Indeed, these countries are as unstable as the word. Oh yeah! The last alternative is the Gulf of Guinea. Are we heading into the sea? Oh no! Let's rethink about this again. The Prayers, the Peace Marches, the Peace Accord, and the dialogues will come to nought if we ain't ready to practicalize them. I trust you reading this may not engage yourself in any violent act but remember to tap the shoulder of the unfortunate one who has not gotten the opportunity to read this not to participate in any act of chaos as well. We have just one country that we call our own. One country that we call home. The United States of America is the surname of democracy for the world and so are we for Africa. Just exactly a month ago today, Mitt Romney did what he ought to do despite the much amount of billions of hard cash and other things he pumped into his campaign – he accepted defeat! You may not be available to contest and possibly win in the future but your party will. That's what makes the United States the giant of democracy. We have become the showpiece and an icon of democracy and we cannot but prove to the world that yeah, we deserve it. We cannot let our people down. We cannot let the youth and the children of this country down. This is our time. This is the moment we have. Let's make Ghana proud again. Don't forget it is said that you don't know the value of peace until you lose it. Unfortunately, this current experiment of trying to lose it does not engage the famous trial and error mechanism because the gains would be destroyed in just seconds and decades would be needed for the rebuilding. I seriously believe in the Ghanaian people and believe also that God will see as through again. Let the best candidate win. Let the Peace Bell Ring. Let democracy win. Let Ghana win. Folk, remember your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it!

Lawer Egbenya (laweregbenya@gmail.com , laweregbenya.blogspot.com)