WELCOME, MR. PRESIDENT

Your Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, I affectionately welcome you to the highest office of our Land, Ghana. In some few hours ago, you took the Oath of Office and that of Allegiance as the 4th President of the 4th Republic of our dear Country. Welcome, Mr. President. Mr. President, I must first acknowledge the already new insights you have brought into your ‘new’ office. At the presentation of the last State of the Nation Address to climax the end of the tenure of the 3rd President of the 4th Republic led by the Late President, H.E JEA Mills, which you had the opportunity to complete due to the death of your boss, you introduced the use of the teleprompter in our public address system. Pretty amazingly, media report had it that some honourable Members of Parliament and some journalists who were right before you did not know you were using this device during your delivery despite some of us who were watching afar even knew right from the commencement of your delivery. I dare say this might just confirm the widely held notion that there are some members in the august House who in this 21st Century do not use email and by extension internet. Anyway, this still remains a rumour! Mr. President, you have introduced a sense of modernity and the use of technology (for example, your ipad/tab used in some other public addresses such as today) hence rightly a post-independence day born president. You, thus, represent the changing phase of leadership that we need at this crucial period of our nationhood. Indeed, many are the expectations of the Ghanaian electorate who stood in the ever scorching sun to let go of the power of his/her thumb to elect you as the President of this great nation of ours at this special period in history. I need not tell you the problems and challenges that confront the masses of our people. Mr. President, since your birth, our challenges in most cases have not been solved but rather intensified. Just as you narrated in your autobiography (My First Coup d'Etat: And Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa) the difficulty you went through when you embark on the journey of attending the admission interview that was required for placement in the masters in communication programme in the School of Communication Studies at UG which culminated in you not even bathing after an almost two day’s journey before attending upon the panel of interviewers but only used some small quantum of water that you have pleaded for from a good Samaritan to wash the dust off your head and face, these challenges are still staring right before us. The bad state of our roads as you navigated while on that highly loaded truck at the start of that journey is same and in some cases worsened. You may “not” know they still exist maybe because of the cars you use now but I wish to draw your attention, Mr. President, that they are still with us today. Ours at this time, Mr. President, is not the hi-tech, scientific discoveries. No, not about rocket sciences, for example. Please, I hope you won’t mistake this to think that despite being a science student, am not for great scientific inventions. Far be it from that. I highly want it. However, we cannot get there when we can’t even get potable water in to our homes. Mr. President, for instance, my home locality is called “Tongu” literally meaning “around/near the river” implying that our villages are just a stone throw to the Volta river. The water needed for potable water is got from this river. Unfortunately, we in the Tonguland and indeed in most parts of our country cannot still access potable water. I don’t want to bore you with the implications, for that, you know very well. Must I remind you that people in most of our villages including where some of my family members live (at other places) and maybe your home village too, may as we speak, continue to share the ever coffee coloured water with their farm animals? Mr. President, ours is simple as you also acknowledged in your inaugural address: the very basic things of life that will bring a smile unto the faces of our people is what we ask for: health, education, roads, energy (electricity), jobs and a well-planned advancement towards technology development and improvement. Many share the view that the Association of Graduate Unemployed was instigated by graduates loyal to the opposition NPP. I think so too. However, Mr. President, the truth is the proportion of unemployed graduates in Ghana far outweighs the total number of members of that association. Yes, I meant there is a high rate of unemployment despite both you and I know there is no official record of that. I appreciate and admire the development of entrepreneurial skills of individuals but this does not waive your responsibility of providing the right avenue for job creation in the country and actually providing sustainable jobs to your people especially the teeming youth. Many thought the on-going challenge of the elections that just brought you into office may distract you. However, you have started proving them wrong. I must congratulate you on getting the second phase of the Better Ghana Agenda you and the NDC presented to the good people of Ghana underway already. Last week, I heard you have directed the district assemblies in which the 200 community SHS (in the NDC manifesto) are to be built to start the preparatory works assiduously. Yes, that is the best way to go. Due to the tension and anxiety that has characterised the 2012 general elections and its aftermath, the call for national unity is on the lips of every Ghanaian and even none Ghanaians who wish us well. Just last week, in the State of the Nation Address, you tasked politicians to remember that what Ghana wants of them is “partnership” and not “partisanship”. Just after that, many challenge you to walk the talk. Sooner than later a golden but technically tricky opportunity came up for you to truly show that you meant what you said: the election of the 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Due to the precedence set by the opposition NPP in 2005 (then majority), you and the NDC majority now have a 100% chance to retaliate. This, indeed, was the position of many of your numerous supporters especially the youth. However, you walked your talk. You and the leadership of the NDC in parliament freely and willingly gave it to the NPP and rightly reminded them that you have the chance to retaliate but for the sake of good governance and the development of our democracy. Mr. President, some critics say your “E dey be k3k3” with a twisted mouth slogan meant “E dey beee give you alone k3k3”. You have the opportunity to prove that it really meant “E dey be give us all k3k3”, which I know you meant. You have the mandate of the good people of Ghana. Mr. President, you said to Ghanaians in your investiture address, “I will not let you down”. This is your time and this is our time. History beckons. You have the privilege of making it great. I know you can and I wish you the very best as you embark on making Ghana far better than you have come to meet it. May God lead you. Remember, Mr. President, your thought today can make Ghana and the world better tomorrow. Think about it! Thank you. Lawer Egbenya (laweregbenya@gmail.com)

MY NEW YEAR - 2013 - MESSAGE

Now, this is how I see 2013: It certainly, with God's grace, must be a better year and we look forward to that. It should be better for us all especially the underprivileged in society. Let us all make it a time of sharing regardless of the amount you have; just share some with a neighbour who has little less than you have at any point throughout the year. In this way, our government will do better in meeting the needs of her people, In this way, pastors will meet NOT only the spiritual need of their congregation but also the physical need which have prevented some of their members from truly believing in God, In this way, the many declarations our various pastors across the world have made for 2013 will be fulfilled, In this way, the world will be a better place for us all to live in in 2013. Friend, best wishes in 2013! May God bless all. Lawer Egbenya.

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)

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED FOR A PEACEFUL ELECTION 2012?

In exactly five weeks from now, the country called Ghana will ask her citizens to choose for themselves a leader for the next four years provided all things being equal. Yeah, it is the election that has been tagged as the make or break by many. Many also think that despite Election 2008 was regarded as tough and highly competitive, that of the impending one is on an even higher pedestal. Among the many names assigned this election, that which remains on the lips of many and even in the recesses of their memories and that which promises to go into history is that of the All-Die-Be-Die mantra. Indeed, it is an all-die-be-die election but we are in a position now than ever to make it the most peaceful election in our democratic dispensation. Firstly, as expected in any worthy election there must be a sense of competition. A healthy competition is that which all worthy societies wish for and progressively attempts to seek during such elections. However, that of the December 7th, 2012 elections in Ghana is fast promising to fall below this standard. Will it? However, natural occurrences seem to be working against this from happening. The NPP presidential candidate is credited for that infamous mantra of all-die-be-die. He and his party executives have tried on almost all fronts to tell the good people of Ghana that that expression is just a wake-up call; a clarion one on their supporters for surveillance before and during the elections. This certainly was condemned in no uncertain terms by many well-meaning Ghanaians and civil groups. But hey! Wait a second. Has the NPP stopped propagating such a mantra: militancy, anger, acrimony? To be fair to the loyalists of the NPP, my best answer is NO! Yes, no! To even make matters worse for the major opposition party, the NPP, is the highly individualistic perspective from which the lenses of the glasses of the flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo seems to be viewing. As should be expected in an election, the main opposition would like to win back power but the condition of Nana Addo raises the stakes even higher and tighter. Here is an astute politician with the dream of reliving the days of his father at the presidency. Unfortunately, his attempt at the presidency has not been successful until today. The greatest enemy, now, for him is his age. At 68, he has to win the impending election or forget it. This is because should he lose this election, he will be 72 at the time of the next elections in 2016 and it will be very suicidal for his party to bring him back as their presidential candidate. This is, indeed, the basis of the all-die-be-die nature of the election from the NPP’s standard-bearer’s point of view. For PR gimmicks, one does not expect the NPP to accept this stance publicly. But the grand question is whether the NPP will allow the egoistic obsession of an individual to ruin the fortunes of the whole party in impending elections and throw the country into doom? Or will they stand up to reality and assert that should we lose, there is still another day; even if not with Nana Addo, it will certainly be one of us? This is their dilemma. For me, this is not a dilemma at all. It is a straight forward issue that must be answered without shivering by the party hierarchy and her loyalists. Oh yeah! The National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had even drawn the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the web of the all-die-be-die nature of the elections. Yes, it did. It is a fact that the NDP was in the election to destruct the chances of the NDC. From that perspective, the NDC were all up in arms to fight back. Certainly, this increased the tension characterising the campaigns to the election. Fortunately (yes fortunately, not only for the NDC but for the whole country in the name of reduction of the tension), the NDP was disqualified. It might be difficulty to understand why the simple filling of forms might be the toughest thing for a political party to do. How possible? How then can they muster the courage to tell you and I that they are in to govern? But again, is this not a possible manifestation of the invisible hand at work in the affairs of our country? This is possible because it will calm tension within the NDC which hitherto would have been more aggressive to counter the NPP knowing that NDP is on its (NDC) heels. But now that NDP is out of the race (at least for now until the ruling by the Supreme Court on the issue as brought before it by the NDP), the NDC is calmer and certainly this will reduce the overall aggression they will take into the elections. The political temperature and tempers in the country started rising towards the 2012 elections immediately after the late president was sworn in as president of Ghana. This continued until a man acclaimed by all: both young and old, rich and poor, literate and illiterates, Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians, indeed, people of all races, as a gentle, calm and peace-loving, the late Prof. J.E.A. Mills gave up his spirit to do what has now been christened as ‘to perform celestial duties’. Has the peace-loving man not paid the ultimate price for us? Then, the disqualification of the NDP comes in afterwards. These are two paramount and high pitch sounding signals that we must protect the peace we have as a country. Let not destroy the little that has been built. Just imagine how we have struggled to get this far. How do we begin all over again? Let this ring through your mind as the election approaches. What else do we need in order to control ourselves so as to ensure a peaceful election after all that nature has worked for us (some though sorrowful) through highly non-understandable angles? As the D-day approaches, we keep our fingers crossed and expect each and every one of us to do our best in the supreme interest of the country and our own existence as humans and behave as expected. The best candidate ought to win and transform the fortunes of our people. Remember in all things you can make the world better with the power of your thought. Think about it! Lawer Egbenya (laweregbenya@gmail.com, www.danielegbenya.blogspot.com).

THE ‘IMPARTIAL’ RULING OF A ‘PARTIAL’ JUDGE

To Daniel, God is the upright judge. Certainly, there is none that holds the truth and nothing but the absolute truth resides with Him alone. Unfortunately, humans, in our mortal existence are confronted with diverse issues that require determination of the truthfulness or otherwise. In all these circumstances, we pretend to seek for nothing but the truth. More often than not humans massage the truth mostly in an attempt to project a particular course or aim! Democracy, today, is touted as the best form of government by many. To me, this goes to confirm that school of thought that in the midst of the worst things, the worse is always the best. One understands this assertion especially when s/he takes into cognisance the woes of some countries which are rated highly on the democratic pedestal. Oh yeah, I hope you know democracy is not just the ‘peaceful’ change of government through the ballot box. It goes far beyond that. For me, anytime I hear democracy being nicknamed as “The Best” form of government, only three understandings come to mind: development, development and development. But is that what we see in Ghana and in many other places where the foundation of democracy is hyped as being firmly rooted? Has democracy not been reduced to the mere media freedom which in most instances warrants the doling out of largesse to the so-called senior journalists who will splashed the front pages of their tabloid newspapers lauding the democratic tendency and perceived development-oriented agenda of their pay masters? Oh yeah and we have those we call human rights advocates! Hahahahaaaa. Advocates, indeed! They only remember they are advocates when the rights of some sections of the populace are trampled upon. One wonders why transparency, justice and accountability to one’s people can’t be found in our national transactions. I hope you know that the mere trumpeting of these ‘cliché’ by some individuals does not convince you to think that they are better at respecting and projecting these principles than the culprits who have dumped these essential prerequisites in any meaningful leadership engagement. Despite it is not over yet, the date Wednesday, 19th September, 2012 marked not only a significant but a memorable day in the democratic dispensation of Ghana. The brouhaha about the creation of forty five constituencies by the Electoral Commission which will be used in the impending national presidential and parliamentary elections had what is generally christened the Series of EC’s Legal Battles. The adrenaline levels of many especially those for the creation increased to unimaginable levels taken into consideration rulings of the courts in recent past. My oh my! In the morning of the above date, many politicians, political watchers and lovers of politics were in a dilemma as to what will be the outcome of the nation’s highest court’s, the Supreme Court, ruling. To many, the fate of the December, 7th elections this year especially with reference to the audacity to be felt by the EC rests on this day’s ruling. Another intriguing aspect of the whole “show” was when another lawyer who was for the creation filed another case at the Supreme Court in the morning of the same day asking the Court not to hear the case in which opponents of the creation of the constituencies are asking for an injunction to be placed on parliament preventing it from sitting and subsequently passing the constitutional instrument (CI) creating the constituencies, CI 78. No sooner than later, the judge was ready with his ruling on which political watchers tag as the fate of the “All-Die-Be-Die” elections. Injunction or no injunction remained the questions on the lips of many. He finally pronounced his ruling and as common sense and perhaps precedence will have it, a country which is praised for its stable democracy must not be seen trembling with the foundation of what she is praised for. He threw away the application for the injunction. This is a matter in which everyone accepts that the EC is constitutionally mandated to do so. The issue of the duration to the elections being short is the most talked about by those against the creation. Certainly, this is a fact. Interestingly though, the chief organiser of the election, EC, says that’s no challenge. This is what baffles me. Is it that the main opposition, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) benefited from the creation of the thirty constituencies which was done when it was in power and hence are suspicious the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will do same? To even make matters more intriguing, those against the creation are seen vigorously campaigning as parliamentary candidates in the yet-to-be created constituencies. What a world we live in! Another source of the confusion is that despite the NPP says the time limit to the elections is short and hence it will be too much of a challenge to organise parliamentary primaries to elect candidates in the to-be-created constituencies, their candidates in some of the existing constituencies are now being elected. What a world we live in! I can’t also forget that claim that there is not much money to be used on the new law-makers should the constituencies be created. Yeah, that’s explicit. It’s a fact. The issue of unemployment, lack of potable drinking water, diseases and the gulf of difficulties which have entangled us as a nation are still with us today but what do we see! Ain’t we in this state before we, as a people, have legalised the payment of unimaginable and unthinkable amounts to be chopped by few in power and also use gargantuan amounts to pay peanuts which have accumulated over the years, the so called judgement debts? Do you remember the most used word in Ghana in the year 2009 – Ex gratia? What about the on-going astronomical salary increment of the current MPs? Certainly, our democracy needs a reform. We need democracy but it must be adjusted to suit our existence as a people; one that is geared towards bettering the generality of the people and not those in power and their cohorts at any particular time. The main question now is will the partial judge be impartial in the determination of the substantive case which seeks to prevent the EC from embarking on the creation of the proposed constituencies come next month? We are in the hands of time! Let’s work for the betterment of humanity at all times for remember your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it! Lawer Egbenya. (laweregbenya@gmail.com, www.modernghana.com/author/laweregbenya)

CHANGE WE NEED

It is said that change is the only constant parameter in the universe; anything else under goes one form of transformation or the other at a point in time. This change, in almost all cases, is a must and a necessity that must be attained. Intriguing as it maybe, some people don’t think about the essence of change; the relevance of change is not in their psyche. To them, the status quo is always the best. A prominent mark of the adherents of the status quo is the ability of not thinking about change; they do not think about envisaging how the other option would be should they consider doing it. You know what? Sometimes, we must undergo some life experiences at a stage in life because once that is done, our psyche about the need for change is more than bound to change. One critical example that comes to mind is the European weather. Certainly, this experience will be better felt and understood in some countries like Norway as against places like Spain. Whilst a fairly nice weather condition prevail all-year-round in the latter, talk of the scenario in the former and the word ‘change’ would hurriedly be on your lips to be spewed out. All the four European seasons are well defined and felt in their highly marked characteristics. As summer gives way to autumn, the broad smiles on the faces of many inhabitants greet you. Conversely, as autumn says goodbye to winter despite the much skiing escapades that many people will undergo, the once lively faces of many will assume opposite description. Then, the call for change starts dripping from the lips of many. The intensity of the cold sometimes makes one’s lips and ears hurt so much to the point that one feels as if those body parts have been cut off with a sharp cutting edge. Also, the once green, broad and lively leaves of trees and grasses which later turned yellowish and smell of love in autumn are nowhere to behold. Everything is dried up. Certainly, these situations will urge you to call for change contrary to others in other places with much nice weather conditions. Talking about change, I remember some of the so called age-old practices in Ghana. I accept tradition not as a religion but as a way of life and that this must be cherished and preserved. Again, I share in the belief that a spice of tradition with ‘relevant modernity or westernisation’ will be a perfect match. Despite my admiration for tradition, some form of our traditional practices cannot stand the test of time. Yes, they can’t! For instance, what’s the building of camps for people who we deem posses witchcraft for? Sometime last year and early part of this month, I watched and read news items on this subject which showed the horrifying, agonising and dehumanising condition in which these supposed witches live. I hate witches. Yes, I do. Since the day I touched this planet called earth, I have been made aware of the attack of witches upon my life but glory to God am still alive and kicking. Even as I write this piece, I still have snippets of misfortunes in my life which people ascribe the machinations of witchcraft to. Certainly, a person like me would abhor such people. However, the witch camps in Ghana pose a lot of mind-numbing questions which necessitate a change in action. For example, why is it that all the people in these camps are women? Does it mean that men do not posses witchcraft? Why is it that almost all these camps are in the northern part of the country? Does it mean that the building of such camps is only a tradition by some tribes in the northern part of the country? What then happens to members of those tribes who posses witchcraft but reside in the southern part of the country? Has anybody sat down to think about the future of the mostly young girls who accompany the supposed witches who are ousted from their places of abode to serve as helps to these alleged witches in the camps? These are some of the reasons why I think we need to change. Folk, wait a minute! Do you agree that there are a lot of power broker politicians, captains of industry, CEOs of multi (national and billion) companies, entertainment superstars and many rich people who are from the north? Have any of their mothers ever been sent to any of these camps? Or is it the case that none of these people’s mothers practise witchcraft? Please, I am not for a moment suggesting that they do. Not at all! But what do you think will happen if one of these influential people in Ghana have his/her mum in any of these unreachable and forgotten parts of the country? Time and again, I have heard the saying that a woman becomes a witch when life begins to take its toll on her; when wrinkles begin to take over her once crème de la crème face; when her identity is now but what the Ewes called “kesekaba”. Is it that we as a people have now accepted this as a well-thought out and scientifically researched finding? If so, why does it only seems to be applied to aged mothers of the poor ones in society? Why not those of the rich ones too? Or is the application to poor aged women one of the conditions under which this ‘research finding’ holds? Shockingly, the number of inmates in these camps is on the surge. It is estimated that not less than 3000 old women and their granddaughters (in most cases) live in these camps. It is always a Christmas time for them should a day go by and they are able to manage with just a piece of food and a cup of water since in most instances they go without food and water. Potable water to them is akin to the possession of the most expensive jewellery. Talk of electricity? They do not know what that is. Sometimes, I tend to think that if these alleged witches are treated in this manner, won’t they be angered and cause more havoc? Witchcraft must not be allowed in human existence. However, we must treat alleged witches and wizards with a sense of our collective humane feeling. The Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development; and Women and Children’s Affairs must take active steps in closing down these camps. Again, influential people from communities where these camps still exist must initiate talks with their people and integrate these alleged witches into our society as well as assist the young girls to get to school. How about the so called human rights groups and other civic societies in the country? I guess the rights groups ain’t telling us that it is only the rights of the most powerful politicians that matter. Also, the unnecessary and uncivilised disturbances that marked the maiden biometric voter’s registration in the country which in most cases have been laid at the footstep of politicians cannot be accepted as our way of doing things. For me, the much frustration and weariness that prospective registrants went through could have been highly minimised. Apart from the fact that breakup of machines can slow the process, the lack of efficiency on the part of the registration officials is a major contributing factor. For example, most prospective registrants claim that the registration officials were not on top of their duties. How do you blame these officials most of whom only saw a computer when they got to Senior High School? Even here, they did not use it since in most instances the few ones around are used for demonstration purposes by instructors and in some cases by the more fortunate ones who have some little knowledge in computing. Certainly, such an official will engage in the “Jack where are you?” style of typing. As a result, much time which would have been used for other productive engagements by these prospective registrants would be wasted in the registration process. While most of our compatriots during their formative years in school learn how to type on computer and play with many other technological equipment, we are busily learning how to write in “My first, second, third Copy Books”! Who knows, we may even be heading towards “My infinite copy books”! So while we glory in our stylish handwritings, our compatriots worship their typing speed and dexterity on the computer. Which is better? Remember, we may not all be artists and calligraphers but we may all have to use the computer at a point in time. Now, they have moved from typing on computer to touching screens of tablets while we still hold on to our number of copy books as we pretend to be introducing our kids in basic schools to computer. Certainly, we need change! Remember, your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it. Lawer Egbenya (laweregbenya@gmail.com).