Sunday,
May 11, 2014
As he graced the
grand durbar today in celebrations climaxing the 15th anniversary of his
installation as Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made some very important
observations that came across to me as illuminating in import and substance.
He said
pointedly that "Politics has substantially eroded the innate creative mind
and enterprising spirit of modern day Ghanaian as many resort to it as the
surest way of making it in life".
He added: “We
have become addicted to a new phenomenon of a talking craft called politics
that has drained our people of all creativity and enterprise, and replaced the
taskmasters who produce food and timber with the talk masters who are feeding
us on air.
“The consequence
of this shift is the mood of depression and pessimism; unending argument of
non-performing assets; and the desperation of abandoning hard work in favour of
the search for instant miracles.”
Publicly
decrying the over politicization of the society, the Asantehene underscored
that this attitude has become a bane of the Asante Kingdom’s, and by extension
Ghana’s, economic empowerment. He was speaking at a grand durbar to climax his
15th anniversary celebrations in Kumasi on Sunday themed: "Rekindling the
Spirit of Creativity, Innovation and Enterprise through Traditional
Leadership.” He was installed on 26th April 1999.
(Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/May-11th/politics-has-made-us-lazy-otumfuo-fumes.php)
Although the
Otumfuo also focused on the negative impact of politics on Asanteman or Asante
Kingdom as he called it, I am not interested in that aspect for whatever it may
be. The big picture regarding Ghana is what matters to me.
Even before he
complained about politics deadening Ghanaians' minds, followers of the rival
NDC and NPP had gathered at the Kumasi Airport in a belligerent mood. Whatever
might be their motivation for wanting to be at each other's throat, they
confirmed Otumfuo's cutting comment on how politics has turned the Ghanaian
into a problem-maker and not solver.
I want to add my
voice to that of the Otumfuo to say that politics has not only made Ghanaians
lazy, but it has also turned them into nation wreckers and unpatriotic people
who will be more interested in counting the hour, not what they have done in
the hour.
And the pack of
politicians manipulating their sentiments and political persuasion know very
well how to use them to do their hatchet job for them.
Considering how
those in power cannot use the people's mandate to solve problems so living
conditions can improve, one can agree again with the Asantehene that politics
has turned them too into lazy people who are more wont to take advantage of the
loopholes in the system for personal gains than to use the political power to
move the country forward.
Those in the
opposition making the loudest, foulest, and ugliest noise to be in power aren't
any better. They are equally lazy upstairs and fall under axe of condemnation.
For Ghana to
move forward, serious attention has to be paid to how national and local
politics is done. For now, the rough-house tactics dominate and turn away the
better quality material who—for the sake of their hard-earned meritorious
personal image—won't want to be involved in partisan politics.
They fear that
their reputation will be torn to shreds with the persistent mudslinging going on.
Unfortunately, it s all to the detriment of the country and its people.
The Otumfuo
couldn't have said it at any other time than now. There is too much happening
to demoralize the citizens, or to turn the desperate ones into willing tools to
be used by the unscrupulous politicians.
Lazy people
can't build a country. Dirty politics won't help them do so either.
The
Asantehene's bold claim should place in perspective anything that our
politicians utter or do. That is why I take cognizance of President Mahama's
eulogy of the Otumfuo as reported: "President John Mahama has been so
profuse with adoration for the King of Ashantis branding him a wise man who has
turned the relic of chieftaincy into relevant institution of development. The
ceaseless deluge of adoration dominated his 15 minute speech until smiles broke
loose on the plain-faced King."
President Mahama
was the special guest of honour at the 15th anniversary of the enthronement of
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. (Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/May-11th/.php).
This eulogy
and the headline given the report on it ("Otumfuo has made relic of
chieftaincy relevant for development") immediately come up for comment. What
is it that President Mahama wants to use his political career to accomplish so
he could also be eulogized as he has done the Otumfuo? What has been able to do
or will do to turn politics around to mark him out as an achiever worth
commending now or even after his tenure has expired?
The ceremony was attended by former President Kufuor and Rawlings along with Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings; and the former Nigerian President Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, a freind of the Asantehene.
How are we
remembering all these past leaders? Or, what did they do in office that marks
them out as accomplished politicians? If the Otumfuo's singular accomplishment
in turning chieftaincy around for use in moving society forward, what can't all
these leaders use their political clout to accomplish for their countries?
Too many
nagging questions, my good friends!!
I shall return…
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