Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Folks, I am waiting patiently to
see how tomorrow dawns for the organizers of the demonstration to move on with
their one-day nationwide demonstration in protest at the situation at their
workplaces and the country, generally, as the economic problems persist. A
preview should create a good context for us to slot in future happenings, even
as we continue to monitor the situation.
Organized labour (whatever that
means) is playing the frontline role in this street protest, joined by
professionals in the Ghana Medical Association and other identifiable interest
or pressure groups, some known for their political manouevres even if they
attempt to throw dust into our eyes to create the impression that they are
apolitical and non-partisan.
The latest to announce its
decision to join the street demonstration is the Ghana Private Road Transport
Union GPRTU): "Commercial drivers under the Ghana Private Road Transport
Union (GPRTU) have been directed to park their cars at home in solidarity with
the nationwide demonstration by organized labour tomorrow. General Secretary of
the GPRTU, Robert Adjei Brenya later confirmed the directive in an interview
with Joy News on Wednesday. He explained the drivers too have been affected by
the dire economic situation in the country" (See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=318202).
We can tell that the
demonstration will involve just anybody who has an axe to grind with the
government. Thus, the umbrella organization (organized labour in the Trades
Union Congress) is only creating the opportunity for those who bear any kind of
grudge at all against the government to join the street demonstration in this
match of baring teeth. We know that if an animal doesn’t want to bite you, it
won’t bare its teeth at you. But is biting the solution to the problems against
which the demonstration has been organized?
Clearly, those gearing up to
participate in the demonstration are not only workers on government payroll but
others in private business, including the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). We
have been told that doctors at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were cajoling
patients to join the demonstration.
Certainly, the anti-Mahama
elements in the clergy won't be left out. They have already been doing their
homework and blowing hot air against President Mahama. Is it Rev. Owusu Bempah,
the Methodist Priest of Obuasi (Bosomtwe) or this one:
"Head of Adansi Baptist
Association of Ghana has attributed the current socio-economic challenges in
the country to what he says is President John Mahama's inability to take firm
decisions. According to Rev. Alex Brenya Korankye, “it seems there is no leader
in this country so everyone is doing whatever they like”?
The organizers of the
demonstration have rejected appeals to rescind their decision; and from the
look of things, tomorrow will open a new chapter in labour agitations,
reminiscent of the orchestrated mass protests against the Acheampong regime in
1977 and 1978 that eventually led to the fall of Kutu Acheampong on July 9,
1978.
Today's political climate is,
however, different, assuming that we want to respect the democracy that has
sustained this 4th Republic since January 7, 1993.
I expect tomorrow's demonstration
to proceed as planned; and there will be a lot said and done to suggest that
the government is insensitive and incompetent. Placards will announce loudly
the sentiments of the demonstrators. I hope the Police and other security
agents will be up to the task and ensure that the demonstration begins, runs,
and ends peacefully.
I also expect that media houses
critical of the Mahama-led administration will give maximum coverage to the
event and look for substance with which to ratchet up their propaganda. They
will fall head-over-heels in love with the demonstrators and even look for dung
where no cow would graze for as long as it will give them the much-needed
impetus to continue painting the government black—or even blacker than it
really is.
Discerning minds can foresee the
implications, which is why the government has to advise itself and ensure that
it remains firm in controlling affairs so as not to jeopardize its own life or
create room for unscrupulous elements to attempt rocking the boat all the more.
Indeed, the government has no other option but to solve problems. Only then
will it have the moral justification to exist and be relied on. If it doesn’t,
it will not take long for things to fall apart. Our democracy deserves better.
At the end of the demonstration,
what next? Will the government be well shaken by the event to redouble its
efforts to solve problems or laugh it off as one of those empty shows of power
that can be counter-balanced with some in-house dining, wining, and wenching
sessions with the workers' leaders to win them over, after all?
Or will President Mahama and his
team be scared stiff by what will unfold to fear their own shadows and move
quickly to implement efficacious policies? Will the government use tomorrow's
street demonstration as a wake-up call and act on the Senchi Consensus and
redeem its image? Or will it be the self-same Ghanaian posturing: "Ehuru a
ebe dwo" ("Whatever simmers will eventually settle down")?
More importantly, will the
leaders of organized labour and the demonstrators use their own action as a
moment to pause and reflect on larger level issues to know that the problems
that they are complaining about and taking to the streets in consequence can be
addressed if they put their shoulders to the wheel to raise productivity? Or
that they have a lot to do to help the government turn the situation positively
around?
Or that they are a part of the
problems that they are demonstrating against (given the rot that exists at the
workplace in terms of bad work ethics, plain immorality in terms of theft of
property, connivance with unscrupulous elements to steal public funds under
dubious circumstances, truancy, and other negative attitudes to work—counting
the hour and not what they can do within the hour)?
Will there be an epiphany
tomorrow to help the demonstrators see themselves in the mirror and recant,
turn a new leaf to offer concrete input for solving national problems or
waiting at the fringes as arm-chair critics to take on the government as they
will do tomorrow?
Or will the workers' leaders tie
this kind of demonstration to the politically motivated one set in motion by
the NPP in its demonstration in Kumasi ("Ya Ye Den?"), which we were
told would be replicated in the remaining 9 regions of the country two weeks
thereafter, Tamale as their next destination? It's long past the two weeks and
nothing has been done again. Instead, a group calling itself "Concerned
Ghanaians for Responsible Governance (CGRG)”, which is made up of known faces
identifiable with the NPP, has taken the mantle and set itself an agenda to do
the hatchet job.
In any case, if tomorrow’s street
demonstration is a precursor to many others to follow for as long as the
economic situation doesn't improve, no one needs any diviner's insight to know
the cumulative effect on the country. In that sense, then, will these people be
contributing their quota toward nation-building or nation-destruction? I don't
know.
In sum, though, one question
sticks out like a sore thumb: Will there be anything new after tomorrow's
street demonstration? I wait for the answer!!
I shall return…
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E-mail:
mjbokor@yahoo.com
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