THE STATE OF AFRICA.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”   -Abraham Lincoln.

Are we divided by nature, or it is through human creativity and ingenuity that has led us into these problematic and chaotic predicaments?.

We are gradually losing our sense of belongingness, identity and unity as a nation and continent at large due to the current land and sea breezes blowing from the tropic of cancer through the equator to the tropic of Capricorn and the coastal belt, which is causing fear, panic and alarm within most of the inhabitants of the human-skull-like continent which depicts the state of Africa.

The reasons for which our forefathers, unanimously stood for independence were many and varied, but the torch which was lit and handed over to their successors died long ago due to the power struggle from the 1960s to date, and this attest to Baron De Montesquieu’s axiom that “Power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Politicians in their quest for POWER, who say inwardly to get it at all cost to suit their whims and caprices do not give a damn to what the cockroaches would do since the adage has now changed to “when an elephant and a bird on top of an umbrella fight, the first class animals suffer”, because the elephant learned to dance like a kangaroo and the bird decided to tie it.

So would a prophet of God or an Imam be wrong to say that, the end times are nigh? Would the constitutionally elected government and the electoral commission-sworn-in government believe that the kingdom of God is at hand, while their ascending of the throne is also at hand?.

Is Africa I know in turmoil?, why should Mugabe and Morgan share one power, which was obviously for one, while Ben Ali  runs from office and Hosni Mubarak preferred stepping down peacefully, even though they never dreamt of it, but he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day. They chased Mr. Jones out of the Animal Farm, because they wanted their  freedom, but Snowball, was also chased out, even though, he was one of them, alas, they were not able to manage the farm.

Now, ma me ndi me fie asem! And it became an issue because someone in an ecomini T shirt is cocoa ase kurasini, but y’ani da wee so, after all, all die be die.

In hierarchical order, President professor Mills versus Nana Addo Dankwa , Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (sir John) versus Kobby Acheampong, Ahaji Iddrissu Bature versus Kennedy Agyapong, Sheik I. C Quaye versus assemblyman elect, Bamba boys versus Azuka boys and serial caller versus serial caller, where are we drifting to?

Most if not all political leaders in Ghana and Africa at large have failed to live up to expectations. There are no clear footprints in the sands and history of politics, for generations behind them to emulate.

Follow my steps, as I follow the examples of Christ, Paul told his followers. John C. Maxwell described a leader as the one who knows the way goes the way and shows the way, but there comes a time when followers see that their leaders are going off-track; there is the need to put them back on track, that was why John Quincy Adams said if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. And Peter F. Drucker added management is doing the things right and leadership is doing the right things. How many political leaders in Ghana and Africa manage things right and do the right things? How many political leaders in Africa would we, up and coming ones like to mentor? How many of them are not corrupt? How many of them are not power drunk?

Leadership without mentoring is self serving. Politics and leadership in governance, has now become a venture and no one would want to run at a loss or break even, hence, corruption. The day African leaders would know that, true leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not for the enrichment of the leaders, their subjects would be better-off.

It is just simple to understand that, when followers protest against an incumbency, it is a sign of big failure and that the leader have not lived up to expectations. That is why Ivy Ledbetter Lee said “tell the truth, because sooner or later the public will find it out anyway. And if the public doesn’t like what you are doing, change your policies and bring them into line with what the people want”  

Now, the radio which was and still is a powerful tool for propaganda since it’s establishment has never changed and now it is rather aiding chaos and division than bringing unity and development. Valerie Bemeriki a Rwandan journalist sat on radio milles collines and encouraged Hutus to slaughter Tutsis during the 1994 genocide “do not kill those cockroaches with bullet-cut them to pieces with a machete” she said and 800,000 people died in 100 days.

Her statement is not different from what Muammar al-QathafiAgyapong and Alhaji Iddrissu Bature, which is whipping up aversion among the two major political parties which under normal circumstances, should not have happened on radio.

The media should not jump over Article 164 of the 1994 republican constitution which stated that, “the provisions of articles 162 and 163 of this constitution are subject to laws that are reasonably required in the interest of national security, public order, public morality and for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedom of the other persons”.

Our cultural and African values do not permit us to insult, either publicly or privately, and it is indeed very worrisome, the way majority of people in the helm of affairs who many of their subjects also look up to, are using the media which tend to have many effects on the audiences.

The turmoil in Africa, apparently, does not many a time emanate from within the citizenry but, the leaders. Their desire for power and the struggle for it have brought Africa into this state.

 But William Shakespeare has this to say;

ANGELO O, it is excellent
To have a giant's strength! But it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.

Edward Balami,

ebalamiingh@hotmail.com