Accra, Ghana//-My mind is overcome by a roller-coaster of emotions. I feel overcome with raw emotions of sadness, grief, disbelief, and the overshadowing thought that life is unfair and, just maybe, being born on this side of the planet, was a blunder.
Chris (pseudonym) is a graduate from one of the country’s public universities. He pursued a Science-related programme and was among the top-ten students, who distinguished themselves, academically, in his year group.
Three years on, Chris has been employed by a a mobile cash vendor, as an agent, and he survives on the commissions he makes from his daily sales.
He averages about GHS300 on a monthly basis, and pays his rent out of these earnings. Orphaned Chris’ story does not end there.
His guardian, who had been responsible for his upkeep while at school, has recently passed on. One look at the young man, Chris, and it is evident that all is not well. He is painfully thin, and gaunt.
His colleague discloses that Chris hardly has anything to eat at work, because he uses a significant portion of his monthly earnings on transportation to and from home to work. This colleague supports him by buying him lunch, as and when he can afford to.
One can surmise how many applications Chris may have written in response to job vacancies both in the public and private sector.
The sad truth, however, is, these may yield nothing much, till fate smiles on him or better still a generous benefactor decides to offer this gentleman his much-needed break by recommending him for one role or the other.
Sadly, till that happens, life is going to be a daily struggle for Chris.
Chris’ case epitomises the reality of the truly vulnerable in society who are in dire need of support systems to make life worth living.
It provides the impetus to voice out the concerns of the ordinary man, woman, youth etc., who feels a sense of despondency because of the seeming state of inertia our established institutions and systems are in.
It is disturbing that, our society is fast being overtaken by significant levels of moral decadence such that the very institutions, systems and structures established to facilitate effective governance and the implementation of policies and decisions, for the betterment of the citizenry, have in themselves become our Achilles heel.
What happened to equity, transparency and meritocracy in public sector recruitment, for example? Do these terms come up for consideration at all, in public sector procurement practices?
When such calls are advertised, is the intention merely to satisfy the stipulated requirements without recourse to the quest to optimise the use of our scarce resources?
The steep decline in moral standards and the flagrant abuse ofpower by persons placed in positions of trust, especially in thepublic sector, leavemuch to be desired. This canker has eaten deep into the moral fibre of almost every sphere of endeavour, in our society.
This ill rears its ugly head, during school placements/admissions; the award of procurement contracts; recruitment exercises; promotions; hospital admissions;land documentation processes, not to mention but a few.
Ultimately, the persons in dire need of such assistance are side-lined. Their interests are sacrificed on the altar of nepotism. Who looks out for the vulnerable?
When development aid is sought to deliver targeted interventions to this group of persons, is it a fact that administrative overheads and emoluments take up a sizeable chunk of these budgets, leaving woefully little, such that these interventions fail to achieve the intended impact or the scale of impact is relatively insignificant, vis a vis the resources deployed.
Whilst we mull over these questions, it is an open secret that we (as a people) seize the slightest opportunity to voice out our grievances about how unfairly we have been dealt with by the status quo, in one way or the other.
Yet, are we prepared to overhaul the system with a change in attitude and a reoriented mindset?
Can we dream, yet again, of having transformational leaders who have the very interest and welfare of their people at heart?
Are we, collectively, prepared to allow the established institutions to work without partisan interference?
Are we poised to give the managers of state-owned enterprises, the free-hand to manage the affairs of these businesses as profitable and viable going-concerns?
The ordinary Ghanaian yearns for effective systems and institutions and a responsive, accountable leadership like exist in the developed democracies.
Whilst, we seem to have whole-heartedly embraced the democratic system of governance in our body politics, same can not be said for allowing similar tenets to permeate the entirety of our governance machinery including the public sector, which must create an environment, conducive to the thriving of the private sector and all other sub-sectors.
It is critical that today’s generation does not take lightly, the foundations laid and labour of ourforefathers, which harvest we are reaping today.
Today’s actions and inactions will in turn become the foundation posterity will have to build on. Is the foundation sound?
Will posterity judge us for the legacy we are bequeathing? Are we prepared to be generational thinkers and not just live for today?
Enough food for thought for the discerning!
By Enid Araba Asamoah
Email: enidarabaasamoah@gmail.com
