O freedom! What art thou? O justice! Where art thou?
On March 6, 1957, as Ghanaians celebrated the birth of a new nation, we chanted into being the twin principles of freedom and justice, the credos of our nation.
Today, 67 years into our independence, have we experienced freedom and justice in Ghana?
The current undesirable state of our nation compels a national introspection to ascertain whether we have understood what freedom and justice are, and whether we have internalised the credos of freedom and justice, and whether they impact our personal and national lives.
When we talk of freedom, what do we mean?
Freedom could mean many things, depending on the context of usage.
We have personal free will: the liberty to think what you would, and do what you desire, subject to law.
We have political freedom, of which Ghana’s exempt from British colonial administration is an example.
We talk of press freedom: that is, the liberty of the media to discuss, report, and investigate matters of persons, society, and the nation, subject to law.
We have constitutional freedoms, allowing one to associate freely, practice any religion, speak one’s mind on issues and so forth.
Finally, we can refer to freedom from hunger, deprivations, poverty, and so on, where, by these, we mean availability of the means to live comfortably, so that the oppressive presence of those negative conditions no longer control our life.
How have we in Ghana used freedom, howsoever understood?
“Of the freedoms, freedom means, for us in Ghana, the latitude to determine the form of governance and philosophy of development from the choices we make, without any coercive, external power directing what to do and not do.”
When, on February 24, 1966, we toppled Kwame Nkrumah, we in Ghana made a choice to do away with what we perceived as an oppressive regime, in order for us to regain the freedom of speech, of association, and belief, that had suffered restrictions under Nkrumah.
Choice
That political choice we made also had the tragic consequence of stunting our economic growth and uprooting the very foundations of industrialisation in Ghana.
The effects are still with us today.
This means the choices we make individually and nationally carry the correlative of inevitable consequences that we have to live with, until the choice is altered.
So, we could say that the ultimate definition of freedom is that of the liberty of choices.
A classic and current Illustration of freedom of choice is the Russian-Ukraine war.
President Zelensky of Ukraine had the option of remaining neutral as a former state of the Russian federation or joining NATO.
Russia, under Vladimir Putin, sounded words of caution: Do not join or ally with NATO; NATO’s presence would be too close for comfort.
Zelensky made a choice for NATO. Russia responded.
We have two scenarios of choices: we can make choices whose anticipated consequences are desirable, so that we make those choices in view of the results; or, conversely, we could make choices prompted by mere aversion of a situation, so that we just want a change, without certainty of its consequences.
For example, the government abolished road tolls, when it introduced E-Levies.
Did the government think through carefully before taking that decision?
I shall not answer! We all know the answer! And we also know the consequences.
The multi-party system of governance of 1992 has given us relatively smooth transitions of government.
Nonetheless, that has also divided the country into two major political divisions, with citizenry supporting each of these two parties.
Now that we see everything through the political prism of a party, we are realising that the polarisation of issues along party lines is detrimental to the development of the nation.
We made a choice in 1992.
We have seen the effects.
Are we ready to exercise the freedom of choice and alter our trajectory?
There is much talk about Constitutional amendments.
Are we critically assessing the impact of what each choice shall entail to the nation?
The freedom to amend the Constitution must be exercised with an objective, impersonal, evaluation of the consequences that shall befall the nation for the decisions we take.
Myles Munroe, a known inspirational speaker and author, wrote in his book: The Burden of Freedom: “National independence does not guarantee freedom; it only proffers deliverance from imperialism.
The spirit of industry, work and responsibility determines the success and development of a nation.”
In every department of national and personal life, our ability to change things is a right that is incidental to freedom, so that no one has a right to complain when matters do not answer to their expectations.
Much as we have the freedom to take decisions, I must also add that knowledge must inform the decisions we take.
When the government decided on free education from the lower to the senior high school (SHSs), did it factor in, statistically, what that entailed for the national treasury?
How many schools would be affected?
What of the physical state of the schools?
Textbooks? Equipment?
Feeding? And so forth.
Currently, the University of Ghana has problems accommodating several students qualified for admission.
Did we ever anticipate what free education would entail for universities in respect of accommodation?
To industrialise, work and show responsibility are choices we make.
But these choices can only be realised within a regime of law that provides the standards and limits within which freedom must be exercised.
Thus, an unacknowledged Ghanaian writer said wisely: Freedom is not the absence of law and restraint; freedom is not the absence of controls; freedom is not a license for moral or financial promiscuity.
Freedom is law
The classic Ghanaian disregard for rules, regulations, and the law affect every facet of our life.
It is pointless talking about the gross, shameful mismanagement of State funds; it is pointless talking about our chaotic towns and cities as if they emerged from an ocean of pandemonium.
If Ghanaians are complaining and grumbling about everything, it is we, and we only, who are to blame for our shortcomings and inadequacies, and not anybody else.
We have not fully understood what it meant to be free! (posted on internet).
Freedom
Freedom is law! What a capital statement to make! This means we must make our choices and live our lives within the parameters of what is lawful, ethical and mutually supportive.
Freedom is, therefore, a moral power to be used aright.
Any deed done in the name of freedom that is injurious to another person is not an act of freedom!
Let us end by saying that when we talk of freedom, we are referring to the ability of the Ghanaian to consider the options available to him in every discipline and situation of life, and then consciously deciding on one option or the other that promotes his good and is not hurtful to his neighbour.
And the government is also obliged to think critically of the choices it makes that provide the fillip for growth, and the latitude for individual self-expression within the orbit of law and order.
Freedom is Power.
Freedom is Law.
Freedom is Responsibility.
The choices we make are matters of life or death to us.
The writer is a lawyer.
E-mail: akwesihu@yahoo.com