Public services that we have today
Before independence 66 years ago, there were statutory institutions from public works through back up in-house training to solid administration logged under the appropriate appointments to those who fitted via competitive applications and tests. It is not so today.; or it seems to have become rubber stamp, if at all. Some of the enormous misspending which has tortured to fall our economy derives. We have ever since that ‘’freedom’’ date cultivated and nurtured into super-finessed, a culture of fear associated with speaking out.
Therefore, there had been a growing steady worsening laisse-faire—quite apparently difficult to complain and hope matters would turn around. But that has not happened because it couldn’t on their own. For more than decades there are places between city and suburban centres where both home and public water pumps had been the Sahara Desert. The outer country dwell on rivers, streams and wells which are either arid, or drips and polluted by ‘galamsey’. On top, the irregular un-dysfunctional amenities endure shut downs, usually unannounced in advance and who cares? Electricity, public works and Assemblies, towing conservancy services, markets and public health are a total sad ditto.
As for law enforcement, the sub-police posts have a litany of handicaps—from telecoms to printers and vehicles, common daily excuses which are recitation. These did not start yesterday and you can’t ever blame the toiling men and women in all of the Services. No—never. It is what we have built ourselves from the culture of silence, having contributed by acquiescence or loyalties –ethnic, narrow parochialism and perhaps firmly based in “our party does no wrong,” virtually raised to the “Mampam”–Alligator-cult and “SUNSMA” [Worm]. That is the ruin of our country poised waiting for salacious promises as we enter an election year, already getting over heated. With regard to whether the country is going to accept new bouts of pledges is gauged in the debate about “candidate JDM’s” 24-Hour economy.
The unfortunate observation is that it is being denied serious discourses through comments which pander to scurrilous. I remind myself of the Socrates era’s anonymous Philosopher who said ‘if you are invited or you on you volution knew nothing to say, you spit on ground.’ It sounds rude at both first reading or hearing. But what it means is shut up, if you have nothing to say.’ I believe the experience here would likely endorse that recommendation.
But in extenso, that suggests the country looks forward to fresh proposals to ultimately relieving plan to examine to cast a vote later. Along the expectation, it is to his eternal credit that President Nana Akufo-Addo has recently stated his awareness of the current hard times. He had earlier urged his party [NPP] to vote for someone who would restore an alleviation. And added are run-down remarks by NPP defectors that [i] admits failure and [ii] probably seem to hoist his Vice as having been (a) foisted on the Party; and (b) presented as the Guru Economist who held the panacea to resolve the country’s economy.
Linking that analytically might interpretively snore a choreographed shifting blame for the mess. That could be conclusive without some more evidence. The only legitimate comments for the Vice are (a) this is an inevitable upshot in politics; and (b) he is not the first outsider to that high office. In our contemporary history, his kind of predecessor was Fiifi [Prof. J.E. Atta Mills—running mate to replace Ekow Nkensen Arkaah and later President. The rest of Fiifi’s and indeed, Arkaah’s stories do not belong here, though one [Mills’] was tragic and Arkaah’s a political summersault]. Working our way back to the theme, the digression should be held in abeyance, seemingly seen as a temporary incidental to reject or firm from other lights, yet to unfold.
I recall that the Government Secretariat was where job-seekers registered firstly. The processing was finalised and put on the National payroll appointed. I shall tempt myself to narrate just the icing on my trekking finally to the Secretariat: I wanted to be a Soldier from school boy years. The weekly marching the streets on recruitment drive in those years had become my fanciest. I was thwarted severally until an Uncle and his mate took me on visit to “GEE” the present Teaching Hospital construction site. The site overlooks the Kumasi Barracks training parade ground to see a training session. These were new recruits commanded by a drilling Kanjaga. I heard him shout some orders to the parade which responded impressively. Then from ‘at ease’ he roared a string of instructs. Next, the Band struck one of the famous from Yorkshire’s Regimental Sgt Maj. Malcolm Allison’s, “Colonel Bogey. The parade wheeled and as they negotiated into the reverse-straight, the man screamed ‘’hat’ [halt] and spoke something one of the recruits stuttered.
The man quick-marched the lines and as if past the poor recruit handed him a couple of backhanders and walking away shouted ‘’ You no fit come for soldier. You say you sabe book; you sabe book you dey for secataria’’. I think personally it was planned to wean me from my craze about joining the military. However, the import was the role of Government Secretariat in the scheme of who does what in the scheme of governance. I had previously regrated the demise and now short-circuited the otherwise longish route to explain apparent chaos, upset and costs to the exchequer of variety of appointments which have burdened the system. Politics caused this hunchback into a pattern where one can summarily call jobs for foot soldiers and who made big campaign financial inputs to win.
It is not unique here except that other criteria for positions are very poignantly side-lined. It won’t be fair to scout the performances-consequences. I shall close for fresh approach in general outcomes post-independence to possibly quote Prime Minister K.A.Busia’s statement defying the court saying “no court can force my government” to employ anyone it couldn’t trust and or have. [This was the E.K. Sallah trial post-568, 1970]. Prof Busia spoke about a principle which has not been examined but it simply amplified what’s perceived as wrong appointing and dismissing serving officers any time there is a change of government since especially 1966—military and civilian alike. Continuity and development have suffered. I think the notion of “National Policy” embeds that after quiet look at policies of the new incumbent. Some rectification would be found using reshuffles.
This would expose the continuity to work loyally for the state rather than the prevalent allegiance to party and who appoints. It also cuts out the middle party CABAL, alleged to be ‘’collecting.’’ At this moment it is unimaginable that people are highly expectant of that ‘’moved out’’ and ‘’brought in’’ syndrome. Conventionally, it is allowed that every new leader comes in with a limited coterie of advisors and experts, unlike the hoards in-waiting, whatever are the results of 2024.
One of the many rumoured causes of the “Ata Mills-Rawlings-fall-apart” was Ata reportedly asking Rawlings what was going to be the living of the families of persons he sent home, for being no members of the governing NDC then. Obviously, Busia and Ata Mills’ counter ensues very interesting subject for study among our efforts towards reconstruction to have what is in Creole describes as ‘’na we own’’—the overdue for governance. The gem prizes are: it kills “kodwoto” (completely ‘yamutu’) the entitlement-mentality with its spanners of Regional- Balance; and referentially, former President John Kufuor had to fight off the guerrilla warfare from his stable, the opposition and country at large for saying he was yet to find “a suitable” chap to appoint as Regional Minister for a capital upcountry’s office.
Then our local Assemblies: they employ legions for all sorts keeping welfare. The job is done in the breach generally for lack of equipment. But like the phrasing in Revelations, the ‘’somewhat’’ against them is politeness from the Labour force, most of whom might be short of the knowledge of the law or specific regulations; but would be seen to exhibit both macho conduct to routinely substitute ultra – power attitudes, the public complain to deaf ears. The common untrue provenly assumption is they want bribed—“noko fio ne abayie he won”, disturbing despite the action being more correct than would have been. I shall give the example of the mass replacement of Households pre-paid power meters I wonder the homes were adequately informed priorly; if in their wisdom the ECG authority felt so in the senses of neither that digitising is the vogue; nor the ability of consumers to adapt.
The wholesale approach had in the past rushed the country to import unsuitables, discarded after payments to contractors and manufacturers abroad. [Think about that, relative to Roman Catholic Fr Koster at Legon Physics Department’s achievements including eventually this country producing Radio Isotopes; and currently, the former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo urging so forcefully for the establishment of an initial Lithium Authority before it gets too late and we become Gabon, pawned by the US and France until few months ago]. No matter who claims “fathership” of digitalisation, there had been shortfalls: have we imported the quantity that would suffice –we have unmet shortages. Have we had any pilot trials; have we considered that the uneducated and the totally none with “live alone” among us have serious challenges with between the old meter-readers’ bulk; and lastly, the unsteady power supply [Dumso] country-wide, not fixed. These are grave issue to address.
Oh! PWD died. The sign showing its age 1924/6 remains emblazoned, short distance drive from James Fort past Usher Fort on the High street–Ata Mills’, left turn next junction past incidentally the ECG to the junction looking up and ahead straight left wards. Usher Fort housed this country’s Gallows. It has a big history up to AFRC 1979.