The Heart Of The Matter - The Military
This I may say, is unfortunately, the position a countless number of other Ghanaian professionals both young and old find themselves in all parts of the world. We have been alienated from our people, not by our own fault, but by the hopeless condition our country had been plunged into and the erratic and senseless manner it is being managed now.
It should be a matter of serious concern to an honourable citizen like you that in spite of the hostile attitude of our host government and the societies we find ourselves, thousands of Ghanaians are trooping into this country daily. The story we used to tell in 1978 is what these desperate and frustrated compatriots are echoing today - that there is no future for Ghana.
Sir, after reflecting soberly on the type of life being led by the people around you or in the countryside, do you doubt this succinct appraisal of Ghana's future? You may doubt it probably because your weekly allocation of rice, flour, sugar, maize, milk, fish, meat, beer, cloth etc is always guaranteed. But do not be content at all, start thinking seriously about the country and do something to redeem it or posterity will never forgive you.
That terse statement - Ghana has no future has a more deeper meaning than your eyes probably see. To me it gives a summary of the dishonourable political history of our country from 1966 to date and the gloomy future it is facing.
You may know best the political history of Ghana since 1966, but the following statistics are to remind you: six military regimes, two civilian governments, five successful coup d'etats, ten unsuccessful ones. Out of the seventeen-year period (from 1966 to 1983) civilians have ruled for five years only (approximately two-and-a-half years each) and the soldiers have had twelve years to their credit (or is it discredit?) If we are apportioning blame, who has been more responsible for the state of affairs? More importantly, has the PNDC government you are happily and shamefully serving been doing any better than its predecessors?
Is the wanton trampling on fundamental rights and sordid callousness not more a characteristic of this military government you are serving than the previous ones? And a gentleman/lady like you, you are compromising your conscience.
When and where did Ghanaians ever delegate their inalienable right of changing the government they have themselves instituted to one man Flt.Lt. Rawlings? And the PNDC government you are serving, whom is it representing, to whom is it accountable and who gave it the mandate to rule? One thought people like you, who have distinguished yourself in your discipline, would respect these basic elements of democracy.
The country at this time needs stability more than anything else but sir, be sincere, can your PNDC government guarantee us this? I doubt very much because firstly, it has not got the support of the people and secondly within this short period of nearly one year, not less than three attempts have been made to dislodge it.
Before probably you leave the scene in disgrace, of course, you might have supervised the destruction of every good thing which remained in the country before 1st January, 1982 - the Universities, Judiciary, professional work-force, cream of intelligentsia etc etc. You might have succeeded in only leaving behind a pack of indisciplined workers and a dying population.
Help to restore sanity and democracy in Ghana by resigning your appointment, boldly giving your reasons that you can no longer compromise your principles (which I am sure you have) and that you can no longer work with or serve disgruntled soldiers and murderers. It would be a noble action and the whole world would respect you rather than falling with the infamous regime of the PNDC. A word to the wise is enough.
K.K.A.Odiasempa
Maiduguri, Bornu States
