I’M grateful to the Ghanaian Times for publishing my article on ‘The fundamental causes of coups d’état in West African sub region’ last two weeks.
Family, friends and loved ones from within Ghana and abroad perused it and they say it sparks our sense of patriotism and responsibility to call leaders to duty.
As I received congratulatory messages and commendations for touching on a core subject (CORRUPTION) that attracts political office holders to label and call almost everyone who delves into it as a political foe and uncivilised, I became more alarmed.
I was highly disturbed because of the comments that follows the commendations.
The few friends and loved ones who called or texted argued that the subject of uprooting and changing the governance system in West Africa is long overdue and only comes next to rejecting the current political dispensation and its demographics.
To my surprise, not even a single person around the ages of 45 downward, among those who engaged me, favoured ECOWAS’ obvious motives. And majority of the 50s and above thought that the current political leadership have failed the growing population of African youth and their aspirations. Hence the need to have a deep and honest introspective thought and convene frank discussion around the subject of governance of State resources with those who matter; the African Youth.
I have observed that the older generations have seen it all and are being extra cautious on the subject of military rule even for a year.
You cannot blame anyone for thinking far especially when people had seen some people’s properties acquired through legitimate means seized and confiscated by the State under military rule. Whereas cronies of the juntas enjoy lavish lifestyles accumulating so much wealth under the guises of restoring democracy in the shortest possible time.
Only God knows which system drives and inspires corruption more or breathes hope but I dare say that the current dispensation, in many ways, leaves the youth very hopeless.
Whatever policies that governments of West Africa took in the past or presently to help the youth must now go back to the drawing board because the youth are leaving their countries in numbers and there is a reason, lack of Hope for the Future.
Politics, as we were taught, was supposed to mean a public service. Is there any person serving in any political capacity that you can pinpoint as really a public servant in your community today?
I mean what is more shameful than knowing that everyone knows that the EASIEST and QUICKEST MEANS to acquire wealth on this continent is in politics.
The African Youth who ply the road from Brazil or Guyana or through Bolivia and Chile, see things in their struggle in the Amazon forest and through the infighting between drug lords in the Central American countries, before reaching the promised land as we affectionately call “America”.
The few that I met in New York last year told me how blessed Africa is and how wonderful Ghana is compared to what they saw in the Amazon forests thanks to the benevolence of the indigenous people living in the Amazon enclave.
It was shocking to learn that there are “kurasi” people among “kurasi” people. People who still walk barefooted and naked among some of the things African youth see on their way to America aside wild animals devouring human remains.
The most perilous and unfortunate itinerary of the hopeless African youth is through the deserts of Tunisia, Algeria or on the seas of Libya or Morocco, just by any means to leave Africa. What a pity to the ambitious and hardworking African youth and shame to the political leaders of Africa.
Seeing African youth perish on the seas of North Africa and beyond angers the new generation of African youth who seem daring and ambitious. The new generation of African youth watch TikTok, YouTube, make friends on Facebook and other social media platforms unlike their aged groups in the mid 1950s and 60s and so the situations and conditions are far at poles with each other.
To sum it up, having reached the dream land; America or Europe, the African youth is often confronted on daily basis with a reality that he or she is not abreast with back home i.e Racism and unending stress as a result of workload.
The lazy people in the west always think the black African man or woman has come to steal their jobs hence, the looks on their faces in public transport, places of works and at homes, when they see an African.
What this means is that the ambitious African youth begin to realise how good and blessed Africa is and it could be better with the right leadership. He or she begins to question the governance nature and structure of the African States, i.e. how the natural resources of Africa are being exploited to the development of the continent and its people.
These, among other things, invigorate the thinking of the African youth and Africans of all ages in diaspora over complex of issues and we talk about it among ourselves.
Whoever listens to the speech of the new president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore at the St Petersburg International Conference, Moscow a month ago, would appreciate the mentality of the African Youth considering the reality on the ground.
The new generation of African Youth would never uphold the colonial treaties and agreements that make one race superior over the other. At least, big uncle Putin is around to protect the vulnerable, as someone whispers to me.
Political leaders in West Africa are failing to realise that African Youth are getting fed up with hopelessness in their own countries, that is why they are leaving but majority want to stay, work and live in Africa. We must not give this reality a blind eye.
GOING FORWARD
I watched with delight and interest the news about former President John Mahama venturing into large scale cattle and agriculture in the Savannah Region of Ghana.
This is great news to the farming community of this nation and to the nation at large because, like it or not, former president Mahama has huge following and admirers and many would consider trying their hands in the direction he took. I think government must commend him for that.
I read also about two prominent businessmen; Dr Kwame Despite and Dr Sarpong announce their intentions to venture into large scale poultry farming in Ghana.
I was a poultry farmer between 2017- 2019 and so I know what I am talking about.
Ghana would have achieved food sufficiency by now if governments had taken right directions on agriculture. Nevertheless, it is better late than never.
One of my cousin living in the Bronx, NY recently expressed his regrets for migrating to the United States. Murtala said he had over 5,000 birds in 2003 that gave him over 3500 eggs daily but he sold it to migrate to America over an aspiration to transform his life but he wishes he could return and start all over, albeit late for him now.
We must commend Dr Joseph Agyepong of Jospong Group of Companies for venturing into rice farming in Ghana.
Businessmen like the aforementioned inspire hope and courage in the youth.
The youth of this country would stay in Ghana and do something productive with their lives if they see or smell hope, and can see people achieving their aspirations in farming and other areas of businesses.
1. Government should as a matter of urgency work with parliament to pass trade bills that make importing frozen chicken to Ghana very costly.
2. Local poultry, rice farmers among others must be strengthened and empowered to increase production and capacity.
3. Government should negotiate with partners to add value to our raw materials and stop exporting minerals in their natural forms.
The Awakening of the African Youth is fast gripping every shore of the continent and neither the political leaders in the continent nor the colonial masters in the West can stop the ongoing POSITIVE REVOLUTION.
The writer is a member of the National Peace Council of Ghana, Greater Accra Region branch and Executive Secretary of the Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana
BY ALHAJI KHUZAIMA MOHAMMED OSMAN
