RISE UP, LEST AFRICA FALLS : When a black and white uniform replaces the integrity of the Blackman. IS AFRICA THINKING?
When a black and white uniform replaces the integrity of the Blackman.
IS AFRICA THINKING?
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Writer : Williams Osei, Executive Director, Wills Anti-corruption Foundation - WAF
Date : 3rd April, 2017
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Why is it that this black and white uniform tends to corrupt the mental faculties of even the intellect? In fact, I was very upset and disappointed after witnessing this incident. What has become of the Ghanaian, the African?
Is Africa thinking?
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I have on several occasions heard issues regarding some police officers who take bribes, but until recently when I chanced upon the untoward act with my naked eyes at the Mallam Junction-Accra, Ghana. I didn’t know it was this serious.
Is Africa thinking?
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A police officer arrested a ‘Trotro’ driver for stopping and picking passengers at a wrong place. Initially, I was very impressed by the action of the police officer. This is because, I felt he was responding to a call to duty in ensuring that there is sanity in the society. He appeared to be very responsible and very intelligent too.
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Realising he has been caught, the driver had to touch down from his car to meet the police officer. Before the driver got out of his car, these were his words to us, the passengers. “This stupid Police officer is about asking for money, I am sure.” I was surprised by the words of the driver. The driver pulled GH₵ 10.00 out of his pocket and placed it inside his license booklet. I was very disturbed. Must any license booklet checked by the African police officer contain money? Oh my people. Yet we make noise that we work with integrity. I pray that one day, the so called " Service with integrity " on the official logo of the Ghana Police Service would be a reality. We are not ashamed to sell our integrity for a cedi, yet we are making noise that we are 60 years. A sixty year old woman with children as thieves.
Is Africa thinking?
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So our forefathers fought for freedom in vain? When I remember how Patrice Lumumba of DR Congo died, when I remember how Kwame Nkrumah and some other persons across Africa had to suffer all in the fight for freedom, I sob seeing the very reasons for which we demanded freedom happening in different forms. We thought whites were unjustifiably taking away our riches, but we ourselves are looting our own countrymen of their riches. What then is the difference? How we have made bribery and corruption seem normal is even the disturbing part. Being black does not imply stupidity. Yes! It doesn’t. We must wise up! My fellow African, open your ears and listen very attentively, the home of stupidity is not the African’s mind. Yes! It’s not.
Is Africa thinking?
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| WAF |
Now, back to my story.
The driver handed his license booklet which was containing money to this police officer who shamelessly took the money out even at the sight of the on looking passengers. It was indeed a displeasing sight. I wept, at that very moment; I wished I wasn’t a Ghanaian. This is because corruption has taken over our country, yet we are called a Christian country. Hmmm…….
Is Africa thinking?
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| WAF |
Now, this is my worry. After the police officer had taken the money, the driver stood at that same place without pulling off any further and picked a handful of passengers right in front of the police officer, who was watching closely, but could not say a word because he had taken GH₵ 10.00. After all, our elders say “you don’t point the left finger to the face of the person that feeds you.” So that was it! I asked the driver, won’t the police officer arrest you again? He replied, “It is money he wants, I have paid him,” the driver said Bam. This police officer has sold his integrity for only GH₵ 10.00. What future does this country has; we disappointed our forefathers who struggled with their blood to give us a future. Oh mother Ghana.
Is Africa thinking?
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| WAF |
The most annoying part is with the so called police officers who are stationed along road side to check on drivers who fail to obey the law. It appears to me that, the only reason they go there is to skilfully take bribes out of license booklets. Someone should tell me, what other duty do they perform along the road side apart from asking for money? Maybe I am the only stranger in this Jerusalem. What has become of the Ghanaian police officer? Yet most of them are elders in churches and mosques. Why have we stained this noble profession with so much dirt such that even the sincere are not seen? Corrupt police officers are a disgrace to Ghana and I will say this with no apology.
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Friends, it is very sad that in this 21st century, sixty years after our independence, people such as security officers are bought for GH₵ 10.00 and even less and it seems to everyone that corruption is normal. My people, when will we Africans be wise, such that we won’t trade our integrity for money and other worldly pleasures such as sex?
Is Africa thinking?
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When we talk about corrupt police officers, The Pastors, Lectures, Politicians and the ordinary Ghanaian like me, get up and make noise as if we are saints and not corrupt as well. Most of us are no different from these corrupt police offices. You may not be a police officer, but mind you the lecturer who is supposed to know better is asking for sex from his female students and awarding grades, this is happening right in front of us in our universities and other tertiary institutions. The teachers are doing same; needlessly exploiting parents and guardians. Politicians are also shamelessly stealing from the nation, In fact, Africa must think, because there is no hope for posterity if we continue in this. You can effect the change by just brightening the corner where you are.
Is Africa thinking?
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| WAF |
Below is a list of suggestions to Ghana and Africa as a whole.
1. Persons who engage in corruption irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnic background or religious line must be seriously prosecuted.
2. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) must dismiss any police officer who engages in any act of bribery and corruption.
3. Measures must be put in place in the various tertiary institutions to dismiss lecturers who engage or attempt to exchange grades for sex and gifts.
4. The General Public, especially drivers must be educated on why they should not give any money to police officers.
5. Government must put measures in place to check all the activities of the police service and other security services such as the Immigration Service, The Military Services etc. on issues of bribery and corruption.
6. We must speak aloud to all Ghanaians that Bribery and Corruption is evil. It must not be accepted anywhere among us.
7. Ghanaians must learn to put Ghana first at all times. Irrespective of the situation. We must love Ghana. If we love our country and do the right things, bribery and corruption is likely to be a thing of the past.
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| @Public lecture on corruption by Williams on the Republic Day Ghana. |
Thank you.
Organization: Wills Anti-corruption Foundation (WAF)
Writer: Williams Osei
Editors: Christopher Nyame, (Teacher), My own Giov’HONEY (Spoken Word Artist)
Email: partitioningerror@gmail.com, wafghafrica@gmail.com
Tel: + 233 545 322 678.
End corruption, it is a sickness, it is a canker.
Wills Anti-corruption Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to fight corruption, injustice, laziness and other poor attitudes among Ghanaians and Africa as a whole through public education. We give free public lecturs for the purpose of achieving our goals. You can search for “Wills Anti-Corruption Foundation” on Facebook to get access to other wonderful write-ups.
Services: We give public lectures on corruption, injustice, poor ethics, laziness and other poor attitudes among Africans and how they can be curbed.
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| Williams Osei, Executive Director, Wills Anti-corruption Foundation - WAF |
Friends, corruption is the biggest tragedy of Ghana and Africa as a whole, we must fight it.
Together we can!
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