It is not an exaggeration to venture to stress that concerned Ghanaians are extremely flabbergasted over the appellate court decision to set aside the convictions and the ten years prison sentence of the former boss of MASLOC, Madam Sedinam Tamakloe for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

In the wisdom of the three justices of the appellate court, the prosecution failed to establish the offences beyond reasonable doubt, and that most of the convictions cannot be sustained in the criminal jurisprudence.

After acquitting and discharging Madam Sedinam Tamakloe, who allegedly embezzled millions of Ghana cedis meant for developmental projects, the all-important question concerned Ghanaians are asking then is, who is in possession of the stolen millions of cedis?

Let’s face it, the good people of Ghana, Ghanaian politics has become an embarrassing profession, not a noble profession it used to be. Needless to say, it takes good people—good citizens and leaders with impeccable integrity and unmatched commitment to build a prosperous nation.

Yet a lot of people who can claim birth right to steadfast adherence to moral or ethical code would never go into politics.

I presume they dislike the toxic levels of partisanship. They hate the intrusive media scrutiny and they aren’t ready to pay the high personal costs of political life.

It is quite nauseating to see some public officials who prefer to be called honourable behaving somewhat dishonourably.

It beggars belief that individuals could form an alliance, create, loot and share gargantuan sums of money belonging to the state and would eventually slip through the justice net.

I have always maintained that if we are ever prepared to acquit and discharge our fantastically corrupt public officials, we might as well treat the goat, plantain and cassava thieves the same. For after all, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

It is absolutely true that the unresolved cases of political criminals unscrupulous activities often leave concerned Ghanaians with a gleam of bewilderment.

Indeed, when it comes to the prosecutions of the political criminals, we are often made to believe: “the wheels of justice turn slowly, but it will grind exceedingly fine.”

And yet we can disappointingly recount a lot of unresolved alleged criminal cases involving political personalities and other public servants.

Where is the fairness when the political thieves could shamefully dip their hands into the national purse as if there is no tomorrow and go scot free, while the goat, cassava, plantain, and the mobile phone thieves are incarcerated?

I have always insisted that there is no deterrence for political criminals. For, if that were not the case, how come political criminals more often than not, go through the justice net, despite the incontrovertible evidence of wrong doing?

After all, the right antidote to curbing the unbridled sleazes and corruption is through stiff punishments, including the retrieval of all stolen monies, sale of properties and harsh prison sentences.

Ghana, as a matter of fact, has been losing billions of cedis since regaining the independence from the British on 6^th March 1957 to some remorseless and obdurate public servants through dubious deals, but nothing meaningful is done to bring the impenitent perpetrators to book.

Regrettably, year after year, the Auditor General’s report would uncover some damning bribery and corruption scandals such as the infamous Bus Branding, the National Service Authority scandal, the Brazil World Cup, SUBA, SADA, GYEEDA, NCA, MASLOC, SSNIT, Air Bus, Brazilian Aircraft, amongst others.

Nevertheless, the successive governments more often than not would turn a blind eye to the unpardonable scandals and the suspects would get away with murder.

Ghana, in fact, is lagging behind mainly due to the persistent lack of care by the successive administrations since regaining the independence from the British on 6^th March 1957.

There is absolutely nothing wrong for anybody to claim birth right to patriotism. However, patriotism is not a mere rhetoric, for we can only show our patriotism through our actions and inactions.

That is by showing our affection and solicitude towards our country in whatever we do as real patriots.

Regrettably, however, some people would hypocritically hide behind patriotism and then turn around to perpetrate all sorts of unpatriotic deeds against the country they claim to cherish so much.

If those politicians and other public servants aren’t heartless and unpatriotic, how can they conspire and create loot and share funds which could benefit the poor and disadvantaged Ghanaians?

Where is the public servants much-touted patriotism when they keep squandering funds meant to transform the lives of the penniless in society through dubious deals?

The Founding Fathers’ of Ghana, so to speak, were true patriots whose blood and toil won for us the desired independence in 1957.

But, as to whether the vast majority of Ghanaians have regained their economic and fundamental freedoms and the inalienable human rights following Ghana’s independence nearly seventy years ago, is a million dollar question that would be opened to different interpretations.

It seems to me that the hard work put in by the Founding Fathers’ for our freedom has been in vain. I bet, the founding fathers’ are mourning their beloved Ghana in their graves. How unfortunate?

It is extremely troubling that after nearly seventy years of independence, Ghana continues to lag behind the rest of the pack in terms of the socio-economic development.

Isn’t it pathetic that we have abundant natural resources, and yet we have to heavily rely on loans for survival?

I have always held a contrary view to those who contend somewhat spuriously that it is hackneyed and somewhat unconscionable for anyone to suggest that although we started life with the likes of South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, we are happy to secure loans and other assistance from them.

Ghana’s independence, I must sadly admit though, will remain meaningless, so long as we continue to elect leaders who take delight in foreign influences, guidance and control.

Dearest reader, let me venture to stress somewhat painfully that we have not weaned ourselves from the developed countries.

If that were not the case, why is it that we continue to seek policy guidance from IMF?

If we are self-reliant, why do we constantly carry our begging bowl round seeking alms?

If we are independent minded, why do we have to import common contractors from China to build our basic infrastructure?

If we were that capable and foresighted, why do we consistently import foreign football coaches?

Our leaders, regrettably, more often than not, measure their accomplishments according to the amount of loans they manage to secure from the same countries we started life with. How pathetic?

I do not want to be seen as a pathetic doomsayer, far from it. But so long as we continue to elect the dreadful economic managers (like those who can keep Ghanaians in darkness for well over five years) to take charge of affairs, Ghana may not see any meaningful development in our lifetime.

So long as we continue to elect leaders that are myopic, visionless, and only count their achievements with how much loan they are able to secure, and, the number of schools they are able to remove from “under trees”, Ghana may sink deeper and deeper into the mire.

I bet, so long as we have leaders that have no foresight, corrupt, greedy and incompetent; I dare state that Ghana may never advance meaningfully in our lifetime.

Independence, so to speak, refers to self-reliance, so, if we choose to depend largely on other countries for survival, then our independence will somehow remain “meaningless”.

I would dare stress that in similitude to George Orwell’s animal farm narrative, Ghana’s independence has largely benefited, and continues to benefit only a few-the greedy and corrupt politicians and other public servants.

It is an illustrative case of “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

In sum, I dare state that so long as the elites among the ‘four legs animals’ are refusing to think outside the box, displaying existential selfishness, lacking patriotism and solicitude, and revoltingly looking down upon the ‘four legs downtrodden, Ghana may never develop meaningfully in our lifetime.

K. Badu, UK.
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