COVID-19: Hasn’t The Ghanaian Citizen Any Responsibilities?

Holiday revelers at a local beach during lockdown in Accra

There’s no denying the fact that I have handed myself the arduous task of understanding the mindset of the Ghanaian citizen and how it plays out in the general responsiveness of the country in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Safe to say that I have found no comfort in our posture as a people who have proven over time to be mindless and lawless about most things that affects our collective wellbeing – from illegally erecting structures in public spaces to littering our environment.

Is there any surprise in how Ghanaians keep flouting measures put in place to protect them from contracting and spreading the novel Coronavirus? And is it any surprising that our ‘vituperation culture’, targeted at government, is suggestive of a people who find no reasons to sacrifice a little bit of their comfort for the collective safety of all?

Now, why do I feel that this fight against COVID-19 has once again exposed a good blend of the Ghanaian’s entitled personality and reckless nature? And why has the media, as important as it is, chosen to foment this very retrogressive Ghanaian subculture with its own adopted rhetoric that seems to solely focus accountability on Government and state agencies at the forefront of this fight?

Imagine tuning in to, arguably, the best morning show Programme on radio to hear one of Ghana’s favorite political show hosts, Bernard Avle, vent in a manner we’ve almost become accustomed to and seeking answers to what might come across as rightly placed questions arising from the many directives and protocols announced by government but with a subtle taint of condescension; one that dumps all burden of responsibility in ensuring complete adherence to these measures onto the shoulders of government.

Listening to Bernard ask if “the (President’s) speech is going to implement itself” and going on to take swipes at political leadership will remain one of the most disingenuous of all I’ve heard thus far in our COVID-19 discourse.

Now, go on and imagine reading the next news update from the same media entity Mr Avle belongs reporting on how a court has fined some six persons for attending a birthday party in contravention of a Presidential order.

This is just 6/1000s of people still flouting COVID19 spread prevention protocols contained in the same “speeches” handed down to us by the President and through the many other public educational drives set in motion from the onset of this battle.

I’m left wondering what a perfect implementation strategy of these protocols would look like in the eyes of Bernard Avle. Are we to arrest and flood our legal system with a million of mindless Ghanaians? And should we freeze time, resources and the raging threats of the virus while at it?

Enti dabia “bad leadership” saa? Like we don’t know what breed of beings we are as a people? We’re all indisciplined and we have no one to point it out to us. We make ourselves ungovernable and still find ways to put all the blame on governments. No sense of personal responsibility on the Ghanaian. NONE.

Is Citi FM not the same entity that shared a video of our Uncles and Aunties at the Accra Brewery markets flouting lockdown regulations with disdain? Did the people captured in the video look like those you could just whisper “Stay home & Stay safe” and have them heed? It’ll take slaps but then again we would have had persons in the media and human rights activists in their full Julian Falconer regalia blasting government for it.

Lockdown is lifted and these are the same folks breathing down the government’s neck for loosening its grip on the restrictions they were already happily defying. And all we want to do is sit in studios and be questioning who’s implementing what?

My social media Timelines are flooded constantly with countless examples of how the Ghanaian citizen is brazenly undermining every effort by the so-called magic performing entity called ”the Government” all in the name of “poverty” and “they need education” and the media would have us think that we have no responsibilities as citizens?

Only time the media attempts to draw the greater citizenry into this fight is when it’s calling for education for the masses.

Edudeɛbɛncation?

We should now enrol citizens into Medical Schools and Public Health Institutions for degrees?

Even my 3 year old niece knows things are not the same and we want to paint grown folks as some daft stooges who can’t tell what the times are? They know. They just don’t care.

They’re aware of all we’re collectively going through as a WORLD. Nothing else has gone on for months except that which is related to COVID-19. So why don’t they care?

These are the question I’d rather the media ask. Channel efforts into finding why. Why is the Ghanaian so mindless and selfish?

Maybe if the mainstream media, as powerful as it is, quit being irresponsible in their production of comically themed vox pops and ludicrous interviews with citizens aimed at eliciting laughter for ‘clicks, Retweets and Likes’ on very serious matters with communal implications while channeling same efforts and time into sensitization drives, we could finally start tilting the heads of citizens into grasping the fact that its no one person’s responsibility to make all this go away and thus, the need for some attitudinal changes in real time.

It’s governance. NOT a magical show. The decision maker (Government) and the taker (citizens) must demonstrate equal levels of commitment if any of this would work.

Musings of a Commoner

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  Asante Kotoko SC Emblem

Even before my first ever post on Asante Kotoko Sporting Club on social media, I understood the culture of the club in ways most people only warmed up to fully understanding years later and the general proclivities for people to assume that one was lining himself up for a shot at a position has always been rife.

Perhaps this stems from the general lack of trust amongst us. So much that one couldn’t possibly be seen as just espousing his views from a position of sincere perspective and that there ought to be a catch somewhere. Likes person A against person B or one is just marking time to rob person C of his job.

Considering that there’s NEVER going to come a time where I shield my views on topics of interest on Kotoko, It’s only fair that I repeat what I’ve always maintained; a stance not lost on anyone who’s known me and my affinity with the club since I was a boy.

I have NEVER positioned myself to be considered for any role in the club. As honoring as that would be – given the esteem status of this club in the world – I have no aspirations of becoming anything in any official capacity at the club. At least not as I write these words.

I’ve noticed with subtle discomfort how some people have reacted to my personal views on a plethora of issues as though I was pitching for a position in the club.

“The next this, the future that”. Sometimes, I’ve found that complimentary but most times, it’s just uncomfortable.

I think it’s time we all start assimilating the fact that there’s a role for everyone in ensuring the club develops to the standards we seek of it and our thoughts shared on any aspect of this process are by themselves satisfying contributions which should only be judged on their merit and not on whether or not someone is like or disliked or that one is aiming to get another fired so they get to replace them etc.

I don’t subscribe to this type of thinking and I sure refuse to see Kotoko as some political establishment with a naturally established Opposition. That in fact is the mindset that needs changing else every pertinent issue is going to be reduced to the unhealthy culture of “he likes this and hates that and wants their jobs”.

Like many like-minded supporters, I’ve contributed to this club in many direct and indirect ways without necessarily being an official and just as is required of us to be citizens and not spectators, we do not need “a government official” sticker on our foreheads before contributing our quotas to anything of worth.

I’m a commoner and a supporter of ASANTE Kotoko and far as I’m concerned, it end there.

Have a great new week, protect yourselves and stay safe.

Kotoko’s King-making Media Cabal: The Agenda Must “agend” And At All Cost.

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Emmanuel Clottey

Recent events surrounding the latest fines handed to Asante Kotoko SC by FIFA for breaching standard protocols in the signing of former striker, Emmanuel Clottey, from Esperance of Tunisia, has elicited differing outbursts from a cross-section of stakeholders.

Since the FIFA ruling, there has been the usual apportioning of blame which has become a regular feature in the club’s problem solving technique with little to no attention on the root causes of what might have led to the club’s dire predicaments. This situation puts into sharp focus the posture of one of the most powerful partners in the general development of the club, the Media.

I must admit that I gain no personal gratification in calling out any section(s) of the media but when the very ethos of their profession is thrown to the dogs by certain actors within it in favor of deliberate mudslinging aimed at not only dragging the names of individuals chosen by Manhyia to run the club but also damning the reputation the club in the process, remaining silent comes at a heftier cost.

Why is a section of the media, particularly in Kumasi, scapegoating Dr. Kwame Kyei’s Administration for the fines that have accrued to the club for the wrongful acquisition of a player before his tenure? The answer smacks of the usually grand agenda often put in motion by a section of the Kumasi media against individuals and club Managements they don’t align with.

Why’s the focus being shifted from the primary cause of the current problem and hence the punishment by FIFA? Agenda foo bia na Kotoko Supporters so sɔ so. Who brought Emmanuel Clottey to even start with? Had that person not heard of due diligence?

Some prominent Sports presenters, after conniving, conspiring and contriving with elements within Asante Kotoko’s administrative hierarchy to bring about all manner of ill-intended ‘money moves’ aimed at getting cuts out of it, have created a huge mess but have turned around to act like saints to lay, wholly, the blame on an administrator who inherited these debts and has given the clearest indication yet to even go ahead to pay.

Can’t stand witches who find grounds to act sanctimonious.

No Administrator deserves to be undermined the way some of these so-called sports presenters, especially in Kumasi, hatch grand schemes to thwart the efforts of those “they don’t like.”

Their modus-operandi is simple: “Allow us to have our way – scout and poach players, organize useless friendly matches so we get our cuts or else we turn the supporters against you”.

They’ve built such cult following from among Kotoko’s large but passive, all-consuming set of fans who, at the least command would jump on the side of this established cabal in their attempt to perpetuate the same nonsense as previously handed to managements such as the one headed by Dr. K.K Sarpong in the not too distant past.

As a supporter of this club, I may not be the keenest admirer of Dr. Kwame Kyei’s work. Neither do I need not to be in agreement with his policies before taking a stand against the very established, evil unseen hands of self-appointed kingmakers at Kotoko.

These are the same people who couldn’t act on the lethargy of past administrators in pursuing cash owed Asante Kotoko by other clubs in the trade of players like Nathaniel Asamoah because if they did, they’d have exposed themselves for the lies they spewed against Dr. Sarpong.

Think about it. If you accused someone of chopping transfer monies, are you then able to publicly admit the existence of the monies and actually go after it?

I cannot emphasis this enough that there is a section of the media and in Kumasi, who, riding on the goodwill accorded them by the teeming followers of the club, have bequeathed to themselves authorities in the matters of Asante Kotoko SC and beyond their primary responsibilities as journalists and by so doing, have established themselves as a quasi Board, governance and accountability body who determines when and when not any particular administrator is fit for their role.

Not sure what height of naivety could possibly be assigned to me if I didn’t admit to how important and powerful the media in Kumasi has positioned itself in the affairs of the club.

Other well-meaning stakeholders, especially among the rank and file of the club, must wake up to the realities of the motives behind the utterances and general discourses set in motion by some elements with the sports media fraternity across the country and more dominantly in Kumasi.

2020 and Kotoko is still marking time for reasons such as these empowered elements.

KOTOKO MUST BUILD and SOLIDIFY A WORKABLE ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE.

The club need not to reinvent anything. Learning from the many best practices out there is all the club needs for a lift from the current management practice that does not ensure sustainable growth. Also this way, the many influences and intrusions from powerful elements outside of the club would be significantly reduced if not wholly curbed.