|
Do our laws really work in
Ghana?
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Folks, there is no doubt that Ghana is relatively stable and
attracts international interest. Many are those rushing to
relocate there to pursue their agenda in life, even as
Ghanaians themselves desert the country for foreign lands,
where they are reduced to non-humans. The foreigners have
virtually taken over the country; and there is a lot going
on wrong in that pursuit to provoke us, especially when we
consider their negative activities. Do laws in Ghana really
bite? If not, why not?
Forget about the self-destructive claim that Ghanaians are
hospitable. Senseless hospitality endangers national life,
especially when the doors are thrown open for foreigners to
be where they are not needed or when their activities
endanger limb and property but cannot be checked or stopped
because of systemic problems.
The focus is now on the Fulani nomads plying their damaging
trade all over the country, incurring the anger of indigenes
but enjoying whatever their circumstances offer them. And
they are operating everywhere in the country because they
know how to play their cards. But playing their cards
endangers our national resources and lives. If you doubt it,
just read the news report here (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Forest-guards-abandon-posts-over-Fulani-herdsmen-413387),
for instance.
We have also been told about the arrest of some Yemenis
without valid documents trying to enter Ghana. Why not when
the government is harbouring two of their compatriots? Ghana
is open to anything at this time. Why so?
In addition to that danger is the influx of the Chinese, who
have virtually settled in the groove in Ghana to do things
with impunity. They are everywhere, mining gold and diamond,
establishing enclaves and practising prostitution, entering
into forest reserves and exploiting the resources, and
selling just anything anywhere to prove that they are really
in charge of some sectors of the Ghanaian national life that
they can call their own. And Ghanaians are chafing all over
the place but can’t act to rid themselves of such
undesirables. Why is it so? Why should it be so that
Ghanaians should be held “hostage” by these foreigners in
their own land of birth?
The answers to this question lie nowhere but on the laps of
our political authorities. Should we begin with the crave
for support from China to grow our economy under Presidents
Kufuor and Mils or Mahama? Take them apart and you will see
why Kufuor paid a visit to Beijing and relished whatever was
offered him even at the time that his Chinese counterpart
was undertaking a foreign tour, indicating to the Ghanaian
authorities before Kufuor’s visit that he won’t be available
to host him.
Then, bring in the desperate moves by Atta Mills to secure a
13-billion Dollar loan from China to support his “Better
Ghana” agenda. Nothing has come from China thus far (even
under Mahama) because the Chinese won’t just be comfortable
playing the Father Christmas role. Nothing goes for nothing.
Yes, China claimed it had money to give Ghana; but what
could Ghana offer China in turn for a solid quid pro quo
arrangement to be effected?
Behind it all was the hidden agenda of China to spread its
tentacles everywhere, especially in Africa, taking advantage
of the bad-blood relationship existing between formerly
colonized Africa and its colonial masters. Thus, China
presented itself as a friend in need and a friend in deed.
Nothing concrete has come to Ghana in that construction.
History reminds us of what had happened under the Great
Osagyefo when all that China presented to Ghana under Chou
En Lai was a mere political rhetoric to clothe Nkrumah in
the Chinese costume and present him to the world as the
champion of communism in Africa. He lost big time. Has Ghana
gained anything from China since then? Nothing.
Thus, when Kufuor and Mills began gravitating toward China,
some enlightened folks expressed serious concerns that they
were only preparing Ghana for the slaughter house. Reason
didn’t prevail. What do we have today under Mahama to
account for all those efforts? The influx of Chinese
undesirables to annoy Ghanaians!! Forget about the political
rhetoric and concentrate on economic reality. We are being
duped by these Chinese and must wake up to that painful
reality to get rid of them!!
As is reported daily, the activities of these Chinese
undesirables are despicable. Unfortunately, no one in
authority is ready to muster up enough courage to act
promptly for them to be dealt with. Why is it so? Could it
because of the warning given about two years ago by the
Chinese government to the Ghanaian one on how not to
mistreat Chinese elements entering Ghana? And why should the
Ghanaian authorities cower? Why can’t our government stand
firm against the bullying tactics of the Chinese
authorities? (Folks, we are aware of some scandals involving
Ghanaian government officials on official business in China
being bribed with petty gifts and what-not.) We wrote about
such scandals some years back. Is anybody in government,
therefore, looking over the shoulders and, therefore, scared
of being exposed if he leads the fight against these Chinese
undesirables?)
True, Ghana needs the help of other countries to solve its
internal economic problems; but it doesn’t have to
accommodate undesirables whose activities compound problems.
Unfortunately, it seems those in authority are more willing
to sacrifice the national interest to sustain the activities
of those undesirables than to serve the interests of
Ghanaians. I am particularly concerned about the devastation
of Ghana’s forest reserves by these Chinese undesirables. As
reported, they have caused so much havoc as to alarm every
sane Ghanaian.
The snag is that the Ghanaian authorities are quick to take
action against Ghanaian citizens entering forest reserves to
exploit the resources but incapable of doing so to the
Chinese undesirables or the Fulanis now haranguing the
society. Why should it be so? Do we really have any regard
for the Ghanaian anymore? Or do we have laws that really
work? If so, why can’t action be taken against these foreign
elements, especially the Chinese undesirables? Who in Ghana
is providing a safe haven for these undesirables to act the
way they do? Who is cushioning them?
I am highly disappointed in our government and the
institutions charged with securing national assets and
integrity. Is the Ghana Immigration Service really up to its
responsibilities? How do the Chinese undesirables get the
green light to settle in Ghana to do things the way they do
them to annoy us? What are the various security apparatuses
(national, regional, metropolitan/municipal/district) doing
things? Why are we in Ghana so porous in our attitude to
matters of this sort?
Folks, it is clear that law and order have broken down,
which allows all these undesirables to enter the country and
do things anyhow. It is not so in other countries. What at
all is happening? I am more than appalled. If care is not
taken, the situation will deteriorate further to destabilize
our country. Too bad for a country with over-abundant
resources yet wallowing in poverty because of the
shortsightedness of its national leaders and the criminal
laxity of its state and local law-enforcement authorities.
It is not so in other countries.
In the United States, for instance, one cannot just cut down
a tree (whether the branch or stem) on one’s own, regardless
of where the tree is located on the property (especially if
that property is residential) without punishment. One cannot
just develop land because one claims it or because one has
money for that purpose. Everything is circumscribed within
the law. We in Ghana are lagging behind, which is why
anything goes; and we suffer the negative backlash that
unconscionable politicians exploit to deepen woes.
Ghana can never be built on lawlessness. That is why I find
the goings-on to be reprehensible. I challenge President
Mahama and his team to act decisively so the relevant
institutions can stop the menace. Otherwise, it won’t be
surprising when foreigners dig in and enslave Ghanaians on
their own soil.
I shall return…
• E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com
• Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor
to continue the conversation.
|
