Let Victoria Hammah Be!

The ex Deputy Minister, of Communications, Ms. Victoria Hammah was secretly recorded in a conversation with someone and this recording has cost her her job. I believe we all know the contents of that conversation. 

My shock however is not with what we heard her say, but with how the Ghanaian public has reacted. I am appalled at the level of hypocrisy the Ghanaian public has exhibited in the wake of this “Victoria’s Secrets” saga.

What exactly are we crucifying Victoria Hammah for? I hope no one mentions corruption because it would put the reasoning ability of any such person in serious doubt. That corruption would only be in the mind of the beholder. 

She’s being crucified for a gaffe? The NDC administration wants to tell us that a mere political gaffe has so shaken them that the head of the minister has had to roll? Fine! Her head has rolled, but the others joining in this crucifixion chorus are the ones I find more wonderful. I’ll refer all of you in this line to visit here for bigger and better gaffes because; a gaffe is all it is. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/nov/08/politicians-best-microphone-gaffes .

The speed with which she was let go has also given credence to the belief of some, that she was not competent in the first place and was just a hanger –on. I do not know. But if there’s even half a truth to that, then the one who appointed her and those who confirmed her appointment have more questions to answer. You do not sack a minister of state over such an issue. But as it stands, the powers that are have axed her. Whether she was an incompetent hanger-on and they still kept her or whether she was a competent minister who was axed because of someone’s… whatever; they will answer for this in 2016. I will never blame Victoria Hammah.

For gossiping? As a matter of fact, I just finished gossiping about a friend who I think is being foolish in his ways. And this is what the Ghanaian populace haven’t heard anybody do before? In the wake of the more serious Wikileaks episode, what did we conclude on? Did the nation not conclude that we should just dismiss it as mere “Diplomatic ‘Konkonsa’”? The more serious “Konkonsa” which threatened the break trusts and alliances and destabilize states was allowed to go and we crucify the poor lady over a more trivial “Konkonsa”. When we point an accusing finger at someone, at least three, point to us in judgment. I examine those three.

Let us get into the substantive issues. Are Rachel Apoh and Nana Oye Lithur not fighting each other at the Gender Ministry? Yes they are! And we all know it. So why are we attacking Victoria Hammah? We should rather be attack Nana Oye Lithur and Rachel Apoh, or whoever the problem is from for not being able to put their personal selves and hormonal issues aside to do a job. Even class three pupils can cooperate to get a job done so if two adults are bickering on the job, let us blame them, AND the one still keeping them on the job. Do not blame the third party who comments. Nana Oye Lithur and Rachel Apoh are not working together well. Fact!

In any case, does the fact that President Mahama has not fired both of them for having a turf war in a government post, not vindicate Victoria Hammah when she says the Tony Lithur (Nana Oye’s husband), has an alliance with President Mahama? Should Ghana wait for the two to get over their issues before they start delivering on their jobs? Who knows what the nation has lost already as a result of this. We fear the truth too much.

If Victoria Hammah goes on to say she won’t quit politics until she makes a million dollars, what is the fuss about that? Let us think. She never said she was going to steal a million dollars. She was employed and was earning money and so could have saved up pesewas and cents for even a thousand years and THEN retire. It wouldn't be any of our business. We must catch or prove her being corrupt before we can call her corrupt!  And this is where our hypocrisy smells the most! Have we not gleefully sat back and watched a system that will see Victoria Hammah, for four years; not paying any rent, not buying fuel, and until recently, not paying utility bills? When she travels to do work, she’ll get per Diem. When she speaks at a function, she’ll get honorarium. And some even take entertainment and sitting allowances; for four years. Which of us couldn't save up a million dollars if we had all this? Were we not in this country when parliamentarians received 50,000 cedis each as rent allowance for their terms, tax free? If they have this, why can’t they get a million dollars? After all, we know parliamentarians who've done over 20 years in parliament, and every four years, they’ll get rent allowance! Let us leave Victoria alone!

If Victoria Hammah, like Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, lived in a state bungalow for eight years, rent free, and buys the bungalow with the land, valued at 5 million dollars for only 390,000 cedis, she could make more than a million, and in a jiffy.  She could, like Jake also claim to be building apartments on it to rent. And mind you, the Supreme Court of Ghana says Jake has done NO WRONG. What has Victoria Hammah done?

We have all sat down and allowed this system to settle and cake. We now turn round and are we crucifying her.

She didn't even say she’ll make that money in four years. It could take Victoria five, ten or twenty years of scraping dimes and cents to achieve her aim. We all know how long Hon. E.T Mensah has been in parliament and government, for example. It is possible to be honest, and save up a fortune; over a long time though. Perhaps those of us crying thievery, would not have waited four years even, to complete the million dollar plan? Is that’s why we think she would do it?

The only thing she did was to gossip my friends; and for those of us accusing her, the judgment falls more heavily on us.

In any case, SHE has been caught. I am more afraid of the other politicians who have been shrewd and careful enough to maneuver through where Victoria has fallen. I am afraid of those whose drivers are more tight-lipped. Obviously, they will be at this longer and probably be making their 6^th million or so, if we’re going by the judgment handed to Victoria Hammah.

Victoria is cleaner because she is out now. The more questions remain on those still in the game. 

Letters To Lampedusa

With the burden of having to go into the spirit realms to find out about my brothers who didn’t make it to the shores of Italy alive, I decided to write the ones in the thick of the action. I need a first-hand account

Dear Divers of Lampedusa.

I write you from the shores of Ghana: the land of Gold, Oil, Timber and opportunities. Or not. I have heard a lot about the hard work you are doing for my brothers. I also saw you on the news…torn from your usual lives and working hard. I think your story came right after the bulletin about some conference some officials had? Never mind. I saw you and I saw what you were doing and I saw them and I saw what they’ve been doing all these years.

You see, take this whole mess in your stride. With the kind of leaders we have on this continent, you guys should be prepared for anything. One day, a whole country might just be cut off the continent and drift to your shores! Anyway. I am sure the dead are grateful to you.

And I hear your leaders are considering an emergency summit to find a way to put a stop to this. It is nice they have taken over the job of our leaders to do. I am sure they are also quite grateful. And by the way, when your leaders contact our leaders over this issue and our leaders per chance, ask for more money to curb this problem: don’t give them! I say again; don’t fall for that trick. Not a Kobo! Kobo! Kobo! Kobo! Not a single Kobo! They have enough cars and enough houses; and more than enough stashed in your banks. You can tell them I said so.

But please. Do take a break once in a while. The Eritrean and Somali leaders are taking their breaks and life goes on as usual for them. MY leader, the last I checked, was in Atlanta somewhere. CNN I hear.

Their citizens are dead. You are at work. Their leaders are in bed. Wow! Do you get the rhyme? That’s cool.

I’ll tell you what. If I were an African leader at this time; especially of a country where any of these victims are from;  I wouldn’t sleep. I couldn’t.  Human beings cannot just die like this and everything goes on as usual.

And please. Do tell the people of Lampedusa not to weep too much. I hear you mayor broke down and wept when she got to the scene.

I’d advice that rather, they pray. They pray that:

1.       God almighty comes down and tears off the Greed and Insensitivity off the hearts of our leaders. He should add Corruption and Criminal Incompetence while He’s at it.

2.       That if these things are too embedded in their hearts to make ripping them off without killing them impossible, He should wipe them all off, and come rule us Himself. (I do not know how, but i'm sure He'll find a way).

3.       Lastly, if the first two cannot be done, as the case of You Know Who may prove, then He should grant safe passage to all those fleeing and all of us who soon will.

I hope they do this.

Alas dear divers, I must ask you. I hear there might be Ghanaians among the dead? Hmm…! This issue is getting too close for comfort. I will confide in you on this. My little cousin was hanging around here these last few months, and not finding his way here, just left; for Libya. And these migrants left the Libyan port city of Misrata for this doomed journey? I just hope he didn’t take this journey.

I hear you have recovered 181 bodies so far. I am wondering if you’ve pulled out any Ghanaian bodies. I guess you cannot make out the difference between us Africans. I’ll guide you. He should have a jar of gari around him somewhere. We usually carry that on journeys when we’re uncertain of food. It’s very resilient stuff.

If you check his pockets, you might find a list of names and numbers. The names may start with ‘Bra’ or ‘Auntie’. These names may be part of a long list who may have their hopes on this dying or dead young person;  so Mr. Diver, if there’s anything you can do to revive him, please do. The family languishing here cannot take this news now. The only call about their relative they may be expecting now is one where they’ll hear,”…oh. M’ako duru. Nyame adom me ho y3”. To wit, “oh! By God’s grace, I’ve arrived. I am safe.”

Please Mr. Rescuer, do not break this expectation. Whatever you can do to make these Ghanaians call home and say these words to their families, please do. Please please do.

The Ghanaians are royals you know? If you go underwater and find any Ghanaian there, please remember that he is a royal. A royal so much so that, in his country, judicial service staff are paid clothing allowance! "Wow" you say? If government doesn’t pay for their clothing, apart from their salaries, they strike. I know a state institution in his country where they have a party, full with drinks and food, every last Friday of the month. And that drowned person you see down there my friend, foots these bills.

 I wish you a great day and more strength to keep on helping us Africans. Our leaders are not.

Lampedusa: Visions of The Lost

Dear friends. I am in a heavy mood today. 121 bodies have been recovered off the coast of the island of Lampedusa. 250 more are missing. And 155 have survived. Reports are that there ARE Ghanaians included. But we do not know how many yet. But of the fact that they ALL are African's, we're sure. And Africa is home. 

The Spirits are bedeviling me with visions. Strong heavy visions. It weighs me. “Let me alone”,

Divers of Lampedusa; Leaders of Africa

I sit here listening to the news. BBC World News to be precise. And a headline…”Divers continue to search
and retrieve bodies from the sea…as the boat of the African migrant sank …” on and on and on.

My mind, funny enough, just jumped to one word. Divers. These divers. Some of them may have been on vacation. Some may

Letter to Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

Something is puzzling me and I will ask that you indulge me and think with me on these things that I cannot reconcile.

I will recount to you an encounter I had with some of your sons lately. It’s 3pm and I go to this corner store to buy some airtime for my phone. Well… Since I had some time on my hands, I decided to have a seat while I wait for my appointment.