Defending Our National Symbols

 

There was a furore among a section of society following President Akufo-Addo’s displeasure at the refusal of a chief of Mempeasem near Legon to stand up when the National Anthem was being played at the Green Ghana Day function at the University of Ghana.

In the video that went viral, the President was seen directing the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey to find out from the chief why he refused to stand up when the anthem was being played.

The chief issued a statement later to apologise to the President, and explained the circumstances that made it impossible for him to accord the anthem the required respect.

He said he was not well and therefore it was difficult for him to stand up in reverence for the National Anthem. Many Ghanaians had expected that the apology by the chief would have put the matter to rest.

There were those, especially the detractors of the government who felt the President disrespected the chief by his public display of disapproval of the chief’s conduct. They went on to say all kinds of impalpable things about the President, including some media practitioners, members in academia and civil society groups and of course the NDC telling him to address the country’s challenges with the so-called vim with which he “dealt” with the chief.

Some others even said the President had no such power to do so.

These groups of people include some Nkrumaists whose CPP that formed the first post-independence government made us to worship the National Anthem like God, and at the time of Nkrumah’s overthrow there were citizens in jail for not honouring our national symbols.

Those who are old enough can recall occasions when Young Pioneers’ Coordinators could stop school children anywhere to sing the National Anthem as a sign of their patriotism.

One of the problems confronting our country today is the extreme politicisation of issues and taking a stance against government if their party is not in power, and on the other hand defending even if it is wrong.

In recent times, however, the hatred for the NPP government is difficult to comprehend perhaps just because elections are just around the corner and they see the goings-on as an opportunity for regime change. If that were not the case, will some media houses be throwing the searchlight on bad roads, especially potholes during the raining season when we know that road construction has not matched the level of expansion of human settlements across the country.

These people also know that the national budget is constrained and it behooves all of us to be good citizens by paying our taxes. How many self employed people including traders and artisans pay taxes, and yet we demand all kinds of amenities from the government?

The last time government asked people who hire the services of artisans to deduct withholding tax, there were agitations by them.

This subject is reserved for another day.

Back on track, it is unfortunate that even when the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has stressed the need for all citizens to respect our national symbols, including the National Anthem, some people think we should always demand respect for our rights without responsibilities and obligations.

The irony of this Ghanaian attitude came to light at the 30th Annual General Meeting of the Afreximbank in Accra a few days ago. When the Master of Ceremony announced that the National Anthem was going to be played, all the people mostly foreigners stood up in honour of the anthem.

It is sad that we have sacrificed our sense of patriotism on the altar of partisan politics. It will serve our purpose better if we learn to accord our President and his government the needed respect and support towards the development of the country. That is the citizens’ call but not to disrespect President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government.

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