It is an undeniable fact that my compatriots and I like to engage in lamentations. As to whether the lamentations are useful or useless is not for me to say. As a true democrat, I think it is good for citizens to rant and lament, even if their lamentations are useless. But I doubt if former President Ogwanfunu would agree with me!
Do you remember how President Ogwanfunu castigated his compatriots for having the guts to complain about the hardships he had infringed on them? He called their complaints and rants “useless lamentations”.
In the past week or so, there has been a lot of hue and cry about the health status of the Vice President, Alhaji, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The Vice President took a medical leave to the UK after he reported for work unwell on Thursday, January 19.
For sure, the hue and cry about the Vice President’s health is needless. But I wouldn’t dare to call it “useless”. As citizens, and not spectators, they do have the right to rant and lament.
My only beef is the concocted stories and the sheer hatred being displayed by persons who claim to be his compatriot. Have we become so divided that we could wish the deadliest of ailments on our political opponents? Do some people hate the man so much that they wish he was paralyzed?
Come to think of it; why are his political opponents shamelessly and publicly wishing paralysis on him? Could it be that they’ve still not forgiven him for the crucial role he played in their devastating defeat at the December 2016 polls? Could it also be that they dread his presence and the role he is playing in managing the country’s economy?
Well, Bawumia’s detractors are just mortals like him so their bad wishes have come to naught. The Vice President was seen in a video taking a stroll with his wife on the streets of London. He was also seen exchanging pleasantries with a compatriot in the same video.
Eiiii! The man alleged to have been paralyzed has miraculously regained full strength and was seen walking majestically on the streets of London? Shout Hallelujah if you are a Christian; or say a big “Takbeer” if you are a Muslim like me!
Frankly, the video of the Vice President and his better half engaged in “lovi-lovi” got me jealous. The beautiful video reminded me of how I have neglected my sweet wife when it comes to “lovitating” matters. I will not be surprised if sooner than later we are told the Second Family is expecting a presidential baby. While resting and “lovitating” with his wife in far away Obroniland, his detractors can continue their lamentations about nothing!
Bawumia’s absence and the President’s trip to Liberia and subsequently to Ethiopia has once again brought to the fore the oath-swearing palaver by the Speaker. The debate that started during the Doe Adjaho era and buried by the Supreme Court has resurrected.
What do I think? I think it is a mundane issue that does not merit the ink and airtime being spent on it. Beyond the symbolism and the ceremonial role of receiving visitors on behalf of the President, there is no substance in the oath by the Speaker. It is obvious that on assuming office in the absence of the President and his Vice, the Speaker cannot make any serious decision as President. So why the hullabaloo about the Speaker’s swearing-in as acting President?
Obviously, the framers of the Constitution did not envisage a situation whereby a Speaker would have to be sworn-in twice in less than a week. The Supreme Court also did not envisage such a bizarre situation. But oath or not, the Speaker is but a symbolic president. So it is much lamentation about nothing!
The GITMO 2 was in the news once again. After all the noise by political parties, civil society organizations and the general public, the status quo remained. The effect is that the duo continues to enjoy the much touted Ghanaian hospitality.
After the supposed two years granted them elapsed early January, many were those who expected the current government to reverse the previous government’s decision. But the country was shocked to the marrow to realize that the previous government had already granted refugee status to the duo. A lawyer described the actions of the previous government as a maze of deception.
Following the recent revelations, it has become obvious that the Ogwanfunu government had not been truthful in the GITMO 2 matter. From the records disclosed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, it is clear that the case was pending in court when the duo was accorded the refugee status. The current government has its hands tied so our ranting and lamentations cannot change anything.
The Ogwanfunu government’s irresponsible action on the matter amply proves the African proverb that states, “If you hide a sick person, your lamentation alarm will only announce his death.”
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!