Let me begin by borrowing the words of Martin Luther, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” You all bear me witness when the ultimate leader of this country, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on the occasion of the 60th Independence Anniversary Celebration at the Black Star Square said, “We are met here today to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our nation’s independence, to celebrate our freedom from the clutches of British imperialism, to celebrate the final achievement of the struggle of successive generations of Ghanaians patriots to establish a free and sovereign Ghana.” Compatriots, we have been deceiving ourselves with freedom for so long!
What is freedom, when we have oil, gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, etc. yet we don’t even own a single mining company as a national asset? What is freedom, when the average Ghanaian survives on less than $2 per day? What is freedom, when our lands are so fertile that rice even thrives in gutters yet we import rice and GMOs to eat? Is it freedom, when the President who tells us to be innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial enough to start local production of goods and services add salt to our injury by importing exotic brands of our local products?
In this silicon age, science, technology, research and development are the main catalysts to give a country truer freedom. China, Malaysia, India, South Korea, and Singapore after independence were mere clowns in the global governance and decision making. What made it possible for these nations to be regarded as global giants? The answer is not far-fetched, Science and Technology! Ghanaians/Africans are the only species on earth that are too sluggish to imitate wisdom from their colonial masters but extremely swift to copy their retrogressive cultures (homosexuality, indecent dressings, etc.). It did not take Donald Trump more than 100 days to sign the “Buy American and hire American” executive order. Section 2(a) stated, “Buy American Laws. In order to promote economic and national security and to help stimulate economic growth, create good jobs at decent wages, strengthen our middle class, and support the American manufacturing and defense industrial bases, it shall be the policy of the executive branch to maximize, consistent with law, through terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards and Federal procurements, the use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States.” This is the President who really wants to make his nation great again!
In recent times, the media have been filled with news from the camp of the Ghanaian automobile industry, Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin purchased customised Kantanka vehicles. Curiosity got me to ask of the prices and packages of Kantanka vehicles and I wowed:
* Kantanka Onantefo Suv 2017 model has 2.4 cc multipoint injector petrol engine capacity with consumption of 10.3 L per 100 Km road cover. It has similar specifications like Toyota Prado GS and Fortuner yet costs twice cheaper (GHC150, 000) than these cars excluding import duties.
* Kantanka Omama pickup 2017 model has 1.9 cc turbocharged diesel engine capacity with consumption of 7.9 L per 100 Km road cover. It has similar specifications like Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi l200 but cheaper (GHC 130, 000) than these cars. Omama 2016 models, 4*4 costs GHC 87, 000 and 4*2 costs GHC 70, 000.
* K71 mini SUV has 1.5 L petrol engine capacity with consumption of 5.8 L per 100 Km road cover with rear view camera and other amazing specifications. It costs GHC60, 000.
* PACKAGES FOR ALL CARS: Payment plan includes 50% instant payment and rest spread evenly between 6 – 10 months; 6 months after sales services with mobile vans all over the country; 3 years warranty or 100, 000 Km road cover; free DVLA registration of vehicles for customers.
His Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo, I hope you clearly remember the naked truths from P. W. Botha and His Excellency Donald Trump about Africans and our leaders? Now, Ghanaians and the world are watching with unblinking eyes to see if you will prove Botha and Trump wrong! Please, have you forgotten of who you are? It is the blood of J.B Danquah, the man who gave Gold Coast its beautiful name Ghana, the first president of West African Students’ Union (WASU) and the doyen of Gold Coast politics, which flow through your veins. It is the blood of the first Ghanaian who officially stood up and defended our spiritual and cultural practices, “The Akan Doctrine of God” that runs through you. How do you feel when you see the immortalised image and name of your uncle, William Ofori-Atta, among the ‘Big Six’ on our national currencies? Have you soon forgotten that it is the spirit of the man (Edward Akufo-Addo) whose residence (Betty House) was used as the headquarters of the first political party in the country, United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), to combat British Imperialism that lives in you?
In 1961, J. B. Danquah asked his friend and prison mate (Joe Appiah), “Joe, is it worth dying for Ghana?” Joe could not answer the question but I believe fate demands the answer from you now. If you have no reason to live, then, die for the national good of making science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship keys to make Ghana truly independent. This is the only way you can truly tell J.B. Danquah and the founding fathers that it was worth dying for Ghana!
Please, looking at the flexible payment plans offered by Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, I think it would be expedient to contract the company to supply all government Institutions that use SUVs and Pickups with Kantanka Onantefo and Omama. Imported Indian experimental cars, Mahindra and TATA, for schools and companies in Ghana could be replaced with Kantanka cars. Please, the power vested in you is not for your parochial accumulation of wealth. But for you to leave an indelible epitaph in the governance of Ghana so that generations will proudly read, there lays Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President and great ancestor, who alongside with Dr. Ing Kwadwo Safo, made Ghana a technological hub in Africa and a global giant!
Fellow Ghanaians, how do you feel when you wait in long queues only to be denied visas to travel abroad? How do you feel when you are told that Ghana has 10% shares in her oil because she lacks the technology to tap the oil herself? Please, let us patronise Kantanka cars not because we are poor and can’t afford the exotic cars, not because we are afraid of import duties, and not because DVLA vehicle registration fees scare us. But let us patronise to make it a signal that we are ready for the technological revolution which will make us truly independent people. Let us prove that if Asians have done it, we can do better! And let our political leaders patronise to prove that they are selfless people with interest of the nation at heart.
I conclude by reminding us of the words of Marcus Garvey, “For over three hundred years, the Whiteman has been our oppressor, and he naturally is not going to liberate us to higher freedom, the truer liberty, and truer democracy. We have to liberate ourselves!” Henceforth, I want all to remember that the Whiteman is no more our oppressor because we have the ultimate power to liberate ourselves just by changing our minds!
Please, I am humbly looking forward to seeing a positive response from His Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo, and all Ghanaians because “…in the end, we shall not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”.
Thank you very much.
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