Good morning Ama…
My father sent me here. He’s asked me to come and wish you well. To tell you that everything would hold its sway everything would be fine. Assuredly, Wednesday will come and pass by just like a whirlwind but the people of this great nation will be here. Generations come and generations go and he would call you when it’s your turn.
Lest I forget my name is not Amihere (an Nzema name) but I’m here to also ask for a huge favour —-to address citizens of this nation. Our nation Ghana needs prayers— our nation needs peace. I observed something on my way here. In my rush here I met somebody camouflaged and hooded. The man was swearing and taunting everyone he met on the street.
Power has sent Trouble. Trouble is in town. And Trouble is apparently looking for trouble.
So, please lend me your ears countrymen and women. Hopefully this message won’t be long. And hopefully we will all get along after this bug is gone.
Indeed you’ve seen many Wednesdays pass by like a passerby. And the majority of them have rolled by like a rolling stone. But nothing is like this Wednesday. This one which falls on the 7th of December (the Election Day) would’ve passed unnoticed in the land of Utopia.
Understandably, here is not Utopia. This part of our world has many times toyed with peace and the upshot had been despicable. Unfortunately some parts of this world have littered their paths with grief, pain, sicknesses, wars, hunger, influx of refugees, killings, coups, terrorism etc.
“Sir who are you, would you mind tell us your real name before you proceed?”
Not a problem my dear. My name is Peace. I make things happen. Kids love me. Kids cannot play when trouble is brewing. There cannot be education, industrialisation, commerce and trade. There cannot be entertainments, sports and infrastructural developments when I’m gone. Investments grow because of me. Tourism thrives because I’m here.
Millions yearn to see me when I’m gone. Power labours in vain if he despises me. Power is my brother; we’re from the same stock, same parent. If different people can co-exist and live happily, why can’t my brother see eye to eye with me?
So, my people here are two major things you must look out for on the voting day.
False Alarm & Trouble
You’ll hear a story like this one:
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People ran to her home when they heard the extreme scream at the midnight. The shrill voice had subdued the peace and silence that at least ruled the community for a couple of hours. The deafening noise was from the night Nurse, Tina Tawiah— a young beautiful lady who worked at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.
She was seen standing at her front porch still screaming still shaking as though the terrible terror had visited her home. Several friends had made it there just in a twinkle of an eye to find out if their friend was okay. Tears dropped like rains from her eyes cowed by Trouble
At Avenue Lincoln the upscale community, one always had the feeling that s/he was in the ‘Garden of Aden’ or closer to heaven because of its serenity and picturesque environment. Not far away from the city centre. Not far away from the iconic ‘Job 600’ (which accommodates the Lawmakers) and not far away from the Christiansborg Castle and the Arch at the Independence Square.
“But what really could be the problem,” a woman wondered as she and her husband closed in on the nurse’s residence.
Indeed it was a community that cared for everyone, a community that watched one another’s back and a community that showed up when there was a mishap. So, it appeared that night one of their own was in danger, hence the urgency.
And you won’t believe what Tina voiced out. “I came home about 15 minutes ago and saw several ants crawling on my kitchen canter. I’ve already called 911 for help. But I’m scared to death I fear they’d invade my home. I can’t go back in.”
“Did you mean little ants?’ The man’s wife interrupted.
“Yes,” She replied.
The shock on their faces was tangible. Some thought Tina was beside herself, she was probably losing her mind. Or she’d been attacked by some strange evil. None of the guesses was right. Tina was sound-minded and wasn’t suffering from any kind of disease or sickness. Nonetheless, her behaviour that night to her friends was typically unusual.
Some of them laughed it off, while others fumed with anger.
“How dare you disturb our night?” A woman about Tina’s age questioned.
Don’t forget Tina is a nurse. She worked at the Theatre, where surgeries were carried out almost every day. She’d seen it all at the RH. She’d witnessed and worked on complicated cases: Cases that sometimes humbled the strong and the giants at the hospital. Yet, Tina was fleeing from the little ants. ‘
Tina’s friends would soon leave in droves just with the same urgency and speed at which they ran into her residence. She’d been left alone to deal with her ‘little enemies’. Lucky they didn’t manhandle her.
Later, to Tina’s surprise the 911 team gave her a bill ofGHc650.00 to pay for responding to what the officers called a ‘hoax’ and ‘wasting state resources’.
The Akans say: “Obiara wo, nea o’tume no.” Everybody has his/her drill sergeant. Every Goliath has his David as every Samson his Delilah. The lion fears no one in the jungle but he runs away when he senses the hyena. The rat sticks its tale in between her legs when it sees an approaching dog. The fowl fears the falcon and the falcon fears the eagle, says author Gordon Offin-Amaniampong.
What did the kings do when the aristocrats emerged? They ran away and left their sandals behind.
Kids are kids and they fear no foe because they’re innocent!
When the cat shows up the mouse disappears. The moose avoids the company of a tiger or hyena. The worm prays he never strays into the path of the black ant. And the ant dreads the sight of the tortoise or turtle.
Didn’t you know that fire consumes all except water?
And rivers, streams as well as puddles tremble when drought sets in. Ironically, it’s rain (water) that drives away drought.
So, let’s go into the elections with a positive mindset. Be mindful, Trouble is there. Surely, you’ll see him lurking around but please don’t confront him.
Avoid him as much as; possible. If you see something wrong call the police or like-minded agents or special observers. It would better serve you well and the country in general. You’ll leave the polling centre not with a broken jaw and bloodied nose. That alone makes you a victor or a winner. More so, Ghana will wake up looking stronger, better and greater. And its people will heap a deep sigh of relief.
Hopefully, when the dust is settled by Friday you’ll hear from the messenger again.
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