Some people say there is too much talk in
Ghana. They reckon more action and less talk is the economic elixir we require.
I agree that too many people pretend to be political, economic and social
experts in the media (including online social media). I disagree, however, that
Ghanaians talk too much. The basic meaning of democracy – as I understand it –
is the sounding of all views before choosing the most popular.
If TV, radio, print and online media are
filled with the ‘voice of the people’, there is a good chance that decisions
would be the choice of the people, and failure would be viewed philosophically
and not vi et armis. I shift my
position a little. The inexpert experts should hush and let the vox populi be
broadcast.
Having said that talk is good, talk is not
enough. It would be a catastrophe if we did not talk at all. It would be a
shame if we talked and talked and nothing happened. A child in primary school,
I read a story of a world of creatures resident in a ball of animal fur or
something like that. This world was unseen to the ‘normal’ world and condemned
to be destroyed. A campaign team was sent around this tiny world to urge the creatures
to make an almighty racket. Maybe it could be saved if they could prove that
life existed in the ball of fur. Voice and cymbal, drum and hands – they made
the din with anything they found. But the animals were not convinced that life
resided in the ball of fur. Things got critical. Then the creatures saw the tiniest
of their kind. It was hiding behind a flake of dandruff. It would not join in
the noise. It did not believe it could make a difference. At the end, it was
convinced to shout at the top of its voice, and the animals heard the din. Their
world was saved.
It would be a senseless shame if we all
spoke up but failed to do the one most important policy-affecting act. VOTE! And
it would be sadder still if one could not vote because they did not register. We
all know the shortfall of votes that took Ghana to a second round in the 2008
elections, and the number that made the difference finally. How many did not
register? How many did not vote? Could they have made a difference for one
party or another? Imagine the cost to you (as a taxpayer) that we had two (some
say three) elections, instead of one, to choose a leader!
I will not say that the abstaining wise
deserve the rule of the foolish but civic. But what a bummer it would be if two
abstainers out of every ten could sway the elections by doing nothing beyond
the civic right to speak. Many do not feel too patriotic, and I understand their
reasons. But when you vote, you vote, first, for yourself; not for Ghana.
The voters registration is on. It is only
of secondary importance that the process is biometric rather than something
else. Be responsible for your future (and maybe Ghana’s). If I have convinced
you – if I needed to – please go out and register. If I failed, then we will
fail.
