Corruption – Episode 2
Corruption – Episode 2
© Akoto Alexander
Somewhere in the Brong Ahafo region, a small village called Mansokrom.
Twum Boafo: Ah this young man is very good with words, his speech was right on point and I hope he will stand to his words. He needs to appoint credible people who will assist him govern well and put this country back on track, this is the first time we are having a young man in his early 40’s lead this country so he has a lot of work to do to prove to us that, the youth of today also have something good to offer the world.
Mrs Twum Boafo: (cuts in) Mr Morality, after working so hard as a chief principal accountant in the ministry of finance for over 30years, what did you bring home? Your colleagues are back in the city living in their mansions and riding in big and better cars, what does my husband have? Nothing!!! You couldn’t even complete the house you were building here in your hometown not to talk about connecting pipe or electricity to this place. I always spoke to you to engage yourself in that illegal deals your colleagues were doing but no, you always had a sermon to preach to me about. I have been wearing this dress ever since we got back to village and sometimes I even feel embarrassed going close to the other women in this village because I, whom they know have stayed in the city all my life is now wearing rags. I am getting tired about this whole new life you have subjected me to, you need to do something before……
Twum Boafo: (also cuts in) Before what? You will pack your things and run away from here huh? Akua shut up over there, you talk too much and if you have forgotten, you are nagging and I so hate that. See I prefer to maintain at least the little reputation that I worked for, for the past 36years. We will be here in this country and auditors will come in with their reports to expose all the corrupt officials who have embezzled state funds, I am okay eating my kenkey with hot pepper and no fish rather than eating fried rice and chicken which will bring problem to me later in the future. I am waiting for my pension scheme savings which I intend to do something beneficial with it. My son, our only son has to get the best education a father can give to his child just like I did for his elder sister, I won’t invest the little pension money that comes my way into clothes and unnecessary things. I was forced to resigned or face humilation just because I decided to followe the greedy path you led me to, if I didn’t add another zero as you asked me to do, like by now I will still be having my job and even a promotion. Where is my son and is the food ready?
Mrs Twum Boafo: (gives a big hiss) Mtcheeeeeeeeew, show me a clean government official who is not corrupt and I will show you a roman father who is down with gonorrhea. They say behind every successful man is a prayerful and hardworking wife who would give great advice to her husband, very soon your kinsmen will start trooping into this house with their problems when they get to know that you have relocated to the village and have received your pension pay. If you care to know, I sent your son on an errand to fetch firewood since the charcoal in this house got finished days ago. I never subscribed to this cruel life you are taking me through Kwame Boafo.
Twum Boafo: I will go to the bank tomorrow and redraw some money for the running of this house, please when I give you the money use it judiciously to keep the house going.
Mrs Twum Boafo: Haven’t I been managing the house well enough all this while? Abeg let me hear word and have peace in this house. Now why has this foolish boy kept long in bringing the firewood home, I hope he doesn’t come late to see the cassava and plantain spoilt because that is all we have left in this house.
Twum Boafo: (son walks in) Junior will you hurry up and bring the firewood to your mother, see how you have gotten yourself dirty. I don’t want to see you playing around in this village with those boys who don’t even know how to write their names. Now hurry up and go and buy me batteries for my small wireless radio, I don’t want to miss this evening’s news bulletin.
Junior: Papa am hungry and I don’t like this village, the villager stare at me like I fell from the sky to this place. Some even run when they see me coming their way.
Twum Boafo: Hahahahaha my son, in this world when you are ahead or better than someone, the person doesn’t like you. When you take a critical look at yourself you will admit to the fact that you look much more handsome than most of the kids. Secondly your appearance is far different from the others, don’t let their attitude towards you pull your spirit down my son, you are the son of the lion and you don’t involve yourself with the things the monkey does.
Junior: Papa so when are we going back to the city? I miss my school and teacher Hannah, I miss the computer classes and the music lessons.
Twum Boafo: Hmmmmm my son, we will go back to the city very soon. We came here for a competition that is being organised by the government, the rules of the game is to see who can survive in the typical village with his family for a very long time. The winner will be given a mansion, a brand new car and a fully paid trip to Paris and Dubai with his family. I will entreat you to be strong and stand with me throughout the time the competition will be running, don’t be bothered by the attitude those villagers give to you. Now run and go and get me my batteries from that provision shop close to the school park before she close the place.
Junior: Woooow thanks very much papa for entering into this wonderful competition, I promise to stand by you to the end. I can’t wait for us to go to Dubai again. Let me rush and get you the batteries. (runs to get the batteries)
Mrs Twum Boafo: So don’t you feel pity for this poor boy? After playing the angelic role and leading us to this dilapidated place you still have the audacity to lie to our son. I believe you have no shame and your concession have a great level of pride. As you always say, “there is nothing that can be hidden under this sun forever”, one day one day the monkey will go to the market and will never return, when your son gets to know the truth he will not just be disappointed in you as his dad but he will be disappointed in you as his mentor and role model.
Twum Boafo: Woman enough of this unwarranted sermon you have subjected me to, can’t I have a little peace in my house again?
Mrs Twum Boafo: You call this dilapidated place a house huh, even the dog in my family house won’t accept to sleep in such a place.
Twum Boafo: If your dog won’t sleep in such a place, what does it make of you the one sleeping in that room?
Mrs Twum Boafo: Thunder fire your mouth over there Kwame. See you want to beat me and prevent me from crying erh? Kwame don’t push me to the extreme for me to take an action that will come with a negative tag oooo. Do something now that you have the opportunity to correct the mistakes your moral rights have done to you, a word should be enough for the wise. (walks back into the kitchen)
Twum Boafo: Woman since you are done with your threats and tantrums can you please expedite in the preparations of my supper. When money was coming home you always had songs of praise to sing for me, when I had money you called me honey and now that I don’t have, you call me monkey. Indeed women are never friends with poverty and you can never predict the mindset of a woman in the next five minutes, the Presbyterian God that I serve will never let me down.
Mrs Twum Boafo: (releases a loud hiss) Mtcheeeeeeeeew, when you were actively working you couldn’t turn things around for our good, now that you have been forced to resign when you have at least five more years left, you are now giving yourself false hope. Keep dreaming and living in a fools paradise, by the time you wake up I will be in my family house. (walks back into the kitchen)
Twum Boafo: My late father was never wrong about the things he said about women. If it was some of this men of God in recent times, he would say his prophecies has come through but all the same I know the way maker and promise keep will never forsake me in this difficult time of my life.
Back at the City
TV Anchor: Hello viewers thanks for staying with us throughout the commercial break, there is a lot to come from us today as Ghana makes another great history by going to the poles to vote peacefully and going through the transition period smoothly then finally the handing over ceremony. Honestly I am very proud to be a Ghanaian and I know you are equally feeling same, as we have promised you already, we won’t let anything elude you so far as your television and radio set is still kept on our channels.
At a Close Door Meeting inside the Jubilee House:
President R. Mensah: Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the New Dawn of greatness in Ghana. I called this close door meeting for a good purpose, as each and everyone of you here is very much aware of the hard economy right now, my led government is in no position to give excuses or give complains because Ghanaians wanted change and results from the people they elected to governing the country that is why the voted massively for us. As I said in my speech earlier on, “to whom much is given, much is expected in return”, I am now counting on each and everyone of you here to rally behind me so that we make history together. Now before I continue I would like to throw this caution again to everyone seated here that, if you think in my led government you are coming to enrich yourself then I am sorry you have to start looking for the exit. Yes I know most of you spent fortunes and even had to sell family properties to sponsor your campaign so you win the seat you are contesting for or retain your seat but my government will not be an avenue to enrich your pocket. First on my list is that during my tenure of office, the salary of every member of the cabinet will be slashed into two so if you are already taking ten thousand then expect to take five thousand, equally the same thing will happen to every member of parliament and I am going to cut the size of the ministerial positions. I don’t want a redundant government where we pay people for doing nothing, I promised Ghanaians during my campaign that I will protect the government purse and that is what I intend to do.
(There is murmuring from all the people in the conference room)
President R. Mensah: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not done with what am saying. I know almost everyone in this room has more than two cars and living in his or her own house so therefore I have decided not to buy any car for any cabinet minister or member of parliament, if you need a new car you can purchase one from your salary. I have spoken to the Kantanka Automobile Manufacturing Company and some other car manufacturing companies who are willing to give cars to members who want to buy on credit base. Again from today I am cutting away all the unwarranted allowances that most of you enjoying ranging from rent allowance, sitting allowance, tie allowance, dress allowance, travel allowance and other nuisance allowances. I want to repeat myself again on this very important advice I am giving you, if anyone of you think you will embezzle state funds and go scot free then this is the time to walk out because anyone caught doing so will face the law fully and rigidly, I don’t mind whether you were my campaign manager, strategist or even my sponsor. Ghana must move beyond aid from foreign countries simply because God blessed Ghana with every mineral that can make us independent and not to rely on any loans or grants. There is more I would add but for now let me pause here so that everyone will go and prepare for this evening’s cocktail and dinner party. God bless you and our homeland Ghana. (leaves the conference room through the back door)
Hon. Johnson: (approaches a colleague) Nii Nortey is this the monster we have brought home?
Hon. Nii Nortey: Johnson tell me I am dreaming, was it my ears that we deceiving me or what?
Hon. Hajia Ramatu: You heard the young man perfectly, you know I always opposed of him when you elected him as the flagbearer for our great party but some of you told me because he was a young man he will dance to our tune. See the laws he has laid down for us to follow, Nii Nortey your plans of buying that house now is in jeopardy and now you will have to cut down your spending level.
Hon. Nii Nortey: Hajia I nearly had a running stomach when I heard him throwing caution to us. Eeeeiiiii he has now used his legislative powers to
slash our salary down by 50% and some allowances that we can use to socket ourselves too he has cancelled it. Lord have mercy upon Mercy Oppong.
Hon. Johnson: Herh this one paa dieer we have sold our coloured tv to exchange a black and white tv, if I knew this guy was going to be search a swine like I will never endorse him and waste my money on him during the campaigning time. Herh how do I pay some of my debts now? If we don’t put this guy in his rightful position some of us will turn into a laughing stock amongst our political opponents, I need to speak with the Vice President as soon as possible.
Hon. Asare: (talking to some members) This guy really means business and I can’t wait to see the policies and measures he brings on board. I like the way he is blunt and precise on things, he has my full support so far as he doesn’t disappoint me by going against his words.
Hon. Dr. Newton: You have said my mind my brother, if this young man will walk his talk then in no time the country will be rocking shoulders with those European countries and America. I am indeed proud we chose him to lead us to the promise land.
Hon. Asantewaa: I knew that young man had the carisma to turn things around, I saw the good leadership career in him the first time I set my eyes on him at the party national headquarters. I have the strong feeling that with him as our leader Ghana will work again and the economic hardship will be a thing of the past. We made the right choice and I hope all of us here will throw our weights behind him to stir the affairs of this wonderful country.
Hon. Iman Jawula: But did you see the faces of some people when our President made those assertions? I swear that some are not in support of his decisions and I am afraid for the young man because the captain of the ship can’t do everything without his crew. For me I am solidly behind him and I pray he succeeds in his mission, I am looking forward to the people he will nominate to hold ministerial positions.
Hon. Asare: My dear that is why he gave the option that if you can’t cope with the laws he is bringing, you can find the exit now that the ship has not sailed deep into the ocean. Ghana can only work and bounce back to how Dr. Kwame Nkrumah left it only if we will put our selfish interest behind us and embrace the future with a clean mindset. The spirit of corruption must be killed now if not our great grandchildren will never forgive us for our bad policies that we left behind. Let me rush home and prepare myself for tonight’s dinner for indeed a new Dawn has begun and I am happy I will be alive to witness it and tell me grandchildren some day.
To be continued
