Free And Independent

The price you pay for what you want is the unpleasant thing you need to do or suffer in order to get it. Becoming a positive yardstick has a price; dare to be excellent.
"No easy walk to freedom."  - Nelson Mandela


Ghana has attained 54 years after independence. The question is, how many of us are indeed free and independent? The price for freedom has never been cheap and that goes for every human endeavour be it personal or collective. I am thankful I have lived to see this day.

For many Ghanaians, Independence celebration is a school affair. Teachers and school children bear the brunt of the usually hot afternoons amid rising dusts and profuse sweats to commemorate this great day on our national calender. The rest choose to come around to observe, and probably give some cheers to deserving schools whose 'eyes right' is scintillating enough. Nothing else is so memorable to them again.

I describe this as unfortunate and a sad reality for a 54-year old independent state. Why this sheer apathy for that which is important? Why reduce this great day to childish politics and partisan strife? How do we as adults regard the young to learn from us? Which values and importance have we accorded matters that are of national interest vis-a-viz that which are trifle?

For those of us proclaiming freedom and independence, time is up that we sat down to think for ourselves how distinctly free and independent we have become even in the face of our party's stance and so-called ideology. If as a free nation such pettiness is not walked over by our maturity, we should all ask for forgiveness from the freedom fighters who put their lives on the frontline to secure our self-rule.

Up here on the hill, Jacobu, the capital for the Amansie Central District, combined forces to involve the participation of some schools within the district for the first time. I was particularly impressed to see towns like Fiankomah, Tweapease, Patasi and Aboabo who have never had opportunity to partake this event since the inception of the district some seven years ago.

I was happy to see the presence of the MP, the Nananom and most of the officials who have seat in the District Assembly Executive Committee (DISEC) at the parade. Also worthy of note are the constituency party chairmen for the NPP and the NDC respectively in attendance , and on the dais!

Even though somewhere across the country, some aggrieved teachers chose to stay off the celebrations, ours saw a very encouraging attendance of teachers ably side by side with their students saluting the national flag.

I am a very free and independent ordinary individual. My hope is to be in a team with like-minded personalities such as myself. This way, we can have a lot of positive things done and we shall chalk a lot of successes.

Let this be in you, fellow kinsman, that no matter what, you are the most important person to our district and as such, your personal opinion counts very much. Do not follow blindly else you become only a crowd. Choose to be yourself and see a great man/woman arise in you. Your name shall climb over the city walls and every household shall have it written at their gates.

Decide today what the Amansie Central District shall remember you of, and begin to act on it now. Call me if you need my help. I am a man of many talents.

Happy Independence Day!!