Boxing is a sport that makes one rich. But becoming rich in boxing depends on one’s exploit in the boxing ring.
It is a game that involves consent to receive pains and harm as a result of the sports culture. In boxing, the gloves play a very crucial role in one’s defeat or otherwise albeit receiving and throwing punches.
Forgive me, this article is not about boxing and neither is it about the gloves used in boxing; but it is about a renowned boxer who consents to receiving pain to serve humanity.
He might not be wearing his boxing kits but a political suit because he is a Congressman who has demystified politics. It is this political suit of Manny Pacquiao, the Philippine Congressman, which the Ghanaian politician is failing to wear.
Pacquiao was elected congressman in 2010 representing the lone district of Sarangani province in Mindanao and was re-elected for another term.
He is now eyeing a seat in the Senate, saying he will be filing his Certificate of Candidacy in the Philippines and hasn’t ruled out an eventual run for the presidency.
Over the past few weeks, social media has been awash with news of Manny Pacquiao not for the wrong reasons but for the right reasons.
He achieved his remarkable success after a childhood of extreme hunger and poverty.
Today, he is a major humanitarian force, directing his philanthropy toward numerous causes, including education and the fight against human trafficking. He is a remarkable inspiration and demonstrates the power of giving back to transform people’s lives.
Pacquiao does not hesitate to say and demonstrate how his heart has always been with the poor people of the Philippines and that, his candidacy for the Senate is meant to help many people.
This vision and ‘genuine madness’ to serve is where the Pandora box of the Ghanaian politician is opened.
As a fisherman of no cheap repute, I have wandered in Ghana for as long as I have lived.
When the Ghanaian politician makes headlines in the National and International media, it is most of the time for the wrong reasons. It is either in an organized crime or a deliberate act to oppress the very people that gave them the power. Think deep and refresh your memories and you will agree with me.
While Manny Pacquiao gives back to society even monies not made from politics, the Ghanaian politician takes advantage of every lacuna in the system to create loot and share what will otherwise improve the well-being of the people.
Take a look at your Member of Parliament and tell me whether he or she has demonstrated any genuine love to serving his constituency.
Is it not about the same old story where the only time they agree is when monies will flow into their pockets but make a lot of noise – “yeeyeh, yeeyeh” and force on us a role play of disagreement as if they are working for us. Forget it, if you think they are there for you.
While Manny Pacquiao’s desire to get the top-notch position in politics in order to serve genuinely, in the Ghanaian case, it is the ‘stowaway’ and the quick method to enriching one’s self. I am not sure this is a lie.
In the Ghanaian context, the only time the politician thinks about giving back to their constituents, is a few months to elections and in the case of bye-elections; they can make a cow pregnant on the same day and miraculously make it give birth on the same day.
It is a rebuttable presumption though that the world emits pains but the most painful thing that one can endure from his peers and contemporaries is to be beaten cruelly and mercilessly and still be barred from crying. If you dare cry out, you will receive a tag.
In all of these, one interesting thing about Manny Pacquiao that we, the fishermen at Oguaa, are crazy about and wouldn’t mind trekking from the shores of Cape Coast to the Philippines to contribute some of our catch to support his humanitarian work is his passion to serve God and to practise his faith.
In Ghana, the only time, you realize a Ghanaian politician knows his Bible verses is when he or she wants to quote a section of the Bible to cover his or her shame or to defend an indefensible stance.
The Gitmo compassion and common sense arguments readily come to mind.
The only time, the Ghanaian politician would give something for free is when he or she wickedly and clandestinely needs the vote of the poor and homeless person.
It is not uncommon in Ghana for politicians to annoyingly brag about with the number of houses and cars they have acquired in their short period in office.
As they brag, many in their constituency die of hunger and remain homeless and destitute for the rest of their lives.
These politicians obviously know the weakness of the voter and would always exploit that to their advantage.
“Boxer cum politician, Manny Pacquiao, has built over a thousand houses for poor Philippinos in his locality where he is a congressman.”
Well, this piece of news about Manny Pacquiao refreshes the soul of a fisherman like me, even though I am not a beneficiary of his benevolence.
And this is the reason why the Ghanaian Politician will refuse to wear Manny pacquiao’s political suit.
Each of us owes a duty of care and love to one another.
Don’t look farther in looking for the politician anywhere. You are the Politician I am talking about.
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By: Richard Kwadwo Nyarko
The writer, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, is a broadcast journalist with Joy 99.7.
Email: [email protected]. Facebook: Richard Kwadwo Nyarko. Twitter: @quajo2009