Dear Mr. President,<\/p>\n
I remember when I was a little girl, I used to want to fly! Then I grew older and realized that as a human being I couldn\u2019t fly, so I decided I wanted to be an air hostess\u2026 at the same time, I wanted to be a president, just like you! Today, I know better! I know better, not because I cannot achieve this height but because I am honestly not sure that I can put myself through the many moving parts required for this job and the many difficult and unpopular decisions that you have made\u2026 So I get it! I really do, you have a majorly tough job, and I respect anyone who takes it on, even if their motives are not the purest\u2026<\/p>\n
However, the fact remains that you took it on, and therefore while you enjoy the perks that come with the job, you have to similarly take on the difficult aspects of it. You have to come clean with us and accept blame for where you and your team have mismanaged our vote\u2026<\/p>\n
I love Ghana with all my heart, I always have and always will! I was brought up to see this country as my home, as the only place that I should come back to, as my last resort, as my only option! And this is how I feel and why I continue to defend this dear country of ours, even in these times\u2026<\/p>\n
However, for the first time ever, a cousin of mine living the UK who came down for a family funeral had a conversation with me about moving home and asked, should I do it??… Five, four, three, two years ago, I didn\u2019t even have to think about the answer, it would be a very spritely YES! During this conversation, I said, \u2018don\u2019t do it, NOT NOW!\u2019\u2026 As I reflected on my answer later on, I was sad, angry, frustrated and embarrassed all at the same time\u2026<\/p>\n
My response was indeed practical; but to be honest, my love for Ghana has never been practical \u2013 it has always been unconditional. So it leaves me a lot of food for thought as to why my brain has turned this way. But the answer really is very simple. I will pick on only one MAJOR example. Although I could go into the economic, social, and political explanations of why this issue is a problem (which you already know about and I\u2019m sure your advisers have driven home), I am just going to keep it at its practical and personal disruptions:<\/p>\n
I pride myself in being a hard worker, in finishing my work before I lay down to sleep\u2026 in the last 2 months, since I returned home, I have found that I wind down around 8pm, because I have no electricity\u2026 or even worse, I hang around town looking for things to do in places where there is light\u2026 I don\u2019t even want to go to my own home!… the sad part of all of this is that I don\u2019t even wind down to a good night\u2019s sleep when I do venture to my house, because I can\u2019t sleep \u2013 it\u2019s too hot! So I toss and turn and curse at the stars for the majority of the night, and wake up worn out and frustrated! I must admit, being a member of the privileged middle class, I do have some options and I have taken advantage of those that I can \u2013 I have a solar lamp and I\u2019m looking for a rechargeable fan to buy\u2026 But honestly, I can\u2019t afford a generator which seems to be the only way out! And I am annoyed by my neighbor who has his buzzing in my ears around the clock and making it even more difficult to sleep\u2026 Anyways, once I wake up I hear all these morbid stories on the radio about layoffs, businesses collapsing, etc. \u2013 everyone\u2019s complaining; or yelling; the nation has just gotten sad\u2026<\/p>\n
I remember you once saying that you didn\u2019t understand why Ghanaians complain so much, you were partly right about the assertion, but then you went on to give us a major reason to do what we do best! Why?!… What bothers me most is that we are headed down a very slippery slope and if we make it too far down, digging ourselves out might be way too difficult! Ghana is living on old glory, and it\u2019s time to make a real concerted effort all round to make things right. I do know also that there are a lot of initiatives in the works, but they have been in the works for a long time\u2026 and the promises continue, and the speeches abound!<\/p>\n
While I don\u2019t have a solution, and I wish I did\u2026 actually no, I do kind of have a couple \u2013 can we have major subsidies for solar panel imports (and other renewable energy sources), no matter where they are from and which part of the system they are? (Yes, I did my homework and hear there\u2019s a \u2018catch\u2019 to how the subsidy works\u2026 SIGH). Also, can you also look into some sort of bail out system to help SMEs that are dying? And finally, can you come up with a very unpopular directive to halt all new initiatives and concentrate on properly and effectively implementing the ones that have been dragging along forever?<\/p>\n
Those are my three lay woman\u2019s suggestions\u2026<\/p>\n
Anyways kind sir, as you continue your big job, please remember that Ghana needs some fixing and NOW; and its citizens are genuinely hoping that we don\u2019t give up! We gave you that mandate to represent us in tough times and we continue to look to you to deliver on your promises. I know people say, look around you and you\u2019ll see that Ghana is doing just fine\u2026 but no, I refuse! I refuse to compare myself to mediocrity or to things that are negative \u2013 I will continue to look up, look forward, like our forefathers asked us to\u2026 Ghana is not doing well, no it\u2019s not \u2013 Ghana is sick and needs a doctor! For now, you are the doctor who has been appointed for this surgery and I hope you select the right tools; I hope you act, and not continue to believe that you\u2019ve seen enough; you haven\u2019t really\u2026 \u2013 but we just want a major 180 degrees at this point \u2013 that\u2019s all we ask!<\/p>\n
I am sure I am not the first one to make this plea and won\u2019t be the last\u2026 But for what it\u2019s worth, let me add my name to the long list of citizens who are looking for POSITIVE CHANGE\u2026 and let me continue to hope that you will not turn a deaf ear, that \u2018wo b3 tie obiaaa\u2019\u2026 This is not about party politics, it\u2019s about love for country.<\/p>\n
Thank you for your attention.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
A Concerned Citizen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Mr. President, I remember when I was a little girl, I used to want to fly! Then I grew older and realized that as a human being I couldn\u2019t fly, so I decided I wanted to be an air hostess\u2026 at the same time, I wanted to be a president, just like you! Today, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":94564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[8],"yoast_head":"\n