<\/b>By Richard Annerquaye Abbey<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b>For the umpteenth time I find myself pondering our vision as a country. Like sociologists say, change always starts with an individual \u2013 that\u2019s you and I. But many a time, I can\u2019t help but to imagine what path we have chosen as a country.<\/p>\n
We are locked up in a meaningless rat-race. Winston Churchill perhaps faced the same despondency when he described democracy as being the worst government except for the others. Much as many would disagree, most of Africa\u2019s experience with the monster called democracy has been unfulfilling.<\/p>\n
Never mind, enough of my rumblings about democracy. Last week I talked about how parlous our roads are in most parts of the country \u2013 and the fact that dealers in second-hand shock absorbers at Abossey Okai are making a windfall from sales.<\/p>\n
Driving through town you can\u2019t help but feel ashamed about how worse the situation gets by the day. Hardly is there a 2km stretch of road without potholes. Sometimes you wonder whether it rains potholes.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”8XFV1IEUuzluii6Va82QGxZ5odNxMfel”]Of course, those responsible for ensuring a smooth ride after a hard day\u2019s work often cruise around town in the latest four-wheel cross-country vehicles. This is after the same people have made moving from one end of town to the other seem like a cross-country journey.<\/p>\n
Shamefully, most of these vehicles were purchased with the taxes paid by the pure water seller, the Kayayoo at Okaishie, the teller at your bank, and enterprising women like Auntie Muni.<\/p>\n
Instead of using these monies to repair our roads, no! Our politicians always, always, have other ideas. It would be very useful if we commit resources into making sure that after a labourious day, the least the Makola market woman can worry about is a bumpy ride home. But welcome to Africa where we make solving everyday simple issues look like a complex chemical equation.<\/p>\n
Committing resources to ensuring a smooth drive home for everyone would mean that there will be no need for 4x4s. But we live in a country where \u201ccruising\u201d in a four-wheel drive is more a matter of prestige than comfort. Do you get it?<\/p>\n
As a country, we need a drastic <\/i>but simple plan. Let\u2019s put all our roads in good shape and then bar ministers or government appointees from using four-wheel drives, which are a drain on the public purse in terms of maintenance and fuel costs.<\/p>\n
The already-purchased vehicles must be restricted to interregional travels. But if it happens that a minister or government appointee is finding the thought of parking his favourite cross-country vehicle a torturous one, he should be allowed to use it on one condition: that he buys fuel and assumes the maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
Radicalism is often not an accepted way of ensuring things are done, but in most cases in Africa it has worked magic. After all, we can\u2019t be using old methods and be expecting different results. It doesn\u2019t work that way!<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t travel outside the country that much as often as the President or his ministers do. But anytime I see Accra from above 15,000ft, I feel a sense of guilt — or should I say, depression. Sometimes when you see Accra\u2019s majestic shame in daylight from that height, you instantly wish it was night-time in order to be spared such an eyesore.<\/p>\n
But then again, when you witness it at night, there\u2019s little to actually witness in the peach darkness of the city, except for sparsely scattered dotted lights which define Accra\u2019s look from 10,000 or 15,000ft. From such a distance, you dread touching down at Kotoka International Airport, another apology of an airport!<\/p>\n
What does it take to light up our streets? The 13-km George Walker Bush Highway is barely half a decade old but already, it looks abandoned. Most of the streetlights on large portions of that stretch have not been functioning for over a year. Nobody cares! It\u2019s a pity that a project that government contributed much to would be left to rot.<\/p>\n
What is worse is being told that the reason for the perpetual darkness on the motorway extension is the grand theft of these lamps in broad daylight? These clever thieves outwitted everyone, including national security. Don\u2019t ask me if we are safe under the watch of these security personnel. Honestly, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
Lighting up a city is not a quadratic equation as our city authorities would have us believe. It\u2019s a simple equation that only competent people can solve.<\/p>\n
Will I ever get tired of rumbling and musing about challenges we face as a country? I doubt it. I am not going to get used to incompetence. Never!<\/p>\n
I have said enough.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m out.<\/p>\n
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