The sacrifices of President Nana Akufo-Addo will rekindle the spirit of patriotism in Ghana, political science lecturer at the University of Ghana Prof Ransford Gyampo has said.
“President Akufo-Addo, I applaud the fact that you still live in your own house...I am told you drove your own car when you were a minister and never bought any of the state vehicles that were being sold cheaply. You will succeed in rekindling patriotism among Ghanaians if you replicate your own desire to sacrifice for Ghana, among your appointees,” Prof Gyampo wrote on facebook.
His comment follows recent complaints by former President John Mahama that Ghanaians are no more patriotic.
Read his post below
“On your part, please note that deficit in selfless and exemplary leadership by some politicians in Ghana is a major cause of lack of patriotism.
“Sir, you have an opportunity to deal with this problem aptly articulated by former President Mahama recently. We can be citizens and not spectators only when we are patriotic. A patriotic citizenry is an asset for national development,” Prof Gyampo noted in the full post below:
You've worked very hard to earn a living, built properties, mansions and purchased good cars. You boast that you were a self-made person already prior to entering politics.
But you forget that in demonstrating love and patriotism for God and country, there should be evidence to show that self-made persons become a little bit impoverished after exiting politics. This is so because such persons forego their businesses just to serve in capacities given them by political appointing authorities.
Political appointment, indeed, is an opportunity to serve and not a quick way to make money. Unfortunately, in Ghana, this doesn't seem to be the case.
Immediately after political appointment, you rent your own building out, park your own car, request for a state fueled vehicle to drive anywhere and anyhow you please.
You move into a state bungalow, insist that it should be completely renovated and that all its fixtures and fittings be changed to suit your new status at the expense of the state.
You take fat salaries and allowances, receive per diem for every single meeting attended, take traveling allowances for every trip.
You enjoy free air ticket for all your travels, receive allowances for entertainment, clothing, telephones, and enjoy free utilities.
Per your allowances alone, you should have enough to foot your medical bills. Yet when you fall sick, you want the state to pay for your bills.
When you are reshuffled or fired, you practically steal all state fixtures and fittings in your accommodation and other utensils including spoons.
You park one brand new state salon vehicle in your garage and buy it at a ridiculously give-away price after four years.
You enjoy all these at the expense of the state and later ask ordinary poor people to tighten their belts and sacrifice to demonstrate patriotism to the state. Really?
Thankfully, the Ghanaian people aren't fools. Gradually they are becoming aware about how politicians milk the state dry.
Why would anybody easily and willingly accept national service posting to the village to go and suffer? No one wants to suffer or die a little for Ghana because of the deficits in patriotism. But the history of Ghanaian politics is replete with examples of who voluntarily opted to be posted into the hinterlands to go and teach as part of their national service.
How did Jerry Rawlings inspire university students to abandon their studies to go into the forests to carry cocoa beans to areas where they can easily be transported for processing? How did Acheampong do it in getting students to abandon their studies to go harvest sugar cane for the sugar factories? How did Nkrumah do it too? How about JA Kufuour who for the first time in Ghana's political history had some Ghanaians calling on him to increase fuel prices during the early stages of his first term?
President Akufo-Addo, I applaud the fact that you still live in your own house. I am told you drove your own car when you were a minister and never bought any of the state vehicles that were being sold cheaply. You will succeed in rekindling patriotism among Ghanaians if you replicate your own desire to sacrifice for Ghana, among your appointees.
Mr President, please resource the NCCE and charge them to deliver on their mandate in a more proactive way to instill the values of love for country in us. On your part, please note that deficit in selfless and exemplary leadership by some politicians in Ghana is a major cause of lack of patriotism.
Sir, you have an opportunity to deal with this problem aptly articulated by former President Mahama recently. We can be citizens and not spectators only when we are patriotic. A patriotic citizenry is an asset for national development.
So, over to you, Mr President.
Yaw Gyampo Prabiw, A31 PAV Ansah Street Saltpond
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Competent Prof kudos! not only just what you have said but this incorruptible savior prez Nehemiah Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo just pantronized KALYPO and it sales went up BOOOOOOOM! Now so many Ghanaians including myself are wearing GTP wax print shirt to increase the local market, above all he sensibly said BE A CITIZEN BUT NOT A SPECTATOR. The idea of FREE SHS alone means a lot for his patriotism. LONG LIVE NANA ADDO-BAWUMIA, LONG LIVE NPP AND SUPPORTERS, LONG LIVE GHANA
patriotism indeed.learned Professor what has akufo addo sacrificed?shall we say priventing a ghanaian Company from mining whiles chinese are allowed to do as they please,poisoning our rivers etc this is sacrifice indeed that boosts patriotism
When did he drive his own car as a Minister?
Thought provoking submission . solid presentation Professor Gyampo I must admit u have rekindled the flame of patriotism in me. So proud to be your student.
Its very pathetic that a whole professor like Gyampo will praise Akufo-Addo for patriotism with out digging a little deeper beneath the surface to let Ghanaians know that living in his own house is a mask for all the family and friends he has packed in his administration. People are quick to blame Kennedy Agyapong for being a loud mouth when he talks about these transgressions but the guy speaks truth to power and he must be appreciated.Do a little research, professor, and find out about all the appointees in this administration from ministers, to Board membership, to ambassodorial appointments before you come to that spurious conclusion!Is Ghana for one family and their friends? We will see in three years time if this man decides to run for another term. His family and friends will campaign for him. Or you an Akyem?
Nice piece and we commend the president for the numerous show of patriotism. But if he still live in his own house that might not be good enough because of the inconvenience that will bring to those in his community. For Mahama, the least said about him and his patriotism comment the better. You use state money to raise vice presidents accommodation to the level of a presidential village and want to take it away after service when even labourers build for themselves.
Yiiiieeeee!!! eiiii! Adwene kesie paa ni!' Prof, who the cap fits let him wear it. "God is watching".