Ghana's 56th Dependence bash

It’s once again that time of the year where most Ghanaians will go frenzy all in the name of Patriotism. Yes, patriotism in the Ghanaian way.  Patriotism the Ghanaian way, may be wearing anything that has red, Gold and green in it or any party T-shirt, especially that of the ruling party’s. Patriotism the Ghanaian way, can also be criticizing anything to the loudest decibels without a stroke of a suggested solution.

Its 6^th march, marking Ghana’s Independence Day and all is set to celebrate the 56^th anniversary since the Whiteman packed bag and baggage from the shores of our Motherland, Ghana. I couldn’t bring myself to say, since we attained Independence and Freedom, because physically, we may not see our Colonial masters meddling in our everyday affairs but at least it is evident that they are the virtual Bosses parading the corridors of power influencing every decision and policy we enact as a nation.

It is sad that as a nation, we cannot boast of some very basic amenities that can go a long way to boost the general health and well-being of the citizenry. Communities cannot get access to potable water and are left to struggle with cows and other animals to have access to the only stream that runs through the town, yet they also go to the polls every four years. 

The nation is plagued by perennial water shortage, no constant supply of power to empower the manufacturing industries, salaries are not forthcoming, unemployment is rife, despair and hopelessness setting in for the youth and the older folks alike and no one seem to care especially the powers that be. 

Ghana has nothing to show for, yet we dole money about and into useless projects that does not have any direct bearing on us. Sometimes, the images of suffering and the state of our nation only make you conclude that these leaders are visionless and insensitive to our plight. 

American’s R & B Celebrated Superstar who is also a multiple Grammys and BET Awards winner; Chris Brown has been invited into the Country to come grace our Independence bash and to also be at the official unveiling of the ‘Hope City project’ instituted by Ghana’s biggest ICT Company RLG which was also to be graced by the President of the republic of Ghana.

Chris Brown is alleged to be paid to the tune of $1million to perform alongside some of the Ghanaian artistes or spend twenty-four hours in a third world Country struggling to clutch at a straw or sometimes go begging with cap in hand for foreign aid. 

Some are of the view that, it’s not our money but that of Roland Agambire or RLG’s and they have the right to use it anyhow they like, and those people are just right. Some are also of the view that regardless of whose money is it is, it could have been channeled into meaningful projects that can go a long way to help the populace or those who bought the RLG till they accrued that much to be given to an American Superstar.

RLG is a progressive Company and doing a lot for mother Ghana already, by providing employment to many Ghanaians and doing a lot, as far as corporate social responsibility is concerned. I am even sure that, they wanted Chris Brown around to boost the company’s name and to also give them a global appeal but methinks contracting Chris Brown to perform within 24hrs at the much, is misallocation of resources.

Granted that RLG has that much to spend or give away for publicity, there still could be many ways to do this especially, now that it coincides with our Independence and Freedom day. 

Our Music industry is an ailing one where an individual writes and composes his own songs, works his ass off to pay for recording time, come up with concepts for the video and now go around selling in the scorching sun. No one seems to care what becomes of an individual’s effort and the effect it can have on the individual and the nation as a whole and all RLG could do was to invite Chris Brown at the tune of a whopping $1million?

RLG can build a very, very big and state-of-the-art recording studio like we see in other advanced countries to help anyone who wants to do music at a cheaper or no fee. They could even assemble all Ghanaian artistes and go on a nation-wide tour where every region can have a feel of the Ghanaian artistes that are only concentrated in the nation’s capital. 

RLG can even build football parks in a couple of regions just to help the youth nurture some skills and unearth their talents but giving out to only one person who will repatriate it out of the country is uncalled for and it doesn’t matter if the money is his or for the nation.

There are other schools of thought who think organizing or paying Ghanaians to perform will still amount to the monies ending up in the US or the UK. They claim our stars will also bleach their hair, draw all over their body, buy the latest range of SUVs with customized chrome wheels or go and spend the money with some girls in the US, so it’s just right for RLG to give it to someone who already is in the US and very well talented. Hmmm

Chris Brown will be performing alongside five of our local artistes, namely Samini, Shereefa Gunu, R2Bees, Efya and D-Black and who are billed to perform and these supporting artistes will just be given enough to last them their effort and still would be gay about it. As much as the artistes have to raise their games, these corporate giants who sponsor such programmes have to treat them well and encourage them to live up to world standards so as to attract invitation to other countries since they will be enjoying global appeal. 

 

Our leaders need to have a long term plan for the nation and it behooves every individual to contribute their quota in achieving this goal of building a sustainable economy for all of us and generations to come, but for now, all we can tell them is one great artiste who beat his girlfriend in the full glare of the public was paid $1million to put up a show in Ghana within 24hrs….

Oh, I just heard the famous Chris brown is already in town as preparations are set for his performance this evening and people getting frenzy already as the euphoria building up is engulfing them because they want to be a part of history in the making. Well, if you would be attending, then don’t dull and make it count, but for some of us, we have our own plans of how to make our own history since everyday counts.

And to all those who would be there, do not be surprised if only a handful of the audiences are having or using RLG phones because I doubt if the programme is targeted at them, no, it is for those who can afford, the LGs, iPhones, BlackBerrys, Ipad, Samsung S series and other sophisticated and user friendly smartphones.