YESTERDAY'S MARXIST PRIESTS ARE TODAY'S MULTI MILLIONAIRES

GO TEACH ETERNAL WISDOM HOW TO RULE; THEN DROP INTO THYSELF AND BE A FOOL. (ALEXANDER POPE)

It is interesting to learn that people who opposed and made every attempt to block the operation of the rule of law in Ghana during the past three decades can and would want to use the democratic process which they never cherished to seek redress of some issues they think go against them.

Well, this is what Ghanaians have always asked for and that is what Rawlings' associates made every effort to avert. I think that most Ghanaians still remember the role played by individuals like Kwamena Ahwoi, Tsatsu Tsikata, Addo Aikins, Bright Akwetey and others in the creation and operations of the "kangaroo" courts which became the instrument of oppression under the A.F.R.C/P.N.D.C administration would beg to limit my discussion to the official end of the P.N.D.C administration because the period under the N.D.C rule, i.e. 1992 to 2000 was classified as "democratic" despite the fact that the pattern of dictatorial rule was prevalent and a majority of Ghanaians were crying foul about gross human rights abuses by Rawlings' government.

The point which interests me is that those who turned the rule of law upside down and made it seem as if it was sinful to be rich are now multi-billionaires and they feel that should be accepted without a hiss. Well, shall we contend ourselves with the Akan adage that says:
se Mampongfo didi a, Nsutafo bo adwo'
which translates as 'when the people of Mampong are well fed, the people of Nsuta have their peace of mind'. There is an interesting historical interpretation to this saying and those interested can research into it.

Ghanaians may remember that during the A.F.R.C./P.N.D.C. era established indigenous businessmen like the late Mr. Siaw of Tata Brewery, Mr. B. A. Mensah of Hollywood Cigarette, Mr. Owusu of Kowus Motors, Mr. Appiah Menka of Apino Soap Factory, Mr. Poku of Poku Transport, Mr. Anum Yemo (aka Kojo Sardine), Baffour Amankwatia ( the late Bantamahene) and a lot others were targeted as cheats and unscrupulous and were subjected to very dehumanising forms of treatment without any proof of guilt.

In the heat of such confused state of affairs, many prominent indigenous businessmen and women died (some of them at the hands of the perpetrators and some out of mental torture). The pathetic case of an Agona Swedru shopkeeper who was shot dead by a uniformed soldier for keeping eleven bags of cement in his house rather than the warehouse may clarify how the definition of who was rich or what constituted corruption was during the period is discussion. Highly qualified professional and academicians were also accused of all sorts of things and branded as collaborators and anti-revolutionary

Now in the year 2001 A.D., some twenty years after most state assets have been taken over by the same people who frowned upon private entrepreneurship under the guise of a state divestiture programme designed by the same people. Recent revelations about corruption and embezzlement of state funds by very senior members of the Rawlings government is incredible and shameful.

Now that these same people who denied people like Siaw, Kowus and others the opportunity to explain the source of their wealth are very rich and have extended their wealth to cover members of their families, how do they want Ghanaians to see them? As honest hard-working people or as bullies and thieves who have played on intelligence of a whole nation? It does seem that Ghanaians have so much patience but as the late J. B. Danquah wrote in one of his books:
'The symbol of the Gold Coast is the elephant and the elephant never forgets'

By K. Afum Dankwa Lecturer in Education Uxbridge College Coldharbour Lane Hayes

• Africa's dilemma, The uneducated and miseducated