KB Asante: Voice From Afar column

There will always be thieves in society.  There will always be murderers.  But such people, when their dark deeds are uncovered, are dealt with according to processes prescribed by society.

 By activating the system such as through police investigation, trial and imprisonment and the like, such deviants are removed temporarily from society or suffer inconveniences which hopefully deter others from similar action.

The problem in Ghana is that we fudge issues and processes especially when the high in society, friends or party stalwarts are concerned.  We do not want to get involved and do not want to fully understand what is happening.  “We see, we do not see.  We hear, we do not hear”.  And so when we listen to the news or read the papers it is one long cacophony of incomprehensible deeds by all and sundry including even those who should see to it that the established system keeps society on even keel.

The result is that we lose confidence in ourselves and doubt our ability to manage our own affairs without outside assistance.  There is a bold inscription on a wall between La Bethel Church and Liberty International School at La which reads:

‘Elect Leaders who Rule Us from Britain’. 

It may be the thoughtless effusion of the uneducated, but do many like the market women of old not feel like him deep down inside? We have to wake up and realise that we are primarily responsible for our problems and only Ghanaians can build and maintain the proud nation the citizens deserve.  And so let us realise and proclaim that we are not a nation of pygmies.  Great men and women built this country and we have giants among us today.

I was privileged to attend the 95th birthday celebration of Dr Emmanuel Evans-Anfom.  He was a giant of a medical doctor and Vice Chancellor, a Minister and Chairman of the West African Examinations Council.  He was a giant because he did not stoop low because of difficulties or problems.  He kept the faith, obeyed and maintained the rules and served his fellow human beings with compassion and devotion.  

He showed the value of Presbyterian and Achimota training.  The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, paid a glowing tribute to his contribution to society.  Dr Anfom served with devotion in the North when life was tough over there.  Today, we want to choose where to work and we want conditions to suit our needs.  But the State contributes a great deal to education and the authorities should insist that those to whom much has been given, give so much back to society.

Excerpts from biographies and achievements of the likes of Dr Anfom should replace some of the bland texts forced through the throats and minds of the young at school.  We should inspire the youth.  We should report the bad deeds of those in authority but at the same time inspire the people, especially the young, to emulate the good deeds of the past and present.  

As one grows old, one needs the help of doctors more often.  The reports about our hospitals and doctors are not always edifying.  We should therefore be reminded of the heroic work done by the old pioneers.

Dr C. O. Easmon and his colleagues without previous experience in teaching in a medical school established a first-class  one at Korle-Bu and produced doctors who were snatched to work elsewhere because they were second to none.  Some of these pioneers are still around and we should honour them and encourage the young to follow in their footsteps.  

A friend, now a retired professor, told me how a few months after returning home from studies abroad he was posted to the ‘bush’ i.e. outside Accra.  He was not concerned so much about life outside Accra but his ability to help those who would call at the hospital.

He complained to Dr E.A. Badoe, then one of the few surgeons at Korle-Bu.  Dr Badoe took him through the frequent and major surgical problems he would encounter.  The young doctor was therefore able to assist his patients and he felt good despite the