Let’s confront our past -- Ex-MP in 1st Republic advises

A former Member of Parliament in the First Republic, Madam Lucy Abena Aninwaa Anin, is challenging Ghanaians to confront the past, including its painful lessons, to move the nation forward.

We need to go back to the drawing board, learn the lessons even if it is painful and be patriotic to move the nation forward, she pointed out.

The 79-year-old senior citizen, who was the youngest MP in the First Republic, said what the country needed most were patriotic, visionary and disciplined leaders who loved mother Ghana and were ready to commit to its growth and prosperity.

Madam Anin, the only surviving member of the first 10 women MPs in the First Republic, from 1960 to February  24,1966, was speaking to the Daily Graphic on the significance of Founder’s Day, which fell yesterday.

She represented the Brong Ahafo Region in Parliament during the First Republic.

Missed moments

There is something wrong somewhere in our body politic and governance structure, she told the Daily Graphic, and insisted that “a nation without vision perishes.”

She asked why Ghana should be a dumping ground for everything manufactured nearly 60 years after gaining Republican status.

Ghana, according to Madam Anin,  had become a dumping ground for all manner of goods, including used and second- hand underwears, handkerchiefs, towels, brassieres and cooking utensils. The vexed question she said one should ask is where the state-owned enterprises established during the first republic are.

“We used to have Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC) all over the country selling made in Ghana goods. There were the Ghana Industrial Holding Company (GIHOC) with more than 16 subsidiaries, the State Construction Corporation (SCC), the State Housing Corporation (SHC), the Black Star Lines with about 19 cargo ships, the Ghana Fishing Corporation with about 21 trawlers, silos for food preservation, the Ghana Airways, the Ghana Railway Corporation with its “”Blue Train” (Express), the State Fishing Corporation with fishing harbour, boats and cold stores, drydocks at Tema/Sekondi, the ceramic factory, among other establishments, the Akosombo Textiles and  the Nsawam Cannery.”

She added, “all these provided jobs for the people and thereby enhanced living conditions.”

According to Madam Anin, if all these factories were running and functional, unemployment which has become the greatest worry of the times would have been a thing  of the past.

I am sad

“What I am seeing and feeling is what I am expressing. I have gone through all the stages in Ghana, from Nkrumah’s coup up to the so-called current democratic dispensation and I am sad,” she stated.

What makes me sad, she explained, “is the levels of deterioration where our God-given natural resources of gold, diamonds, manganese, timber, water and oil continue to be exploited largely for the benefit of the ruling elite and their neo-colonial foreign partners masquerading as investors while the Ghanaian masses continue to suffer unemployment, poverty and misery.”

“We need to go back to the drawing board, learn the lessons even if it is painful. If we do not let our children know the history and read about history, particularly Nkrumah’s books, it will not benefit our children, “ Madam Anin who was introduced into politics by her uncle, Bechemhene Nana Fosu Gyebua 11, argued.

Boutique and filling station

Regrettably, she observes that “today, everywhere you go in Ghana, there are boutiques selling Chinese wares and fabrics and filling stations dotted all across the country.

“We need patriotic and visionary leaders. If you are not patriotic do not disturb us. It all boils down to indiscipline,” she stated.

She further argued that if “ our leaders are patriotic we would not bring the Chinese and other foreigners to mine our shores and fish from our seas. 

“They come to Ghana without visa and yet they are able to enter the country, without any difficulty.  We are just not proud of our country,” she lamented.

She was very worried that the country failed to continue with the housing and healthcare system begun during Nkrumah’s time.

Madam Anin stressed that, If we had continued with “the Rent to own Housing Policy” which was done during Nkrumah and General Kutu Acheampong’s era, by now we will be over with the current accommodation challenges facing the nation.

We need to sit down as a nation and reflect, she opines, pointing out that the bribery and corruption going on now must be a matter of great concern to all of us as nationals.

Democracy for highest bidder

In her view, democracy as practised in Ghana was for the highest bidder.

“We should avoid democracy for sale. Democracy for the highest bidder is worrying. We should appoint  disciplined, patriotic and incorruptible leaders who will not sell Ghana,” she stated.

Madam Anin pointed out that Ghanaians needed to know the right things and stop following the wrong people.

In her view, political billboards alone (when converted into cash) could save the nation.

“They are all waste of money yet we complain we do not have money. Yet any Tom, Dick and Harry stands up today and forms a political party,” she concluded.

Parliament

Recalling her days as a parliamentarian, she said Parliament during the First Republic was serious and very patriotic. 

Today, she believes that debate in Parliament is nothing to write home about and wondered why we are increasing the number of MPs at the expense of meeting the needs of the ordinary person.

Constitution

She was also of the view that the 1992 Constitution was not perfect and needed to be amended.

“We do not have the right constitution.  So an amendment is long overdue. Why should we embrace coup leaders and cover coup makers through indemnity?” she lamented.