We all stand at a crossroad in a momentous period in the life of our country and our communities. The main opposition battled out their petition with the ruling party in the supreme for over 40 nerve racking days which sometimes had funny flashes interjected by the presiding judge. Now all eyes watch in stern anticipation of what the verdict might be. There are prophesies from so called seers of both traditional and Christian factions of what the future holds after August 15th .
In the community where I come from we also await a verdict on 22nd August by the Brong Ahafo regional house of chiefs. A verdict, I will like to call, one of peace, rather than to declare who is the rightful owner to the throne of the Berekum traditional area. This makes this time a very important one for us, as a people of this community and country as we endure a 'double verdict'. Some may in the end feel a double loss whiles others a double win, but does that really matter? Would we want to suffer what the psychologist term the short term negative effect for the long term positive effect or the vice versa. We stand to lose more if we choose the latter.
Home had not changed after being away for 4 years, except for the New court house building which weirdly I thought have been built to ‘trick’ people like us into thinking a lot changed because it is situated at the entrance of the town. The souls of the old devils—dirt, open gutters, gully roads etc—I have known, still lingered the streets. It felt like I left yesterday and saw myself gradually unconsciously or consciously beginning to accept that it was ok for me to see a malnourished child, street hawking, timber cars plying the streets in broad day light with the big logs frailly holding on. I had to pinch myself several times to revive my new spirit that yearns to see my community do well in all aspect of our endeavours—social, cultural, economical and moral.
Even though one would argue that the role of the chief has continuously been diminishing, post colonially, it is still the amalgam that can sandwich the community and the local and to larger extent the national political machinery. This importance of a chief couldn't be more evident in my community based on the outcry of the people. The youth have shown clearly through their peaceful demonstrations that they are not happy with the state of affairs. On a morning programme at Shalom Fm when I recently went to Berekum, the lamentation of the people, mostly youth, who called in clearly attested to the fact that they believed that their destinies were tied to a functional chief in the community.
The media needs applauding for their impartial reportage on issues bothering the chieftaincy dispute. The youth especially those in tertiary have done well in organising programme to educate people on diverse issues some relating to the chieftaincy dispute. These are perilous times in our lives, will we share a plate of peace or break it?
AMAZING PEACE by Maya Angelou
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard
We listen carefully as it gathers strength
We hear a sweetness
The word is Peace.
It is loud now
Louder than the explosion of bombs
We tremble at the sound
We are thrilled by its presence
It is what we have hungered for
Not just the absence of war. But true Peace
A harmony of spirit, and comfort of courtesies
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds
We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:
Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
David Mensah
CEO and Founder of Adwinpa Foundation
