The past one and half year has seen me in the Upper East Region learning the rudiments of Journalism from some great brains in the industry. My stay here has taught me great lessons I have and will always apply to my life wherever I go.
I have enjoyed the culture and loving nature of the people which has since changed my hitherto darkened perception of the Northern part of the country as been violent with constant clashes of ethnic groups and factions which were mostly carried on several media platforms.
My choice of career has brought me into contact with great people who are passionate about the development of the region and will go extra mile to see the region grow like other parts of the country has over the years.
Regardless of the colourful culture, beauty, the loving nature of the people and their desire to see the region develop like others, one thing has always been a worry to me; the fear of being victimized by people in higher offices.
People in the region have been cajoled to believe that complaining about the state of development puts one’s party or friend who is in position in a bad light and that could affect chances of the party and the individual hence the need for quietness and continuous suffering.
They forget that in Akan there is a proverb which is transliterated as ‘if you don’t talk about your hair, the barber will give you a bad haircut’. Indigenes although they suffer, are not willing to make their leaders aware of their desire to see the region flourish. They call them ‘the bigmen’ anytime they are in town driving in their big cars and will go all length to ensure that they do not fault them. They (bigmen) make them feel they (electorates) are being done a favour when in true sense it is their responsibility to serve the people.
The work of a journalist in telling compelling stories to get duty bearers to perform their responsibilities to people has always been a problem. The “I don’t want to be recorded because I will be victimized but I have a lot of grievances,” excuse is always thrown in your face. The work of journalist is stifled because the people they represent themselves don’t see why they should air their problems to force people who have for their selfish interest left their jobs to come and perform them.
The situation becomes sad when it comes to public institutions. Most public institutions in the region are just white elephants because the needed funding is never provided. Although individuals who occupy these spaces complain bitterly off record, they will always resist being recorded in order to tell a good story.
The mentality of the ‘elderly is right’ has sunk deep into their intestines that it will take a special intervention to deal with it.
What broke my heart was when I applied formally for an interview with the Environmental Protection Agency on open defecation and provided a questionnaire but was provided with answers on a paper because the official I was directed to didn’t want to be recorded.
Unlike other part of the country where massive developmental projects have taken place and continue to take place, Upper East Region is only toyed with only during elections because residents will make a lot of noise to market their party for performing its duty it has failed to perform for a very long time but is trying to perform because election is beckoning and when the work stops after elections they become afraid to voice out this to the world.
The Akans say the individual who climbs a good tree is always given the needed support and therefore people of Upper East need to rise to claim their possession by disilting fear out of their system and fight for what is due them because then is when they will enjoy the development they have always yearned for but until that is done, they shall still wallow in abject neglect whiles people in leadership position continue to satisfy only their whimsical interest.
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh/A1RADIOONLINE.COM/GHANA
