GHANA'S CRY

GHANA'S CRY.

When I was younger, I was a bit confused as to why Ghana was always referred to as 'her' or 'she'. "How did they know Ghana was a woman?", I wondered. I later realised that Ghana is referred to as our motherland, like most countries are described, hence the use of 'she' and 'her'. It's just like how the earth is usually described... Mother Earth.  Mother Ghana has given to us and indirectly expects much from us in return, in order to keep going. 'Motherland' should kindle a flame of patriotism in us.

Sometimes, I think if we saw Ghana more as a person than an inanimate thing, we will treat her better and be more concerned about her and her welfare. Imagine if Ghana had a soul. In what state would it be?

Today, our Mother Ghana has a letter for us all to read (and act upon) :
"Hi, daughters and sons of my land,
I guess I can be a bit informal with you since you've lived in me for so long. I've been waiting for this opportunity.
I hope you're doing well..at least, better than I am. I used to think I could get better with time, but these days I'm not so sure, since it seems as if everyone is more concerned about themselves and how they can make only themselves better, forgetting that if they have everything and have nowhere to live, it's all quite useless really. Sometimes, I wonder how I got to this point of starvation whilst you move on as if nothing has happened.

I came across a statement some time ago :
'... Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ' - 3 John 1:2 (KJV), and I felt sad because I realised I couldn't relate to this statement. I am not as healthy and prosperous as I could be because my soul seems to be weakening everyday. I decided to use the little strength I have left to remind you that I need you as much as you need me. If I am not prosperous, in the long run, it will affect you also...and I don't want to see that happen.

At least, you have a sense of humour. One unique thing about you is that you're always able to make a joke out of almost every issue, no matter how serious it may be. It is good to laugh ; you make me happy sometimes too with your laid back attitude, but it is not the answer to everything.

I know this is random, but you always look nice in the African print clothes you've been wearing so much of late. I really do hope you're as proud of me as you seem to be whenever you choose to wear those lovely fabrics. I think most of them are not produced here though (I'm really waiting till the day more things are manufactured right here in me), but they still remind me of the roots you and I share. I am proud of you and hope even when those clothes are put down, you are still proud of me in your hearts. True pride shows even when things don't go well. It encourages me to keep standing.
And please, don't only be proud to show my colours when the Black Stars are playing (I wonder, do they still play as well as they used to?). Your support should go beyond just sports. Though those seasons have proven to be one of the most excited and united I've seen you be.

I miss how you used to sing to me when you were younger; even though most of the time you had to sing more out of formality than meaning. Do you still remember those words?  'God bless our homeland Ghana.... '
I really do hope you still want to keep the promise you made to me when you kept saying the pledge : 'I promise on my honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my motherland...'

I know some of you will like to leave me when you grow older. I understand, there doesn't seem to be much left of me these days. There is still hope however, because I still have you. At least don't forget me when you go.

Please don't forget to keep praying for me. Don't pray only because you're afraid something might happen to you during the election year. Pray because you have a country to protect. If you are good to me, you'll definitely reap the benefits. I won't benefit alone.

I do have a lot to say, but I guess I should end here. Before I sign off, I just want to remind you that in spite of everything, I am proud of you and I am so excited about what you can really do if you put your mind to it. I'm waiting for you to shine as brightly as I know you can. Then we'll shine brightly together. To you who is determined not to give up on me, Thank You.

Love, 

Ghana. "

I just did my part in delivering Ghana's message to you. I hope you will help me deliver it to others. And just remember that Ghana, the nation we call our Motherland, is counting on you to make a difference. 

*Source of pictures:  www.google.com 

THE CARRIER

THE CARRIER
I was thinking about how far we have come in Changing the status quo, but paused when a thought came to mind... Does changing the status quo end at just writing (or reading) the posts, or we are going further to put into actions the lessons we learn?

With our system of education, we are quite used to learning only to forget, since in our quest to avoid failing a paper, we put in our best in order to at least pass. Frankly speaking however, if you ask me to explain some concepts I learnt just last semester alone, I may not even be able to remember, let alone teach you. This could also be because I most probably did not enjoy a course and as such did not even make a conscious effort to keep it in mind after 'disposing of' the information onto my examination paper.
Unfortunately, if we apply this to our lives, we and the generations ahead of us could be worse off.

"Do yourself a favour and learn all you can, then remember what you learn and you will prosper. " - Proverbs 19:8.
Sometimes, in thinking about how far (or not) we have come as a nation, I wonder if those ahead of us ever once committed to always do the right thing but ended up forgetting as time passed. Time seems to have a way of causing us to forget, as the higher we go, the dimmer some images become. It takes a conscious effort to keep our eyes open and apply whatever lessons we learn in the classroom of life.

I would like to pause here and have the  privilege of appointing you into an office I believe only you can occupy and perform excellently as a result of the lessons you and I have learnt together in the School of Life. The title of this position is THE CARRIER.

Your job description is quite simple :
- To be a walking signpost of the need to be the change we want to see.
- To choose to speak positively instead of complaining.
- To resolve to hold on to the right values no matter how rapidly the world changes.
Main values include : Honesty, Forgiveness, Humility and Respect. As these values are harnessed, more values will be attracted to these ones.

The qualifications required for this job position are even simpler :
You just need a willing heart and a desire to see the status quo changed.

Job duration :
This position lasts for a lifetime, but does not promise to be rosy all the time. At times, you may not even be paid your due when you know you have done your best and most of the time, your Chief Rewarder (GOD) remains unseen. However, this position offers a great opportunity to make an indelible mark in the lives of those who come your way.

But why the title THE CARRIER?
This job position is by no means a glamorous one, but carries a lot of weight and responsibility. It sums up your mandate to spread good and to remind others to not only inspire change, but be the change.

Warning :
This position is not exclusive to you alone but to many others who are willing to step up to the plate and take up the position. This could be a plus, depending on your attitude towards others.
This job has more on the job training than it requires prior experience.

Changing The Status Quo is not just a blog to be read and hailed, and is nothing without you. It will only be effective if only we all decide to be CARRIERs of the message and put into practice whatever we learn.

Hopefully, with you accepting to take up this position, Ghana is going to be a better place, and the status quo is indeed going to be changed!

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

THE RIPPLE EFFECT.
Almost every day of our lives, we are faced with the task of having to make one decision or another. It could be something as basic as what to wear, or as life changing as who to marry. Our decisions have a way of affecting not only us, but those around us... Something that could be described as The Ripple Effect.

A ripple effect occurs when an object is dropped into water. As a result, the surface of the water is 'disturbed', creating the image of moving waves in the process.
Ripples could be subtle such that you may not even see if you do not look closely, or could be so obvious that you cannot overlook it. Whatever be the case, The Ripple Effect is a vivid description of our own lives.

A typical example is our nation Ghana. No doubt, how our today is, came about as a result of some decisions our predecessors and leaders took yesterday. Though it takes a while for The Ripple Effect to vanish, something can be done about it to create a new one.

Decisions are not the only thing that could cause a ripple effect. There is another powerful 'object' that has the potential of causing a great ripple effect, and that 'object' is YOU.
Just as one drop can make all the difference, YOU can make all the difference wherever you find yourself...in Ghana, at work, in school, at home, at church...
Wherever you have been placed, you are there to cause that ripple effect that only you can. The fact that you have the ability to cause such an effect could either be positive or negative.
If you choose to build others up, speak up when others are silent, and walk the talk, setting an example, you could cause an effect that could ripple through generations. However, if you decide to utter words that break people and choose to turn your back on whatever is going on around you, you are still causing an effect which though subtle, could prove to be of great consequence later on.

Our generation could be much better or worse because of YOU.
It is what you decide today that could change our tomorrow.

In causing the effect, you may or may not be rewarded.. Much like the taxi driver and the soldier in a recent armed robbery attack mentioned in the news. Whereas the taxi driver seems to be the only hero of the day, everyone seems to have forgotten about the soldier who helped to keep the situation under control until the police arrived. Some may say, "Well, it was expected of him. It was his duty as a soldier", but imagine if he had decided to turn a blind eye. Nevertheless, his being forgotten does not make him less of a hero.
It could be the same with you. You could be an unsung hero, but you are definitely a drop in the water that could stir things up and make the difference.
Just as The Ripple Effect could be caused by more than one drop, so can we all come together to be the change we want to see and stir up our world.

I came across a quote that sums it all up:
"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope...These ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. "
- Robert F. Kennedy.

Let's cause THAT RIPPLE EFFECT.
GHANA NEEDS YOU.

THE DRY LAND

THE DRY LAND
I used to think the Nile River flowed through only Egypt but later learnt that it is much deeper and further than that. It flows through as many countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, just to name a few... Imagine if such a great river as this were to dry up...

The thought of a river drying up came when I felt like I had nothing to write for my blog. A feeling of anxiety tried to creep in because I began to wonder what would happen if all of a sudden, writing ceased to 'flow through me'. This sort of 'dryness' however led me to a few realisations I may not have stumbled upon any other way.

Why do we do what we do?
Sometimes, when we start something new, we are so excited about it because we actually love what we are doing,. It feels fulfilling until the word 'CANNOT'  seems to outweigh our ability. There is a fine line between doing what we do because we love to, and because others are expecting something from us so we have to come up with something no matter what.
Each of us have a gift unique to us no matter how many people seem to know how to do the same things we thought we only were good at. What matters is how best we each stand out in what we do and how much love we do it with.

I liken our gifts and talents to a river because just as a river nourishes whichever plants and soil are in its course, so can our gifts and talents bless others, even when we seem to feel dried up. A time of dryness does not necessarily mean a time of lack or idleness.

Imagine our Akosombo Dam for instance.. Time and again we hear that the water level of water has reduced, hence power shortage. This situation however could spur us on as a nation to be innovative enough to come up with different sources of energy and put these sources to work. Sometimes, for a country like ours to come to such a realisation, we need to experience some dryness (like the shortage of water in the dam).

Or even our dry season (which seems quite harsh this time around). It is in this season that things catch fire easily at the least 'provocation'. Likewise, our dryness could be a time to attract new lessons depending on our willingness to learn from our situation and to also share with others. In our 'dryness' we could spread the light the most because we are forced to be cracked open (much like our skin in this dry weather) to be filled with new knowledge. It is all based on our attitude however.
In being led into a time of renewal, there is a thin line between 'learning from others' and 'plagiarism'. We need to distinguish between learning from others and writing our own story. At times in trying to be like others, we lose our originality. It would shock you the number of people who actually liked you when you were yourself than when you tried to change to be like someone else. We each have a story to write with our lives, with different shades of ink and paper.

Just as I thought the Nile only run through Egypt, I did not know at first just how much our gifts can affect more people than we think. Your talent, creativity, gifts, ideas, could reach beyond your mind into someone's life, if only you put it into action.

The mistake we often make is that we try to sustain our 'river' on our own...but just as a river fills up when there is constant rain, we also need to allow ourselves to be renewed by the rain of advice from the right kind of people and also trying to learn more from others' experiences. Above all, we cannot fully function without the touch of the main Rain, GOD. When He gives us gifts and we give them back to Him, we end up growing in ways we never thought possible.

THE DRY LAND is not a place to stay in for long.. But whilst we are there, let us make the most of it.

You may have an idea you have been wanting to put into action for some time now. I humbly suggest the best day to start planting this idea ... TODAY. The day could seem dry, but who knows, you just might get enough rain for that idea to flourish.

THE JOURNEY

THE JOURNEY
How time flies....
So soon(or so it seems)  the year has come to an end. Just like every journey, there have been ups and downs, and different stops along the way. The year could be viewed as a long road trip, where there have and often will be :
POTHOLES.
Characteristic of some of our roads, we most of the time do not get to wherever we are going without falling into at least one or two potholes, some huge, some small. What potholes did we fall into along the way? Just as cars do not stay in potholes for long, so can we also get back up no matter the mistake. The journey to greatness is more often than not a bumpy ride. Our strength arises from how well we deal with whatever shocks come from the fall.
It is always interesting for me when I see a driver try his utmost best to 'dodge' a pothole. Some end up even getting into others' lanes. Nevertheless, the pothole is avoided. We can also sometimes learn from others experiences and avoid making some mistakes as well. Experience is not always the best teacher. Sometimes it is much safer to keep our eyes open and learn from others.

SPEED RUMPS.
Imagine a hot red sports car zooming by whilst you are in traffic. The car catches everyone's attention because of its speed and sound. The driver seems to be on a roll!.. Until the speed rump appears. The driver definitely has to slow down, at least if he wants to avoid damaging his car.
Sometimes, we just need to slow down. The road may not necessarily create much room for breaks, so we have to create those breaks ourselves if we do not want to break down. Slowing down has a way of helping us refuel and continue our journey. If you have noticed, when someone who was so good at his job falls sick or dies, he  or she is usually replaced in no time. Our lives are important and we must not kill ourselves over jobs and occupations that have a quick way of replacing us when we are gone. We need to take time, rest and appreciate those speed rumps.

BRIDGES.
We are almost at our destination... Then this big river appears. The only way we can cross it is if there is a bridge in place. A solid one at that.
At times, people seem far away from us either by physical distance or some emotional distance we may have created ourselves. Even as the year draws to a close, how many bridges have we built to reach out to others? Unlike the physical bridges, we do not need too many materials in building our bridges. It could be just a phone call, or an "I am sorry", or even just a last minute visit to the person you've procrastinated  on visiting for a while.
Maintenance culture is really important not just for our country, but for our own lives. It is not too late to repair any damaged bridges in our lives.

TOLL BOOTHS.
No doubt, these booths have a way of creating a little traffic wherever they are situated. Nevertheless, they are important as the dues we pay go into the maintenance of our roads (hopefully).
We also need to stop and pay our due. This year, who has really contributed to your life? Who needs to be appreciated? A "thank you for everything" will definitely go a long way to make someone smile and feel special.

CHANGING THE STATUS QUO with you has been a great ride so far with the necessary stops. Thank you for being with me through the POTHOLES and SPEED RUMPS. For all those with whom I have built BRIDGES  throughout the year, I just want to stop at the TOLL BOOTH and pay my due :THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. This blog would definitely have not been the same without you.
Whether you make new year resolutions or not, 2016 is going to be full of great opportunities. I know with people like you, we can only move forward to CHANGE THE STATUS QUO.
OUR GHANA is much more beautiful with people like you who aspire to BUILD THAT DREAM, whether we are BLACK, WHITE OR GREY. We can now confidently answer the question: "WHERE IS THE POWER?", since we are EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE with BLESSED MEMORIES. Surely, if we have THE RIGHT HEART, we will certainly make it TO THE FINISH LINE, if only we VACATE THE COMFORT ZONE to DEFY THE ODDS. LET'S continue to DRIVE together. We may see MASQUERADERS along the way, but they make THE JOURNEY even more colourful.
Believe in who you are.
Don't forget to give thanks to our number one STATUS QUO CHANGER, GOD.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MASQUERADER

MASQUERADER
That was about the only thing I dreaded when the Christmas season came around... The sound of whistles accompanied with the rhythmic chant "Masquerader!  Masquerader!"  As a child, I really wondered what this scary looking mask had to do with Christmas. The only thing it seemed to succeed in doing was making a little girl run and hide behind her parents or any corner close by.

As I grew up, "Masquerader"  became less and less intimidating to me. The knowledge that often comes with growing up made me realise that the masqueraders were actually human beings hiding behind some colorful costume to entertain and also make a little cash. My apprehension towards them eventually vanished. They actually became more of a hilarious sight to me.

Seeing a few of them recently in traffic brought some memories to mind as well as one or two lessons.

Memories. They were important then and are important now. No matter how life may have turned out, almost everyone's childhood is characterised by one good memory or another. Growing up may have made those pictures fade, but it's great to pick those pictures up once in a while. Memories bring another word to mind :FAMILIARITY. Just like I became familiar with the once scary masqueraders.
Over time, I've wondered whether familiarity is really a good thing or a bad thing. No doubt, when I'm familiar with someone, I know what they like and don't like, so I know the right way to relate with them....but on the flipside,  familiarity has a way of making us take people for granted unconsciously, either because we have known the person for a long time or because we expect the person to know that we love them and we also expect them to always be around. Familiarity needs a great balance between knowing and making the effort to keep things 'fresh and alive'.  Someone said, "Everything is valuable only at two times :Before getting it and after losing it.."  May this saying not be true in our lives. May things be most valuable to us when we have them NOW.

Masqueraders also have a funny way of bringing two other things to mind : "FACING MY FEARS " and." HIDING BEHIND A FACADE. "
AS time goes on, the things we were once so afraid of are not so scary once we get the courage to face them. At times, the only way we can overcome that fear is by facing it head on and nipping the myth around it in the bud. How will you know how much potential you have until you overcome the status quo in that area of your life? The first few tries may be disappointing, but it gets better with time. Until we stand up and face our fears, the whole world will pass us by as we cower in fear towards that seemingly formidable thing.

In  facing our fears, we do not need to lose our identity. Facing our fears by no means implies that we need to impress people, like choosing a "difficult"  course so that people will "respect"  you.  Like the Masquerader, we may sometimes unconsciously hide behind some identity just to 'stand out'  or fit in.  As I was growing, I realised that many people keep up appearances because of the environment they find themselves in. For example, peer pressure could lead to something like: "Everyone is 'rich'... I must show that me too "I have  some".  But why do we need to prove ourselves? If we are truly content, we won't feel the need to compete with others, and even if we do feel that urge, we can overcome it.
In hiding behind the facade, we end up losing who we truly are, and when we finally take the masks off, we do not recognise who we are anymore. It is never too late though. No matter how thick the makeup may be, it can always be wiped off, leaving the same familiar face with which we can start afresh..

I just want to brush over the three lessons my MASQUERADERS have taught me:
-Cherish memories and make familiarity an enjoyable thing.
-Face your fears.. That scary thing isn't as formidable as it initially seems.
-Be yourself. No matter how much you may try to follow the status quo, your self will catch up with you some time.

CHRISTmas is here once again. No doubt, we will see more masqueraders,(even though it seems their numbers have reduced drastically). Let us embrace who we are as Ghanaians and be welcoming to others. Above all, let us not forget the true Reason for the season, JESUS CHRIST!

LET'S DRIVE

LET'S DRIVE
I wanted to get my driver's license renewed so made my way towards the only place where that could be done...the Drivers' Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA). Since I was not sure who exactly to go to, I entered one of the offices upon my arrival, contemplating whether to make an enquiry from one of the employees. I stopped short however when I realised the atmosphere I had walked into...One of tempers flying. Some men in apparent irritation, were yelling at the attendants for their poor service, slowness and seeming partiality. Now I was definitely reluctant to walk up to any of the attendants before the men added me to their targets of fury.
I observed, waiting to see how the employees will respond. To my dismay, they responded with equally loud voices and rude tones, unconsciously passing up the opportunity for peace to prevail..It was almost as if they were rather doing the men a favour by rendering service to them.
I hurriedly made enquiries and left the room to start the renewal process. When I got out, the loud blaring of a car horn 'welcomed' me, no doubt an impatient driver who wanted a pedestrian to get out of the way. Again, a harsh response followed..Instead of the pedestrian getting out of the way quietly, he had to have his share of the anger pie before giving way to the already irate driver.

This whole atmosphere brought a question to mind: "Why are Ghanaians so angry these days? "

"A gentle answer quietens anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.." - Proverbs 15:1
Perhaps if the employees had responded softly or kindly to the angry men, the men would not have continued in their tirade. Even if they did continue, the atmosphere would not have been half as tense or unattractive.
Or let us consider the driver and pedestrian..If the pedestrian had quietly gotten out of the way, would the driver have had cause to get even more irritated? Or maybe if the driver had been patient in tooting his horn, the pedestrian would not have seen the need to be rude in the first place.

But is politeness circumstantial? Do we really have to choose who to be polite to and when to be polite? Everyone deserves respect...or at least to be spoken to nicely. Should everyone make a conscious effort to be nice (not fake or hypocritical if I might add) Ghana would be much easier to live in considering the tough conditions we mostly face now. Surely, if no one is looking down on anyone, no one will feel threatened to make a point.

Before I go on though, Ghana is not growing any younger..We need better systems in place place. After I finished the renewal process, I was told the renewal stickers were finished so I should have a piece of paper instead as proof of my renewal and report a few weeks later. I was a bit shocked..Shortage of stickers??

Anyway, I would like us to view Ghana as a vehicle. The most basic parts of a vehicle are at least the tyres, engine, brakes, gears, head and tail lights, windscreen, just to mention a few. What if one or two of the car parts refuse to function? The car will no doubt be in poor shape. So it is with Ghana. If we refuse to do our best or what is required of us, Ghana will eventually grind to a halt.

Of course, no car can move without a driver. At the moment, Ghana's driver is our government. I have come to learn that putting aside partisan views is the oil Ghana's engine needs in order to keep functioning. Instead of murmuring against our leaders, the least we could do is to pray for them, irrespective of the party we belong to. Little by little we will get to our desired destination even though we do need a whole lot of acceleration.

I decided to board the Ghana bus a while back. Care to join?