The speeches of the leaders of Shai-Osudoku in this year Ngmayem festival marked at Dodowa was all about change and I asked myself a question, are they calling for change after they read my book ?catalyst for change in the Dangme Land? or after the launch of the Book at the same venue? In the book I ask ?Is the dangme land in a state of stagnation or retrogression?
The Shai-Osudoku District (formerly Dangme West) is situated in the Southeastern part of Ghana, lying between latitude 5? 45? south and 6? 05? North and Longitude 0? 05? East and 0? 20? West. The district was carved out of the former Dangme District in 1988 as a result of a national re-demarcation exercise carried out in relation to decentralization reforms in the country. The District forms part of sixteen (16) Metropolis, municipalities and Districts in the Greater Accra Region. The Administrative Capital of the District is Dodowa. The District shares boundaries with YiloKrobo District, Manyakrobo District and Asuogyaman to the North respectively, to the East with Ada West, to the South with Ningo-Prampram District and to the West with Akwapim North Municipal and Tema metropolitan respectively.
We have many tourist attractions such as the Tsenku water falls, Dodowa Forest, the Shai Hills Reserve that has a lot of wild animals in it just to mention but few.
The district is generally peaceful and these I believe would enable you enjoy your stay with us if u decides to visit us.
During the launch of the book some leaders of the dangme land refuse the call for change and refused the invitation including the district chief executive, the MP and some chiefs. Even the youth did not turn up although some chiefs turn up with some political leaders. Some have not paid the money they promised since June this year so you see where the change must start from? Some also read political meanings because the district is known as a stronghold for the NDC and they thought i am calling for their heads! I remember one of the assembly men asked me the motives behind the book calling for change.
Hon. NarhDorh, the CPP parliamentary aspirant for 2012 was inspired and short of words to use. He also urges the people to vote the CPP back to power and they were just laughing at him!
Mr. Jones Ayertey, the microfinance manager of Shai-Rural Bank and the Chairman ofDangme Youth Awake Network, also called on the traditional authorities to assist the youth to enable them to pursue programmes which will benefit them. Nene NornorSordjee the fourth, Acting President of Se Traditional Council, also called on the chiefs and people of the Shai State to demonstrate a high level of tolerance to ensure peace in the area at all times. He said back-biting, chieftaincy disputes and other forms of negative tendencies, tend to derail development and must be avoided.
When you?re a catalyst for change, you make enemies- and am proud of the ones I?ve got.The word Catalyst refers to a substance that accelerates a change at a faster rate than is otherwise. It can also be a force that significantly speeds up action.
In Chemistry it can be a substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.
It can also be one that precipitates a process or event, especially without being involved in or changed by the consequences.
One day I went to Doryumu to visit a chief, mistakenly I ended up in a different house and I said ?I am looking for the chief in this town. So I mentioned the name of the chief I was looking for but the man replied ?I am also a chief in this town so if you are looking for another chief then he?s likely to be my rival? Eventually he gave me another person to take me to where I was going then I asked myself, could this be the reason why development is retarding in this town. But I read in the bible and Isaiah said ?In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all?. So it means we can all live together and reach a consensus for the development of our dear land.
On another occasion I saw a young man in a serious argument with one assemblyman for his inability to leave up to his promises to support the youth.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon theShai-Osudoku Land,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
the youth are accusing the leaders of not leaving up to expectations.
The leaders are also blaming the youth
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
Parents are also not taking care of their children resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand; surely some revolution is coming in the Shai-OsudokuLand
Surely the new Dangme Youth is at hand. Change is coming! Hardly are those words out when a vast majority of our people are in spiritual slavery, Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the Dangme Land. Catalyst for Change in the Dangme Land is the solution but who leads the change among the leaders?
Mr. Dzeto a programmes coordinator of ceDAR once said ,
?It is sad that land for the infamous Akuse Dam and the land for the country are all on the Osu-Doku land yet there is no single person from Osudoku on the board of these two organizations, so how do we lobby for jobs for our youth,? he said. But my question is, even if they are brought on board will they lobby for the people?
If we are not careful, our Land will continue to stagnate. The cycle of retrogression and stagnation in the Dangme land is due to poor leadership, innovation, creativity, and individual behavior.
Unsuccessful people keep on giving excuses. You see, population does not automatically make a great nation or community but rather quality.
Our development is lagging behind, we don?t have good roads, we lack potable water, our educational standards are falling, our medical facilities are failing and that is what catalyst for change in the dangme land has been trumpeting everywhere.
We need to look at our chieftaincy institute and see how best this can be formed around as an instrument to advancing our growth.
For the youth your life is in your own hands and the future start right from here. Yes they say we are the future but where is the future when there is no proper foundation. We complain about our MPS and assemblymen not doing very well, so what do you do? Change is good and I being a catalyst can confidently tell you that lets give our political leaders strong competitions in our various constituencies? in the Dangme Land . Change every four years if they are not pulling their weight. Nelson Mandela use only one term to transform South Africa, Jesus started his ministry at the age of 30years and use only three years to transform the world. Political leaders don?t need more years in power before they can transform the world and that is why you must educate yourself so that they don?t deceive you. Give your life to God, Be Bold and Courageous and stop the complains.
In the bible there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, ?Why do we sit here until we die? ?If we say, ?We will enter the city,? then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.? So wake up Shai Youth!
For the leaders you must start the change first and we the youth in the Shai-Osudoku will join you because we are hearing lots of happenings among you.
Ye namna ye tete, Ye tete, Yetete, Yete
Ye namna ye tete, Ye tete in the Shai-Osudoku land
Seihorseihor, one day Mo b3ti kpeeeeeeee
By Raphael NyarkoteyObu:NDMsc
The writer is a registered Naturopathic doctor & a concerned Dangme.
CEO De Men?s Clinic & Prostate Research Lab-Dodowa
Tel:0541090045. E.mail:[email protected]
