DJ FUAD

                                                   COME AND LET US BUILD THE NEWLY CREATED   DISTRICT SUAMANDISTRICT SUAMAN

                                                                      By Tawiah Evans

The desire to be free from other’s control, started when heaven and earth knew no sin, and will continue till thy kingdom come.

Many African countries prayed for the day to be called an independent nation, and like Ghana, the feelings was beyond description on 6^th march 1957, when our first president, Dr. KWAME Nkrumah went like, “at long last the battle has ended Ghana, our beloved country is free for ever”. He didn’t end it there but passionately said, “our independent is meaningless unless it is liked up with the total libration of the African continent” this means that, managing one’s affairs goes with responsibility, accountability, sacrifices unity and the ability to learn from other’s mistakes.

28^th of june will be a historic day in all the 46 newly created districts in Ghana and the people of Suaman Dadieso cannot forgive themselves for not celebrating the yearly anniversary of the Suaman district.

Somebody would have thought, the people of suaman will receive their new district as normal as Christmas. Since Dadieso was once a district capital during the Nkrumah regime. But as celebrative as the Suamans are, almost a week long program was organized to make sure, the beginning of their journey to the promise land is well celebrated.

For the first time in the history of Suaman Dadieso, the inauguration of the new district saw all the political parties especially NDC and NPP who looks like Osama and Obama, putting aside their political  skins by matching through the principal streets in town. With brass bands and other forms of music, they all danced and sang till they were all soaked in sweat.

The day after the inauguration was time for games between the various teams in town which lasted for two days. As thanks giving is crucial, in times like this, the people of the new building (SUAMANA) climaxed the whole activities with a non-denominational thanks giving service at the ST Johns Methodist church on Sunday, the 1^st of July , 2012.

The thanks giving service brought together churches like the Roman Catholics, the Presbyterians, the church of Pentecost, the Assemblies of God, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), the Baptist Church, C.L.E.M. and the Methodist Church which was the host. Also at the service were representatives from the Suaman traditional Council. Though attendance was poor, but the Divine message was on point.

The district minister of the Presbyterian Church Rev. Samuel Asare Nkansah, who took the congregation to the  throne of God, preached on the theme “Let Us rise Up And Build” which was taken from the book of Nehemiah 2:17-21. Rev. Nkansah talked about the importanceof unity as it is the only thing that can help the people to achieve their dreams.

 The man of God, being a man of vision saw the possibility of those in power disrespecting their opponent’s by not taking into consideration their opinions simple because, they do not have the same views on issues. Rev. Nkansah further stated that, as people embarking on developmental journey, unity is a key factor, adding that “if the people of suaman unite and put aside all their differences and fight the common enemy which is poverty. He added philosophically that, the sky cannot be the limit as there is already a footprint on the moon”. The Minister said this, when I contacted him on the telephone some days after the thanks giving  serves.

Our fathers say, “It is forbidden to say, I went but I did not add my voice “in light of the above saying, the organizers of the historic event made room for short speeches to be made after Rev. Samuel .A. Nkansah epitomic sermon for the new district.

 Honorable Alexandra Hedidor the presiding member of the Aowin Suaman district, took the platform and had this to say “I am very happy to be part of history and I know you are also, happy to be here to mark the history of the Suaman district” he stated in addition that, it is a happy moment because everyone present today can tell their children and their children will in turn continue the story that on this special day our dear town was made a district.

Hon. Herdidor further advised the people to be law abiding by paying taxes and other levies, these he said will generate enough funds for the Assemble. He also explained that, the name district alone does not bring development as some people think sometimes, saying it is a tool for development if the people will perform their individual duties to support the government.

The Kyidomhene of Suaman traditional council Nana yaw Angurah, also showed that indeed, the elderly are the working encyclopedia. Nana Kyidom gave the congregation the historic background of Suaman to the fact that, Dadieso was once a district but the status was taken from them after the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Nana did not hesitate to urge all to support whoever the president appoints as the District Chief Executive. This he said will help the DCE to dedicate himself for the job given him, he also, entreat all present to be time conscious.

                                                                NOW THE BIG QUESTION

How will all the 46 newly created District be like in ten years time? Is it going to be the same? Improve? Or get worse? Anyone with such questions can be seen as a prophet of doom but the history of many independent African countries call for this important question.

Kofi wayo, the politician, once said,” in America where I know, the new generation live a better life than the old generation. But in Ghana, the old generation lives better life than the new generation”. The situation as described by Kofi Wayo in Ghana is the picture of many African countries after independence.

You don’t have to be Herodotus to know that the lifestyle of some African countries changed from good to bad and currently at worse. Once again my question is, are we going to go the American way, or the Ghanaian way? Which is a prestige to glorify our forefathers but can say nothing good for ourselves because we did not learn from them?

The concept of district assemblies under the local Government system is to distribute power, and that power, makes the assemblies some-how autonomous and been autonomous to some extent means “managing one’s own affairs” as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said. This means that, the new districts are going to prepare their own budgets, making their bylaws taking their own decisions and most importantly, the DCE will start exercising power in the name of the president.

Opposition is very stressful but, the ability to handle it well is the beginning of success as it guides your actions and in actions. Whenever you have your opponent in mind, you become ethical and eventually a selfless leader. Many a times, some leaders concentrate only on the outside opponent and consider the opponent within as a traitor. This attitude can bring division and leads to distractions.

It is therefore incumbent on the Suaman DCE to be to properly manage opponents both without and within to achieve a better result. This become necessary as it exposes the leader or the DCE to many ideas for development.

If there is anything worth noting, let all the new districts including my Suaman always remember where they are coming from and where they are going to. Because future decisions are made based on the current situations, if so, then taking videos and pictures of our current state of development will help make the necessary changes as the years go by.

Now, to some of us who may not be assembly men and women, let see ourselves as the majority on whose efforts the development of the district depends. Once again, let us put on the glass which sees the white spots in the black world m’ talking about men and women with the YES WE CAN kind of spirit, people who see high way when others see pot holes.

With this level of optimism, we can all someday say, with our hands on chest count ourselves as nation builders long live Ghana long live Suaman and all the 46 newly created Districts.

The writer is a student Journalist at the Ghana Institute of Journalism

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