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The Re-Education of a Prospective Returnee
from the Diaspora: Part 1
Kwei Akuete
Two men were discussing the pros and cons of life in Ghana. Both
were from Ghana, but one spent most of his formative years in
England and was now working there as a banker. The first man was
basically trying to convince his friend from England that life
was better in Ghana; that he should return home because there
were so many opportunities to make it. More specifically, he
stated that “once you know the system, life in Ghana is good.”
“What is ‘the system’?” his friend asked.
“Well, it’s nothing mysterious. It’s quite simple and only
requires two things:
1. You have to know with whom to network; and
2. You need to pay people along the way to get things done.”
The first requirement was nothing new to the prospective
returnee from the Diaspora. This was nothing new; making it in
corporate or public life in England or America required a
well-developed network of colleagues, friends, and family. You
could make it without it, but only for so long. For an
individual to progress to higher levels of leadership and
influence in any field, the network is as essential as his/her
education and experience; in some cases, one’s educational and
professional background is almost entirely secondary to the
network.
As for the second requirement, paying people along the way, the
prospective returnee had a hard time with that on many levels.
First of all, it went against the values of honesty and fairness
which his parents, teachers, and his church imparted to him as
he grew up.
Second, it was illegal. After all, there were billboards near
the courts and posters in almost every government building
stressing the point that “justice is your right” and “bribery is
forbidden.” Therefore, in his mind, bribing a government
official was certainly not right. It was also not indicative of
the democracy and its principles, which Ghana’s leaders promote
as something worth holding dear.
“So how do you bribe your way around town in good conscience?
Why would I pay someone to do a job for which he or she is
already receiving a salary?” he asked his friend.
“Unless you pay someone, whatever you want done will be delayed.
That is the reality here in Ghana.”
“Then why would I leave England?”
Prospective returnees from the Diaspora are having similar
conversations in England, the United States, Germany, in other
countries, and here in Ghana when they visit and experience this
“functional” dysfunction in the society.
Invariably, the effect produced is thousands of Ghanaians in the
Diaspora would much rather suffer the discomfort of staying in
places where it rains frequently or the winters are bitter and
cold; and where they may not even feel as welcome due to
prejudice or blatant racism.
In their view, they can live comfortably without bribing civil
servants. Also, they can pursue justice and expect fair outcome
if wronged by either a company or individual.
Most important, they can impart to their children the values of
honesty and fair play the majority in Ghanaian society expects
that government should promote via law enforcement; the police
and the courts, respectively.
If we were to magnify this conversation between the two friends
several thousand times each year, the conclusion would be the
same – that it’s just not worth it to return to Ghana.
In this conclusion, one can imagine the loss to Ghana - the
impact of new, different, and feasible ideas; the enthusiasm and
energy from the Diaspora with which people could have
accomplished great things in Ghana would be gone.
The gain, however, would accrue to places in the Diaspora that
these Ghanaians reside; ideas that contribute to better
educational methods, breakthroughs in science and health, new
methods of construction and energies that will benefit families,
community, and the country would be logged elsewhere instead.
This is not to say that Ghana - or any other African nation -
can’t and won’t survive or move forward without the
contributions of citizens in the Diaspora. Ghana certainly and
eventually will. However, the country that many Ghanaians,
former and current residents, dream of and long for could be a
reality much sooner if politicians, administrators, and citizens
can permanently shut down this current corrupt and dysfunctional
system.
Author: Kwei Akuete, President, Vision 1 Consulting
June 14, 2013
Part Two:
The Re-Education of a Prospective Returnee from the
Diaspora_Part II
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