Once upon a time a rider came across a few soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log of wood without success. A corporal was standing by just watching as the men struggled. The rider couldn’t believe it. He finally asked the corporal why he wasn’t helping. The corporal replied: “I am the corporal. I give orders.“
The rider said nothing in response. Instead he got down from his horse. He went up and stood by the soldiers as they tried to lift the wood and helped them. With his help, the task was finally carried out. Who was this kind rider?
The rider was George Washington, the then President of US and the Commander-in-chief of the US Army!
Magic is defined as having or apparently having supernatural powers, eg: a magic wand. It can also be defined as something wonderful or exciting as in “a magic moment.”
People who have extremely excelled in their fields have had “magic” added to their names, and one example that comes to mind is Earvin Johnson Jnr. Johnson accomplished virtually everything a player could dream of during his 13-year NBA career, and he was named Magic Johnson.
In Ghana there is magic in the air too. Something unprecedented is happening, and President John Dramani Mahama is eliciting wonder and admiration from even people who do not like him. His Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana agenda is becoming much more visible.
And I would like to tell you a true story. Not too long ago, luck was not our best ally, we woke up to the news of a gory accident on the Tamale-Kintampo stretch of road in the Brong Ahafo Region where over 60 people died.
President Mahama visited the survivors of the accident who were injured and receiving treatment at the Kintampo Government Hospital and other neighbouring medical facilities. He donated some provisions and cash for the welfare of the victims.
Few days after his visit, I decided to make a follow-up to the hospitals to find out how the victims were faring. And I shed tears over the kind of testimonies that I heard.
The first came from a hospital worker. She told me they never had a prior notice to the President’s visit, and so were caught unawares. The worker told me that she was touched by the humility of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Army. She said while they were moving around like headless chickens to look for a befitting chair for the President, His Excellency opted for a common chair used by visitors of the facility.
This is what an injured victim of the accident has to say: “I feel so well, after the President’s visit. It was heartwarming for a whole president of the nation to shake hands with me and give me words of encouragement. This is awesome! I have to walk out of this hospital without thinking of any bill, because it has been taken care of by the President.”
Then came the testimony of a mother of one of the accident victims also responding to treatment. She said that the items given to her son by President Mahama are enough to open a provision shop!
The above comments reminds me of Job’s remarks in Job 29:11-16, “Whoever heard me, spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me, I made the widow’s heart sing…I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. (Gitmo detainee, my own emphasis.)
Folks, I am getting exceedingly unhappy and worried about a certain trend in Ghana; painting people black and destroying them because of political power. Our attitude of destroying our finest politicians whether from NDC, NPP, CPP, PPP, PNC or whatever must stop else we will wake up one day to regret such behaviour. I don’t want us to have a repetition of what happened to Kwame Nkrumah. He was seen as the worst thing ever happened to Ghana during his time as president. But it is now an undeniable fact that if Nkrumah was not overthrown, Ghana would have been much better than it is today.
Kwame Nkrumah is gone, but we have the opportunity to correct the ills of the past. Power and success can impress certain people. But there is something even more impressive to all people, and that is humility. And that is the powerful gift our president possesses. He is a quintessential president who deserves to be called Magic Dramani Mahama.
I wish you all a happy Independence Holiday. I want to also take this opportunity to request a song for my wife, Jane. She has a brown eyes. Kikikikikiki, don’t get jealous. You may enjoy the audio below by Jimmy Cliff for your holiday relaxation. It’s a champion hit of all time! I love it! And I believe you will too.
