Eventually, as we are wont to do, Ghanamen started coining their own interpretations for NEPA which they added to the mix. Our wittier compatriots coined their own jokes and released them at appropriate intervals, while we smirked in the background, and occasionally burst out in raucous laughter at the more creative ones, thanking God that in spite of our poverty we had something going for us. Fast forward thirty years into the 21st century. While the rest of the world has leaped forward, Ghana now appears to be groping for even the most basic of utilities. How many times haven’t we individually cursed ECG out loud and in our hearts? How many of us haven’t been forced to purchase, or at the very minimum seriously contemplate the purchase of that one time Naija luxury? Can anyone hazard a guess as to the percentage increase in genset ownership these last couple of years? How many of us haven’t been forced to seriously consider the loss of productivity engendered by ECG in the last couple of years, and wonder how, if at all, we’re going to recoup the losses. The factors that affected Naija which led to their challenges (this politically correct word) with electricity are all present in Ghana today — a rapid urban population growth, increasing industrialization, urban sprawl, hydrocarbon discoveries — factors which have been studied and pontificated upon ad nauseum in Ghana. I am ashamed to confront the fact that us Ghanaians were merely content to smirk behind Naija’s back and talk about their situation (aren’t we great talkers?), and NOT LEARN ANYTHING from their experiences. So did we come or go in these last three decades? Good morning. Our guest linguist for this weeks Sebiticals is Isaac K. Neequaye. Find his thoughts, reflections and deep questions in link and do leave a feedback. infoboxdaily/your-world/sebitically-speaking/item/6743-sebiticals-chapter-18-learning-from-bella-naija
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:28:27 +0000