The Future Present

It is not difficult to think of Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” when a country like China is seen every now and then on the news about a deal being struck in an African country or the success rate of a business after lots of six to eight figured numbers have been pumped into it. At least, to the knowledge of an ordinary person, this will create more jobs and are hence be able to meet the demands of their household. Usually such acts are warmly welcomed by the government of the day as it will help to marginally truncate the percentage of the unemployed populace and contribute immensely to the growth of the economy.

The situation may seem to be rife in Ghana as the Chinese have literally become part of our everyday life. (Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the existence of Chinese or Asians in Ghana) There were times where the Ghanaians just couldn’t understand why Chinese Engineers had to take charge of road construction projects and its affiliates. Leaving equally competent ones produced by our very own Universities “unemployed”. On the international front, this is just one of the numerous avenues to foster good ties between both countries.  But should it be to the “detriment” of the people you promised and committed to serve?

Like the Filipinos of Kipling’s piece, we may be either childlike creatures by not having the capacity to step back so as to have a better view of the bigger picture or “devils” who inflict terror on our own people.  Two facets which will have dire repercussions on the belief that someday, we will have satisfactorily painted the picture Osagyefo of blessed memory saw some seventy years ago. Until then, the “white man” will literally deem it as his obvious fate (manifest destiny) to take up the responsibility of the less technologically advanced countries by helping them to progress to a higher stage of civilization.

Further understanding of Kipling’s limerick has it that, the venture of the “white man” is a vision compounded of altruistic motives and sacrifice.  Motives which he believed many should see as pure and its actions, wholly well.  Perhaps it was a way of wrapping an ugly reality with fine words should we opt to have things done their way – contract.  We’re mainly to be blamed if we allow “an outsider” to point out the direction in which to thread upon so as to push for a higher form of civilization. We needn’t be told of what to do being it directly or indirectly.