T E S H I E !!!!
In the last few days, Teshie has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Behind the headlines, though, are families, friends and neighbours who are hurting just like the rest of us, and who now feel their whole community being painted with one thick dark brush of shame.
But isn’t it amazing how today, many people have suddenly found their voices because Teshie is in the news for a negative reason?
Just wondering…
Where were all these voices when the people of Teshie cried and begged for water because of the problems surrounding the desalination plant?
Where were these voices when fishermen struggled with the challenges surrounding the Teshie landing beach, when fishermen lost lives, fish stocks declined and canoes and livelihoods were lost?
Where were these voices when residents raised concerns about roads, sanitation, flooding, drainage, congestion and other everyday challenges confronting the community?
Teshie has had its struggles for years. Yet many of us only seem to discover Teshie when there is something negative to say about it.
There’s no denying the fact that in every densely populated part of Ghana, there are bad people who do terrible things.
I grew up in Kotobabi. The first time my phone was snatched from me was three minutes from my house, right in the hood. What I know for sure is that the crime wasn’t committed by people from the hood.
No one in that hood would touch me, let alone rob me.
No!
Bad things happen in Kasoa, Ashaiman, Maamobi, Abeka, Mallam, East Legon and many other places across Ghana. And sometimes, when you dig a little deeper, you discover that the people committing these crimes aren’t necessarily from the communities where the crimes take place.
I’m not suggesting that is the case with Teshie. I simply believe the security agencies within the community must do more to protect its residents and help restore confidence. You never know what a little more vigilance, intelligence and proactive policing might uncover.
It may feel convenient to take a swipe at Teshie today, but inside Teshie are also very good, kind, hardworking and talented people.
Have you seen the world-famous coffin carvers?
Have you seen the creativity, enterprise and talent coming out of that community?
Teshie gave us Naa Ashorkor, Berla Mundi and many other remarkable people.
Yes, crime exists.
But so do creativity, resilience, courage, hard work and everyday goodness.
Let’s not allow a few tragic incidents to erase the humanity, history and contributions of an entire community.
The people of Teshie deserve our empathy, not our easy judgement.
And perhaps this moment should challenge all of us to ask a bigger question:
Why do we only find our voices when a community makes the news for something negative?
If we truly care about Teshie, let us also find our voices when its people need water.
When fishermen need support.
When young people need opportunities.
When communities need better roads, sanitation and security.
When livelihoods are threatened.
When people are crying for help.
Criminals do not carry the identity of an entire community. And crime should never become a licence to stigmatise thousands of innocent people.
I charge the security services and all relevant agencies in Teshie to rise to the occasion and help change this narrative.
But I also charge the rest of us:
Let us care about Teshie when Teshie is not trending for negative reasons.
I have family and friends in Teshie.
They are not criminals.
They are fathers. Mothers. Fishermen. Traders. Teachers. Professionals. Creatives. Young people. Old people. Good neighbours.
They are human beings.
Twa.
No comments:
Post a Comment