Reflections on Civic Responsibility: A Tale of Accountability Amidst Roadside Repairs in Ghana
What has become of the people in this country called Ghana?
This commercial vehicle broke down on the N1 highway in Accra and the driver decided that instead of arranging for towing of the vehicle off the road to the mechanic to have it repaired, he will rather call the mechanic to come to the highway to have the vehicle repaired on the spot where it broke down.
Obviously, from the pictures, you can conclude that this was not a minor repair work. They had to bring down the engine of the vehicle and replace with another engine. This happened in the glare of the public and many people went past this sight and said nothing to the driver; the breakdown was very close to the Multichoice Head Office but all the workers and clients that day saw this and said nothing to the driver nor the mechanic.
When I confronted the driver and asked for the vehicle to be towed away, he was rather interested in begging me to allow them to finish the work as they had already started. I threatened to call in the police; at which point they started looking to call a towing vehicle.
The driver was wrong; the mechanic was wrong; what about all the people who went by them and saw them destroying the only good highway in Ghana and said nothing?
This foolishness is not the work of a politician; it is the work of a fellow Ghanaian who knows that there will be no consequences for being a nuisance to society. We all have to contribute our quota in building the Ghana want to see. For how long will we be blaming political leaders when we keep breaking the little they build and as we break, people look on unconcerned?
If every road user decides to fix the problems on their vehicle at the spot where they experience breakdown, which roads will the few roadworthy cars use?
If you see something bad in your community, say something; report the culprit and if no action is taken, you will have your head held high because you have discharged your civic duty as expected of you.
A word to the wise………….
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