Life is full of contrasts but when extreme disparities are presented with a human face, life can prove too much to bear. This is even truer when confronted with both ends of the emotional spectrum in the space of one day, from optimism to despair in just a few short hours.
The afternoon began and ended on a high. Joy that my country Ghana was being celebrated for its smooth transfer of power from one democratically-elected leader to another for the third time in twelve years. At a forum organised by the Commonwealth Business Club, business leaders from the UK met with a high-profile delegation from Ghana, made up of the president and 3 of his ministers, to discuss the opportunities for investment in this fertile West African nation.
I was deeply emboldened by the fact that the president of 4 months, John Atta-Mills, chose not to belittle the strides made by the previous government, now in opposition Eschewing politics and pot shots, he said, “We cannot reinvent the wheel and we will build on the achievements of the previous government”.
Such talk was music to my ears as it confirms the maturity which Ghana has reached in its political and democratic development. I left the reception with hope and happiness about the future of Ghana.
A few hours later, however, on a beautiful evening in the picturesque surroundings of London’s South Bank, the culmination of a week of events to highlight the continuing unacceptable situation in the Congo took place. A panel of speakers including journalist Tim Butcher, Congolese activist Marie-Clare Faray, MP Eric Joyce, chair of the APPG, and photojournalist Susan Schulmann each presented their view on the crisis based on personal experience.
It took every ounce of fortitude not to dissolve in to a torrent of tears as Marie Clare-Faray gave an impassioned response to a question on what can be done to bring stability to her country. In her answer she inadvertently revealed that she, like thousands of other women in the Congo, had been a victim of rape, which is systematically used as a tool of war, as well as other forms of sexual exploitation. She then asked brokenly through her tears, “Do we have to die so you can use a mobile phone?” The room fell silent.
I realised in the stunned silence that followed Marie-Clare’s words that, for a moment, I completely forgot myself. For that moment all my trivial and not-so-trivial worries - of which there are many - paled in to insignificance when confronted with this woman’s story. It may only have been fleeting but in that instant I was totally consumed by an overwhelming compassion for someone other than myself, someone who has lived through, and daily relives, unimaginable heartache of which there is no end in sight. We could all do with losing ourselves sometimes…
Today’s events brought home to me more than ever that, although there is one continent, there are two different Africas, just as those who carved up the continent had intended it to be. That isn’t to lay the blame entirely at the developed world’s door. As panel chair Oona King said, the actions of individuals are just as much to blame as the action (and inaction) of corporations and governments. And as individuals we can all play a part in helping to bring an end to the suffering of millions who, though they may not be known to us personally, are related to us as fellow human beings in this world of contrasts.
The afternoon began and ended on a high. Joy that my country Ghana was being celebrated for its smooth transfer of power from one democratically-elected leader to another for the third time in twelve years. At a forum organised by the Commonwealth Business Club, business leaders from the UK met with a high-profile delegation from Ghana, made up of the president and 3 of his ministers, to discuss the opportunities for investment in this fertile West African nation.
I was deeply emboldened by the fact that the president of 4 months, John Atta-Mills, chose not to belittle the strides made by the previous government, now in opposition Eschewing politics and pot shots, he said, “We cannot reinvent the wheel and we will build on the achievements of the previous government”.
Such talk was music to my ears as it confirms the maturity which Ghana has reached in its political and democratic development. I left the reception with hope and happiness about the future of Ghana.
A few hours later, however, on a beautiful evening in the picturesque surroundings of London’s South Bank, the culmination of a week of events to highlight the continuing unacceptable situation in the Congo took place. A panel of speakers including journalist Tim Butcher, Congolese activist Marie-Clare Faray, MP Eric Joyce, chair of the APPG, and photojournalist Susan Schulmann each presented their view on the crisis based on personal experience.
It took every ounce of fortitude not to dissolve in to a torrent of tears as Marie Clare-Faray gave an impassioned response to a question on what can be done to bring stability to her country. In her answer she inadvertently revealed that she, like thousands of other women in the Congo, had been a victim of rape, which is systematically used as a tool of war, as well as other forms of sexual exploitation. She then asked brokenly through her tears, “Do we have to die so you can use a mobile phone?” The room fell silent.
I realised in the stunned silence that followed Marie-Clare’s words that, for a moment, I completely forgot myself. For that moment all my trivial and not-so-trivial worries - of which there are many - paled in to insignificance when confronted with this woman’s story. It may only have been fleeting but in that instant I was totally consumed by an overwhelming compassion for someone other than myself, someone who has lived through, and daily relives, unimaginable heartache of which there is no end in sight. We could all do with losing ourselves sometimes…
Today’s events brought home to me more than ever that, although there is one continent, there are two different Africas, just as those who carved up the continent had intended it to be. That isn’t to lay the blame entirely at the developed world’s door. As panel chair Oona King said, the actions of individuals are just as much to blame as the action (and inaction) of corporations and governments. And as individuals we can all play a part in helping to bring an end to the suffering of millions who, though they may not be known to us personally, are related to us as fellow human beings in this world of contrasts.
Excellent write-up and comparison. I watched HardTalk on CNN the other day and it was about the Congolese war with the women sharing stories of atrocities they've suffered. One woman said she was raped and had needles thrust through her breast several times. She later became pregnant and got an infection. As Oona King rightly stated, is not about corporations and governments who can solve these problems but the mental state of the perpetrators should be investigated and practical solutions found. It is beyond belief that people think and commit such things to their fellow human beings.
ReplyDeleteVery powerfully written, Seev. Has the Congo awareness week been a success, what are the next steps?
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what my friend and I were discussing last night: what was the purpose of this series of events and what is the outcome? Is it just a talking shop, in which case the situation is no better than it was before we went there, and will get no better, or is there some way to engage people who wouldn’t otherwise know and get them to act? I don’t think this event managed to do that. So, the answer in short is we think they were preaching to the converted. However, that said, we’re planning on doing a reportage/feature on Congo and other areas of conflict in a forthcoming edition of Lucid to highlight the issues and hopefully raise awareness amongst those who otherwise wouldn’t know, not because of a lack of interest but because of a general ignorance due to the lack of mass media coverage. We’ll keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteLife is unfortunaltely unfair. History leaves some people poor and others rich. On the extreme contrast is of what is been reported is really a appaling. Why on earth should the resources of the nation by looted through the open conniviance of international powers and greedy from Congo. There has been enough talk shop about Congo for while. I think this is the time for action. If America and the UK would even contribute one billionth of the effort in Afghanistan and Iraq into Congo I am sure that the problem in Congo would be solved infinitely in a shorter time. Who are those benefiting from the illicit trade of minerals in Congo?The same traditional super powers are the benefiting.That is they have loud silence while genocide, rape of innocent women and the robbing of the country goes on under a broad day light.
ReplyDeleteWe must come to know that in this world we are not only judged by our actions but also our inactions. It was Allegro Dante who once said: that the hottest place in hell shall be reserved for those who in terms of moral crisis maintained thier neutraility.
Appiah Adomako
appiah@whatsonghana.com