What Went Wrong With Us?

Oct 10, 2024

[The two teenagers murdered their friend for ritual money]

In many of my writings, I have asked What went wrong with us in Africa to make us normalize the abnormal! It is unbelievable how some of us in Africa behave in manners that would flabbergast normal human beings.

I read a story about an event in Kasoa, Ghana, a few days ago. It shocked me, but given what I know about our dear Republic of Ghana, maybe it shouldn't have shocked me.

First, let us read the story:

"The family of 21-year-old Kwabena Osei, who tragically died in a fire alongside his 18-year-old girlfriend, Princess Ahiatey, at Adom Estate at Akweley in Kasoa, is urging the Police to conduct a more thorough investigation into the incident.

While initial reports suggested that the fire, which claimed the lives of the young couple on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, was caused by an electrical fault, the family suspects foul play and believes the deaths may have been the result of arson.

Their concerns stem from the discovery of a petrol-filled bottle near the building and a suspicious padlock securing the entrance from the outside, which have led family members to believe the fire was deliberately set.

Further adding to their suspicions, CCTV footage reportedly captured a mysterious figure moving in the area just before the fire broke out.

Some family members also speculate that Kwabena Osei, who was allegedly involved in internet fraud, may have had a conflict with associates, potentially contributing to the fatal incident.

The family is calling on the Police to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire to uncover the truth. Police investigations are currently ongoing.

Mark Mortey a family member of Kwabena Osei, stated: "I had a call around 3:00 am, I was fast asleep at the time so in an attempt to pick up the call, it hung up. I tried to call back but the number also couldn't answer. It was later on that he called and I was told that one of my grandchildren had been burnt with his girlfriend.

"So I enquired what happened. As they narrated the incident to me, it appeared as though someone had poured petrol and set them up on fire.

"So, we quickly rushed here, and we saw the incident for ourselves. We didn't come to meet the bodies. The Police had taken them to the morgue," he narrated.

Felicia, the mother of Princess Ahiatey, also shared her concerns, revealing that Osei, who was allegedly involved in internet fraud, had recently asked Princess to assist him in his illegal activities.

Despite warnings from her mother and younger sibling, Princess went to meet Osei the night before the fire.

"My daughter told me that his body friend, who is into scamming, said he wanted someone to talk with the white victims. So, I asked her how much she would be making if she went ahead to engage in that. One day, she told me that Osei wanted to see her.

"She was menstruating at the time, so I asked her not to go there. Her younger sibling also told her not to go. Later she had a call and on receiving that call she went out and never returned.

"This morning I was having a conversation with my in-law and then she broke the news to me that one Osei was brunt in his room. It was at that time I remembered that Princess had a call from the Osei the day before. Then it occurred to me that she was also in the room with the boy," she added." - https://citinewsroom.com/2024/10/kasoa-family-of-21-year-old-burnt-to-death-calls-for-deeper-investigation/

Whichever way we throw it around, this is a most disturbing story.

Per the story, the mother of one of the victims knew that her daughter was not only moving (actually sleeping) with a criminal, but her only concern (per the question she asked her daughter) was how much her daughter would be making from the fraud business her boyfriend was engaged in!

Geez!

So, we now have a society that has lost all moral dimensions, and citizens' only concern is how to make money or die trying. And this is not only adolescents and youngsters; now parents are misguiding their children.

What happened to our vaunted value system?

In years gone by, parents did their best to impart the best moral and ethical ethos to their children. In those days, it was considered vitally important not to raise children who would disgrace the family. Our parents constantly reminded us never to bring shame to our family name. They drummed it into our heads that we borrowed our family names and that they were not ours to soil.

Through uncountable polemics and satires, we have railed against what happened to us in Africa that we no longer seem to be capable of distinguishing between right and wrong!

What happened to make it impossible for us to utilize our brains for some self-reflection, to interrogate the neurons that made up what we call brains so that we can make rational decisions that will accord with what is expected of normal homo sapiens?

So, a mother brings a child into the world and does not consider it part of her obligation that the child is equipped with the necessary training to ensure that she functions as a valuable member of society.

Why do we stop taking our responsibilities seriously?

So, this woman lost a child because her daughter could only procure a life for herself by sleeping with a criminal who did not hide his nefarious activities!

Of course, this goes beyond the personal; our society appears to have gone to the dogs!

Ghana has become one rudderless ship sans a captain.

Of course, the country boasts of all the appurtenances of a state, but the fact (obvious to anyone who cares to look) is that those in charge of Ghana Inc. are in it for what they can earn for their purses.

The National Interests have been subordinated to human hyenas' insatiable greed and avarice.

Environmental degradation and pollution of the country's major rivers are just two examples.

A child born in Ghana today knows that virtually everything is for sale. Getting employment into any post in the country is now done through what in local parlance is called protocol; all have their prices.

In Ghana, we have television and radio stations where every charlatan openly plies his scam. It used to be only Pastors who perfected the art of concocting every description of magical razzle-dazzle to separate idiots from their money. So-called native doctors or juju men who pretended to possess powers to make objects vomit money soon joined them. Lately, Islamic clerics have joined the fray; no one likes to lose out!

What baffles most is that all these criminal shenanigans carried out their activities in the open.

How did we expect to have sanity in a society where people can openly advertise money-doubling businesses without the Police descending on them?

The brilliant and brave men and women of the Ghana Police Service are too busy chasing those protesting against the menace of Galamsey to bother with real criminals.

Nothing happened to a pastor who openly claimed to have power that allowed congregants to use electricity without paying.

Lest we think the incident mentioned above is a new phenomenon, let us recall another gory incident just three years ago.

The story was captured thus:

Kasoa: How two teenagers allegedly killed, buried friend for money rituals

April 4, 2021

You can read the gory details here: - https://citinewsroom.com/2021/04/kasoa-how-two-teenagers-allegedly-killed-buried-friend-for-money-rituals-photos/

Of course, we would like to pretend that three are isolated cases.

Rather than confront the demon that has assailed and is destroying our society, we love to bury our heads in the sand and hope that our problems will be resolved, or that they will disappear if we close our eyes, ears, and mouths!

Did our Elders not warn us that how we lay out beds is how we will sleep on them?

And did religious texts not warn that we will reap what we sowed?

Farmer, Writer, Published Author, and Social Commentator.

My latest book, From Stamp to Click (it's still a hello) is published and is available online at:

https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/from-stamp-to-click-its-still-hello

How to order it: https://www.africanbookscollective.com/how-to-order

My book, "Africa: A Continent on Bended Knees," is available on:

• Amazon

• Booknook.store

My other books on Amazon:

• Africa: it shall be well (Get a FREE Chapter Here)

• Africa: Destroyed by the gods (Get a FREE Chapter Here)