We have less than two months to go to the polls to (re)elect a President who will steer the affairs of this country till January 2021. Now history has taught some of us not to place much premium on what is contained in a manifesto because it is largely meant to ‘trick’ us into voting for them. Majority of the promises contained therein do not see the light of day. You can check from those of the two political parties that have taken turns to govern the country.

But be that as it may, these documents are given titles that revolve around the central theme of the manifesto. So we have had themes such as Better Ghana Agenda, Moving Ghana Forward, Changing Lives…Transforming Ghana, and many others. It is the NPP’s slogan for this year’s election that inspires me – ARISE FOR CHANGE!. One finds it on almost everything NPP seen or heard around; billboards and posters of both presidential and parliamentary candidates, radio and TV commercials, scratch cards, social media etc… It was ubiquitous until the #KalyppoChallenge took its shine some days to the party’s manifesto launch.

If you thought this was a political piece, and as such was preparing a (quasi) political response, sorry to burst your bubble – it is NOT!

Dear reader, have you ever taken some time to ponder over why your boss seems to be giving you a hard time? He is always displeased with the quality of your work, even when you think you gave it your all? What’s worse, he seems not to use the same standard when assessing the work of your colleagues? He seems to have targeted you alone? Hmm…Has it occurred to you yet that maybe (just maybe) he has seen some potential in you, and wants to unearth it? Is it also possible that he knows you are capable of doing more and therefore refuses to applaud you, but praises others? If you haven’t, then ARISE FOR CHANGE! There might be silver-lining in there somewhere. Find it.

Or you have not been enjoying the recommended 8 hours sleep time (who does anyway?) just so you make it to the office on-time. Besides the fact that it pays your salary each month, is what you do in that office actually worth doing? Does it erupt joy in you like a volcano? Does it result in your waking up each morning wearing a smile on your face, looking forward to what lies ahead in the day? If it doesn’t, you are just living short of what you were birthed to do. Most of us are caught up in this ‘ritual’, living unfulfilled lives. My dear, ARISE FOR CHANGE!

Isn’t it commonplace for parents to ‘force’ their wards into pursuing some career paths where there exists no passion? But does this fact legitimize its continued practice? My friend, there is such a thing as ‘positive defiance’; it is your life for Christ sake, not theirs. Theirs is to guide, not force. Please, with everything that is within you, ARISE FOR CHANGE! God will even applaud you. 

And on a lighter note, a young man hands the bus conductor a fresh Governer Nashiru Issahaku-signed È»2 note. The mate tells him to wait for his 30p change, but as soon as he sees that beautiful young lady board the troski, out of shyness, he refuses to call for his change. It used to happen to me some time ago, but I have long realized that a chilled sachet of pure water can journey down my throat with those minted coins. My brother, forget about the lady…tap or draw the mate’s attention…remind him…and ARISE FOR YOUR CHANGE! The lady possibly hasn’t seen you ‘mpo’.

Dear reader, like I said in an earlier piece, know that each night when you retire to bed with a smile on your face for doing something that brings you joy, you have lived. Each night that smile never breaks on your face, you just existed. Singer – songwriter Dolly Parton’s words rings in my ear each day: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose”.

ARISE FOR CHANGE!

More Vim…Let’s Go…                   

The writer works in the finance department of The Multimedia Group but this is his opinion, not that of the company. He can be contacted at pkbwilliams@yahoo.co.uk. Click here for other articles he’s authored.