Since this is the first time I am writing to your office, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate you on your election as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS). Hours after your election was announced, I saw pictures of you and some of your ministers doing what looks like the Azonto dance. Not up to scratch but it was ok.

I even heard some say it affirmed your ‘excellent’ leadership style and commitment to the democratic values that Ghana, our stressed country, continues to exhibit in a sub-region feasting on inept leadership, corruption and filth.

As your countryman, I take great pride in your appointment. I honestly don’t know what specific benefits it brings to us, as a people, but all the same I am very excited for you. We all dream of living our dreams before the Lord calls us and if being the ECOWAS Chair is one of the goals you have set for yourself; I say may the good Lord order your steps to leave a great mark on the seat before your term expires.

Do I doubt your competency? I’ll neither say YES or NO. I don’t have an opinion except to say the task ahead is, as we say in our usual palm wine drinking pubs, not “children.” It is a tough one, sir! But, like I said, the Lord should guide you to go through with distinction.

Before I turn my attention to the issues here at home, I would, sir, like to know the status of the US$10 million pledged by you and some of your colleagues, to tackle the Ebola menace, during the summit here in Accra. I am yet to hear anything, after the long speeches, and the virus continues to maul innocent lives especially in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the very countries you visited.

Four doctors treating affected persons have so far been killed by the virus. I bet if the fund were up and running, the latest Sierra Leonean doctor to die would have survived. It is such a disgrace that your ‘friends’ could not even pay for a ticket for Dr. Olivet Buck, the fourth to have lost her life whilst desperately trying to ensure others survive.

It appears to me that there is no commitment on the part of the ECOWAS leadership to help its citizens; sorry but the truth is, sir, the whole body seems more interested in organizing conferences where knotty English and French are spoken without any positive outcome. And then smile to the cameras for a photo opportunity. How pathetic!

How much would it have cost for even an aide of a sub-regional leader to pay for Dr. Buck to be flown abroad to receive treatment, as was proposed by some civil society groups? Your colleague in Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, was rather dancing around her fate like a confused toad. But do I blame him? It is the same attitude replicated across the region. It is embarrassing, to say the least.

What do you people do with our resources and taxes? Sometimes it is as if being an African is a curse; there is no sense of compassion from the leadership towards their own citizens. No wonder persons affected by Ebola will be dumped at poorly managed healthcare centres and allowed to die and rot. Where is the dignity? Where is the love? Where are the many promises to care for us?

The deplorable conditions that ordinary folks are going through from the poor leadership in the sub-region make misery, rather than joy, feel so sweet. And hope remains a tasteless chocolate in our mouths. Where did we go wrong as Africans?

For how long are we going to sit back and watch the Ebola virus sniff life out of the ordinary person before ECOWAS begins to act? If a so-called leader in the sub-region can give guests who attended his daughter’s wedding gold plated iPhones and, yet, can’t contribute money for a fund he himself committed to setting up then he needs his head examined.

Also, sir, I would like to urge you to take drastic measures to address sanitation in Ghana. Cholera has killed more than 100 people nationwide. Cholera alone! Can you imagine Ebola breaking out here in Ghana (I can hear a voice in my ears say thunder fire your mouth HER MAJESTY)? It will wipe out everyone, there will be no one left.

Obviously, as President of Ghana, I am not too sure you are excited about our inability to address the cholera situation. The filth, especially in the capital city, is beyond comprehension. Oh, and I must say I hated the sight of you desilting the gutters while the Mayor of Accra stood by, applauded and danced.

Why can’t you fire him, sir? Or he contributed to your campaign and therefore you feel the need to reward him with a post? Maybe another position will do but I’m not sure about him being the Mayor. He has shown enough ineptness and the time for him to go is NOW!

Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye must be sacked without mercy. He is not up to the task, sorry sir, but that is the gospel truth. He is not up to it. Please fire him or offer him another post. We can’t allow cholera to be killing us while he drives around in expensive cars with a motorcade. I am not sure you have the appetite to sack him, or?

Before I bring my letter to an end, I would like to just draw your attention to the arrogant posturing of some of your men, especially those who talk for you on radio. They are so impervious to genuine criticisms. They see every criticism as an attempt to sink your government. That is not true. Those who genuinely want you to succeed are rather those telling you that the ‘KING IS NAKED’ and must be properly clothed.

I’ll write you a more appropriate letter just to remind you to watch your praise-singers. They heap all the praises on you but do so only because of what they can get. I pray you don’t fall victim to such characters.
Let me end here for now because another letter, that is not ECOWAS related, will be delivered to your office shortly.

Enjoy your day, sir.

Yours faithfully,
An unhappy ECOWAS citizen.