The despondency around us these days is enough to kill any good spirit. The daily strive seems to be on. The Bible admonishes that nobody should seek his own good but the good of others rarely reflects in our lives.

So when one finds a true-spirited Ghanaian who would go all the way to outwardly express commitment to duty and go further to extend assistance to others, it calls for applause.

Commitment

Now it seems the times we are in, is more a feeling of each one for himself. That is why those who exhibit a commitment to others, those who will stop to listen to you and show passion in their duties deserve to be celebrated.

The other week, going through my travel documents, I realised from my vaccination card, popularly known as the Yellow Card, that the booster for my CSM inoculation was due on July 7, 2024. I had to travel within days, so I freaked out, knowing it was a weekend and the vaccination centres were closed.

On the Monday therefore, I had to drop all other plans and head to Adabraka Polyclinic Vaccination Centre to rectify what could prove to be a potential frustration for my travel plans. At the Centre, I met a crowd and so panicked even more, wondering if I would be able to get the renewal done on time.

I entered one of the rooms to make enquiries. Even though that small room was packed with travellers waiting in turn for their vaccinations, the gentleman at the desk asked me to wait right there and he would attend to me.  He even offered me a seat. After seeing two customers whose documents were on his desk, he asked to see my card. 

His reaction calmed me down immediately. He told me not to worry because I did not need a booster at my age and that he would indicate it on the card and have it signed and stamped. I felt appeased and within minutes, I was done with.

The man’s willing heart, a show of respect and readiness to serve not just me, but also the two others was noticeable, something which I found quite rare, especially in these uncertain times.  I was impressed. 

As I took my signed yellow card to inspect, I thanked the young man, in the presence of others, saying: “The system has not failed after all with good-hearted people like you around.” He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.

The system is indeed working; it is not all that gloomy as some make it seem. My mind immediately connected to a personal experience shared with me by a friend.  

She had lost her purse containing her credit cards and other documents including her Ghana card while on holiday abroad last month. On her return, she reported at the National Identification Authority (NIA) office where she completed forms for a new identity card.

She initially boohooed about going to the NIA office given reports out there about frustrations and delays in the issuing of new cards. She snivelled about how she could, in the interim, conduct banking and other services without a Ghana Card.

She was pleasantly surprised at how smooth and quick the process for replacement went. That same day, she walked away with her new card. Her credit and debit cards were also replaced within a week. 

Yes indeed, the system cannot be that frustrating. If for nothing at all, some sections manned by our own fellow Ghanaians are working to satisfaction.

This gratification can only suggest that the discontentment and impediments one finds in the system are caused by us because it is our own that are running the system.  

While there are good hearts out there, there are equally “out-to-cheat” individuals who will do the unimaginable, drag their feet to delay, frustrate and create a bad name for the system.

Service providers

As bank customers and loyal users of internet services, for example, one gets assigned with relationship managers, to give supposed focused and personal assistance to priority customers. 

However, when one needs them most, one gets exceedingly disappointed. When one calls them for assistance, they will promise to check and call back but they never do. When they promise to help fix a problem, one should be ready to wait forever.

In making it seem as if it is rather the system which is a thorn in our flesh, one could point to corner shops, market sellers and even taxi drivers as some of the biggest malefactors. 

The way sellers increase their wares, sometimes every week and blame the price increases on the system citing the fluctuating dollar rate gets one upbeat. What has Gari price got to do with the dollar exchange rate?

It is pleasing, therefore, the extent some people would go to make the system workable.  It makes one wonder what their motivation is.

These definitely are the ones who, by their actions and attitudes are telling the citizenry that the system works after all. No need to faint or fear.

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The writer can be contacted via email at ickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com