Looking beyond the conventional

Nkwabisa meina ne bien paali.

It’s been a while, and I have stayed on a low profile trying to understand things better and “rethink my thoughts”.  It is interesting the rate at which the number of members of this group has increased in the last few months. Naturally increase in numbers comes with an increase in ideas.

A week ago a good female friend asked me a question “what are you doing about it”, though the issue was not necessarily related to buluk.it still reminded me of a question I have been asked by a few members of this group.

I am Afoko Winston Churchill (Slim Badek Exet). I am not a magician neither am I some rich tycoon or an agency of any sort, I do not have any political ties, and I won’t say I have the solutions to “klll” the problems of Buluk.

A few days ago my friend Kweku Sintim Missa the presenter of real estates on tv3 was installed chief in his traditional area, his efforts were recognized because he as an individual has been successful in harnessing the talents and resources of other citizens of his town to push the developmental agenda of the land to the next level without relying on government. I am not insinuating me being a chief, no. All I am saying is there is power in a people agreeing to look at the unconventional ways of changing the living standards of them. Many of us have been stranded before; didn’t we find a way out?

I asked a friend “how can you build a hospital in 2yrs”. She has still not figured it out, but we must always look beyond the possible means, we must look beyond what’s normal and conventional.

To build a hospital requires lots of money, as an individual I can’t afford to build one. But think about the people who would benefit from it, think about their resource base and think about their ability to live daily. Now who is willing to give funding for such a project; the World Bank, an NGO, Government or You/Me?

The fact is government and World Bank has the plan of the hospital in “the pipeline”. so u can wait it will come someday, but until then let the sick die.

The ngo, is always looking after how much percentage they will make on funds and secondly they do not get funding for such huge projects easily but till they do, let the sick die.

As for me and you, the money we make is not enough to pay the bills, eat some dog meat, drink some pito and even pay our depts. so we can’t build a hospital therefore let the sick die.

But have u thought of your traditional area being made up of people?

We all enjoy that “check check” once in a while, that extra chicken, that box of digestive biscuits, the cornflakes, the gum, the bar of chocolate and every little pleasant thing that seem to cost nothing. Imagine 100000 bulsas eating chocolates which cost 1ghs every month. That is a 100000ghs. Now 100,000ghs by 12 months will be 1,200,000ghs a year, therefore 2yrs means 2,400,000ghs in 2years.

Now with such an amount which organization won’t be encouraged to help such a determined people build a hospital? Besides with so many unconventional ways of building now, a hospital could be built for about half what it would previously cost. In the same way, the people can get the equipment needed to get the hospital running.

The above approach would definitely have its challenges but they won’t stall the project as much as changes in governments will stall a project.

I am not asking to build a hospital in Buluk, all I am saying is, we can do so much in Buluk as a united body.

Sandema sech-tech is in tatters now and many of us have been through that institution, many bulsa’s in high positions have gone through that glorious pride of Buluk. We are sitting here pretending to be so  proud of where we come from, but issues of Buluk do not bother us, after all we voted for an mp and some president.

The only thing I know governments and their agencies will always do is grading the bumpy roads when its 6months to elections. As for the rest “it’s in the pipeline”. If as a people we don’t seek to develop our own, then we might as well as just sit and watch the once beloved Buluk go tatters like many societies.

Now, development is not limited to infrastructural, but a solid human resource base is the most important if the agenda of Buluk is to be pushed to the next level. Creating a constant flow of wealth in the land is a sure way to sustaining development. Thwarting the negative habits that lead to destruction in the land will help everyone realize their potential to the fullest. Alcoholism, drug addiction, Inferiority complex, sexual immorality and many others alike have not advanced the good course being pursued by any people.

And the best people to be able to get all these social cankers out of the land is me and you.

We all have some experience of a sort, we all have been through so much, we all have learn some lessons. We all make some money, whether through work or as a gift, we all do.

Now what is stopping us?

I wept after I got just 2 messages responding to my message about us getting to know each other’s talents, places of residence and a few others so we can know how to be a better united folk and how we can start an initiative that would culminate in the development of the people of Buluk.

It saddens my heart and makes me feel my passion is a waste of time, my dream is a useless one; that no one cares about the future of our beloved Buluk. It is so sad sometimes I just want to be able to live “normal” without thinking about Buluk, but I can’t, I do believe it’s just a matter of time when people would realize the importance of being identified as a bulsa man/woman and the honor that is associated with belonging to a particular people.

I pray that day comes. I still want to know more people, I still want to share ideas with people, I still want us to come up with practical but unconventional solutions to the troubles that affect Buluk.

I pray people understand me. I pray they do

Afoko Winston Churchill (Slim Badek Exet)