In a society where hard work and dedication are
relegated to the background, most people resort to "easy ways" to
enrich themselves. Not only do they throw away ethics and morality, but they
have come to see shortcuts to wealth as the norm. Theft, gambling, and violence
dominate today's Ghanaian youth. As you pay attention to news and media
reports, stories of youth engaged in illegal activities and violence abound,
presenting a sharp contrast to the values our forebears instilled in the youth
of today.
If you live in an economy enveloped by corruption and
a lack of decent work opportunities, you may feel compelled to side with the
rising number of violent crimes and robberies in society. After all, why would
a well-meaning person resort to stealing as a means of survival if they had a
decent job and a fair salary to meet their needs?
As you walk through most
streets, you can't help but notice the sea of young people idling about,
looking for innocent prey to latch onto. You begin to question our societal
values as you witness very young men using drugs in public (sadly).
The Ghanaian society that was once touted as a haven
for all, irrespective of background, now paints a bleak picture.
And the few people who aspire to earn a living the
right way are often underpaid and mistreated by their employers. Such is the
paradox and dilemma faced by many youths in the country.
In spite of the rot that has engulfed today’s society,
there are still individuals who value decent work, however meagre their pay may
be. While I was late and rushing to enter the company’s main gate to avoid
being seen by those who had reported earlier that day, I chanced upon a group
of guys who were busily weeding the sprouted weeds inside the facility. At
first, I ignored their presence because they were not first-timers; we had
previously engaged people to carry out menial jobs for us. However, something
odd about this group struck me and piqued my curiosity. In fact, it has been my
habit to engage first timers at our facilities because I believe everyone has
something valuable to share, and all it takes is a friendly engagement.
As they diligently tended to their weeding, I couldn't
help but notice the radiant joy on his face—a clear sign of a truly happy
worker. My initial thought was that being very cheerful while weeding seemed
weird. Later, during lunch break, I approached them with two packs of lunch
boxes, and after a brief exchange, we settled down for a deep conversation that
changed my perspective on finding balance between work, life, and family. I
learned so much from him in just fifteen minutes that I could hardly imagine.
He introduced himself as Raphael, a father of two boys
and a former banker who was wrongfully accused and summarily dismissed for
refusing to collude with his superiors to manipulate an account in their favour.
Before his untimely dismissal, he had received an institutional loan to
purchase a vehicle to ease his children’s transportation to school without
burdening his wife, who had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer two years
ago. When he was unexpectedly sacked, the news hit him so hard that he could
not gather his thoughts to focus on his next move. While still in shock, he
faced the reality of overdue rent and had to move out with his family from the
three-bedroom flat they were occupying into a single room where they had to
share the toilet and kitchen with two other tenants.
The vehicle, meanwhile, was confiscated as collateral
for the loan, only to be released after he had barely settled half the total
amount plus interest. In that same month, he also had to cover his children's
school bills.
"This was too much to bear," he said,
"especially in our economy where your likeliest ticket to securing a
decent job is knowing someone important in the political hierarchy."
"Life," they say, "is what happens to
you when you are busy making other plans." His roller-coaster ride from
being a middle-income family to near penury not only shocked him but also made
him question all the positive values that society tends to ignore—honesty,
integrity, and ethics. Had he acquiesced to the dubious deal at the bank with
his superiors, he would have been more than five figures rich. Instead, his
refusal had left him with less than one figure to his name.
There was a final attempt to lure him back to his job
on the condition that he signed off on papers granting them illegal access to
the funds. Resolute as he was, he turned down the offer again without much
thought.
His presence at our facility that day, as he revealed,
was part of his attempt to get back on his feet. While waiting on companies to hire him a job, he was ready to accept all sorts of
low-paying jobs to pay his bills and provide food for his family. As he
continued to share these sad tales of his mixed fortunes, I had to try hard to
contain the avalanche of emotions I felt for him. His determination to continue
providing for his family’s needs struck me, and I felt truly embarrassed that I
wouldn’t be able to cope had I experienced similar situations.
He was willing to set aside his ego and prioritize his
family's needs. After all, ego doesn’t put food on the table. Feel free to ask
if you need further assistance!
As I left him to continue with his weeding, my
mind kept thinking less about his dire situation and more on the determination
to succeed no matter the obstacles.
Silently I prayed for him to succeed, just
like all other people out there who are trying to make earns meet no matter the
condition. Such people are the real horoes of today.
It is such values that are missing in society today.
The will and desire to earn income legitimately is almost gone.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0