Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor@barkervogues
1. Something has been troubling me.
2. My firm has been representing a widow with three children whose husband and sole bread winner was killed by a Big Truck on the motorway while he was on a motorbike.
3. It’s a matter I ddnt want to take at first, because our pro bono resources are overstretched. But 1 person on the team, kept pushing and pushing for us to take the matter.
4. Eventually I agreed to one meeting with the woman, but that it won’t change my opinion.
5. I sat in that meeting; and it was a struggle to hold back my own tears. I had to step out of that meeting to take several deep breaths. We took the case.
6. Uptil that point, no institution was lending her the help she needed. The man’s family refused to release even his death certificate to her. She couldn’t get even the police report of the incident.
7. Hurdles everywhere. Stepping in meant we would pay for all costs.
8. Anyway, let me get to the point of what has been troubling me.
9. We needed some document on her behalf and approached the relevant State agency. The person in charge said it will cost 250 cedis. But if my staff want that, it will take several months up to 6months. That one comes with receipt. But If we want it fast, in 3 days and no receipt, 400 cedis.
10. Ordinarily, my staff knows that under no circumstance should this be entertained. But on this occasion, concerned about this widow; and also that CLOGSAG was going on strike the next Monday; they paid this crook the money. No receipt was handed over. And clearly money went into his pocket.
11. Every two days I get palpitations thinking about this man; and what he has done.
12. I wake up stressed that when I found out, I didn’t force my staff to report him and get this investigated.
13. I worry that I set the wrong example for my staff.
14. Still, I know this country and what it has done every time I have tried to blow the whistle. I know how those who report rot quickly become the bad guys in this town.
15. I wake up disappointed in myself. While the fool lives free, without consequence.
16. Someday I will mention his name, and some goat on social media will say I have defamed him. I will be the one insulted. Not the nation wrecker.
I weep for this country. And I feel guilt.
