Cry of the poor

The poor constitute the dregs of the society

Everywhere, the poor constitute the dregs of the society. They are the have-nots and the down-trod­den who always feel economically dizzy, politically sleepy, socially tired and are religiously confused. Their worth is never recognised in society and everyone forgets that without the poor, society can never be complete.

Some people believe that the poor will never go to heaven. So very unfor­tunate since the majority of Africans are congenitally poor.

My former classmate, Kwame Korkor­ti, for instance entertains the convic­tion that the eventual destination of the poor is hell. I have always protest­ed the senselessness of this notion, but Korkorti advances arguments to back his point.

According to him, a poor man is a sinful person by virtue of his empty pocket. Because he has no money, he may think about making ends meet through stealing, which is against the Bible; he does not give alms to the poor, and because he is perpetually broke, he is always temperamental and will slap you if you rob him the wrong way.

According to Korkorti, St. Peter, who is at the gates of Heaven, does not admit such people. He cites an example that immediately a poor man approaches the gates of Heaven, he would be turned away because he would be smelling heavily of akpetesh­ie, to which Peter will refer him: “Thou shall not drink local gin, especially bitters…”

In contrast, says Korkorti, a rich man does not pilfer, he gives alms, is cheer­ful and will always forgive a fault. And when he gets to the gates of Heaven, he will not smell of mahogany-bitters or raw akpeteshie. He will scent of either Mathews Wine, Jackson’s Special Cocktail, Irish Cream or at least Guin­ness. Peter will be too willing to get him registered on the list of qualified entrants.

It is quite unfortunate for Korkorti to perceive the poor vis-a-vis the rich, in such a disparaging manner, but I do not blame him since the very nature of society makes him think that way. Who haven’t always thought that a poor person is a wicked person? And most people regard the rich as next to God just because they can cause food and drink to flow by just issuing a simple command.

In any situation, the have-nots are always in a disadvantaged position. When a boy whose father is a poor farmer completes sixth form and applies for an overseas scholarship advertised in the papers, his chances of clinching the award is virtually nil when a boy who has a rich father also applies. Even the manner of interview­ing the two candidates can be highly disparate, not forgetting the circum­stances under which each of them attends the interview.

Indeed, on the morn of the in­terview, the poor lad arrives at the appointed time after having taken Koko and Koose. The previous night, he had taken Kokonte and light-soup. Now, he feels quite drowsy, albeit confident. The rich man’s son had oats and milk against bread and cheese. He washes these down with Vitamin C laden orange-juice and appears at the interview bright and exuberant.

His father, who is in the same golf club as two of the panel members, has also done his homework satisfactorily. The questions that would be thrown at his ward will not be too difficult. Even if they are difficult, the boy must not be seen to be failing.

Eventually, the scholarship award is presented on a silver platter. The poor farmer’s son goes back home disen­chanted. He had not been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Moreover, he does not look like a scholarship holder, because he appears anaemic.

Dear reader, imagine that at a big so­cial function in the capital of Sikaman the Master of Ceremonies describes the chairman for the occasion as follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, lend me your ears. This is Mark Antony speaking… The chairman for this ocсаsion is a man we all know. Presently, he is unem­ployed, sorry redeployed…

“Our honourable chairman is a prod­uct of Kordiabe Junction Secondary Boarding where he obtained a school certificate in 1969, lest I forget, with distinction. However, he could not proceed to sixth form because his poor father, a cocoyam farmer could not afford to buy his school uniform any longer. As for his school fees don’t talk about it. It is a taboo!”

At this stage, invited guests will start wondering whether the MC had not forgotten the life-history of the hon­ourable chairman, or is he mistaking him for another person? The MC must, however, complete his job.

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, since our honourable chairman could not afford the school fees, he decided to get employed. He worked with a private company as a junior clerk where he marked time for ten years before he was promoted to the post of a clerk. As a clerk, he marked time again till the company went bank­rupt. That was when he was forcibly redeployed against his wish.

“Currently, he is unemployed and finds difficulty in procuring one square meal a day. Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to introduce to you, the chairman for this wonderful occasion, Mr Kofi Owuo alias Death By Poverty.”

If Kofi Owuo was indeed present and stood up in a faded Jumper and khaki shorts with a pair of worn out charlie woté (one red and one green), and a lousy moustache, and smiles rather broadly, what would you as an invited guest do? Will you applaud, or would you start glancing at the programme to see how soon the vote of thanks will be delivered so that Kofi Owuo could be left to his woes and poverty?

The chairman of any big function today is chosen by special criteria. He must have a car which is in good condition, especially with a good starter, with which he’d drive to the function. He must be able to afford a decent suit, preferably a three-piece; or a bright traditional wear of Kente or Adinkra.

He must be able to smile like a rich man, talk like a rich man, laugh like a rich man, and sneeze like a rich man. He must have had academic exposure in renowned universities in countries abroad including Australia, Canada, war-torn Liberia, crisis-filled Kuwait, US and Surinam. Such is society. He must be the chairman of the Board of Directors of one company or another.

Even in his family, the poor man is not respected, be a father, a grandfa­ther or an uncle. During an extended family meeting his opinions are not sought. If he tries to make even a sensible point, his age-mate who is rel­atively rich will remark: “My friend if you’ve drunk akpeteshle, go and sleep. We want people of sound mind who can talk sense. Look at how your eyes are red. Too much akpetsshie!” The appro­priate thing the cousin should have said is, “We want people who have money to offer their views.”

Of course who doesn’t respect and tolerate a rich person and scorns a poor man. Even rich ugly men are considered very handsome. You dare not think he is ugly, because society’s eye does not perceive the world in such simple terms.

But the poor are also human. They may be luck-less, born into poverty and hopeless in life. However, they serve society in numerous ways. They clean our gutters, sweep our offices, cart foodstuffs, tend our gardens and watch our homes.

It is for this reason that Teddy Alor of Tema, Site 21, says that if every­one were to be rich, there would be no society. Social stratification is in­dispensable to the continued perpet­uation of every society since every member of a society plays a distinc­tive role and performs functions.

We may not carry our poor folks shoulder high. But let us give them the due respect and help them out of their miseries.

This article was first published on Saturday, August 18, 1990