Beloved Fellow Human!
SPEAK-UP!
First they killed farmer, I did not speak-up because am not a Farmer,
Then they killed a butcher, I did not speak-up because am not a Butcher,
Then they killed a trader, I did not speak-up because am not a Trader,
Then they killed a Driver, I did not speak-up because am not a Driver,
Then they killed a Security Officer, I did not speak-up because am not a Security Officer.
Then they killed a political activist, I did not speak-up because am not a Politician
Then they killed an Ashanti, I did not speak-up because am not Asante,
Then they killed a Builsa, I did not speak-up because am not a Builsa,
Then they killed a Bissa, I did not speak-up because am not a Busanga,
Then they killed a Dagomba, I did not speak-up because am not a Dagbana
Then they killed an Ewe, I did not speak-up because am not Ewe,
Then they killed an Frafra, I did not speak-up because am not Frafra,
Then they killed a Mamprusi, I did not speak-up because am not a Mampruga
Then they killed a Mossi, I did not speak-up because am not a Mosshie,
Then they killed a Kussasi, I did not speak-up because am not a Kusaa,
Then they killed a Fulbe (Fulani), I did not speak-up because am not a Phulo,
Then they killed a Gonja, I did not speak-up because am not a Gonja
Then they killed a Zambarima, I did not speak-up because am not a Zambarima
When they killed Me, there was no one to SPEAK-UP for Me!
“For evil to thrive, the good man must do NOTHING”- Edmund Burke.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” Desmond Tutu.
My dear reader, will you do SOMETHING? Are you NEUTRAL in the growing and complex nature of the attacks on civilians, which has maimed and killed many from all walks of life?
It is time to end the deafening silence on the Bawku Conflict within diplomatic missions, civil society, media, the business community, the peace council, and the Bissa, Mamprusi, and Kusasi elites and politicians.
The author of this poem is Alhaji Awal Ahmed Kariama. He is a Human Rights Activist. You can reach him via email humbleafricanus@yahoo.com
