MR DANIEL OWUSU KORANTENG – A MARTYR OF OUR TIME

BY STEPHEN DARKO

Mr Daniel Owusu Koranteng and —a non-governmental organization—in recent times have become household names in the mining sector and among members of the inky fraternity.

Although Mr Owusu Koranteng represents the workforce of the Ghana Maritime Company Limited at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), he has risen up to the ranks of the few individuals in society whose credibility and sincerity cannot be distrusted. This accolade that he has won for himself and his organization (WACAM), however, does not come as a fluke, but owes allegiance to his resolve to keep an eagle eye on the operations of mining companies in the country.

Without demur and shilly-shallying, he ‘deals ruthlessly’ with mining companies that sidestep their boundaries and put their interests ahead of mother Ghana, our beloved country. Perhaps this is the appropriate time for me to make this pronouncement, I always have good sleep and broad smiles anytime I hear (Mr Owusu Koranteng) exposing the nefarious and hostile treatments these mining companies put our brothers and sisters at the mining communities through.

The steadfastness of Mr Owusu Koranteng and WACAM began some ten (10) years ago, but has risen up to the daunting task and worked hard to untie himself and his organization from the apron strings of these multinationals. And no wonder WACAM was adjudged the best NGO in the country recently and one of the best on the continent.

With the kind of diligence and resilience that Mr Koranteng and his NGO have crusaded against bad mining practices in the country, I think it would not be out of place to honour him and his organization. In fact, without any reservation I can say that he has indeed distinguished himself very well in this country.

Despite the recognition gained in society, the fifty four (54)-year-old and former Agriculture Master at the T.I. Ahmadiyya Junior High School in the Central Region, is affable, down-to-earth and has good human relations.

In fact, it is not surprising that his articles and works are given space in most of the credible newspapers in the country and that confirms why his views and that of his wife, Mrs Hannah Owusu Koranteng, are respected and cherished by the Presby Church branch at Tema, where both of them worship.

Yes, Mr Owusu Koranteng deserves to be honored by the state—and not the wolf that who put on the sheep’s cloth to deceive former President John Agyekum Kufuor as he was honoured by the state, but ended up impregnating his sixteen (16) year old former student.

The man I am referring to is the owner and proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills International School, Mr Enoch Lamptey Mills, who I have sworn heaven and earth not miss any opportunity I get to call on government to strip off his grand medal he deceived the erstwhile NPP administration to obtain.

All the rumours I am hearing that he contributed financially to the campaign of Hon. Tetteh Chai, NDC Member of Parliament for Ablakuma Central Constituency and a card-bearing member of the NDC are true.

Please forgive me if I am digressing, but such “dreadful and dubious characters” must be called to order. Frankly speaking, the name of Mr Koranteng brings to mind personalities like President Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and our own Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who all fought at the peril of their lives for the cause they believed in.

I strongly believe that some readers after reading this piece will wobble their heads and conclude that “the engine of this writer’s pocket has been greased,” but I will not be perturbed; after all, that is what we Africans know best, always hurling insults and criticisms on people when they are wrong, but finding it difficult to acknowledge the good that the same people do.

I suppose the era of “crabology” is passed. Anyway if you do not understand what “crabology” is, it simply means the pull-him-down attitude because it is only crabs that love to pull down their fellows when climbing to the top.