THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ–Anthony Obeng Afrane

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. The book was originally published in Chicago on May 17, 1900 by George M. Hill Company.

The story chronicles the adventure of a young girl named Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz after being swept away from her Kansas farm home in a cyclone. After series of dangerous adventures, Dorothy was eventually helped by The Wizard of Oz to find her way back home.

I have always thought that witches and wizards are evil and wicked, but the story of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” seems to disagree. That notwithstanding, I’m yet to hear of a single good deed of witches and wizards in Africa, and would like to agree with the lyrics of one of the songs of A.B. Crentsil which says that Whites use witchcraft to event aircrafts and other important gadgets to make life comfortable while the Blackman uses the same spiritual power to destroy and “pull others down.”

I have heard of some interesting witches and wizards true stories in Ghana, and would like to share one with you. Many years ago, the chief and people of a certain remote village in Ghana, Domeabra appealed to government for public transport to make life a bit bearable for them, since the road leading to the village was almost unmotorable, and could not be traversed by most vehicles.

Government listened to their plea and sent them a Tata bus to ply the road between Domeabra and Oda, while arranging to rehabilitate the road. Economic activity picked up in the village and some business-minded people started making money by traveling on board the bus to buy goods in Oda to sell at Domeabra. But some people at the village seemed not happy with the progress of these business people. The bus started breaking down under strange circumstances other than the normal breakdowns associated with bad roads.

The bus driver and his conductor observed that the engine of the bus was exceedingly hot even before they began work around 5 a.m., signifying that the bus had been used while they had slept. They, therefore, woke up at 1.30 a.m. one day to investigate. About two hundred metres from where the bus was parked, they heard the horn of the bus blowing; they became curious and doubled their steps. About fifty metres away, they heard the engine of the bus running. Baffled with what was going on, they rushed to the scene, and you can’t imagine what they saw! The bus was filled with goats, with some jumping on the steering wheel causing the horn to blow! Chai, were they Wicked Wizards of Domeabra? That is Africa for you.

The driver and his conductor did not hesitate to send a report of what they witnessed to their office, and the bus service was withdrawn from Domeabra at once, scuppering the growing business of the traders.

As much as the activities of these Enemies Of Progress (EOP) in the form of “human-goats” may sound incredible, there are credible evidence showing that the stagnation of development in this country is partly caused by activities of some other EOPs who also have an intention of destabilizing this country during this year’s elections, which the good people of this country must resist because war is terrible! It invokes a powerful sense of pain, violence, loss and tragedy. In many conflict zones children who a the future of a country, account for the majority of the casualties. Most die not from the weapons themselves, but from preventable diseases that aren’t prevented or treated because the health systems and infrastructure have been destroyed. More than 2.7 million children died in D.R. Congo as a result of the conflict there.Yaanom’s idea of recruiting 40 armed macho men at each polling station during this year’s election for which reason funds are being raised must be a source of worry to every well meaning Ghanaian. Anyone who thinks the owner of the all-die-be-die concept has abandoned his intentions must be joking. The chief EOP is busily working behind the scenes, if that is not the case why didn’t he distance himself from Crazy Nabu’s statement?

Kikikikikiki, do you know who the chief EOP is? Huuu, I know some of you want me to mention the Wicked Dwarf of Kibi for you to get the opportunity to insult, but lie-lie, I won’t. I don’t want any trouble.

Anthony Obeng Afrane