Is China’s rise to power a threat to global peace?

Thursday, November 28, 2013

My good friends, while we in Ghana are engrossed in arguments concerning bread and butter, happenings in other parts of the world suggest something ominous that we must not gloss over. If not resolved amicably, this conflict has the potential to cause catastrophe worldwide.

Our own conflict with the Ivory Coast concerning the Cape Three Points oilfields is worth our trouble; but how many of us even consider it as worth our bother while we engage in this bread-and-butter politics?

At the global level, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are locked in an ownership struggle over islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Claiming to be the only superpower in the world, the US has already inserted itself into this conflict.

Unfolding right in front of our eyes is the tension that will likely destabilize global politics and threaten world peace unless sound minds resolve the crisis.

Is this the kind of Parliament to rely on?

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Folks, no matter what we detest in the operations of our Parliament, nothing seems to be changing for the better.

The lethargy that has characterized the work of Parliament is unrelentingly deplorable; yet, our MPs don’t see the need to improve their performance so their bad public image can improve. They seem not to know the urgency of the situation or they have simply chosen to be mindless of goings-on. What for, though?

As they continue to under-perform, they make me wonder whether I shouldn’t support arguments suggesting that Parliament should be scrapped off altogether and replaced with the local government structure, where the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies will be responsible for law-making to take care of governance.

More Ambassadors, little for Ghana’s good!!

Monday, November 25, 2013

My good friends, President Mahama has appointed 10 Ambassadors-designate, introducing new faces who have nothing to their credit but political activism and other credentials verging on academic work or journalism and public service. (Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=293194)

We don't yet know which country these Ambassador nominees are designated for, but we can tell that some of them immediately evoke mixed feelings that will make us wonder whether anything new will happen at all in Ghana's Diplomatic Missions as far as the non-career diplomats are concerned.

As our politicians fail, the farmers bare their teeth

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Folks, when the citizens of a country that is naturally endowed with arable land and a good rainfall pattern fail to produce food to feed themselves and others elsewhere (to earn foreign exchange as well), they deserve nothing but condemnation.

And when their various governments don’t help solve the problem, they deserve utter contempt.

Since 1983 when Ghana lost its prime position as the world’s number one cocoa producer, nothing has been done to put it back there. The problems besetting the cash crop sector are known but not tackled—only raised in useless arguments and dirty political rhetoric.

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma confirms Africa’s plight

Friday, November 22, 2013

No one needs fear anything for saying that South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, is a very good example of a very bad African leader in contemporary times. He is self-acquisitive and mindlessly profligate. Talk about the sweetness of the flesh, and you will have him in focus. His life style is on the loose!

Now, he has added another feather to the collections in his cap. He has caused 20 million dollars of public funds to be spent, refurbishing his private residence (See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25049641).

To worsen his public image, he seems to be manipulating the Establishment to gag the press and prevent that profligacy from being exposed. But he has misfired because the media have published the picture of that house (a house equipped with a helipad and a bunker, among others!)—all for his personal comfort while the millions of poor South Africans supporting his political cause languish in squalor as the country’s economy lags.

Only a lame-brain will support such a project for self-gratification at the expense of the state and citizens.

The government’s irresponsible behaviour hurts…

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Folks, even though some of us have supported the decision of Parliament to raise the VAT rate by a further 2.5%, we are not happy at developments related to this move.

First, taking cognizance of the NPP Minority’s boycott of deliberations leading to the raising of the VAT rate, we are persuaded that the NPP people were just being mischievous in intents and purposes.

Here is why: At one point they complained about the procedures used in passing the law and, at another point, they complained of the tax rate increase. As is already known, they didn’t suggest any alternative measure for raising revenue. Theirs is dirty politics for its own sake.

Haruna Attah slights the NPP: What is his real motive?

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Folks, in Ghanaian politics, there is no certainty except the strong conviction among some of us that the Ghanaian politician is not to be trusted to sacrifice personal interests at the expense of the national one. 

When it comes to self-serving, what is on the mind of the Ghanaian politician is nothing but making hay while the sun shines (Or as my Nigerian friend puts it: Making HASTE while the sun shines---because the sun won't shine forever!). 

Thus, when Ghanaian politicians decide to go into one political camp, we don't expect them to stick there, especially when there is the likelihood that no condition will be permanent therein. The Ghanaian politician can't afford to miss the gravy train.

President Mahama doesn’t need a Communication Team at the Presidency

Sunday, November 10, 2013

One problem that dogs President Mahama’s administration is the unsatisfactory work of the so-called “Government’s Communication Team” at the Presidency. I am being bold to say that he doesn’t need such a unit; instead, he needs a Press Secretary and a Press Secretariat to coordinate efforts and meet all his communication needs.

A Press Secretary is needed to liaise with the press (especially if there is room for a Press Secretariat, where the media are represented) and to openly answer questions and give briefings on anything that the Presidency has to offer for public consumption. Sometimes, even, it is not everything that must be published. What is to be kept off-record may be disclosed to the press corps and labelled as such. It calls for trust, confidence, and respect for ethics and morality in journalism.

Victoria Hammah justifies Right to Information Law!!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

News reports that Lawrence Quayeson, driver of dismissed former Deputy Communications Minister (Victoria Hammah) “says his life is in danger” must wake every Ghanaian up to face reality.

Quayeson, who is a cousin of the dismissed Deputy Minister, claims he had to run away to a hideout Sunday morning to escape house arrest by family members. (See: http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2013/November-10th/i-framed-rachel-vickys-driver-confesses-says-his-life-is-in-danger.php)

In doing whatever he could to expose Victoria Hammah as a fraud in national politics, Quayeson deserves commendation, not personal harm. I urge all well-meaning Ghanaians to rise to the occasion to ensure that those after him are exposed and punished. I trust that the law-enforcement agencies are not conniving with those after Quayeson and will do their duty to protect limb and property.

It is not support that President Mahama lacks

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The problems cropping up to torment President Mahama have a direct bearing on his government’s inability to solve national problems, not the lack of support for him from the NDC or his own government circles. His entire team seems to lack the drive to do what they have been appointed to do. Almost every sector is beset with problems that the Ministers and their Deputies don’t know how to solve. They are talking “chaff” more than doing anything productive. Plain talk.

How is the government implementing the NDC’s manifesto to move the country forward? No one needs any conference, workshop, or summit on the country’s problems. The NDC knew long ago about these problems, which was why it formulated its manifesto to win voter support. Why isn’t the manifesto working? Anybody’s guess!!

Are the youthful ones in Ghanaian politics failing us?

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

I open this opinion piece with the bold statement that good governance calls for teamwork and strategy!!

The diverse responses to how a Presidential Staffer (Stan Dogbe) and a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations (Felix Kwakye-Ofosu) reacted to concerns expressed by Alban Bagbin (Former Majority Leader and one of the three presidential appointees responsible for priority projects) about happenings at the Presidency have brought into sharp focus the role of the youth in national politics.

Are the youth really prepared to do national politics in a manner more congenial for national development than what the “old folks” have demonstrated over the years? Obviously, critical comments suggest that the “old folks” have failed Ghana; hence, the need for them to give way to the youth, apparently because “the future belongs to the youth”.

Cyberspace espionage and Ghana’s interests: Fallouts from the Alban Bagbin saga

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Folks, I am more than concerned at the manner in which President Mahama and his appointees are conducting government business through cyberspace. At least, everything is confirmed by the fact that the most preferred medium for reacting to the charges brought against the President by Alban Bagbin is Facebook, not any other medium.

Why should cyberspace be the favoured medium? Are these government functionaries so unpatriotic and stupidly uninformed about the danger posed to our country’s security by their recourse to cyberspace, where all manner of people and systems troll for intelligence to guide their relationship with countries and people(s)?

Is the government afraid of its policies being monitored?

Monday, November 4, 2013

Folks, Dr. Tony Aidoo , Head of Policy, Evaluation and Oversight Unit at the Presidency, is out again, raising his concerns of neglect to a higher notch for public attention. He is reported to be demanding answers from the government regarding the status of his office. Reasons?

i.                    He and his office are denied “the needed funds to run his office”

ii.                  His outfit has been rendered almost redundant and dormant since the death of President John Atta Mills

iii.                Prosper Bani, Chief of Staff has not shown courtesy to him by failing to acknowledge the letters that he has sent to the government to explain issues for him to know why his office is being so maltreated—in effect, lack of courtesy to him.

It has been reported that “a frustrated Tony Aidoo told the media that problems such as non-payment of salaries of his staff for the last six months were not issues that he would normally put out for public consumption. He, however, said his outfit had been abandoned by the NDC administration for no apparent reason”.

President Mahama kidnapped by sycophants?

Saturday, November 2, 2013

My good friends, a wordy warfare is being fought in government circles that will have nasty repercussions for President Mahama.

Former Majority Leader, Alban Sumani Bagbin (who is also one of the three presidential appointees responsible for priority projects) has thrown a hefty punch at the Presidency, complaining of not being able to have access to President Mahama to discuss issues with. How can he do his work if he can’t discuss issues with the appointing authority? And he is considered one of the “three wise men” to spearhead efforts at helping President Mahama accomplish his dream on development projects!!

Bagbin must be complaining about those surrounding the President and making it difficult for functionaries like him to hob-nob with the President. He must be complaining about sycophancy!!