Ukraine crisis: What will Russia do now?

Monday, May 12, 2014

Russia seems to be in a fix, at least, if the crisis in East Ukraine and its handling of affairs to date suggest that it risks facing more sanctions from the United States and European Union. The latest development is that pro-Russian activists in East Ukraine have won yesterday’s referendum to separate themselves from Ukraine government and have asked for a union with Russia.

A Ukrainian separatist leader is calling on Russia to "absorb" the eastern region of Donetsk after Sunday's referendum on self-rule. Self-declared Donetsk People's Republic leader Denis Pushilin urged Moscow to listen to the "will of the people".

In neighbouring Luhansk, where a vote was also held, rebels declared independence.

(See: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27369980)

The Asantehene has said it all, and I agree with him

Sunday, May 11, 2014

As he graced the grand durbar today in celebrations climaxing the 15th anniversary of his installation as Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made some very important observations that came across to me as illuminating in import and substance.

He said pointedly that "Politics has substantially eroded the innate creative mind and enterprising spirit of modern day Ghanaian as many resort to it as the surest way of making it in life".

He added: “We have become addicted to a new phenomenon of a talking craft called politics that has drained our people of all creativity and enterprise, and replaced the taskmasters who produce food and timber with the talk masters who are feeding us on air.

“The consequence of this shift is the mood of depression and pessimism; unending argument of non-performing assets; and the desperation of abandoning hard work in favour of the search for instant miracles.”

Confronting Boko Haram: Action, not empty words!!

Wednesday, May 8, 2014

Folks, while the United States and Britain have taken practical action by sending security and intelligence personnel to Nigeria to tackle the Boko Haram menace, leaders in the ECOWAS sub-region are merely scratching the surface of the problem: talking and talking about intentions and not what decisive action they have planned to take.

As usual, a "talk-shop" approach is all they have determined as their response to Boko Haram. Forget about the nicety entailed by the murky intent "to” activate anti-terrorism strategy against Boko Haram”. It is a mere whiff of air being blown!!

The anti-Mahama campaign is in full gear

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My good friends, when President Mahama paid a three-day visit to the Ashanti Region last week, he was warmly received, despite the constant railing against his government by political opponents, especially those in the NPP.

He commissioned numerous projects and made promises to add more to what the Ashanti Region has had so far.

Then, he interacted with cross-sections of the populace, especially the Asanteman and NDC supporters. He made utterances to whip up support for his government.

Out of what he delivered, his opponents have found a way to turn the table against him to reinforce their Mahama-loathing agenda and re-ignite their claim that the NDC has an "Ashanti Agenda" ( a throwback to what they had accused ex-President Mills of institutionalizing to "punish" them for massively supporting the NPP).

Nigeria provides legitimate cause for the US and its Africom

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Folks, the situation in Nigeria is more than alarming. While the Boko Haram terrorist group is on the rampage, the Nigerian government retreats and creates the impression that it is incapable of solving the security threat facing the country.

Boko Haram’s recent abduction of over 200 girls vis-a-vis the Nigerian government’s inaction gives credence to the incompetence that characterizes the state and federal governments. Boko Haram has just abducted 8 more girls in the north-eastern part of the country.

Last night, Abubakar Shekau (the leader of Boko Haram) was shown on TV, boldly daring the Nigerian government and declaring his intention to sell the abducted girls.

“God instructed me to sell them, they are his properties and I will carry out his instructions,” he said.

(See: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27298614)

Will the NPP be chasing a wild goose in the Volta Region?

Monday, May 5, 2014

Folks, the NPP’s Maxwell Kofi Jumah is well known for his goofs, gaffes, and gibberish; but he hasn’t made me laugh my heart out as loudly as he has done with his current deceitful cunning: “NPP targeting 2 million votes in Volta Region” (See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=308252)

This kind of flea-blown utterance clearly confirms the desperation in the NPP camp. Probably, such a self-serving claim is designed to feed National Chairman Paul Afoko’s “New Plan for Power.”

Truth be told, there is nothing wrong about choosing targets to hit; what is clearly wrong about such a choice, though, is the reality behind it.

Why the Volta Region, particularly, and not the other regions with a larger voter population?

Even the Catholic Church is against the EPA

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Folks, I am in the mood to step on big toes. I will rumble on a few issues that have helped me know why Ghanaian politicians can’t solve problems. 

Clearly, such issues shed much light on what has befallen us in Ghana and will continue to doom us because our leaders appear to be more interested in pushing us deeper into the labyrinth than doing anything to free us. And they have the constituency to help them do so because Ghanaian politics is full of nonsense. It thrives on deception, which destroys more than builds.