Libya: France’s Clandestine Moves Expose NATO’s Desperation

June 30, 2011 

The real intentions behind NATO’s invasion of Libya on the pretext of solving humanitarian problems have been clear for long despite the persistent denial by the political forces behind the military campaign there. 

Nothing can be hidden from the world any more. The fading away of the cacophonous refrain of “Gaddafi must go” notwithstanding, all actions being taken are pinpointed at getting rid of Gaddafi.

As the stalemate persists, NATO has indeed become desperate beyond measure. France has just exposed that desperation by giving us one concrete evidence.

Boko Haram’s Terrorism Does Not Threaten Only Nigeria

June 28, 2011

The Nigerian government has imposed a curfew on the national capital city, Abuja, following recent attacks by Islamist militants. Nightclubs, beer parlours, and cinemas must close by 10pm local time (2100 GMT) and public parks that admit children should close by 6pm.

Abuja city’s administration said it has also banned parking of vehicles on two roads where most government offices are located.

This Dr. Asemfoforo and his Foot-soldier Nonsense Must Stop!

June 28, 2011

The conduct and utterances of some political party activists are annoying. Some of those activists are patently undisciplined and have become notorious for either perpetrating violence or acting recklessly to give our politics a bad name. They have been noticeably wayward over the past two years, claiming to be NDC foot-soldiers who are embittered at not being compensated by the government despite all the efforts they made to put the NDC back in power. It is ironical that those creating problems for the government are its own party’s followers. They have set in motion what Ghana politics doesn’t need.

Libya’s Gaddafi: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea? (Part II)

June 27, 2011

Coupled with this tendency toward “selective amnesia” by the ICC, we have obvious instances of disquiet in the international circles too. The powerful voices that control the UN have the penchant for using the world body to achieve their objectives. Thus, they’ve rendered the UN a puppet in their hands that they manipulate to the disadvantage of the weaker member countries.

From the happenings in the Arab World and the warped approach by these powerful voices, we can tell that they are not using the same yardstick to measure the various leaders of countries facing uprisings and demands for reforms.

Libya’s Gaddafi: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea? (Part I)

June 27, 2011

The international arrest warrant issued against Libya’s Muammar al-Gaddafi by the International Criminal Court (ICC) will add a new complexion to the Libyan crisis. The stalemate that the military option has caused isn’t going away soon nor will Gaddafi’s overthrow happen soon, given the dogged determination with which his forces are fighting despite the damaging airstrikes by NATO.

Now that the ICC has declared Gaddafi a “wanted man,” the stage has been set and the stakes raised higher for him to adopt hitherto unused strategies to prolong the fighting and avoid playing himself into the hands of his enemies. Any such new move to intensify his resistance will annoy NATO into ramping up its devastation, regardless of where it occurs.

Libya: U.S. Lawmakers Bare their Teeth at Obama

Friday, June 24, 2011

The BBC’s headline says it all: “House of Representatives votes against US Libya role”; and the news report itself explains matters beyond all reasonable doubts that Barack Obama’s political immaturity in the handling of the US’ involvement in the Libyan crisis is part of what will constitute a major hurdle for him as he seeks re-election next year.

According to the BBC report (June 24, 2011), “The US House has refused to give President Barack Obama authority to continue US participation in the NATO-led operation in Libya, but rejected a bid to cut off money for the conflict.”

Senegal’s Abdoulaye Wade Confirms that African Politics Stinks!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thousands of Senegalese have begun rioting in protest against what they consider to be subtle and dangerous attempts by their President, Abdoulaye Wade, to manipulate the political system to advantage. Their demonstration is in reaction to Mr. Wade’s proposed changes to the country’s constitution, now being discussed in Parliament.

Under the proposal, Mr. Wade wants to reduce the proportion of votes needed to win a presidential election from more than 50% to 25% to eliminate any run-off. The bill also creates the elected position of a vice-president, according to a BBC report.

The Libyan Crisis: Italy Humiliates NATO (Part II)

June 22, 2011

Italy’s move suggests that the benefits of common sense, which have been lost on the war-mongers, may now be striking some. The earlier they intensify efforts to end the military campaign for less volatile options to be used to resolve the crisis, the better chances are that the political leaders of the countries orchestrating NATO’s mission in Libya will be halted in their stride before they cause any more trouble for the world.

The Libyan Crisis: Italy Humiliates NATO (Part I)

 June 22, 2011

At long last, the reality check that the war-mongers orchestrating NATO’s devastation of Libya need to do is here. Something is beginning to happen within NATO circles to confirm our claim that NATO’s military campaign is not the solution for the Libyan crisis.

Italy, a NATO member, has begun taking the bull by its horns and, by this action, will set in motion the agitation that will force NATO out of Libya to make room for better solutions to be found for that country’s political crisis.

Libya: African Leaders Cowering Before Hillary Clinton?

June 19, 2011

The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, seems to be over-reaching herself and must be told the truth before she creates more problems. She seems to be in an indecent hurry to undermine the authority of African Heads of State and thereby render them more impotent than we need. She is treading where she is not needed on the continent.

If she thinks that solving the Libyan crisis lies in her assuming the  mantle of a matriarch to order about African leaders, she may realize rather too late that her over-stepping her bounds will only worsen the credibility problems that her country has all over the place. Her temerity doesn’t solve problems.

The Libyan Crisis: The Point of No Return

June 18, 2011

By now, the reality of the situation in Libya must be clear to all that the political crisis cannot be resolved by NATO’s military campaign. All the Doubting Thomases must rise up to be counted. Those still deluded by NATO’s persistent bombardment of Tripoli and anything considered as pro-Gaddafi to think that the rebels are winning the war must be jolted by what is obviously evident.

Some glaring issues make it undeniably clear that the dynamics of the Libyan situation are becoming more complicated. At least, we can infer from some of the latest developments to suggest that those who think that the military campaign by NATO will resolve the Libyan crisis are deceived. The BBC has provided some of these events, which I state below and comment on.

Zambia’s Chiluba Dies: Lessons for Ghana’s Rawlings

June 18, 2011 

Zambia's first democratically elected President, Frederick Chiluba, has died at home at the age of 68. As reported by the BBC, the cause of his death is not known but he was known to have heart problems.

His death raises important lessons that I will use as another opportunity to counsel our former President, Jerry John Rawlings, to learn. I have on several occasions written opinion pieces to suggest that Rawlings’ failure to adjust to his post-Presidency situation is problematic, not only for the country but for himself too.

Libya: Using the Country’s Own Resources to Finance Its Destruction? (Part II)

June 9, 2011

NATO'S Headache

The cost of this military campaign to Libya is unquantifiable; but some aspects can be analyzed to establish that the madness going on is just part of the West's own premeditated agenda against Gaddafi, not a genuine conscientious effort to help Libya achieve “democracy,” whatever it means.

The West is in Libya just because it hates Gaddafi and wants him out of its way so it can squeeze the country dry. Libya will pay dearly for the cost of this military campaign and suffer the harsh consequences.

Libya: Using the Country’s Own Resources to Finance Its Destruction? (Part I)

June 9, 2011

Attempts to solve the financial problems of the Benghazi-based National Transitional Council (NTC) are beginning to confirm the insidiousness of the political forces behind NATO's military campaign in Libya.

This insidiousness is not only intriguing at several levels, but it is also not unexpected because it is characteristic of the West's double-standards, which any serious observer of international politics knows. 

Taming Libya's Gaddafi: A Tale of Sorts

June 7, 2011

For the first time in its nightly military bombardment of Libya, especially its capital city (Tripoli), NATO has carried out 27 daytime airstrikes on numerous targets in Tripoli. Just like its nocturnal airstrikes, this new form of devastation targeted vital installations in and around the Libyan leader's vast Bab al-Aziziya compound.

These targets are not immediately being used to suppress civilians nor is any fighting going on in the areas that NATO has intruded into with these bombing raids. Not only has NATO destroyed these targets but it has also killed Libyan nationals.

Rawlings' BOOMING in Kumasi: The Kufuor Factor

June 6, 2011

In his attempt to BOOM at the 32nd anniversary celebration of the June 4 Uprising in Kumasi last Saturday, former President Rawlings was in his predictable and characteristic wayward element, hurling insults at all those he perceived as his enemies in Ghana politics.

More pointedly, he made high-sounding allegations against those enemies and sought to portray them as the justification for his wife's bid for the Presidency of the country so that she can undo the harm that those people have caused. 

Gaddafi Remains Adamant and NATO Goes Ballistic

June 5, 2011

Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi has stood his grounds, prompting NATO to look for more specific military means to deal with his resistance. NATO has begun using attack helicopters to inflict more harm on his command-and-control facilities (which couldn't be reached by missile attacks from a height of 20,000 feet) as well as pro-Gaddafi forces embedded in civilian population. 

The BOOM That Doesn't Favour Nana Konadu (Part II)

June 6, 2011

Apart from the reasons that we have already adduced to explain that Nana Konadu can't defeat President Mills, a number of other factors will influence the choice that the delegates will make; and I bet the Rawlingses that those factors favour President Mills more than they do his challenger:

1. Rawlings himself has already made the going tough for his wife—by choosing to premise her quest for the Presidency on vengeance. His main beef against President Mills is the latter's reluctance to punish functionaries of the Kufuor government. Ghanaians know that successful governance goes beyond the wreaking of havoc on political opponents. If vengeance is all that is motivating Nana Konadu's quest, she will not be anybody's favourite candidate;

The BOOM That Doesn't Favour Nana Konadu (Part I)

June 6, 2011

The much-anticipated June 4 Boom event has come to pass without its registering anything significantly new on the political landscape. It is the same old story that has been doing the rounds as part of the Rawlings agenda for mischief in Ghana politics. 

Rawlings' stentorian whining emerged as the most significant landmark of the Kumasi event. As was to be expected, Rawlings used the occasion to make wild allegations at everybody he considers as an enemy. 

Welcoming Two African Puppets to the White House

June 5, 2011

The US President Barack Obama will welcome Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to the White House on June 8, officials said on Saturday, according to an Agence France Presse (AFP) news report.

Obama “looks forward to consulting with President Jonathan on the latest regional and global developments, and deepening our strong bilateral partnership,” his spokesman said in a statement.

Libya: The Rebels Are Crying for Money

June 5, 2011

Two major problems currently facing the rebels and their leadership suggest that the bubbles of optimism that have driven their insurgency against Muammar al-Gaddafi may burst soon if conditions don't improve.

Within the short period that they have celebrated gains from their exchanges with Gaddafi, thanks to NATO's leading role in clearing the path for them, the rebels seem to be confronted with problems that threaten their future aspirations. 

The US Congress Rebukes Obama over Libya

June 4, 2011

Even as NATO intensifies its bombing campaign in Libya—using attack helicopters for the first time—the news from the House of Representatives (Congress) of the United States suggests stiff opposition to the President's conduct of affairs without first seeking Congressional approval. 

The Fire That Rawlings Has Lit…

June 3, 2011

For as long as the Rawlingses give us cause to question their motives, we will continue to write on them. We already know as much as we can about them but shouldn't just sit back to look on idly as they take us for the kind of ride that we don't want or won't enjoy.

Without any shred of doubt, I can say with evidence that Rawlings is Ghana's bugbear. Since he shot into the limelight on May 15, 1979, he hasn't ceased being so in several ways. The fire that he has lit may end up scalding him if he continues playing with it.

The Rawlingses Can Go To Hell

Friday, June 3, 2011

One of the failed (or attempted?) contestants of the NDC's flagbearership position, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has made an annoying utterance that is not only nauseating but is also provocative for whatever it means. He is reported to have warned of the possibility of a new political party emerging from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) by September if the wrangling in the party is not resolved.

And who will form that party? The Rawlingses!! 

Feature: Libya: As Jacob Zuma Fails, Can The West “Finish The Job”?

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Hopes that the Libyan crisis will be resolved through an African initiative bordering on diplomatic and political means are gradually fading—and leaving the clout in NATO’s hands to use its military campaign as the solution for Libya’s internal political problem.     

The African Union’s last-ditch efforts to broker peace have hit a snag following the inconclusive talks between South African President Jacob Zuma and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli without any announcement towards an end to the conflict between Gaddafi and his opponents.

Saving Libya: Will Jacob Zuma Be the African Union’s Star?

May 30, 2011

Fresh attempts are being made to tackle the Libyan crisis outside the military campaign that NATO has sustained all this while. It is reported that South African President Jacob Zuma is heading for Libya for what is being seen as a last attempt to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

As the BBC put it, “It is unclear if the visit, Mr. Zuma's second, will focus on exit strategies for Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi.”

Breaking The Back Of Libya’s Gaddafi from Within

May 28, 2011

The influence of African countries on the Libyan crisis is noticeable in two different ways, each of which is not part of the solution needed to resolve the conflict but part of what is complicating the crisis even more. 

Let's begin with the first one. The endorsement given by South Africa, Nigeria, and Gabon to the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 is a major hurdle that has prevented a concerted action by the African Union or peace-lovers elsewhere to present a common front on how to tackle the Libyan crisis without using the military option.

Libya’s Gaddafi Must Go—But Where To?

May 27, 2011

It is now clear that the political leaders serving as the driving force behind NATO's military campaign in Libya are determined not to listen to reason to use other means than the military campaign of devastation to resolve the conflict between the legitimate government headed by Muammar al-Gaddafi and the Benghazi-based rebels and their Transitional National Council. 

The Workings of the Neo-Colonialist Machine in Libya

May 25, 2011

The twists and turns worsening the Libyan crisis have been underscored by three events within the past two weeks. We must not under-rate these events because they reveal to us the workings of neo-colonialism and will certainly determine the future direction in which Libya moves.

Right in front of our eyes, we see how the West is pursuing its premeditated agenda of partitioning Libya for its own good, not that of the country and its people.

Libya: Why Must It Now Be NATO’s War?

May 25, 2011

As the turmoil in Libya drags on, it is bringing in its wake very frightening developments. What began as a purely local and internal crisis has now assumed gross global dimensions that must not be allowed to continue. It is now clear that NATO has taken over the war in Libya to fight the cause of the Benghazi-based rebels. 

In a brazen show of military madness, NATO has stepped up its assault on Libya, pounding the capital city (Tripoli) with more than 20 airstrikes within 30 minutes alone early Tuesday in its most intense bombardment yet. This barbarity is part of NATO's efforts to intensify pressure on the Gaddafi government and force the Libyan leader out of power.

The UN Secretary-General Shames President Mills' Detractors

May 23, 2011

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has lauded President John Evans Atta Mills for his role in the peace process in La Cote d'Ivoire. He said the exemplary leadership role of President Mills in crisis situations in Africa was unmatched, and described him as “the best leader on the continent.” 

What? The shock (or the cheek?) of it, you might say. President Mills being described as “the best leader on the continent”? What a pleasant surprise? Believe it or not, that's what the UN Secretary-General has said, and that's what he wants to be understood and accepted as such. I salute him for his candidness.

The Libyan Crisis: NATO’s Three Options Are Not the Solution

May 22, 2011

As the International Coalition's involvement in the Libyan crisis crosses the 60th-day mark, some glimpses into how NATO intends to prosecute the “Gaddafi-must-go” agenda henceforth have begun emerging for us to know—and be persuaded—that the military campaign will continue indefinitely for as long as the stalemate persists and Libya's Gaddafi remains alive and in full control of his government.

The International Coalition is confident that its military campaign is achieving good results and must be sustained. 

Libya: A Major Test Case for Barack Obama

May 21, 2011

The participation of the United States in the International Coalition's devastation of Libya is taking a new direction that raises interesting legal issues to test President Barack Obama's resolve. Not only that.

A legal conundrum stares him right in the face and how he handles it will shape the path for him as he prepares to approach the electorate for a renewal of his mandate at the 2012 polls.

Libya: The Price of Political Immaturity!

May 21, 2011

Tax payers in Britain must have a big heart—and be extremely magnanimous too—to look on while their government wastes so much of their resources on fighting a cause in Libya that can be resolved through less costly means than the military campaign that Britain has committed itself to. 

The cost to Britain of the military operations in Libya has reached £100m, according to the BBC. This is just Britain's share of what the International Coalition has borne so far. No one knows yet how much the entire campaign has cost so far; but Britain seems to be paying a huge price already.

Our Judges Shouldn’t Judge Themselves—As Angels! (Part II)

May 20, 2011

The Association of Judgers and Magistrates is being wayward. After all, if it were not so, why would the judge who sat at the Supreme Court to adjudicate the case involving Dr. Atuguba's client (Dramani Sakande, MP for Bawku Central) adjourn the case “sine die” in a direct, quick, and irresponsible response to the “blacklisting” of Dr. Atuguba?

Is this not a miscalculation since the General Legal Council hasn't yet determined the case put before it to warrant any such boycott of the case being defended by Dr. Atuguba and the others? 

Our Judges Shouldn’t Judge Themselves—As Angels! (Part I)

May 20, 2011

The fight against immorality in the country will continue to be difficult for as long as some people in vital sectors continue to play the ostrich.

With all the persistent clamour against bribery and corruption as a major factor that hampers good governance, it is unacceptable for some people to attempt whitewashing themselves and seeking to harm those who are bold enough to tell us what we need to factor into the strategies for addressing the problem.

Is Africa’s Plight Permanent?

May 17, 2011

I don't know how you will react to the news report below; but mine was to immediately disregard it as one of the nine days' wonders that irritate people for nothing. Upon a deeper reflection, however, I decided not to. The report entails more than its being a mere figment of somebody's wishful thinking.

It reveals something to prove that we in Africa lack the benefits of good judgement and endeavours that have helped other countries develop. That's the motivation for this opinion piece.

Libya: Has The ICC Cast The Die For Gaddafi?

May 17, 2011

At long last, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has waded into the Libyan crisis with a decision that will close the noose around the Libyan leader's neck. The ICC seems to have cast the die for him in its collaboration with NATO.

They have now steadily pushed him to the banks of the Rubicon and will certainly force him to cross over to his doom. It is no more a question of how they will get rid of Gaddafi but rather, a question of when. We already know why the West is in Libya.

Ghana’s Woes: The Negative Politics of Abandoned Projects (Part II)

May 15, 2011

Apart from doing negative politics with the development projects, what justification is there for our governments to abandon what their predecessors had initiated? There is too much politics in everything that is done in our country. Truly, this state of affairs is unhealthy. 

Ghana’s Woes: The Negative Politics of Abandoned Projects ( Part I)

May 15, 2011

In our kind of politics, where promise-making and the initiation of politically motivated development projects predominate, there is very little for anybody to say in defence of the irresponsible behaviour of governments that fail (or refuse)—for partisan political reasons—to complete projects begun by their predecessors. Or to maintain those projects, thus leaving them to deteriorate.

Libya: The Dribbling Has Already Begun

May 14, 2011

If the leaders of the countries bonded together in the International Coalition that is helping the Benghazi rebels sustain the turmoil in Libya initially thought that eliminating the Gaddafi government would be a cake walk, they had it wrong.

Two months after rushing into Libya to enforce the UN Security Council's Resolution 1973 on a “no-fly zone” and to solve humanitarian problems, efforts at toppling Gaddafi from power have produced nothing but massive destruction of Libyan property and lives.

Libya: Why the Continued NATO Airstrikes Won’t Solve the Problem

May 14, 2011

Considering the lull in the humanitarian crisis—because there is no serious fighting going on now after the rebels had gained the upper hand in Misrata and the pro-Gaddafi forces have withdrawn—what is the justification for NATO's continued bombardment of Libya, especially its capital, Tripoli?

Stop This Herbert Mensah Now!

May 10, 2011

As the in-fighting in the NDC rages on, some disquieting developments have begun emerging to threaten our peace of mind and must be stemmed before they blow us off our feet. I am tempted to infer from those happenings that some elements are pushing Ghanaian politics to its lowest depths of depravity.

Herbert Mensah, described as “a self-confessed radical individual and a close associate of the Rawlingses,” has come to attention for making two different utterances that have far-reaching implications for our politics.

President Mills: Stop This “Adom Wo Wim” Politics Now!

May 8, 2011

If there is one thing that irks me about President Mills' conduct in office, it is nothing but his tendency to irritate some of us with his Christian religious zeal to create the impression that he is cementing the bond between the State and the Church instead of separating both to prevent any friction in the country.

He is constantly privileging Christianity over all other faiths in the country and creating the impression that all we need to solve our country's problems is to look up to his Christian God. 

Is President Mills Really Ungrateful?

May 8, 2011

Opponents of President Mills—particularly those following Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings and her husband—are clapping with only one hand as they go about accusing him of being ungrateful to the Rawlingses.

Certainly, by so doing, they don't proffer anything meaningful to a genuine national development effort or the discourse on how to strengthen our democracy.

Libya: The Split Is Gradually Emerging!

May 6, 2011

The events to confirm the splitting of Libya into two countries are unfolding right in front of our eyes. The outcome of the collusion between the Benghazi rebels and the International Coalition backing them is emerging for us to know how it will change the political dynamics of Libya for the worse. 

We are beginning to see clear signs of a country being torn into two—the East (with its capital city as Benghazi, to be under the control of the Transitional National Council) and the West (with Tripoli as its capital city, still in the hands of the country's Head of State, Muammar el-Gaddafi).

Why We Must Not Neglect the Rawlingses

May 5, 2011

For whatever he may be to them, some people may quickly downgrade the former United States President, George Walker Bush. But here is something from him that is so instructive as to earn him some credit.

Fighting the Opposition, the Enemy, and the Traitor?

May 4, 2011

I am particularly concerned about the implications of what the Rawlingses have set in motion, which Rawlings' violent-laden utterance portrays: “…We will be fighting all kinds. If we are not fighting the opposition, you have the enemy also on one hand, and you have the traitor also on the other.” 

Who else in Ghana's current democratic experiment does Rawlings perceive as “the enemy,” or “a traitor” to mobilize forces against if not the very President and members of the government that the NDC fought to put in power? Are these fair perceptions at all?

Nana Konadu Has Started On the Wrong Foot Already

May 4, 2011

At the launching of her “Presidential Campaign” at the Accra International Conference Center, Nana Konadu made utterances which seemed to suggest that she might not have known why she chose to go against the grain in challenging President Mills.

Her utterances were, indeed, more of a reflection on the very problems that she and her husband have created for the NDC than any acceptable justification for her wanting to be Ghana's President (May God forbid, though). 

Ghana Doesn’t Need Nana Konadu’s Bubonic-Plague Politics!

May 3, 2011

Nana Konadu has actualized her ambition by picking nomination forms from the NDC Headquarters to contest the Flagbearer position with President Mills. From what has transpired already, I can say that she is a non-starter already.

But poised to cause confusion, she will now begin her campaign of calumny. She must be put where she belongs. My approach here is a meant to serve that purpose.

Libya: Withdrawal of United Nations Staff Is Not the Answer

May 2, 2011

The United Nations has decided to pull its international staff from Tripoli (Libya) to avert any physical attacks on them. The UN's decision followed the vandalizing of its mission in Tripoli following the latest military operation by NATO that killed Gaddafi's 29 year-old student-son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and three of his grandchildren yesterday.

Libya: Do We Already Have Martyrs?

May 1, 2011

The International Coalition (NATO) smells blood in Libya and is going for it. NATO has just killed four unarmed, innocent members of the Gaddafi family.

Twenty-nine-year-old Saif al-Arab Gaddafi (Gaddafi's son studying in Germany but home to spend time with his family) and three children (Gaddafi's grandchildren) were murdered in a bombing operation by NATO which destroyed their residential villa. The BBC reported that the Libyan leader and his wife were also there but unhurt. 

The NPP’s Primaries—Matters Arising

April 30, 2011

The NPP has successfully conducted nationwide primaries to choose its Parliamentary candidates for the 2012 elections.

Despite the confusion in some of the constituencies or the initial cancellation of the elections in 10 others (for reasons already explained by the party's leadership), everything went according to schedule and results released to tell us who will be contesting the Parliamentary elections where.

Good job, and congratulations to all those who made it possible.

Confronting Ghana’s Problems: Political Intolerance (Part III)

April 29, 2011

Political intolerance creeps slowly from the underworld of damaging gossips and backbiting through scheming to undercut political opponents to open verbal exchanges, physical confrontations, hiring of thugs to molest (and kill political rivals), and selective sabotage. It is everywhere, pervasive and threatening social cohesion.

Political intolerance in Ghana is nourished by ethnic sentiments, pure personal hatred, or mischief arising from frustrations. Such frustrations could stem from many sources: lack of self-fulfillment in politics; inability to win political office; the fact that one's preferred political party or politician is not in power; and pure hatred for those in power.

Confronting Ghana’s Problems: Political Intolerance (Part II)

April 29, 2011

With the eruption of open-ended in-fighting in the NDC, all manner of unsavoury comments from the various functionaries aligned to any of the main players (President Mills' government as against the faction supporting the Rawlingses) suggest that the level of political intolerance has been raised to frighteningly higher levels. 

Ghanaians must be perturbed by this show of aggressiveness. It is not a situation that any rival political party should seek to gain from; first, because it has the potential to destabilize governance and endanger our democracy; and second, because the phenomenon of political intolerance is not limited to only the NDC. 

Confronting Ghana’s Problems: Political Intolerance (Part I)

April 29, 2011

A cursory glance at the Ghanaian political landscape reveals that there is too much political intolerance, which suggests that we are not doing enough to grow our democracy. Political intolerance is a good recipe for disaster but we seem not to care.

That's a major threat to our democracy and must be reckoned as such. More importantly, we must do all we can to stop this negative trend so as to avert any political upheaval. 

Ivory Coast: Ouattara Faces His First Major Challenge

April 28, 2011

As is to be expected, those who live by the sword will definitely perish by the sword. In life, it is patently clear that what you love is what will kill you. Ibrahim Coulibaly, leader of the so-called militia group (Invisible Commandos) has been killed by forces of the country's new President, Alassane Ouattara.

He was killed in an offensive on Wednesday, a Defence Ministry spokesman (Captain Alla Kouakou Leon) told Reuters (BBC news, April 28, 2011).

Libya: Will the West Listen to the Pope?

April 24, 2011

At long last, a powerful voice of reason has emerged to prove to the partners in the International Coalition that political problems must be solved through political and diplomatic means, not the flexing of military muscles. That powerful voice has confirmed arguments that humanitarian problems cannot be solved through the creation of more humanitarian problems.

President Mills Is No Coward or Sycophant

April 23, 2011

In every historical epoch, every country deserves the kind of government it gets. Ghanaians have President John Evans Atta Mills and his NDC government. That's not as an accident of history, but the logical outcome of the exercise of democratic rights to choose leaders in the 16th year of the 4th Republic. 

Whether for good or bad, President Mills has established a good reputation for himself as the most tolerant, patient, humble, and God-fearing President that Ghana has had so far. Such attributes are useful for tempering the political sentiments of the period. I challenge all his critics to prove me wrong. 

Libya: What Next After the Stalemate?

April 22, 2011

As the ding-dong battle continues and there are clear signs of its grinding to a stalemate, the West and their internal collaborators in Libya (the Benghazi rebels) must be biting their fingers and looking for other means to disengage before the citizens in those Western countries turn the heat on their leaders.

Public opinion against the devastation going on in Libya will soon turn against these leaders, especially considering the fact that their own citizens don't seem to appreciate their accomplishments in office to warrant the dissipation of their countries' resources on this mission of chasing a mirage in the Sahara Desert.

Libya: The Stalemate That the West Fears Is Here (Part II)

April 22, 2011

The US has authorized the use of armed, unmanned Predator drones over Libya to give “precision capabilities,” which will not only cause more devastation of Libya but also create false hopes in the rebels even as the pro-Gaddafi forces stand their grounds in defence of their cause.

In effect, the end to the Libyan crisis is not in sight. It is so because of the intransigence of the West not to use other options.

Libya: The Stalemate That the West Fears Is Here (Part I)

April 22, 2011

Indications are clear that the powerful states of the West have chosen to wear their military prowess like a badge even though it is not helping solve the crisis that made them rush into Libya more than a month ago.

The admission by the US Admiral Mike Mullen that the Libyan situation is reaching a stalemate confirms what some of us foresaw at the very initial stages of the armed rebellion against the Gaddafi regime and wrote on. We are not surprised that it has taken the US (and maybe, its European and Arab League allies) so long to recognize this reality. 

Will There Be Two Libyas, After All?

April 22, 2011

My persistent criticism of the devastation of Libya by the US, Britain, France, and their allies in the NATO or Arab League is not to be seen as my support for Gaddafi's long rule and the desire for him to continue in office to suppress dissension or molest his own people. Far from it. My intention is not to lionize Gaddafi either.

Having monitored Gaddafi's political administration and attitude to his opponents over the years, I am not the kind to glorify him and wish that he will remain in office to continue with his iron-fist politics.

Libya: Why the Worst Is Coming from the West

April 21, 2011

From all indications, the UN Security Council's Resolution 1973 has become an albatross with very nasty implications. Initially couched and perceived as a blessing—because it was meant to solve humanitarian problems arising from the rebellion against Gaddafi's regime—the Resolution seems to be ushering in unpleasant developments. 

Rawlings Go, Rawlings Come: Ghana's Woes

April 17, 2011

One of our main problems in this country is the slipshod manner in which we approach matters of leadership at all levels. Bluntly put, we are not serious about propping up our democracy with good leadership for it to grow at the pace and quality that will instill confidence in Ghanaians that the sacrifices they continue to make are not in vain.

We seem not to know how to do things for our democracy to mature. We are still stuck on trial-and-error mechanisms that lead to nothing but disaster.

Supporting Nana Konadu Means No Love for NDC or Ghana

April 16, 2011

Having seriously scrutinized the kind of politics being done in our contemporary Ghanaian context, I can confidently say that anybody who supports Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings' bid to contest the NDC's flagbearership doesn't really love the NDC. Nor does such a person love Ghana. 

The foregone conclusion is that former President Rawlings is hiding behind his wife to attempt circumventing the Constitution (which debars him from returning to power) as he seeks to rule Ghana through her.

Is President Mills That Bad?

April 16, 2011

From the manner in which the Rawlingses and their collaborators are sinking their teeth into President Mills, one will think that John Fiifi Evans Atta Mills is the devil incarnate in Ghanaian politics.

What exactly will make the Rawlingses “hate” President Mills so much as to attempt doing the weirdest thing ever: to cut off their heads just because they have a headache?

Rawlings: An Angel Abroad and a Devil at Home?

April 15, 2011

When the African Union appointed him its High Representative to Somalia, many of us hailed his choice, thinking that having survived such difficult times in his own rule and knowing very well the harm that armed insurrections do to countries, he would learn useful lessons on his mission to guide his conduct. 

He's been to Somalia and Kenya and seen the evidence of what instability does to a people and their system. But he seems to have left that lesson behind him before returning to his own country where, since his return, he has raised much dust.

Libya: The Letter That Betrays NATO’s Desperation

April 15, 2011

President Barack Obama of the US, Prime Minister David Cameron of the UK, and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France have written a joint letter to The Times of London, the International Herald Tribune, and Le Figaro, vowing to keep up the pressure on Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and pledging to maintain NATO military pressure on his forces (according to the BBC news, April 14, 2011).

A substantial part of that letter said: “Our duty and our mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1973 is to protect civilians, and we are doing that. It is not to remove Gaddafi by force. But it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with Gaddafi in power.”

When Rawlings Sees Ghosts…

April 14, 2011

Former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has described the arrest of Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo on Monday as a repetition of the tragedy of DR Congo's Patrice Lumumba in 1960.

The Cat in Nana Konadu’s Bag is Now Out

April 13, 2011

At long last, the cat that Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings has been hiding in her political bag is out. It is now up to Dr. Kwabena Adjei and his team to determine the particular way in which that cat will be killed or nurtured to grow into the monster that will eventually consume its own baby, the NDC.

By our human nature, it is not strange for us to start life as fools and become wise through experience. Some people, however, choose to do otherwise and function in reverse. The Rawlingses come to mind; and I will be blunt to say that having begun their political life as wise (through experience), they are doing overtime to end it as fools.

Libya: The Chips Have Now Fallen In Place

April 13, 2011

The chips have eventually fallen in place for us to know the exact objective of the International Coalition that has been destroying Libya since the United Nations endorsed the military option as its solution to the humanitarian crisis in that country.

If any doubt had been hanging around about what exactly the International Coalition would do in enforcing the UN Resolution 1973, it must by now have been cleared by events that have unfolded so far. The International Coalition is a smokescreen for the West and Gaddafi's opponents in the Arab World to physically use their internal collaborators in Libya to remove him from power.

The Six Cardinal Sins That President Mills Committed

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

No single day passes by without our hearing an NDC member condemn President J.E.A. Mills for alleged failures. Some have even gone to the extent of discounting his intellectual abilities (let alone leadership qualities) and ruled him out for a possible second term in office.

Obviously, no sitting Ghanaian President has been hounded as much as we see being done to President Mills. His situation is more pathetic because the hounding is being done by the very people who helped him win the mandate to rule the country.

Libya: Who Can Satisfy A Rebel?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The tired saying may be right after all: “Show me your friend, and I will tell you your character.”

Even without weighing the long-term implications of the African Union delegation's “Road Map for Peace,” the Libyan rebels have rejected the offer to end hostilities and use political solution as the compass to show a new direction for their country. I am not in the least surprised at this rejection.

Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo Falls—To Pity Or Not To Pity?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

When I saw the Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo in “Joe Singlet” and sweating profusely on the BBC and Euro News channels a short while ago, I didn't know whether to laugh or weep. I was torn between both emotional points but managed to heave a sigh (itself, not definitively in support or condemnation of him).

The sad end of Gbagbo's Presidency raises very serious questions that will be difficult to answer conclusively. Can power corrupt so absolutely as to make a politician willingly destroy himself and his country?  

Who is Really a TRUE NDC Member? (Part II)

April 8, 2011

It would be foolish to argue that as the founder of the NDC, Rawlings can't do otherwise but jump on those he thinks are not doing what he expects.

Similarly, it would be foolish to argue that he doesn't have any right to speak his mind on issues. No one begrudges him that right but his failure to exercise it responsibly is the beef that we have with him.   

Who is Really a TRUE NDC Member? (Part I)

April 8, 2011

Over the past few days, former President Rawlings has lifted his criticism of the Mills government to dizzying heights and created the impression that the NDC government has reached a dead end.

He has condemned those in government he sees as using the NDC as a fodder to rebuild the CPP and vowed not to campaign for President Mills if he happens to emerge as the NDC's flagbearer.

Seeking Justice for the Yaa-Naa Is a National Service

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Many people have already expressed diverse opinions on the latest twists and turns in the search for (and punishment of) the murderers of the Yaa-Naa (Yakubu Andani II) and 40 of his subjects in March 2002. The matter is still troubling and the discourse on it must continue until reason and justice (not partisan politics) prevail.

The inability of our security services and the Judiciary to resolve the case satisfactorily is a sad reflection on the inadequacies of the country's justice delivery system. It reinforces public fears that the justice delivery system is awash with incompetence.

Is The West Not on a Fool’s Errand in Libya?

April 1, 2011

Some developments indicate that the proponents of the ongoing bombardment of Libyan infrastructure might not have fully comprehended the implications of the military option before choosing it to solve the crisis in Libya.

It is becoming clear that they are on a fool's errand and may realize it only after the fact.

Inciting Libyan Government Officials to Defect Is Not the Solution

April 1, 2011

There is some misguided optimism among some Western leaders (especially Britain's David Cameron) that when high-ranking Libyan government officials desert the Gaddafi government, it will be weakened from within and not take long to collapse.

The expectation is that if the government collapses at the departure of these functionaries, Gaddafi will not have the capacity to govern Libya. 

Libya: The Contradictions and Conspiracies Thicken

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Some 40 delegations (from the coalition, the UN, NATO, the African Union, and Arab League, but not the Libyan government) met in London today (Tuesday, March 29, 2011) “to discuss the way forward for Libya,” according to BBC news reports. 

The meeting, convened by the major players in the International Coalition now devastating Libya, seems to be preparing grounds for determining how Libya should be governed after Gaddafi's overthrow.

Libya: When Rebels Become Rulers…

March 29, 2011

The International Coalition is determined to help the Libyan rebels attain political power. Through its persistent bombardment of Gaddafi's bastions, the Coalition has virtually become the prime mover for the rebels in their dogged determination to replace Gaddafi with themselves.

But will these rebels be the answer to Libya's problems? I don't think so. 

Libya: Is it Oil or Democracy?

Monday, March 28, 2011

News reports that the rebels have struck a deal with Qatar for the sale and export of Libya's crude oil in rebel-controlled hands have given a glimpse into the twists and turns of the ongoing impasse in that country.

Even before any decisive victory is won, attention is being focused on the livewire of the Libyan economy, which reinforces suspicion that the International Coalition's ulterior motive is to create favourable conditions for the West to exploit Libya's crude oil stock with impunity; and to scare other countries wishing to build up some military strength to challenge allies or interests of the West. 

The African Union's Lamentations Speak Volumes (Part II)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

It seems the member-states of the AU carry into the AU gamut their peculiar problems to worsen the plight of the continental body. Just like its member-states, the AU is not strong enough to stand on its feet.

How many countries in Africa can balance their domestic budgets without first pan-handling in the international donor community or seeking input from the IMF/World Bank? Is there any country in Africa that can claim to be economically strong enough to shun input from the IMF/World Bank and still survive the whirligig?

The African Union's Lamentations Speak Volumes (Part I)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Tumultuous events currently tearing apart some countries on the continent have exposed the weaknesses of the continental body—African Union (AU)—and revealed why the international community would choose to do things with impunity on the continent. 

What makes other continental or regional blocs strong and assertive but not the AU? The European Union is a force to reckon with, just as other blocs in North/South America are. Why is the AU disrespected and sidelined?

When Insults Become Our Main Political Tool…

March 24, 2011

Two incidents (whether real or imaginary) reported by the pro-NPP Daily Guide newspaper seem to be creating conditions for deepening the gulf between Ghana's arch political rivals—the NDC and NPP.

Whether it's for political weal or woe, the report has aroused public interest and seems to be reflecting the troubling contradictions in our political system.

Both the NDC and NPP seem to be locked up in an unhealthy battle-of-nerves whose main arsenal is insults… insults… insults; and nothing but insults.

Have Nigeria, South Africa, and Gabon Betrayed the African Union?

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

When the rebellion against Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi erupted, the African Union registered its concern and called for circumspection while making moves toward a non-violent solution other than the current international military operations against Libya.

The AU condemned the Gaddafi government's over-reaction and feared that any intransigence would worsen the crisis in that country.

Ghana Doesn't Need Any Religious Intolerance

Monday, March 21, 2011

The elimination of our Ghanaian traditional religious element from this year's celebration of Ghana's 54th independence anniversary is unacceptable. No one should attempt to justify it because it is a clear demonstration of waywardness.

It is not only reprehensible but it suggests that our national leaders are indeed “lost.” Such characters cannot be relied on to sustain national unity or provide the impetus for growth and development. They confirm Marcus Garvey's wise saying that “a people who do not know their roots are lost.” 

Democracy for Libya—A Hard Road to Travel?

March 20, 2011

For all the 40 or more years that he has been ruling Libya, Col. Muammar al-Gaddafi cannot be said to be the perfect ruler that Libyans (or the world) expected him to be. By acts of commission or omission, he has succeeded in positioning himself to be loved or hated, depending on where one stands to relate to him.

To his admirers, he is a “King of Kings”; but to those who dislike him, he is “the madman of the desert” whose dictatorship knows no bounds. Gaddafi is, indeed, a character-of-sorts who is where he is today because of the bundle of contradictions that he has turned himself into. 

After Gaddafi, What Next for Libya?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

As the West and their collaborating Arab League countries that have now marshalled forces to attack Libya are gleefully thumping their chests over their anticipated military successes against Muammar Gaddafi, they seem not to be questioning the implications of their actions beyond the Gaddafi factor.

This so-called five-nation International Coalition (including the UK, US, France, Italy, and Canada) has only one ultimate goal—to destroy Gaddafi's military capabilities to the advantage of the rebels seeking to overthrow him. Disguised as an effort to save the lives of civilians, the Coalition will go all out to incapacitate Gaddafi's forces.