So, Parliament itself approved judgement debt payments?

Friday, November 30, 2012

The public anger aroused by the Woyome judgement debt payment scandal hasn’t yet evaporated. It might not still be the dominant topical issue, but it has already been so heavily politicized against the NDC and its government as to suggest that the electorate will punish President Mahama for not retrieving the over 51 million Cedis paid to Woyome.

To many Ghanaians, no amount of official explanation or the ebb and flow of proceedings at the court trying Woyome will solve the problem. Even if the government succeeds in retrieving that money from Woyome, it appears the harm that has been done its reputation cannot be easily undone.

That is why little public interest has been aroused in the appointment of Justice Yaw Appau as the Sole Commissioner of Judgement Debts by President Mahama. He is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the payment of judgement debts and to submit a report to the government for action in a year’s time.

Is the Kumasi Peace Pact a mere window dressing?

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Efforts by the Asantehene, the Ghana Peace Council, and others that culminated into the signing of the Kumasi Peace Pact by flagbearers of the various political parties contesting next Friday’s general elections are commendable.

The events leading to this accord clearly portray the already-high and ever-rising tension in the country as a result of the uncompromising stance of the various political activists, especially those of the NDC and its main rival, the NPP, who consider the elections as a do-me-I-do-you death warrant.

This “nyamanyama” politics with Christians sucks!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

As Election Day approaches, the desperation driving the electioneering campaigns of both the NDC and NPP are assuming ugly dimensions.

While the NDC is furiously clinging on to its strategies of portraying the NPP as not better than it and rightly condemning Akufo-Addo’s fly-blown promise of free SHS education, the NPP’s followers are ramping up their campaign of calumny, vilification, and vain threats, still harping on the free SHS promise as their trump-card.

The intensity with which both camps are pursuing their campaigns is dizzying. No doubt, the “huhudious” promise of free SHS has dominated the campaign messages, particularly with the insertion of Mensa Otabil into the equation. And he has himself found the niche to engage in politically motivated speech-making stunts all over the place, creating the impression that he is playing his civic role.

Akufo-Addo again?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The death of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, former Vice President, has brought to the fore many issues that I will be bold to raise in a number of opinion pieces to throw more light on pertinent issues and to question the integrity of our politicians.

I begin with a contentious claim made by the NPP’s flagbearer, Akufo-Addo, who has “pledged to restore peace to Dagbon in honour of the former Vice President.”

In a speech paying tribute to Aliu during the pre-burial service for him at the Black Star Square in Accra on Sunday, Akufo-Addo said he would do so because “it was the wish of the late former veep that lasting peace returns to Dagbon after years of a protracted chieftaincy crisis there” (Myjoyonline, November 18, 2012).

Akufo-Addo said he was committed to honouring Aliu’s memory by working to foster peace and reconciliation in the internecine conflict that has deprived Dagbon of peace.

Outright dishonesty, treachery, chicanery, and duplicity, I say. It is insulting for Akufo-Addo who failed in his role as the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General at the time of that very Yendi Massacre to turn round to say what has just come from him as if he is new to the problem. I will justify my stance.

Democracy without peace is no democracy

Saturday, November 17, 2012

For obvious reasons, it is not often that I bother my head over pronouncements by the country’s so-called Men of God. Many of them have over the years preached virtue but practised vice and haven’t impressed me. Their deeds have overshadowed the shining examples set by the good ones among them whom we seek to emulate but get deflected away from by the bad nuts who grab our attention and revulsion!

Human as they are, they are fallible, but refuse to acknowledge it, hiding behind their calling to create an air of infallibility in which they absorb themselves and hide behind to do anti-social deeds. Woefully, they fail to diminish the sepulchre that they are—white on the outside but rotten within. We reject them.

Boycotting the IEA debate will hurt Mahama

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Comments from so-called NDC functionaries urging President Mahama to boycott next Tuesday’s debate under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs are annoying, to say the least.

Leading the pack of those elements howling for a boycott is Alhaji Bature of the Alhaj newspaper, who thinks that public utterances by Mensa Otabil (General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church) have impugned the integrity of the President for which reason he must react strongly by boycotting the debate. Alhaji Bature thinks such an action is the best way to contemn Otabil, who is the Chairman of the IEA Committee, organizers of the Presidential debates.

He is of the opinion that Otabil’s verbal attacks on the President in reacting to the tape circulating about his (Otabil’s) rejection of free education betrayed his political bias and the President shouldn’t appear at that forum to rub shoulders with him. The boycott might be a way of registering the President’s protest or paying back Otabil.

Concentrated nonsense, that is. Nothing can be more childish and politically suicidal and unwise than a suggestion for a boycott of this IEA-sponsored debate. How do some people think?

Who else is politicizing chieftaincy but the chiefs themselves? (Part II)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

We have identified the refusal by traditional rulers to respect the constitutional ban on them as very troubling because of the threat it poses to our democracy.

Left on their own, the chiefs can’t profit from the politicking going on around them. They know how to play their cards when the politicians fall into their trap by paying courtesy calls on them. One clear instance occurred recently when President John Mahama paid a courtesy call on the overlord of Tamale, Gulkpe Naa Alhassan Ziblim, to begin a campaign tour of the Tamale Metropolis.

Who else is politicizing chieftaincy but the chiefs themselves? (Part I)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP) has expressed grave concern that politicization of chieftaincy and ethnicity (especially in Northern Ghana) is “a potential source of destabilization.”

In a statement at the opening of a two-day workshop for security agencies in Tamale on Thursday, the WANEP’s Chukwuemeka B. Eze, Programmes Director of WANEP-West Africa, advised politicians to desist from politicization of chieftaincy.

I welcome this statement and will add my voice to that of the WANEP. But the overarching question is:  Who is politicizing chieftaincy but the chiefs themselves?

Come again, Dr. Mensa Otabil

Monday, November 12, 2012

The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Pastor Mensa Otabil has responded to what he calls evil attempts to expose him to public ridicule “and the running harassment against my integrity.” (Myjoyonline, November 12, 2012).

He did so to diffuse the tension and controversy surrounding statements attributed to him and being propagated as his opposition to the free SHS education promised by the NPP’s Akfuo-Addo.

I am not impressed by Otabil’s public reaction to this matter. To me, he didn’t address the main issue. He failed to hold the “political bull” by its horns and hid behind needless strong language and anger. I am not persuaded, therefore. And here is why:

·         Regardless of the manipulation of his pronouncements over the years, is Otabil denying that he ever made those utterances?

The elephants are gearing up for another circus performance

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The elephants are gathering to re-enact the 2008 circus performance that ended disastrously, resulting in their being chased into the political wilderness. They are gearing up, using the same old tactics of fly-blown promises, outright lies, wild allegations, fear-mongering, vain threats, and cacophonous rhythms that won’t turn anybody’s crank. None is enthused by such a dry performance.

They are promising a utopia that the electorate won’t be interested in. No lesson learnt after their 2008 electoral disaster.

The ululation has already begun and we can hear their shrill and ugly noises. What is missing from their stagecraft is the kangaroo dance that characterized their 2008 performances; but we won’t miss much. We have a hunch that they will use a new signature tune woven around the vacuous promise of free Senior Secondary School education to re-enact the circus. That signature tune may as well be their death knell at the polls.    

Why should Akufo-Addo give fish to the hungry?

Tuesday, November 5, 2012

I am splitting my sides with much scornful laughter at how evasive Akufo-Addo and his campaign team have become in relationship to their promise of free Senior High School education.

Contrary to the line of politicking adopted by Akufo-Addo and his followers to suggest that opponents of his promise are against free SHS education, I want to emphasize here that none of us criticizing him is so myopic as to peg issues at that point. We support anything that will make the tax payer benefit from his/her toil, sweat, and blood.

We are, however, primarily against the manner in which this promise is being bandied about without any concrete proof being given on how an Akufo-Addo government will fulfill that promise. We are unconvinced by explanations given so far.

When is incumbency not ever (ab)used?

Friday, November 2, 2012

Three civil society groups—the Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Centre for Democratic Development, and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition jointly released a report yesterday, citing President Mahama for abuse of incumbency and the NPP’s Akufo-Addo for vote-buying.

We know what vote-buying entails. We have no problem knowing what incumbency is and how it is used. We also know how much currency is often made of incumbency and how it influences political considerations. What baffles us, however, is what constitutes abuse of incumbency. Sometimes, it is good be the devil’s advocate, which is what I am setting out to be.

Northern Ghana made proud by Mahama, Sakara, and Ayariga!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

It is refreshing that three out of the Presidential Candidates to contest the December 7 elections are of Northern Ghana extraction. This is the first time in Ghana’s history that we have such an array of contestants from that part of the country for national elections.

The incumbent, John Dramani Mahama of the NDC, the People’s National Convention’s Hassan Ayariga, and the CPP’s Dr. Abu Sakara are lined up against others. Good job, folks!

That they are not put on the back-burner as Running Mates is commendable—and a challenge to those parties (especially the NPP) that consider such compatriots as good only when playing second fiddle to those in the “Yen Akanfuo” fraternity with a warped agenda of superiority complex.

Akufo-Addo now has a new name—Mr. FREEMAN

Thursday, November 1, 2012

He is all over the place, promising everything that comes to his mind as if that’s all politicking for the December elections is all about. Indeed, giving him the politically motivated name “FREEMAN” won’t be out of place; will it?

“I will provide free this, free that, free everything” has become his buzz campaign message.

Out of the whole lot, his promise on free Senior High School education has stoked so much fire as to become the double-edged sword to cut him to size.