The NPP cannot break the heart of Ghanaians!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

The NPP’s National Youth Organizer (Sammy Awuku) was reported on Tuesday as urging the NPP leaders and followers to “stop breaking the hearts of Ghanaians”.

According to him, the NPP is a government in waiting and “Ghanaians are looking up to us to restore hope and redeem them from the shackle of poverty they have been plunged in by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC)”.

(See: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/May-27th/lets-stop-breaking-the-hearts-of-ghanaians-sammy-awuku-to-npp.php)

Although the motivation for Sammy Awuku’s utterance was the dog-eat-dog phenomenon now threatening unity in the party, he took his audacity too far; and I want to bring him back to his station and caution him not to mistake high hopes for reality. It is a figment of his own fevered imagination that is deceiving him to think that way.

The United States throws Libya into turmoil and runs away…

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Folks, I have heard it said several times that the US has interests but no permanent friend anywhere in the world. Certainly, it has demonstrated its military prowess in many parts of the world top confirm such an impression and to worsen it in other cases.

Happenings in Libya provide ample evidence to suggest that the US is running away from the very shadow that it created and used to insert itself in the Libyan crisis.

After putting Libya in a state of turmoil after helping opponents of Muammar Gaddafi to kill him and destabilize the country, the United States is detaching itself from that country. The nasty events in Benghazi that resulted in the killing of its Ambassador Stephens notwithstanding, the US seems to be sitting on the fence as the situation in Libya deteriorates by the day.

Can you believe it that the US is now asking its citizens to leave Libya (as the situation deteriorates further and the government cannot put its house in order to rule the country)?

Solving the “Dum… sor” crisis: God has no hand in it

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Folks, I am really pissed off by this headline: “Pray for rains to end power crisis—Energy Minister rallies Ghanaians”. Worse still is the news report accompanying it:

The Minister of Energy, Emmanuel Armah Buah, has urged Ghanaians to pray to God for enough rains into the dams to deal with the erratic power supply currently plaguing the country.

Pointing out this divine option on Metro TV's Good Evening Ghana program Tuesday, Mr. Buah rallied Ghanaians saying "what we have to do is to pray that this year the rains will come enough for Bui [dam] to give us at least 200 megawatts".

This is not the first time Ghanaians have been asked to pray for rains. In 2007, a group of Ghanaian pastors impressed by President Kufuor's hope that "God will not allow the Akosombo dam to hang" met to pray for rains when Ghana faced a similar crisis.

(See: http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/May-28th/pray-for-rains-to-end-power-crisis-energy-minister-rallies-ghanaians.php)

The energy crisis can be solved by better means than prayers to God for rains!! Why are our government functionaries so narrow-minded in their approach to such issues? Rain is caused by many factors (We have different types of rainfall, based on how they are caused: convectional rainfall, relief or orographic  rainfall, and many others). Whether God is behind it all is none of my business.

Is this "Dum…sor" cycle a conspiracy or…?

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Folks, the persistent electricity crisis facing the country (now characterized by the unappealing buzz word "Dum…sor") reflects clearly the major problems that the various Ghanaian governments have failed to solve over the years because of lack of planning and good management skills.

In effect, the governments and senior management personnel have failed to provide measures for producing, conserving, distributing, and consuming electricity. The price Ghanaians have to pay is the nuisance of "Dum…sor"!

Electricity is on our lips today because the crisis facing that sector seems to be detracting from the goodwill that the public might have for the current Mahama-led administration when it comes to implementing people-centred policies. In truth, the crisis hasn't been so acute, long, and intractable as it is under this administration. No other government is known for this "Dum…sor" irritant!

The government and the agencies responsible for the electricity sector may be doing their best to solve the problem; but their best isn't good enough, as the situation continues to worsen and Ghanaians deepen their resentment as such.

Malawian President gives democracy a bad name!!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Efforts at nurturing or growing constitutional democracy in Africa are often frustrated by the very people who should have known better not to tamper with the will of the people at general elections. Wherever constitutional democracy is being practised on the continent, such people always do whatever they can to pull strings for an undeserved advantage.

Malawi's President Joyce Banda is the latest. We know the circumstances under which she got elevated to that position and how she administered affairs of Malawi. We also know the history of Malawi ever since its first President Hastings Kamuzu Banda planted himself in office to behave as if his world would know no end. But the end came for him to usher the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy into office.

Many things happened until Ms. Banda’s assumption of office and the measures that she has implemented for weal or woe, leading to the general elections to pit her against other candidates. She is in power, indicating that she shouldn’t fear being voted down if her government has done what the Malawian citizens expect.

Even before the counting of votes could begin, Ms. Banda shocked her people by alleging electoral malpractices (rigging, multiple voting and computer-hacking) and taking a quick step to annul the Tuesday elections. Let’s hear her:

Why has the United States given itself so much authority?

Thursday, April 22, 2014

My good friends, it is beyond doubt that the United States is powerful just because of how it conducts its affairs to suggest that it has the economic and military clout to determine the ebb-and-flow of world politics.

After luring the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on a wild arms race that ended in its favour for it to emerge as the only so-called super-power, it has dictated terms all these years and portrayed itself as the Godfather of all systems in this universe.

Its democracy is centuries old and admired for whatever it may mean to those who regard it as the "Father of Democracy" or anything else, depending on which side of the coin is seen and used for the assessment of credentials.

Russia’s Putin is no Nazi

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Folks, I am always intrigued by stories of this sort:

“A former Polish war refugee who met Prince Charles in Canada has said he likened some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Marienne Ferguson was speaking after meeting Prince Charles at a Nova Scotia immigration museum where she works”.

Speaking from China, President Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told the BBC he was "not commenting right now" on the remarks.

(See: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27497899)

Phew!! Undermining Putin and painting him black? What for?

More terrorism in Nigeria: And the British sent a malfunctioning aircraft!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Folks, it is now certain that Boko Haram is geared up to prove to the world that it is in control of affairs in Nigeria and can hit and run at will. It goes where it chooses and does everything with impunity. Two huge bomb blasts occurred today in Jos, killing and maiming people, to confirm its notoriety! The day belongs to Boko Haram!!

We are told that 118 people were killed and many more injured in the busy market where the two blasts occurred. Too sad!!

The audacity with which Boko Haram is carrying out its terrorist activities in Nigeria is really frightening. There is enough reason to indicate that the Nigerian government doesn't know how to solve the problem.

The NPP people are still searching for a needle in a haystack

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

When you listen to some NPP people discussing their party's political future, you won't take long to wonder whether they are really the liberal democrats that they portray themselves and want us to accept.

Even before Akufo-Addo could come out to say that he would contest the 2016 elections, many of us knew how his hirelings and lackeys were wetting the ground for him while he was vacationing in London after his humiliation by the electorate and the Supreme Court.

The former national executives of the party (Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey) led the pack, with PC Appiah-Ofori, Kennedy Agyapong, and Addo Kufuor, and Amoako-Tuffuor in tow to sing themselves hoarse that no other candidate but Akufo-Addo would be the flagbearer.

The Ghana Trades Union Congress can do better (Part II)

Monday, May 19, 2014

Since the establishment of the Ghana Trades Union TUC) under the Nkrumah government, its leaders have in one way or the other created impressions that they are either pro-government (meaning that they are against the interests of the very workers that they are in office to redeem from the government’s unsuitable attitude to remuneration and working conditions, generally) or for workers (that they support efforts to improve working conditions for the good of workers, damn the repercussions).

And the history of the TUC shows that its leaders have suffered or gained from the vicissitudes of the situation, depending on how the political pendulum swung. Those in the good books of the government laughed all the way to the bank and ended up as Ambassadors or High Commissioners upon leaving office. Those disfavoured had to run for cover to save their skins.

The Ghana Trades Union Congress can do better (Part I)

Monday, May 19, 2014

The history of labour agitations for better conditions of service is as clear as it reminds us of the general malaise that characterizes governance at all levels.

Are Ghanaian labour leaders really serving the interests of workers or just using workers’ agitations to muddy the waters? Where is the evidence that they are doing well to boost productivity first, and then, ask for service conditions to be improved thereafter? Without improved productivity, any persistent agitation for improved remuneration is mischievous and out-of-control.

Some of them have found a very cunning way to muddy the waters in which they swim by politicizing their activities, usually taking to the side of the opposition and behaving as if they are politicians and not workers' leaders.

Is Israel making hay even before the sun shines?

Friday, May 16, 2014

Folks, it is often said that desperate situations call for desperate actions. The Cairo-based Asian Review has reported that Israel is working hard to build stronger security and economic ties with China and India, looking to broaden its options as the US, its closest ally, starts to play a smaller role on the world stage. The headline says it all: “Israel pivots to China, India as US influence wanes”.

(Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Israel-pivots-to-China-India-as-US-influence-wanes)

Although we are yet to know this report has been endorsed by the Israeli authorities as a true reflection of what they have embarked on, we can take it for what it is and use it for an analysis of issues.

Africa’s worst threat today is terrorism

Friday, May 16, 2014

Folks, happenings in many countries in Africa make me wonder whether the leaders and citizens of those countries really want to do anything useful for the sake of posterity. Is there a “tomorrow” that those people should work for? No hindsight to guide them? I wonder; I really wonder.

No other continent is known to have suffered as much adversity as Africa has (mostly through no fault of its own). But has anybody learnt any useful lesson from what history has taught us so that history doesn’t end up being repeated?

Let’s go down the memory lane first. Africa has a history of the worst form of human beings’ inhumanity toward their fellow human beings—European colonialism and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade—that combined to doom the continent and consign it to the backwoods of human existence.

Historians have given us the gloomy and gripping accounts of the devastating impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa. They have also scared us with the fact that Africa cannot easily recover from that shocking exploitation of its able-bodied human resource. Those asking for reparation won’t go anywhere with their demand because the beneficiaries of that inhuman trade don’t have any ear for their plea. They may use the IMF and World Bank to massage our feelings only to punish us all the more.

Ukrainian crisis: The consequences are emerging

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

As the Ukrainian crisis persists, those in Kiev have held a meeting to discuss the future of their country. The separatists fighting for autonomy and consequent absorption into Russia spurned the meeting and still hang on to their demand and the installations that are under their control.

Clearly, the consequences are dire already. Three main ones stand out for attention:

• The interim government of Ukraine says that the annexation of Crimea by Russia earlier this year cost Ukraine at least 1tn hryvnya (£49.3bn; $83bn; 60.5bn euros);

• Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin says that he [Russia, invariably?] would not support a US and European proposal to extend the international space station beyond 2020 but US space agency Nasa, which relies on Russia to ferry astronauts to the station, said it had not yet received any official notification on changes in space co-operation;

• Russian troops moved to begin constructing a pipeline to supply Crimea with water weeks after Ukraine cut off supplies.

Credit: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27403109

And the Nigerian government capitulates… Shame!!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

The Nigerian government says it is willing to negotiate with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the over 200 school girls that the group has abducted and paraded as a trophy to reinforce its supremacy over the Nigerian Establishment. Shame… shame… and more shame!!

According to Cabinet Minister, Tanimu Turaki, “if Shekau [leader of Boko Haram] is sincere, he should send representatives for talks”.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said on Monday that captured girls who had not converted to Islam could be swapped for jailed fighters. (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27398640)

I reiterate that shame be unto the Goodluck Jonathan government for being inept and irrelevant at this stage. It says that the windows of negotiation with Boko Haram remain open. Negotiations for what? When the Nigerian Establishment has looked on unconcerned for so much harm to be done and for Boko Haram to penetrate the Establishment?

Rawlings had it wrong big time

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Former President John Rawlings has said that the current economic dilemma facing the country can be traced to 2001 when Kufuor took over the administration of the country.

Describing the economic situation in the country as "almost dead", ex-President Rawlings said that it would require selfless men and women to clean up the situation.

He was speaking to a cross-section of journalists at Senchi, the venue for the National Economic Forum which began today.

The Forum has brought together key personalities to brainstorm on Ghana's economy and to find out how to arrest the current economic challenges facing the country.

Ex-president Rawlings, who was one of the invited guests at the Forum, said that the country is in a pretty tight situation and "we cannot escape with ease," unless we are able to trace the genesis of the problem.

(See: http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2014/May-13th/ghanas-economic-challenges-started-in-2001-rawlings.php)

Do you agree with Rawlings on his assertion that the current economic dilemma facing the country can be traced to 2001 when Kufuor took over from him? I don’t.

Ghanaians don’t desert Ghana because they are unpatriotic

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Folks, there is no doubt that Ghanaians continue to leave the country in the hope of “making it” in other countries. So much has been said or condemned about this “brain drain” syndrome as to make it register as unpatriotic. But there is more to it.

Communications Consultant to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Eric Ametor Quarmyne has been reported as urging Ghanaian nationals in the diaspora to utilize their expertise to improve the country’s economy.

Speaking on U TV, he expressed worry over the huge number of Ghanaians living outside the country. According to him, it is prudent for citizens to use the knowledge they have acquired in their various fields of endeavour to enhance the progress of the country.

He is reported as opining that the situation in which Ghanaians travel overseas to use the knowledge they have gained to develop foreign countries should stop.

Has the NPP not fallen on its own sword?

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Of all opponents and critics of the NDC (both as a political party and the government led by John Dramani Mahama), none bare their teeth more than members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). They seize every opportunity to condemn the government as incompetent and incapable of solving national problems.

The main spheres they concentrate on are the economy, joblessness, and the consequent negative impact on the lives of the people. Thus, they see nothing good to praise.

Cognizant of these issues, the government has convened a National Economic Forum to collect and collate ideas for management of the economy and invited the NPP to participate. Unfortunately, the NPP turned down the invitation, citing reasons that have shocked some of their own high-ranking officials. By abstaining, the NPP has fallen on its own sword.

Government business is not party business

Monday, May 12, 2014

Folks, I have insisted all this while that the kind of democracy that Ghana has been practising since January 7, 1993, isn’t designed to solve the problems of our under-development. It is a camouflaged dictatorship that allows those with political connections to hold sway for their own good. And as the Asantehene has rightly put it, the kind of politics motivated by this democracy has made Ghanaians lazy. And they have become the victims of this kind of democracy!

If you doubt it, tell me what specifically this democracy has offered the ordinary Ghanaian whose toil, blood, and sweat sustains it. Apart from being roused out of justifiable apathy or induced by power-hungry politicians to stand in inclement weather to vote, what exactly has this democracy done to prove that it is serving the interests of the people?

On a larger scale, what has changed in Ghana since the adoption of this democracy? Don’t tell me about freedom of speech or enfranchising of the citizens. These are mere ideals that don’t add anything to lives.

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.