The Azorka Boys, Boko Haram in Ghana, and threats to national security

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Folks, we want to turn attention to issues regarding national security following happenings involving a Tamale-based group of NDC militants called “The Azorka Boys” at the 8^th NDC delegates’ congress in Kumasi. You must have read news reports that 9 members of this group were arrested by the police in Kumasi for acts that were in direct contravention of laid-down procedures. The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Kofi Boakye, had warned that those seeking to upset the system would not be spared. And his “men” did the job, arresting those “Azorka Boys”. Good job done!!

The presence of this group and others now emerging raises very serious concerns that I want to comment on in this opinion piece. These groups are a major threat to us and must be dealt with. They must be eradicated now before they grow to become intractable. Is anybody listening?

Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings has wings but can’t fly

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Folks, hardly has the appeal by former President Rawlings sunk than his wife has sprung up to create the impression that she still doesn't understand or know what is at stake. Speaking at the 8th national delegates’ congress of the ruling party, Rawlings had urged his wife to consider returning to the NDC fold: “Let us invite our mother Nana Konadu to come back home… I hope she can hear us, I hope she can see us,” he had said.

But Nana Konadu has shot down everything. She is reported as stressing that she won’t ever return to the NDC and that she has turned down the invitation. According to her, the main reasons why she walked out of the NDC to be an integral part of the National Democratic Party (NDP) still remain.

Nana Konadu needs the NDC more than the NDC does her

Monday, December 22, 2014

Folks, the call by former President Rawlings to his wife (Nana Konadu) to return to her political family (the NDC) provides material for my second opinion piece on happenings at the just-ended NDC delegates’ congress in Kumasi.

Rawlings had said that Nana Konadu played a cardinal role in the founding of the NDC and helped it win elections. According to him, while no one could begrudge his wife for deciding to break from the NDC owing to happenings at the time, he thought Nana Konadu was better off returning the fold of the NDC. (See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/politics/35793-nana-konadu-must-come-back-home-rawlings.html#sthash.n0jKI3ir.dpuf).

The CPP’s Greenstreet hurts feelings but opens eyes

Sunday, December 21, 2014

The 8^th delegates’ congress of the NDC has just taken place at Kumasi, producing very intriguing issues worth our bother because they carry weight. Although many issues cropped up, we cannot engage all of them and will settle on only those that have dire implications for our democracy. These issues can be categorized into two: those that affect the collective interests of Ghana/Ghanaians and those that have particular implications for the NDC as a political party.

Over-expenditure by the Presidency reflects fundamental weaknesses of our democracy

Friday, December 19, 2014

Folks, news reports about the over-expenditure of funds by the Presidency may be shocking only for partisan political purposes. In reality, the happening confirms fears long held by some of us that despite all the commitments made by Ghanaians to sustain this 4^th Republic, the kind of democracy being practised isn’t fit to be depended on to solve their existential problems.

This kind of democracy serves the purposes of the wily politicians who are adept at pulling strings and manipulation it to personal advantage. That is why I find issues with the vitriolic reaction of the anti-Mahama elements to the news report.

If our democracy were functional, why would the Presidency overspend public funds with impunity and still not apologize to Ghanaians after being exposed as such?  Why won’t Parliament take decisive action to punish those responsible for this errant misconduct?

Where is the hand of President Mahama in this?

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Folks, I have said several times and insisted on saying it whenever possible that Ghana is still in the doldrums because of the negative attitude of Ghanaians, not necessarily because of the inadequacies of national leadership, especially the President.

In our time when much has been heaped on the “poor head” of President John Dramani Mahama (affectionately called by some of us as “The Lion of Gonja”) to create the unfortunate impression that he isn’t providing the effective/effectual leadership to move Ghana out of the woods, some of us have rushed to his defence to say that he is not Ghana’s problem. Instead, Ghanaians themselves are the real problems to solve. It is all attitudinal. Ghanaians are more adept at creating problems than solving them. It’s a fact that must be faced.

Will Goodluck Jonathan's Nigeria sacrifice these 54 soldiers for nothing?

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Folks, my heart is bleeding profusely for 54 Nigerian soldiers just found guilty of mutiny and sentenced to death by firing squad. Their offence is couched in the military terminology of MUTINY but it simply boils down to their refusal to fight the Boko Haram insurgents because they lacked the logistics to do so.

They had made it clear that the Nigerian army was too ill-equipped to face Boko Haram and that sending troops to the battlefield without their being adequately resourced would amount to a needless slaughter. And they followed the dictates of their conscience not to engage Boko Haram. The nasty consequence is what has been announced by a court martial: death by firing squad for mutiny!!

The United States embraces Cuba: The greatest event of the century?

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Folks, there is something to chew on. The United States says that it will restore ties with Cuba in the coming months and open an Embassy in Havana (Cuba) in about 18 months’ time. Celebration time for those persistently opposed to the US’ hostility to Cuba for more than half a century? Anguish among the Obama critics?

Whatever the case may be, this new development adds a different complexion to the kind of relationship that has existed between the US and Cuba since Fidel Castro led the masses against the Batista administration to establish Cuba as a state to be centrally controlled (Call it socialism or communism).

The NDC Congress in Kumasi: My take

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Folks, a lot of water has already passed under the bridge regarding what the NDC is to do in Kumasi on Saturday, December 20. Some “old faces” are bent on either retaining their status as party gurus or resurfacing as trustworthy custodians of the party’s values. Need I categorize them any further?

The Congress will take place at a critical time in the history of the party, situated within the context of the huge problems facing the government. Never has the party been pushed to the wall as is the situation now. Although the government is doing its best, that best seems to be the enemy of the good that the citizens don’t see happening!! That is why this Kumasi Congress is expected to yield results to prove that the party is still formidable and can remain the hinge for governance.

Of all, the two most important positions on the line are that of the National Chairman and the National Organizer. Much is known about the contestants for these positions, especially how the incumbent Dr. Kwabena Adjei (National Chairman) and Johnson Asiedu-Nketia (General Secretary) are being pushed to the wall.