Sunday,
January 25, 2015
Folks, we know that Ghanaian
politicians love operating in darkness, where they scheme to reap where they
haven't sown anything. If you doubt it, tell me which single Ghanaian
politician can be described as selfless and so public-spirited as to use political
power for the good of the citizens.
Operating in the dark to them is
the surest way to survive. And they do so with unprecedented alacrity, driven
by vindictiveness against anybody they consider as a threat.
We know of situations where
public officials perceived as allies of political opponents are persecuted,
hounded out of office, and punished in diverse ways. The see-saw situation that
has characterized the exchanges between the NDC and NPP administrations that
have ruled Ghana in this 4th Republic is dotted with vindictiveness. Don't ask
for any elaboration.
Under Rawlings, many people
deemed to be pro-NPP had their measure. When Kufuor sat in the saddle, those
perceived to be pro-NDC were shown the exit from public office or sent to the
Siberia of their institutions to wither away. When the tide turned against the
NPP and the late President Mills took over, the spate of
"do-me-I-do-you" didn't end; so has it been to date under President
Mahama. The NPP people are crying all over the place for being sidelined or
victimized on the basis of their political persuasion at the workplace. They
wish that their party will return to power for the scale to swing against those
now making life hot for them. That is Ghana for you.
To flesh out this issue, Deputy
Commissioner of Police Kofi Boakye (Ashanti Regional Police Commander) has
poked former President Kufuor in the eye, making the serious allegation that
his administration nearly dismissed him from the Police Service just because he
was perceived as a "Rawlings man" (Read the story at
http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2015/January-24th/npp-nearly-sacked-me-dcop-kofi-boakye-reveals.php).
Indeed, Kofi Boakye's allegation
rings a loud bell and reinforces the negative impressions that some have about
how Kufuor and his government dealt with public office holders, using flimsy
reasons such as political affiliation and ethnicity as the gauge.
Of course, our security personnel
are not a-political. They vote at election time, making electoral decisions
that suit them. So, one shouldn't be surprised that they will identify with
those they prefer. But therein lies the danger!!
Loyalty to a President or
political party in power that they didn't vote for will be difficult to uphold.
Sabotage may be the preferred means to register protest. Not good for any
system. So, should any move be made to prevent security personnel from voting
at all? Too dicey; right? The conundrum for us to ponder!!
Kofi Boakye also touched on a
very serious issue, which has to do with the calibre of people recruited into
the Ghana Police Service or the other security agencies. According to him, the
criteria for recruiting personnel have been twisted to such an extent that
"misfits" end up being preferred. And these "misfits" are
often the relatives of the recruiting officers' girlfriends, wives, etc. or
party boys and girls running (fools') errands. No consideration for suitability
(physically, psychologically, academically, or otherwise). Once someone in
authority pushes someone forward for recruitment, no questions asked!! That's
true, Kofi Boakye!!
And the problem is that those
"misfits" recruited into the security apparatus are all over the
place, doing nothing productive, but throwing their weight about and
threatening or scaring anybody insisting on getting them to adjust. They are
quick to cite their "political connections" and to pump themselves up
with so much gusto as to frighten those doing the right thing to keep them in
shape.
I know for sure how such "misfits"
behave; and they are good at trumping up charges against their superior
officers and painting them very black in the eyes of their political
connections. Frightened by such posturing, the superior officers either cave in
or give up. Discipline breaks down, and anything goes!! Too bad for Ghana.
Can Ghana be defended with such
misfits in our security services? No wonder there is so much rot in those
security services.
Whether we like it or not, Kofi
Boakye has made bold assertions that we must ponder. Will he be forgiven by the
NPP? What will happen to him if the NPP EVER returns to power? I don't know!!
I shall return…
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E-mail:
mjbokor@yahoo.com
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