After killing Gaddafi, what is there for the UN in Libya?

Thursday, October 27, 2011

The United Nations Security Council has decided by a unanimous vote to end international military operations in Libya by Monday, October 31, 2011. Feeling complacent that its mission to “protect civilians” has been accomplished, the Council thinks that the Libyan situation should now be in the hands of the Libyan people, led by the National Transitional Council.

The Council’s decision, however, seems not to meet the expectation of the Libyan authorities who have pleaded for an extension of the military mission in view of the current security situation or until such time that the Gaddafi menace would have been completely neutralized. The NTC has already declared Libya as “liberated” but seems to be apprehensive of something; hence, its plea for the UN/NATO to stay on in Libya. That plea has fallen on the deaf ears of the UN. Will it be so for NATO too?

No one builds a house for the weaver-bird!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The resurgence of controversy over the resettlement of Ghana’s former Presidents is unnecessary. In sum, of all the problems facing this country, that of resettling the former Presidents is the least important. It is not worth anybody’s attention at all and must be treated with the utmost disregard it deserves.

But because President Mills’ suggestion that instead of putting up buildings for them they should be paid a 20% rent allowance to cater for their residential needs, the matter has rebounded into public discourse and assumed dimensions that are justifiably annoying. Away with these so-called Article 71 office holders!  

Doctors don’t eat the Hippocratic Oath

Saturday, October 22, 2011

The strike action by doctors and housemen at the country’s health institutions (hospitals, polyclinics, and clinics) is many days old now without any sign of being called off. If anything at all, indications are clear that it will persist till who-knows-when?

So far, what we’ve had is a useless shouting match between the Ghana Medical Association (especially its President, Dr. Emmanuel Adom Winful) and a beleaguered government side (led by its appointees at the Ministry of Health). While this shouting match goes on, human life is at risk and the country’s public health care delivery system stagnates while the government’s own image suffers.

Libya’s Gaddafi dies… but as whose martyr?

Thursday, October 20, 2011

At long last, one of the two eventual possibilities to rid Libya of its long-term maverick leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi, has materialized. Gaddafi is dead, killed in his hometown, Sirte, where he had been hiding ever since his opponents and collaborators in NATO dislodged him from power two months ago.

In effect, Gaddafi has made good his vow not to desert his country in the wake of the uprising against his rule and NATO’s consequent military action. He wanted to die a martyr and has done so. Sirte was Gaddafi’s cradle and, as his fate would have it, his death-bed as well. Now dead, whose “martyr” is he?

Who Took Away Nana Ato Dadzie’s Thinking Cap?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

In our kind of political climate, weird things continue to happen every passing day. Nana Ato Dadzie, the former Chief of Staff under the Rawlings regime, is reported to have made utterances that should annoy every Ghanaian interested in upholding high moral standards. His ego trip won’t serve Ghana’s needs.

A Fulani is a Fulani, not a “Ghanaian Fulani”

Friday, October 7, 2011

Abdul Musah Sidibe’s rejoinder to public calls for swift action to deal with Fulanis abusing our Ghanaian hospitality is misconceived. In that rejoinder (“Media Ignorance: The Story of Ghanaian Fulani,” ghanaweb.com, 7/10/11), the writer created the erroneous impression that any stern action against the Fulanis (such as expulsion) is unacceptable because it will be a violation of their rights as Ghanaians.

His arguments sought to portray the Fulani elements as bona fide citizens of the country who must not be isolated for any selective justice. He has misfired big time and must be told the stark truth that public anger and calls for action to deal with the Fulani menace have nothing to do with citizenship rights. They have everything to do with punishing Fulanis whose criminal activities have come to notice.

No Rawlings, No Vote? Bring it on, Nana Konadu!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings has carried her self-seeking agenda to a new level. This time, it is a case of pure blackmail against the Mills-led government. The gist? “No Rawlings, no vote!”

As part of her “Thank You” tours around the country, she landed at Tamale over the weekend. Before she delivered her message, leading members of her loyalists’ group, FONKAR had launched a new campaign slogan for the 2012 elections dubbed “No Rawlingses: No vote.” The slogan was outdoored at the Tamale GNAT Hall to send a message to the government that if it chooses to neglect the Rawlings, it will have itself to blame.

Nothing but cheap politics, to say the least. And it could only come from such desperate people who have gradually but steadily reduced themselves to a laughing stock, hiding behind the Rawlings enigma to attempt twisting arms.