THROWBACK PART ONE: "WHY DON'T WE HAVE QUEEN MOTHERS IN THE NORTH?"

Many at times a questioner could be more informed and knew the answer better than the questionee, and at

The Gundogu Naa and her sub-chiefs

other times could be out of genuine concerns or the quest to seek knowledge. This write up was an attempt I made to answer a question that was repeatedly posed by Mr. Gideon - a TV3 presenter during their third edition of their most popular programme - Ghana Most Beautiful.

Undoubtedly, 'Ghana Most Beautiful' is by far, the most educative and entertaining reality/talent show on TV in Ghana. Unlike other reality shows, where Northern Region and some regions are invariably left out, GMB encompasses all the regions in the country. I believe the idea behind this programme is to afford opportunity to all the majorly dominated ethnic groups in Ghana to show their heritage, customary practices and traditional values. Again, it offers the reps or pageants a platform to promote and advertise tourism potentials in their respective regions. This programme has performed creditably well, and so far, received wide patronage from television viewers.

I have not followed this season three keenly, but I made time for the fourth week's episode (June 14, 2009). It was a good show. In that episode, a particular question was repeatedly asked by the presenter - Mr. Gideon, "Why don't we have queen mothers in the north?" This question was first posed to one of the judges - Nana Abena Afriyie, I supposed, a 'Queen mother'. She hazard a guess which either did not obviously gel with the reason or was flatly fallacious and I paraphrase, I have not found out myself, but I think it's due to the male chauvinism. With all apologies, this was a very waspish and most jejune generalisation of a reason and I beg to differ. The other judge - Dr. Agyemang Osei, did not proffer any suggestions. Maybe he was not so sure of the reasons or simply, wanted to thread  on the better side of caution.

This same question was again asked by the presenter, after the contestant for the Northern Region - Nasara had finished her performance. She smartly said, "I will tell you back stage" I supposed, she was as well not on top of that issue. Whoever her instructor or script writer was should had known better, because the theme for that particular episode was the contribution of women to our legend and antiquity. 

Maybe, a bit of history will do in an attempt to answer this question. But then, I want to be frank. I do not know where this idea of "queen mother" comes from! It is certainly alien in the English language and culture. If it is a matter of translation or adoption, I think it is still not appropriate to call a woman who exalt authority  equal to that of a king, a "queen mother". A queen is a queen and not a "queen mother", unless you are referring to the mother of a queen (where the word queen takes an apostrophe 's' and may have something like, the 'queen's mother').

Anyway, back to the question "Why Don't We Have Queen Mothers in the North?" Women have been part and parcel of the process of making kings in the history of the people of North, ie, the Northern Region and the two Upper Regions. To talk and walk somewhat, with factual authority, accuracy and constancy, I would like to use the Dagbon State as a case study attempt an answer to the above question. 

For about three hundred and twenty-two years ago, women had been at the forefront of decision making

and much involved in the customary rites and selection processes of the Over Lords of Dagbon State. For

instance, after the king (Ya Naa) had been chosen and about to be out-doored, as part of the process and and rituals, it was the responsibility of the royal women (Na bipuginsi) to dress that king with "Nam Kparigu"

- the regalia in accompaniment of assorted traditional accoutrements. After this stage, the "Na bipuginsi"

A Female Chief

allowed other king makers to take over proceedings and performances of other related rites such as making libations, incantations, consultations, etc and then ushered the newly enskinned king to the public. If the "Na bipuginsi" refused to dress a particular chosen candidate or 'king-to-be', it meant, the rites for his enskinment was incomplete. And therefore, his kingship would not be recognised, accepted and could never be the Over Lord of Dagbon State. Again, preceding the lungsi (appellation drummers) sing of the newly enskinned King's praises and appellations, the Na bipuginsi had to ululate and recite his proverbial names. 

This practice continued until 1687 when there was a dramatic turn of events, and of course, an ironic twist of incident. Legend has it that, once upon a time, there used to be a 'Naa Bia' named Zuu Dzilli - a heir of Naa Zangina, who always lurked around the Na bipuginsi. He was an ugly fellow, though an amusing character. Due to his clownish nature, he was mistaken for a moron. Around that time, there was a process to enskin a new Ya Naa. He came around the Na bipuginsi and played with them as he usually did. The "Na bipuginsi" jokingly decorated him with the "Nam-Kparigu (the regalia) with the intent of making mockery of him. They asked him to wear it so that they would see how befitting the Nam-Kparigu would be on him. This "royal moron" upon wearing it danced, joked and simulated before the "Na bipuginsi" like a real king. As they were deeply engrossed with intoxication of ridiculing and derisive laughter of him, he quickly and quietly sneaked out from the dressing room with the "Nam Kparigu" (the regalia) on him and ran out to the waiting crowd outside the palace to outdoor himself as the newly chosen king. The traditional drummers beat their drums, the horn blowers blew their horns and the griots or praise singers sang his appellation to dignify his status and to also signify that, a newly enskinned king had been out-doored. When everybody later realised that, it was rather a wrong choice or person - the "royal moron", the king makers could not practically reverse this mishap, taking into account his royal background and the criteria for the selection process. Notwithstanding his so-called mental deficit, the people of Dagbon had to live under his reign and accorded him all reverence  and respect reserved of a king. He was nicknamed Na Binbiegu (the ugly king). He reigned from 1687-1700 after Naa Andani Sigli 1677-1687. 

The above attests to the fact that, women in the North more specifically Dagbon, have been part and particle in decision making process. They were the fulcrum around whom kings were made since antiquity. 

But in order to preclude any possible recurrences of that unfortunate incident occasioned by the Na bipuginsi, the king makers thereof, deemed it logical to expunge the inclusion of the "Na bipuginsi" in the process of selecting kings in Dagbon State. Rightly so, because it was believed that, the "Na bipuginsi" joked and completely compromised their highly placed position and responsible role which undermined the entire Dagbon State and also cheapened the Skin - the citadel of the kingdom.

But for the fact that the "Na bipuginsi" were royals, they were not entirely taken out of the political system in Dagbon State. They were re-assigned to more challenging task and demanding status. In that regard, they were asked to stay back and entrusted them with political and administrative responsibilities. Thus, they were made chieftains of certain towns and villages which were of paramount importance in the administration of Dagbon State. There are about seven female chiefs who occupy very strategic traditional positions in Dagbon. Towns/villages such as, Gundogu, Kpatuya, Gaa and Yimahagu are ruled by woman chiefs.

And, this is still the case. This also shows that women in the north specifically, Dagbon State wield much power and occupy more reputable traditional positions. In the case of Yimahagu, when the Skin is vacant, it is contested by both male and female potential candidates. This suggests that women are even opened to healthy competition with their male counterparts on the traditional political stage in the North.

Gundogu Naa - Coronation Day

However, there is a bit of a conundrum with this system, hence, the "Na bipuginsi" are not brought to the limelight. Thus, a "Na bipuginga" is made a chief, when that Na bipuginga becomes the eldest or the only surviving daughter of a Ya Naa in the royal gates - Abudu and Andani gates. This suggests that, in her reign as a chief, she is too aged to effectively run her political office. As a result, she would have to delegate male sub-chiefs to represent her in functions and important meetings such as the Dagbon Traditional House of Chiefs' meetings. So basically, their administrative functions are exercised on their behalf by their male subordinate chiefs. For instance, the current Kpatuya Naa is a direct sister to the grand father of the late Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II whilst the Gundogu Naa is the elder sister of the current leader of the Abudu gate - Meon-Lana Abdulai. Gundogu is a suburb of Yendi. It is one of the paramount chieftains in the Dagbon. The Gundogu Naa is the overlord of all female chiefs in Dagbon. All the sub-chiefs in her palace are men and run errands for her successful administration. 

Not only have women been chiefs in the North, but also custodians of lands (Tindana) and chief priestesses. Aside political power, women are reposed with the responsibility of spiritual and physical well being of the entire land and the inhabitants in their  jurisdictions. They carry out these duties by pacifying and making sacrifices to the ancestors, the gods and the almighty God to grant the people abundant rainfall, bumper harvest, good health, productive children and also protect them against diseases, pandemics, evil visitations and all forms of anathema. These custodian priestesses also, as one of their core duties, settle disputes especially, marital and family squabbles among others. 

With the above instances, hitherto, women in the North more specifically Dagbon, have been part and parcel of decision making processes, traditional administration and have been the fulcrum around whom kings are made since antiquity. This to the public is unknown. I believe, with this little insight of historicity of women's involvement in the political system amongst the people  Dagbon, suffices the question "Why Don't We Have Queen Mothers in the North?"

In a nutshell, it would be most appropriate and instructive I acknowledge the plaited intricacies of genealogy of Dagbon skinship. And if any alterations occasioned in this write-up, would be entirely mine, and I prayed the reader would be honest with me in regard.

NOTE: The motivation behind this write-up is basically to reminisce and remind the reading public reasons why we do not use a phrase such as 'queen mother' as titles for traditional women leaders in the North. I wrote this piece to TV3 on the 16th of June, 2009. Essentially, to respond to the answers sought by Mr. Gideon - the then presenter of their flagship programme (Ghana Most Beautiful). Though, the producers did not acknowledge receipt, but it led to a disclaimer and a pull down of an advert prior to the grand finale of that year's edition on TV3. For me, this was more than a victory because I knew it was going to be history years to come! Very soon, women's traditional leadership will come up very strongly against the usual male dominated traditional leadership system. For instance, there are moves by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to establish a National House of Queens. So, for this and other matters, it makes sense to correct certain misconstrued information and misrepresentations especially, when it comes to the chieftaincy institution in the North. 

Thnx!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder.

THE DOUBLE TRACK SYSTEM: A NECESSARY EVIL.

With a few hours to the implementation of the Double Track System, members of the general public are concerned about the success or otherwise of it. Either the public or the executors of this educational policy are unsure of the exact definition of this nomenclature. Teachers do not know the form or shape in which this Programme will take. The Double Track System is by far, one of the many concomitants of the Free SHS promised by the ruling government. Because of desperation for political power the NPP promised Ghanaians Free SHS and lost sight of the fact that there would be a need for facilities to accommodate the surging numbers of students who would be graduating from the Junior High School to the Senior High School. In the

Akufo Addo and Bawumia unveiling the Free SHS logo

2017/18 academic year, 362, 118 students were admitted into the Senior High School. This figure is expected to significantly increase for the 2018/19 academic year. The government has therefore realised an urgent need to fashion out measures to tackle this desperate situation. And, as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. As the student population increases in several folds at the Senior High School level, there should be an urgent step to manage the multiplying numbers with the less infrastructure and resources at our disposal, hence the Double Track System.

Education over the world does experience reforms of one form or another. Educational reforms could be structural, content-based or both. In the past, there had been numerous educational reforms in Ghana. Most of those reforms were basically about improving content of the curriculum. Ghanaians are about witnessing yet another changes in our educational system, i.e, the Double Track Educational System. 

Every new programme abounds with teething problems and the Double Track System will not be an exception. Government communicators in their quest to sell the idea of the Double Track System to Ghanaians, mentioned how this system has been tried, tested and proven effective and successful in many countries including the USA , Australia, Costa Rica, Japan and Kenya. But, per available information, Kenya has no such educational system. Even the US does not practice it in all the states.

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education

Unlike the Traditional Academic Calendar or Single Track System, the Double Track System divides the student body into two separate streams and both run shift with different sets of teachers but equal school days and vacation duration. Though civil society groups such as IMANI Ghana, ISODEC and teacher unions are vehemently opposed to the Double Track System. It has its pros and cons. We as a state have to give the government some benefits of the doubt. This is a temporal but an urgent measure that we cannot do otherwise than to embrace. I believe readers will concur with me that, when the president promised us free SHS, we did not have cause to question him. We bought into his idea an gave him our mandate overwhelmingly. He started the Free SHS last academic year and has seen the need to introduce the Double Track System so that JHS does not become a terminal point of education in Ghana. And after all, the Double Track System is a report of a commission which has been gathering dust on the shelf since 2008. I think this is the right time for us to utilise it. It is going to be piloted for only seven years by which, adequate infrastructure will be put in place. 

The system is to be operated on a semester basis as it is at the university level. But here, instead of students spending 4 months or 16 weeks in school at a go, they will be split into two streams (tracks) and each will spend 2 months/8 weeks. Each stream of students will do 4 months or 16 weeks per academic year. In all, 400 schools have been selected out of the 696 public Senior High schools for the Double Track System. Students who have gained admission into these schools through either the computerised placement or self placement have been categorised into two i.e., the Green Track and the Gold Track. The Green Track is the first batch to start the academic year. They will report to school on 11th September whilst the Gold Track goes to school on 8th November, 2018. They will each spend 8 weeks (41 days) in school. While the Green Track is in session, the Gold Track will be on vacation and vice versa. What is not clear is that, whether after the end of the first semester, the two tracks will go on vacation or the Green Track will be in session to begin the second semester. 

Senior High entrants

The Double Track System may not be the best of arrangements. Many people have expressed concerns about the success of this Programme. Though some of these concerns or lack of confidence in the Double Track System is pure hypothesis, but others are premised on empirical evidence. On a rather broader consultative purpose, the government ought to still take the concerns of the citizenry into consideration in its implementation process so as to guarantee quality education, as well as, to achieve the best out of this system. As I said, the concerns of the Double Track System are many and varied. In this write-up,  I would touch on a few by looking at its merits and demerits.

First and foremost, loss or reduction in contact days. The trimester academic calendar at the SHS usually has 12 to 14 weeks per term where students spend about 98 days in school with 70 instructional days (Mondays - Fridays). The semester academic calendar has about 16 weeks or 112 days but in the case of the Double Track System, these 16 weeks are to be shared between two streams of students. That is, the Green Track and the Gold Track. This means each stream has 8 weeks of school session including weekends. Two (2) months or 8 weeks will give us 56 days minus weekends (16 days). So, in effect, students will have 40 instructional days in school. If holidays and sports festivals are factored into this computation, then, teaching days will be far less than the 40 days. 

Again, this Double Track System can bring about disproportional or uneven learning opportunities depending on weather and climate conditions. We are all aware of the Ghanaian disease which has gradually graduated to a sub-culture. Anytime it rains in the early hours of the day in Ghana, a lot of workers take that day off and same happens in schools too. The vagaries of the weather especially in the wet seasons can have a negative impact on students in terms of attendance when a particular track has its turn in the rainy season. Classes will be often disorganised. This will surely disadvantage that track.  Aside this, governments over the years have always delayed payment of feeding grants to the SHSs. This could affect any of the two tracks in which turn this occurs.

Furthermore, there is a concern of segregation of both teachers and students in the same school. This can create some line of separation and detachment between students and teachers in the same school. This will breed insubordination, disrespectfulness, disobedience and defiance among students towards teachers who happened not to be teaching a particular track. This can lead to disinterest of teachers towards students' academic welfare. This is the situation in many cases at the Basic Schools where the shift or cluster system is practised. Also, there could be lapses in internal communications and plans between head(s) and staff, disagreements among different track staff, etc.

Another concern about the Double Track System which is quite controversial is that, teachers who will be teaching in these double track schools will be taking salary for no work done. We are told about some 8,860 teachers are to be recruited to augment teachers who are already teaching at Senior High Schools. This means that, over 16000 teachers will be withdrawing salaries for every two months for doing nothing. Teachers under the Double Track System will go on recess with students for 2 months in turns. While teachers wait for their turn, the state will be paying them for no actual work done. 

Moreover, learning schedules will be disrupted and students will become rusty and dormant due to long vacation periods. Students on holidays might be occupied with activities that are unrelated to their studies. For instance, students who have access to IT gadgets such as laptops, tablets and smartphones might be grossly engaged in browsing and chatting with friends. Also parents or guardians will engage children in errands or chores. This will make students forget their books and their learning flow will be interrupted. This will make them forget of all what they were taught in school and teachers' efforts will be in vain. Students themselves without strict supervision and parental guidance will also loiter and waste away their vacation periods instead of keeping to their books. Already, social media is considered as a contributory factor to the lowering standards of students' performance at the SHS. Students on vacation may tend to distract those in session. In this day of social media, students on vacation will like to be in touch with their friends in school. They may do this through chatting with them on social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. This will gradually shift the focus of those students from studies. 

In addition,  the Double Track System has a tendency to disrupt family schedules and lost of family ties for families that might have children on different tacks. Families might not be able to hold functions or occasions with a full participation of the family members. For example, families which usually go outings, shopping, picnics and birthday parties will have some of the children missing out in these moments of union ship.

More so, student friendship network can impact on attendance and academic performance. If students have school friends on a track rather than theirs, learning could be impeded during school session as friends on vacation distract those in school. Or, those in school will be affected by the absence of their study mates. This could lead to truancy and absenteeism amongst students.

Last but not least, the same facility serving different sets of students all year round will have too much pressure on it. When this happens over a given period of time, it will bring about wear and tear on the facility. Over utilisation of school buildings will cause the structure to develop some cracks. And as Ghanaians, we are noted for lack of maintenance culture. The Double Track System might lead to eventual collapse of educational facilities.

On the other hand, the Double Track System comes with some positives could be proven to be effective and efficient. Arguments can be made the following possible positives of the Double Track System.

An Overcrowded Classroom

First, the Double Track System is a strategy to remedy the issue of overcrowding in our Senior High Schools. Some Senior High Schools more often than not, over admit students due to the large numbers of students graduating from Junior High Schools. Heads of some Senior High Schools complained bitterly about inadequate facilities in their schools. Most of these schools usually convert their assembly or dining halls into dormitories in the nights. This problem was highly felt last academic year because of the introduction of free SHS. When the Double Track System is enrolled, it will address this overcrowding problem. The same facilities will be used to serve large number of students at different periods of time within the same academic year. Again, this will bring about increased enrollment per facility. That is, each school can admit double of its capacity.

Second, the Double Track System could be cost effective in terms of educational inputs, resources and personnel (not in terms of educational quality). The same number of teachers could be tasked to handle the two tracks in a school. The same resources in science and computer laboratories and teaching and learning aids in classrooms could be used by both tracks in the school. To add to this, the Double Track System will create job opportunities to the teeming unemployed graduates who are qualified to teach at the Senior High School.

Third, the Double Track System can bring about a lot of improvement in students' academic performance and quality in teaching. Due to long vacation periods, teachers will have ample time to plan and prepare well for lessons. This will as well afford teachers the opportunity to employ best pedagogies in their teaching to alleviate learning disabilities or difficulties among students. At the same time, the long vacation periods will enable non-performing students or slow learners to also have a lot of time to backup. 

Fourth, the Double Track System will ensure healthy competition between tracks. In schools where there will be having Double Track System, students will compete each other. This will rope in teachers to also compete against each other in a case where there are different set of staff handling the two tracks.

Fifth, under the Double Track System, teachers can supplement their income by teaching more sessions or doing extra teaching outside their schedule. ( Maybe this is the best time for some of us to teach in the Senior High School). Teachers who will not be teaching in both tracks can engage themselves in other money making ventures to support their income. 

Lastly, there is a history of student riots and hooliganism among Senior High School students in Ghana. we have witnessed a number of student riots in Senior High Schools in the past. School authorities have not been able to calm students in such times. Most often, student demonstrations and rioting get out of hand because of the rowdy nature and great population of students in our Senior High Schools. Due the manageable numbers of students under the Double Track System, student demonstrations and vandalism will be controlled at any given time. 

President Mahama's Community Day Senior High School

To conclude, I think whilst this arrangement is in place for the meantime, the government should take urgent steps to build more facilities to accommodate the surging numbers of students into the Senior High Schools. The erstwhile NDC government under president Mahama promised to build 200 Community Day Senior High Schools. About 46 of these were completed and commissioned. The rest of the schools were at various stages of construction before the NDC was shown the exit.These facilities should not be left to become a white elephant.  In order to solve  the infrastructural deficit at the Senior High level, the Akufo-Addo administration should ensure the completion of these projects. The NPP government could even expand and convert some of them to boarding facilities if they would not be able to build new schools.

Another proposal is that, the government should invest in Senior High School education by training and developing the human resource and capacity of teachers. There should be regular 'Inset' Programmes and workshops. Best practices in education should also be adopted to achieve the needed results. Again, a budgetary allocation or a dedicated amount from the getFund should be made available solely for the provision of and equipping resource centres, workshops, libraries and laboratories in the Senior High Schools. Most importantly, the ongoing recruitment of teachers for the Double Track System should not be based on political affiliations or 'who you know'. The government should appoint competent and committed teachers into the teaching field. In all this, teachers' efforts must

be recognised and rewarded here and now.

Thnx!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder.

NHIA: AN EPITOME OF MILKING AN AILING COW TO DEATH.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King Jr. It is rather disheartening to witness some persons entrusted with leadership due to certain principles they upheld have soon thrown those to the dogs and do as it pleases them.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National

Health Insurance Authority - Dr. Samuel Annor has recently been gallivanting from one media house to another complaining about the indebtedness, lack of funds and the need to increase funding for the NHIS. He is reported to have said in one of his numerous complaints and downbeats that, The National Health Insurance Scheme might be  dead in a year's time if the NHIS levy was not raised from 2.5 to 3.5 and a one percentage of workers salary (including a poor teacher like me) be deducted to augment the scheme's funds. This statement by the NHIA boss is alarming and calls for concern. Many a Ghanaian has lost confidence and hope in the scheme and has resorted to personal and private health insurance plans. 

In fact, according to Dr. Annor, “Unauthorised payments will continue, people being turned away or being asked to go and buy drugs or some health things that they will need for care would also continue… all these things will continue unless we solve the financing situation.” But, recent happenings by the authority have indicate that, the authority is its own enemy. In the abundance of the meagre funds of the National Health Insurance Authority, it is plate of  countless instances of corruption, mismanagement, misappropriation and wanton dissipation of funds and many more other bad financial practices.

Reports indicate that the National Health Insurance Scheme has GHc1.2 billion to take care of 11 million subscribers. This means a subscriber is entitled to a healthcare of Ghc 109.00 per year. Dr. Annor Chief Executive Officer of the authority agrees that, this figure is woefully inadequate and "we are way short of what is expected and that is why the scheme is wobbling.” He therefore entreats Ghanaians to, “Let us try and pay the appropriate fee for our healthcare and the appropriate fee according to suggestions by the World Health Organisation is about $86 dollars or about GHc 380 or GHc 400 per year for each member of the scheme and we should strive towards that." In all this, how on earth does a man who is bemoaning, still preside over a scheme that is cash strapped and go on a profligate spending spree and yet call for an increase in levy. 

At the time when we are told about the likelihood possibility of the collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme, a document emerged in the social media purporting to be a formal letter of request for sponsorship by Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo. In the said letter, Hon. Adwoa Sarfo stated that, she wished to attend an Executive Programme on Women and

Hon. Adwoa Sarfo's Request Letter

Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School as the the chairperson of the Women Caucus in Parliament. The cost of tuition alone was to be amounted eight thousand, five hundred U.S dollars ($ 8,500.00) with unknown costs of air ticket and accommodation. A simple arithmetics reveals that the tuition fee alone could cater for 359 subscribers for year per the Ghc 109.00 healthcare entitlement for subscribers. This is incongruous and mind bugling. I am not in anyway, against the idea behind capacity building. But, Hon. Adwoa Sarfo is not known to be associated in any way with the authority, and neither was the leadership training for which she sought sponsorship would inure to the benefit of the authority, nor would it bring back the whizzed trust of the scheme Dr. Annor complained of.  Ho. Adwoa Sarfo's action beats every right thinking mind that a person who is claimed to becoming from a privileged background and a political party that has taunted its credentials in austerity would want to squander the meagre funds of an important but ailing institution such as the National Health Insurance Authority. Why! Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo is a Member of Parliament, Deputy Majority Leader and a Minister of State in charge of Procurement. These portfolios put her in a fine position to better solicit sponsorship from varied sources for her women leadership training Programme. Even the Parliament of Ghana should have been the first point of call for the sponsorship since she is the chairperson of the women's caucus in parliament and it being the ultimate and foremost beneficiary. Hon. Adwoa Sarfo in fact had a pool of options at her disposal for the sponsorship of her capacity building training. She could have as a matter of fact, written to NGOs and corporate entities. So why did she request this sponsorship favour from none other institution but NHIA? The simple most likely answer is, because it is an easy and a cheap outlet for dissipation and siphoning the tax payers' money.

Receipt Paid By Parliament 

Though she denied the allegations that she was sponsored by the authority by saying that she later withdrew her request. She further produced a receipt for the Programme paid by the parliament of Ghana. But, she obviously failed to help the public appreciate why she initially wanted the National Health Insurance Authority to sponsor her.

Another document that surfaced and made rounds in the social media was a minuted memo detailing budget to train government communicators on the work of the authority. Hmmm! I am utterly stupefied and cannot find words to describe this profoundly absolute absurdity. How do we juxtapose the work of the authority and its officers with the functions of government communicators.

Approved Budget for Gv't Communicators Training 

Is this one of the authority's core mandate to train government communicators with their inadequate funds or it is an oversight responsibility for government communicators to educate the public on be half of the authority's PR department? If yes, then what purpose will the Ministry of Information be serving. It is not for government communicators to educate the public on the work of the authority. If for nothing at all, the authority has a communications bureau or PR department. So, why the misappropriation? In fact, the sad thing about this so-called  training government communications team is that, figures were conspicuously manipulated to obviously inflate budget for that Programme. Expenditure on "1 coffee break and lunch" per head was Ghc 125.00 multiply by 70 (government communicators) would be equal to Ghc 8,750.00. This figure was inflated to Ghc 10,370.00. This amount for only "coffee break and lunch" could have paid for the healthcare of 95 subscribers for a year. Yet, this budget was minuted, approved and squandered just in one day.

My senior brother, (name withheld) who is well-versed on NHIS issues, when I expressed my frustrations and misgivings about these obnoxious activities at NHIA, stated that, "We may raise issues of incoherent public policy orientation and moral ethos in our country relative to this matter, but it is not a matter that can materially vitiate the operations of the

scheme." He further suggested to me that, the act that sets up the NHIS, ACT 852 (2012) stipulates that 10% of the annual budget of the authority should be expended on NON-CORE activities. He directed me to read subsection 4 under section 40 i.e., 40(4). After reading it, I found too much nebulosity embedded in it. Morally and 'rationally', aside the current financial crisis of the authority, the sources of money for the fund i.e., section 41 subsections 1(b), (e) and (g) defy any reasons for expenditures on NON-CORE activities. 

I think, the ACT establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme be repealed in order to expunge the section on 10% non-

core activities expenditure. Or else, the scheme will continue to take a steep stick decline in funds. Again, when this ACT is repealed officials of the authority cannot use it to perpetuate corrupt practices.

Thnx!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder!

#Number XII #Say No To Corruption #Ghana First #I Am 4 Anas

As the count down to the premiering of the much anticipated and most controversial undercover investigative work of the ace investigative journalist- Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI is almost over, I write to express my utmost sincere view on this blockbuster exposè and also show my unflinching support for unearthing the criminal cabal in our society. I have followed with great interest, the fallout emanating from this unfolding case about corruption in Ghana football in which Kwesi Nyantakye - the president of Ghana Football Association is said to have been caught taking money from potential investors. In the said visuals, Kwesi Nyantakye is reported to have 'braggadociously' peddled falsehood of his influence of the president of the nation - His Excellency President Nana Akufo Addo. The president subsequently, after viewing portions of this undercover work, ordered for the arrest of Mr. Nyantakye. This has since become a matter of public interest and discourse. Nonetheless, a section of the public has had recourse to question the method employed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas to expose these unscrupulous and unethical public officers and saboteurs of development. As a result, some individuals are reported to be peeved and troubled by this investigative work and have sworn to dent the hard earned reputation of Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas. One of such persons is Honourable Kennedy Agyapong - the member of parliament for Assin Central. Since this broke out, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has vowed to strip Anas Aremeyaw Anas naked and run him down.

I think, Ghanaians especially I, will be more than willing to listen to anyone who has counter-evidence and may wish to present the other side of the story with regards to this case.  However, I will vehemently opposed anyone who wants to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians or embark on a wild goose chase. Though we are yet to witness the screening of Anas' exposè, hopefully tomorrow, I believe that, as descending as Ghanaians are, will like to have an intellectual and civil discourse on this subject matter if there is a need for any. But the contrary is the case that is been witnessed by us. Since Hon. Kennedy Agyapong waded into this, he is said to have been making a lot of inciting comments and disparaging remarks about the personality of Anas Aremeyaw Anas and team members of Tiger Eye PI.  I am completely at a lost about the sudden change of behaviour and belief of a man who has taunted his credentials over the years as an anti corruption crusader. This same man has now turned himself into a predator of a monstrous proportion trying hard to devour persons such as Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI, who are fighting corruption, mismanagement and safeguarding public interest. This is really absurd, strange and worrying. In his attempt to discredit the investigative piece by Anas and Tiger Eye PI, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has leveled a litany of corruption allegations and accusation of inappropriate journalistic methods against Anas Aremeyaw Anas including entrapment, blackmailing, extortion, impersonation, baiting and leading unsuspecting individuals to committing crimes. He further went on to call on members of the public to unleash terror and mayhem on Anas Aremeyaw Anas and the crew members of Tiger Eye PI. I can best describe this behaviour of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong as ignominy and intolerance of the highest order.

Ghanaians especially those in the journalistic fraternity are fully aware of the integrity of their work and understand the ethics and standard practice of their profession. I want to reiterate the fact and assure the public that, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not doing anything outside the confines of undercover and investigative journalism. As a matter of fact, the method employed by Anas, Aremeyaw Anas to the best of my knowledge and as far as Ghana is concerned, is not against the principles, practices and ethics of professional investigative journalism, neither does it compromise standards nor causes any infraction in our legal system. Indeed, there is no iota of doubt that, the method Anas Aremeyaw Anas employs is accepted and widely used all over the world. One good example is, The Bank of Credit and Commerce case in 1986, where undercover and infiltration was used as a method of investigation to unearth how the bank actively solicited deposits from drug traffickers and money launderers.

Indeed, to buttress the point that I am espousing, according to the Ghana Journalists Association Code of Ethics, article 5 which deals with respect for privacy and human dignity states, and I quote, "journalists should respect the right of the individual, the privacy and human dignity. Enquiries and intrusion into a person's private life can only be justified when done in public interest. A journalist should guard against defamation, libel, slander and obscenity." Again, article 12 of the GJA further states that, "A journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustration only by straightforward means. The use of other means can be justified only by overriding consideration of the public interest. The journalists is entitled to exercise a personal conscientious objection to use of such means." These articles from the GJA's code of ethics grant Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI unfettered and unlimited right to so employ this method to go undercover to investigate any case that is overridden by public interest such as rumours of bribery and corruption, match fixing scandals, mismanagement and misappropriation.

This since 1999, has been Anas Aremeyaw Anas' method of investigative journalism. And, indeed, he has successfully carried out about 26 undercover investigative works both Ghana and abroad. Notably amongst them are; The Burger Story, Torture on The High Seas, Eurofood Scandal, Torture Chamber of Bangkok Prisons, Passport Scandal, Humans For Sale: Dons Exposed, Imam's School of Shock, Inside Ghana's Madhouse, In The Interest of The State,  Orphans Home of Hell - Osu, Enemies Of The Nation, The Prez's Assignment - Stealing the People's Power, Spirit Child, Nigeria's Fake Doctors, Nigeria's Baby Farmers, Ghana judiciary Scandal and the yet to premier scandal on corruption in Ghana football. These investigative works have led to massive reforms in those areas, improvement and some degree of sanity in our society.

The above mentioned articles of GJA's own code of ethics and conduct indicate clearly that, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not in breach of any ethics of the journalistic profession. For that matter, the allegations of entrapment, masquerading, blackmailing, flirtation, extortion, tax evasion, land litigation etc made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong are invalid and damn right baseless. I therefore, consider these allegations as pure hatred, jealousy, tangential and diversionary. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong should know that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not just a mere individual but a complete institution. And, it was not by fluke that president Barak Obama applauded and commended him for his investigative skills and prowess when he visited Ghana in 2009. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong or anyone else who begrudges and annihilates Anas Aremeyaw Anas has no case. My concern however, is flatly and squarely on the angle of his ethnic background been introduced by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong. This is a palpable and an undeniable case of tribal incitement and I want Ghanaians to be particularly worried about these inflammatory comments by this man. 

We all know, as a matter of public records and history, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has a penchant and appetite for making comments that have the potentials of tribal or ethnic incitement in Ghana. I recollect prior to the 2012 general elections, some of his irresponsible, reckless, senseless, felonious and genocidal calls on Akans to brutally descend on Gas and Ewes with clubs, cudgels, pestles  and any offensive weapons they can lay hands on. I will like to unequivocally and audibly sound a word of caution to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong not to extend those unguarded statements to Anas Aremeyaw Anas and crew members of Tiger Eye PI. Because, some of us will not sit down for him to rant pranks and tantrums on our kinsmen and indeed, any Ghanaian who is legally and constitutionally doing his or her professional work to help curb, if not nib corruption in our society. Another intriguing aspect of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's unwarranted attacks on Anas Aremeyaw Anas is his uncanny machinations, to pitch Anas Aremeyaw Anas' own tribesmen against him by hiring them to malign Anas publicly on both main and social media. Let Hon. Kennedy Agyapong understand that, we are not so gullible as he imagines and that will not wash. The services of the person he hires can best befit the descriptions of an international criminal, a scammer and a fraudster. This man named Hafiz carries himself around and parades himself as a chief. I challenge Hon. Kennedy Agyapong to find out whether his chieftain has a portfolio in the Gbewaa Palace. A chief of an apology! This is not a threat, but an assurance to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, that, in the aftermath of his fatwa, should anything bad happen to Anas or any member of Tiger Eye PI, which will be traceable to the reckless, irresponsible pronouncements and unwarranted attacks of his, then, we will advise ourselves by taking appropriate actions in equal proportion if not worse.

I again, want Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and his ilk to understand that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is a full blooded Ghanaian as any of us who has inalienable rights to engage in the journalistic profession and any legally and lawfully allowed businesses of his choice, and make due profits from such ventures. I keenly followed Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's scaring comments and I observed the amount of confusion and the lack of analytical depth in his argument. Some of the analogies he draws are rather laughable if not pathetic. Why is Hon. Kennedy Agyapong only interested in Anas' high rise property and being quizzical and skeptical about their sources. Why is Hon. Kennedy Agyapong so shallow minded and does not have a modicum of interest or yet still bother to find out where Anas gets this huge sums of money to fund his undercover work and, as it were, bait these corrupt people in our society? Is Hon. Kennedy Agyapong suggesting that, for the fact that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is an investigative journalist, he is not paid for work done when institutions commission him to do undercover investigative work for them? Or is he saying that when Anas is paid for work done, he should go and throw the monies into the sea? We all work to get paid, in the same vein, we all do businesses for benefits and profits. So what is Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's stress about Anas Aremeyaw Anas' numerous acquisition of property including high rise buildings in prime areas od Accra.

Also, I would like to state categorically to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong that, brandishing images purporting to be Anas' can never cow him to stopping his lawful work, but rather goes a long way to exposing he - Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's lack of knowledge and appreciation of the good work done by Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Moreover, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's open vituperation does not only make mockery of his competence and intelligence as an enlightened individual and his supposed anti corruption crusade mantra, but cheapens his status, integrity and personality as an honourable member of parliament. Brandishing supposedly images of Anas Aremeyaw Anas on television and social media does not deter or prevent him from his work. How do expose person that you do not know? In any case, who deceived this hyperactive of a politician that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is hiding his identity from the public eye. He should know Anas has family members, friends and colleagues. So how can he possibly hide away from the public lens. If Hon. Kennedy Agyapong cares to know, Anas Aremeyaw Anas' bio data and profile are matters of public knowledge and access. His journalistic professional and business information or records are already in the public domain and in documents of state institutions like Ghana Revenue Authority, SSNIT, Registrar General's Department, Ghana Lands Commission, The Courts and Ghana Journalists Association. So, how on earth can such a person run away from the public? 

I would furthermore, like to express my utmost disgust and disbelief in the seemingly disinterest of government to the trolling and castigation of Anas Aremeyaw Anas by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong who is believed by many to be a pivot or fulcrum around whom NPP survives when it comes to the party's finances. The NPP campaigned strongly on the issue of corruption among others to gain Ghanaians' mandate. But it has been conspicuously silent and lacks the temerity to call Hon. Kennedy Agyapong to order. This can be considered as a palpable endorsement of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong's baseless and intellectually deficient accusations of Anas. I want to remind the government, especially the president, in his own words, during the IEA presidential debate in the 2012 general elections, then a presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, in his answer to a question about how to stamp out corruption in the system, the president in a muffled but clear voice said and I quote, "The measures are going to be difficult, but there got to be a variety of them including what I called the Anas principle including setting up a highly motivated professional groups of young people who would work,if you like, if it were undercover to unearth examples of corruption wherever they can find them and thereby allow the authority to deal with the issue. Not only do you unearth the corruption, but you actually deal with it in terms of sending people to court, prosecuting them and hopefully the courts will cooperate and make sure the offenders are found guilty and sanctioned appropriately. So, a variety of measures but the key one is the Anas principle..."  So one will ask, what has happened to the Anas' principle? i.e., name, shame and jail. If the president really meant what he said and campaigned for, then it would be expected that he called Hon. Kennedy Agyapong to desist from further spewing lies, threats and hatred against the ace investigative journalist.

In conclusion, I would like to proffer a piece of advice to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong to do that which is needful by providing the descending people of Ghana something that is of evidential value and seize being hot air blower. So far all what we have heard from Hon. Kennedy Agyapong lacks coherence and intellectual depth. They are pure stream of vetuperations, invectives and vindictiveness. This smacks an apology of an Honourable member of parliament. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is overwhelmed by the stream of evidence of Anas' investigative piece, and in his attempt to survive it he clutches to any straw with all the might of his grasp and hope that, he will succeed in running down Anas and Tiger Eye PI. If he thinks Anas Aremeyaw Anas is doing anything unlawful, he should take him on a very intellectual and civil discourse or better still, seek legal action as article 23 of Ghana's constitution permits him the right. "Administrative bodies and administrative officials shall act fairly and reasonably and comply with the requirements imposed on them by law and persons aggrieved by the exercise of such acts and decisions shall have the right to seek redress before a court or other tribunal." I am hundred percent sure that, as a member of parliament of Ghana, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has everything at his disposal and knows his way to the constitutionally mandated state departments responsible for investigating crimes. So he should resort to the appropriate state institutions such as the law courts and the investigations agencies if he has anything that is of criminal implications by Anas Aremeyaw Anas. He should proceed to the law courts if he thinks Anas' investigative journalistic work has occasioned or impugned any criminality instead of abusing precious air time.

Thank you!

Just Thinking Aloud!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder!

A WORD SPOKEN: A STONE THROWN.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana

It is said in Dagbani that "Yaa mila gbobu kayuura". Literally put; power is ephemeral; but eternal if handled with utmost care. Many at times, persons who have been entrusted with power and reposed with public confidence by dint of benevolence and magnanimity end up squandering their own fortunes and that of their benefactors. Once again, another proverb in Dagbani says that, "The baby goat that refuses to suckle its mother's udder, dies of chewing poisonous fodder". So, those who are given the honour to serve in Nana Akufo-Addo's government but are bent on bringing disgrace to the him are doing so at their on peril.

The NPP as a political entity has won three general elections through combined forces since the inception of the fourth republican dispensation. Former president Agyekum Kuffour picked Alhaji Aliu Mahama of blessed memory as his running mate for two consecutive times. Both in opposition and in power. Most intriguing example is the partnership between president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and vice-president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. They have vied for elections as a candidate and a running mate thrice. They were beaten twice. And, won once. Immediately after their victory, Nana Akufo-Addo went on a nationwide 'thank you tour' and below was what Nana Akufo-Addo said in his address to the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa. “I say the saddest day of my life because, as a son of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, I am fully aware that one of the founders of the tradition, the man who gave an example of selfless service to the people of our country, was no less a person than the late Duri Na, Chief S.D. Dombo. Indeed, our tradition bears his name as one of the initiators.

“Beyond him, there were others, B.K. Adama, Jato Kaleo, Na Abayifa Karbo, Mumuni Dimbie. These were the great figures in the development of the United Party and, subsequently, the Progress Party. They were the founding pillars of the party of which I have the honour to be leading. Therefore to be told that the region from which they came had turned its back totally on our tradition gave me anguish and sadness that I can never describe. I was inconsolable."

"Fortunately, 2016 has now come to wipe away those tears and feeling of sadness. From 0, we have got to 5 out of 11. God willing, the next time, we will get the majority of seats and we will know that we are back again fully." 

This address of the then president-elect, to me, is a perfect political pointer that indicates that northerners can never be perceived to be only fit as second fiddle. Nana Akufo-Addo was conscious of his statement actually knew what he said. Why was Nana Akufo-Addo consistent in his choice of a running mate? The answer lies in the quote below.

According to an American essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." 'Consistency' in my opinion, is a means to an end. It is the only trusted way of achieving results, and that can not be considered 'foolish'. So Nana Akufo-Addo's consistency to maintain Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as his best choice for the running mate slot, even when a lot of big wigs in the party wanted a fresh face was not 'foolish'. This was not foolish, because Nana Akufo-Addo wanted to achieve a goal, and his best bet for that auxiliary role was Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. In contrast, the recent comments made by Honourable William Agyapong Quaittoo, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda and the former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, exactly situate the entire NPP including himself as well as the president into the context of Ralph Waldo Emerson's definition of 'foolish consistency'.

Hon. William Agyapong Quaittoo

Hon. William Quaittoo while reacting to complaints from farmers in the north on how their farms have been destroyed by the fall army-worm and their subsequent appeal for some form of compensation, said on Starr FM station that, “If anybody who is in the north and said his farm was destroyed by fall army-worm the person must prove it. Our brothers (in the North) it is so difficult to deal with them. I lived there for 27 years, I speak Dagbani like a Dagomba and all that. “They are very difficult people. Nobody can substantiate. If anybody says that his farm was destroyed by army-worm, the person would have to come and prove it. We have no records of that. It’s just a way of taking money from the government: that’s what they do all the time." 

This means Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in general, have consistently dealt with dishonest and insincere bunch of people. People who are unreasonable in discourse. People who have the penchant for peddling deliberate deceit for selfish fiendishness. His comments were high handed. I wonder what really triggered these unsavoury and unsolicited comments of the former Deputy Agriculture Minister. There was no provocation whatsoever to have warranted those comments. I also wonder whether he has soon forgotten that, the three northern regions for the first time in the history of the NPP in the fourth republic, gave NPP an overwhelming endorsement which saw their victory in 2016 general elections. As confessed by the president, Upper West Region for instance, where the NPP has no seat before 2016, voted massively for the NPP and secured five seats to ensure a win for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. This presented this Minister a privilege to serve in government. So, how can he be so resentful and speak ill of us. I believe his comments were not accidental but intentional. I am strongly tempted to believe that, his comments were premeditated and stemmed from a deep seated stereotypical hatred, hegemony and dogmatism.

The fact is that, the comments of the former Deputy Minister of Agriculture are synonymous with his constituency, so to speak. It will recalled that, Hon. William Quaittoo's predecessor, the Senior Minister, Honourable Yaw Osafo Marfo who was once a Member of Parliament for the same constituency - Akim Oda was also alleged to have made comments that were believed to be ethnocentric, tribal bigotry and hegemonic. He was caught on tape during NPP's Council of Elders meeting in the Eastern Region, inciting ethnocentric sentiments. Below were comments reported to have been made by Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo “ You have all the resources, but you have no say in the management of your resources and that is what happening. Your development depends on the one who has no resources…” 

Both Honourable Yaw Osafo Marfo and Honourable William Agyapong Quaittoo are astute politicians from the same constituency. Honourable William Quaittoo is seen by Dagombas as one of their own. He's spent at least, half of his entire life in Dagbon. His campaign team was managed by Dagombas and some Northerners. He sometimes attends meetings of the Dagomba community in his constituency. And, he speaks impeccable Dagbani. He is familiar with the culture of Dagombas. His relation with Dagombas and Northerners in general is un-ending. So, why did he make such hate speech? I can not still come to terms with what actually provoked this absolute absurdity of him. Was it a case of running out of words or being a victim of circumstance. As one of my brothers retorted, "is he a fall army worm detector?" to have known which farmers' crops were attacked and which were not. 

I think inasmuch as his comments were repugnant and repulsive, his resignation was enough deterrence and a well lesson learnt by all. I appreciate how impassioned we become when comments by individuals seek to undermine and ridicule our ethnicity and culture. But to take a median position, I thought after his unqualified public apology, we were going to let go of the matter and ask him to go and sin no more. It is a fact that his comments were unpalatable and a potential recipe for ethnocentric turbulence. In the same vein, it was also too much of unappeasable of us Northerners to have called and mounted pressure on him to resign.

Hon. Eric Opoku

Not to sit on the fence, if worst comments have not been made by politicians in this country, but similar utterances have been staged by certain political figures. I recall the disparaging remarks and total blasphemous comments made by Hon. Eric Opoku - the former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister who also doubled as the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South during president Mahama's government. He was reported to have said emphatically that, Muslims who associate themselves with the NPP are not real but fake Muslims. He defended his assertion by erroneously and ignorantly quoting a chapter in the Holy Qur'an. And, the most recent palpable lies perpetrated by Honourable Sarah Adwoa Safo and the NPP Communications Director of Dome-Kwabenya Constituency in their claims of building the Kwabenya Community Senior High School. The hate speech by Hon. Kennedy Agyepong against Ewes. These are a few of several examples. In these instances, they neither resigned nor even in the least apologised. They each mounted serious defences against calls for their resignations.

But in the case of Honourable William Quaittoo, he unreservedly rendered a public apology and subsequently resigned on his own volition. I think he has exhibited a lot of maturity and courage. I also believe his resignation has saved the president a great deal of troubles as to how he was going to handled this. The resignation of the former Deputy Minister for Agriculture therefore deserves commendation rather than condemnation. I think it would not be a bad idea for president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to give him a second chance if he happens to form a new set of appointees in his government. By then, he might have learnt his lessons. Especially as the Honourable Member of Parliament is not known to have a penchant for making pronouncements that tend to enflame passions.

The president is doing hard to live by his words and most importantly, make sure that his government fulfils the campaign promises he made, for which the people of Ghana gave him their mandates. His detractors both within and without, are also up in arms to distract his attention and thwart his efforts. A couple of weeks ago, some persons of the opposition and a section of Ghanaians did hard on social media to accuse the president of a sacrilege of standing on the Ghana flag. But, it did not survive the shocks of its own birth. It dried out like morning dew in a sunny harmattan day. It was not what these people wanted Ghanaians to believe. The fact was that, the flag itself was used to decorate the platform while the president stood on a red carpet atop.

The most debilitating and sickening of it all, are those within. Some actions and inactions of certain  elements in both government and the party are highly undermining the efforts of the president. If this continues, it will take away the glister of the excellent works of Nana Akufo-Addo. Look at the scene created by Honourable Anthony Abayifa Karbo. It was completely needless for him to have taken part in the hostility between that thug and the Minister of Roads and Highways. Both he and his boss should not have been part of the scuffle in the first place, because, they each has bodyguards. Their bodyguards were dutifully detailed to deal with such situations, so why did he personally and physically take part in the fracas and near fisticuffs. This could be best described as flexing political muscle to abuse citizens. Some politicians forget that real power belongs to the people and what they exercise is political power. Indeed, power of any kind is transient so it must be handled with optimum care. 

Some individuals within the party are employing monkey tricks, and those are definitely not the key to opening the doors of their insatiable aggrandisement, so they are now humming and fuming like a donkey at midnight wanting to attract its owner's attention of its dissatisfaction. These if not checked, would become issues that could become cancerous tissues in the body of the Nana Akufo-Addo's government. Some of these people speak with the loudest and deepest voices forgetting that an individual's voice cannot subdue the voices of the masses. Hasn't the NPP got an internal mechanism to addressing individual members' grievances? So why are they all over the place spewing vindictiveness and vendetta like venomous vipers. These people must be made to understand that making wild allegations of corruption without evidence is not itself a panacea to problems and issuing threats are clear testimony of cowardice. 

Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyepong

Because some of them have not earned themselves one or two contracts, they have decided to make wild allegations at the president and his officials. Some of these allegations could be true, but others are completely out of peevish malaise and brutish malice. The biggest culprit of this is the Honourable Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyepong. Lately, Master Kwame Asare Obeng (Kwame A-Plus), a popular Ghanaian Hiplife artiste and a staunch supporter of the NPP has also joined the frail of guys with the disease of 'verbal diarrhoea'. I listened A-Plus' Facebook comments and they were nauseating to say the least. How can you make such a silly sweeping statement of allegations of corruption against a government you claim to have campaigned to bring into power just because you have a 'feeling' about two deputy chiefs of staff (Mr. Asenso Boakye and Mr. Abu Jinapor). Does a feeling give you the right to tag government appointees as "corrupt and thieves"? Hon. Kennedy Agyepong on the other hand, is also reported to have made very serious allegations of corruption against the Communications Ministry because he did not win a contract at the National Identification Authority (NIA). I hope they both are ready to substantiate their claims with hard facts and clear evidence as the police CID has extended invitations to them. 

A lot of Ghanaians are skeptical of Nana Akufo-Addo's administration and the programmes he promised Ghanaians. And, instead of persons who find themselves around the corridors of power to propagate the good intentions of the president, tend to be the very persons who are doing things to deepen people's disbelief and lack of confidence in the president. But as it is said, "a great product needs no advertising". It will invariably be patronised even in the smallest most obscure corner!

Many were those who retorted and bastardised the campaign promises of the then presidential candidate - president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and said they were pure political deceits. But, eight months into office we are experiencing the winds of better future gradually blowing scintillating breezes of hope and aspirations into the lives of Ghanaians. The transformational  agenda and industrialisation processes are on course, and like a magician the president dishes out his promised programmes and policies one after another from the magically mysterious bag. By this, I remain resolute with an unflinching belief in the president and his government, at least for now. 

So many debts accumulated by the previous government have been paid off. For example, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has Ghc 539 million of its Ghc 1.2 billion debt paid off by the president. The power and energy sectors have also received recapitalisation, and the recurring power outages are history now. Nana Akufo-Addo's government has also launched some social and economic intervention programmes that are geared toward youth development and empowerment. Planting For Food And Jobs and National Enterprenuership and Innovations Plan are a few to mention.

Just last week, another landmark event was launched by the president at Ekumfi Abonten in Central Region, ie, the One District One Factory Industrialisation Programme.  One can also make mention of some good news in the education sector. That's, the restoration of college students' allowances and the unveiling of the free SHS programme. The free SHS, aside the relief it brings to the pockets of parents also comes with with employment suite especially for certified caterers. Very soon other flagship programmes such as One District One Million U.S Dollars and One Village, One Dam will be rolled out, and we are patiently waiting for their launching.

Notwithstanding all this, I expect Ghanaians to continue to press down their demands from the government. I also think supporters and members of the government should be fair and firm and critical of the government, but a constructive mind. The president himself has promised not to entertain corruption and any kind of financial improprieties. And, he reiterated this last Saturday at the NPP National Delegates Conference at Cape Coast, Central Region. In his address at the Delegates Conference, the president made it categorically clear that every allegation of financial impropriety would not be swept under the carpet.  All allegations of corruption by his appointees would be attended to by the appropriate quarters. And he has since referred some of these allegations to the police CID. 

To conclude, I have no advice, but a word of reminder. A stone once thrown can not be retrieved until the damage is caused. And, what the mouth says, the hand cannot erase. So, if some elements of the NPP have made it their business to cause nightmares or drag themselves into the slough and throw mud at one another in public glare, we will standby and watch them naked when they undress to wash their linens. A word to the wise is 'in the north'.

Just thinking aloud. Thnx!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder.