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.

RENDER UNTO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR'S.

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo - MP, Dome Kwabenya

The is a popular proverb in Dagbani that says, "Kundung yelmang'li yizani, nyi nzangtou ka ozang kpe mogu". Literally translated as, when truth is the hyena's give unto it, so it takes into the bush!  This proverb buttresses the fact that, there is no alternative for truth. When your enemy/rival is right, accord him/her the honour if even he/she does not need it.

After the 2016 landslide victory of the New Patriotic Party (N.P.P), I was removed from a WhatsApp group platform that was formed to garner support for N.P.P and its president candidate now, president of the Republic of Ghana - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I was expunged from the group "Crusaders For Change" for speaking a palpable truth about the outburst of Honourable Alhassan Suhuyini - the Member of Parliament for Tamale-North Constituency during the Vetting Committee of Parliament's sitting and the subsequent over ruling of Honourable Joseph Osei Owusu. As if the expulsion was a deterrence for speaking the truth. Though, one of the group administrators spoke to me and wanted to put me back but I declined, because I would continue to express my views in the same or similar fashion if I deemed them right and truthful, any time issues of national nature were on the burner. I would not praise-sing my leaders just because they are leaders. Why should I ignominiously sing your name when in fact, I know you are roundly wrong? I Can not praise when there is no course to praise. That would be hypocritical of the highest height and amounts to blandishments. I, rather, would speak with my instincts and personal conviction. I would tell you the hard truth in the best and most respectful possible means for you to sit up or correct your mistakes.

I hope we have heard the revelations made by Rojo Mettle Noonu on reasons why N.D.C lost the 2016 general elections. The leaders wanted to hear their praises which N.D.C foot-soldiers and faithfuls dished out to them in multitudes. Some supporters of the party knew that, they were not being frank with themselves. But that was what their leaders wanted, so, they pretended as everything was on course and  behaved like the proverbial ostrich. 

They could not believe what they heard and saw after their infamous quotation "John 2016: Thou shalt forever be in a comfortable lead thy kingdom cometh". They have come to terms with the reality, though they are yet to recover from the shocks of the piles of lies and denials of the economic hardships Ghanaians were going through. 

Revelations from the Professor Botwey's Committee and other quarters paint picturesque plot of the erstwhile N.D.C government. And, many amongst the reasons for N.D.C's  shameful defeat were propaganda by party functionaries, show of arrogance and avarice by some government officials. Ineptitude, economic mismanagement and misappropriation. Lackadaisical attitude towards fighting corruption. Trying hard with all their minds and mights to justify obvious lies and defend the indefensible. Parading a bunch of incompetent guys and apparatchiks. Showing gross disrespect and disdain for wisdom and common sense. When leaders are observed to be fond of acting these ways, followers feel cheated, dumb, stupid and taken for granted, so they count their days. Most politicians after obtaining our mandates, become obviously oblivion to their obligations. Yes! Meanwhile, true power belongs to us. So, when this happens, we will wait patiently for the right time to show them the exit, especially in a democratic society such as ours.

Not to sound pessimistic whatsoever, in all sincerity and honesty, it seems to me that six (6) months into office, a good number of government appointees and N.P.P adherents have soon forgotten why the party was voted into power. If this voice in my mind is right, I have no advice to give except to say, the ordinary citizens of Ghana are still aware of the reasons why they voted N.D.C out of power. We are witnessing weird repetitions of some mistakes of N.D.C in an N.P.P government. I do not know whether these mistakes are occasioned to underscore the popular notion that, "all politicians are the same".

We have witnessed some unpleasant developments in the Akufo-Addo led government and no concrete solutions have been designed to resolve or prevent their recurrences. We have heard and seen the apparent disturbances meted out by hoodlums in N.P.P regarding nominations/appointments of DCE/MCEs and some local government officials (Savelugu readily comes to mind), the Bugri Naabu and Afisa Djaba's row, Honourable Kennedy Agyepong's serial outbursts in the media and the 'Bost' boss brouhaha and most recently, Mr. Ahomka Lindsay's whining comments and the social media trolling of Honourable Sarah Adwoa Safo. These are many concerns among others that, some of us who believe in the prospects of Akufo-Addo's government are disquieted with.

Despite the above examples, I still have unflinching but unfettered faith in Nana Akufo-Addo's government and believe strongly that better things will happen to Ghanaians in his administration. Just yesterday, he launched the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan. This is a flagship programme that is primarily geared towards providing funds for startups and small businesses. One hundred million US dollars ($100 million) is to be injected into this programme and government has already allocated ten million dollars as seed capital for the fund. This would inherently curb the unemployment menace Ghana currently faces. So the teeming unemployed youth have no excuses any further than to be innovative and genius in ideas. 

Despite the president's good intentions and great ideas, some of his appointees are indulging in acts that have the potentials to take the shine away from his efforts. And, I am particularly not happy as a citizen about some of these happenings and I would like to talk about them, especially the most recent instances. My disappointment and disheartening are premised on the fact that, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as our head has shown us the lead. He encouraged us in his maiden speech to be "... citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects." The following quotes from his inaugural speech should be our watch words especially those in government. "There should be no higher praise than to be able to say I AM A GHANAIAN. Being a Ghanaian must put certain responsibilities on each one of us. Calling yourself a Ghanaian must mean you have signed up to a certain definable code and conduct. Being a Ghanaian puts an obligation on each one of us to work at building a fair, prosperous and happy nation.

And calling yourself a Ghanaian must mean we look out for each other. The change we have voted for has to start with each individual. I ask you to be responsible citizens."

These words of the president are very powerful and inspiring. But over the weekends, some video clips went viral on both social and mainstream media about comments made by Mr. Robert Ahomka Lindsay - the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and Honourable Sarah Adwoa Safo - the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya who doubles as Deputy Majority Leader and Minister for Procurement. These are no mean, small persons in government. 

Mr. R. Ahomka Lindsay - Dep.Min. of Trade and Industry

In the case of the former, he made a comment which was clearly innocuous in all respects but some people understood it out of context and tried to make issues with it. Mr Ahomka Lindsay was reported to have passed a comment that did not sit well with some people when he spoke at a Diaspora Homecoming Summit at the Accra International Conference Centre. To me, this was an admonition proffered by the deputy minister to the 'diasporans'. He advised that, “Nobody likes whiners, people that spend all the time whining all the time really get on people’s nerves so stop whining,”. Good and gentleman as he is, has since apologised. "I wish to assure the people of Ghana and all those who have been offended by my comments that I did not in any way intend to sound offensive in my presentation. I hold all Ghanaians in the greatest respect and would not in any way do or say anything that would impugn their integrity." I'm humbled by Mr. Ahomka Lindsay's humility and I salute him. As it is said in Dagbani, "Gilma gari salma" (meaning, humility is worthier than gold). We all rise each leg up against the other on the ground in order to wear a boxer shorts or under pants. So, why should you feel bigger than apology, especially when you are wrong. An apology would not take anything away from you as a leader except to enrich your personality. 

On the other hand, Honourable Adwoa Safo was reported to have claimed that, Kwabenya Senior High School, constructed as one of the two hundred (200) Community Day Senior High Schools promised by president John Dramani Mahama and his N.D.C government during the 2012 electioneering campaigns, was actually built through her hard work, intense lobbying and connections with the World Bank. She claimed to have lobbied the World Bank to build that Senior High School in her constituency. She contended that, when she contacted the World Bank for such assistance, the World Bank asked her to provide it with a litigation free land so, she acquired a parcel of land for the current location of the said school from Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) for the construction of the school. 

Even on the surface of this, it would be very difficult for any Ghanaian to believe her words because we all knew that, the two hundred (200) Community Day Senior High Schools project was a counter campaign promise by the N.D.C during the 2012 general elections when N.P.P promised Ghanaians free SHS education if they won power. Sadly enough, N.P.P did not win that election, but N.D.C did. The N.D.C government was not able to fulfill this promise in its entirety, it so managed to build only fourty-six (46) or so out of the two hundred (200) promised. So they is no denying the fact that, the few built is President Mahama's legitimate legacy. So how do we believe Honourable Adwoa Safo's claims?

Again, checks conducted by Mannaseh Azure revealed that, Honourable Adwoa Safo never contacted the World Bank and in fact, the World Bank said, it does not deal with individuals. The World Bank said, it dealt with the government of Ghana (the then N.D.C government led president John Dramani Mahama), and funded twenty-three (23) of the fourty-six (46) or so Community Day Senior High Schools. It said, aside specifications it did not determine locations or preference in terms of siting the 23 schools it funded. That was entirely the government's decision.

Kwabenya Senior High School

It is also an open secret that, these Community Day Senior High schools though, a failed campaign promise, were built across the ten regions of Ghana in districts which did not have Senior High Schools. These included some districts from Ashanti and Eastern Regions - the stronghold regions of N.P.P. Because Honourable Adwoa Safo wanted to claim credit for one of these schools, she peddled a very palpable falsehood to her constituents and told them that the Senior High Schools built by the N.D.C government were all sited in its strongholds. So it is evident that, Kwabenya Senior High School is not one of N.D.C's. And that, her constituency was the only N.P.P stronghold in the whole country where we had the Community Day SHS. So Kwabenya Senior High School is after all not N.D.C government's project. As revealed by Mannaseh Azure once again,  "Adugyaman SHS near Mankraso in Ahafo Anor and Agric Nzema SHS near Kwadaso" are among the Community Day Senior High Schools built by president John Dramani Mahama.

I thought she together with all persons who associated themselves with these lies would have kept mute if not apologised, especially when the facts on this matter were brought to the public know. Because, this was a case of broad daylight prevarication with malicious intent. Instead, the Communications Director of N.P.P for the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency - Nana Nkrumah came out to say that Honourable Adwoa Safo negotiated for land for the construction of the school at its current site. He brandished a letter from Honourable Adwoa Safo’s office, in which she requested the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to release a track of land for the school project. I see this attempt of Mr. Nkrumah - the N.P.P Communications Director of Dome-Kwabenya Constituency as diversionary, because Honourable Adwoa Safo's claims was mainly not about acquiring a parcel of land for the project. If she wanted to say so, she could have said that plainly.

Mr. Nkrumah's Exhibit Letter.

I do not wish to impugn the verisimilitude of the said letter, but I shudder to think, why it did not have a reference number. The letter also referred to the project as "as part of the One Hundred (100) [200*] Secondary School Project initiated by the government" and not Honourable Adwoa Safo. This letter is purported to have been written on 4th May 2015, and we all understand that, the party in power at that time was N.D.C. Unless, Honourable Adwoa Safo wants to re-write Ghana's political history. The first sentence of the second paragraph of Mr. Nkrumah's exhibit letter indicates that there were some prior deliberations which Honourable Adwoa Safo was part of, as contained in the first paragraph of GAEC's letter to the Municipal Chief Executive of Ga East Municipal Assembly. What baffles me is that GAEC only copied Honourable Adwoa Safo's office. This presupposes that, Honourable Adwoa Safo was not the original or the intended recipient of that letter. So how can we believe Honourable Adwoa Safo's claims and Mr. Nkrumah's subsequent lame defence that Honourable Adwoa Safo single handedly worked hard, lobbied for both acquiring the parcel of land and securing funding from the World Bank for the construction of Kwabenya Senior High School? 

GAEC's Letter.

The last straw that broke the camel's was the definite debunking of Honourable Adwoa Safo's claims by The Communications Director of GAEC - Mr. Kwasi Sarfo “The first request was from the Ga East Municipal Assembly, so we responded to the Ga East Municipal Assembly giving them where the secondary school has been situated now,”. He also refuted the assertion that, that portion GAEC land was purchased with Honourable Adwoa Safo's Common Funds. “I don’t know about demarcation of the said land. I only know about land being given to Ga East Municipal Assembly. I don’t know about any payment whatsoever. According to the record available to the commission they wrote requesting for the land we responded to them giving them that piece of land.”

This is nothing more than a complete case of prevarication and fabrication of facts to obtain political mileage over one's opponents. The people of Ghana are watching; we are discerning and not zombies. Honourable Adwoa Safo or better still, the Communications Director - Mr. Nkrumah should have rendered an unqualified apology to the constituents and Ghanaians, rather than mounting this porous weak defense.

My little advice is, lets all learn to honour credit where it's due! We should not try to usurp or paint black people's glory and good name if even we assisted in their achievements or successes. Create your own success story. If you carved a niche for yourself, no one could take it away from you. It would be seen and acknowledged by all. You would not even have to tout it yourself. People will sing it in your praise and glory. 

Thnx!

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder!

MAJOR MAXWELL MAHAMA ADAM - A FALLEN HERO

A Fallen Hero

On Monday the 29th of May, 2017, Ghanaians woke up to the unpleasant news of a murder of a military personnel - Major Maxwell Mahama Adam in Denkyira Obuasi, a mining community in the Upper Denkyira West District of Central Region. This has since become topical in the media and public due to the circumstances that led to his death. His death is utterly incomprehensible, it beats human imagination and we are yet to come to terms with the devastation his death has caused to some of us. We are told that, his death was as a result of a mistaken identity which to me, begs the question! Even toddlers can tell a military personnel from an armed robber by their looks. So, what at all went wrong with the people of Denkyira Obuasi, for them to have called this nice military personnel an armed robber, lynched and burnt him when he had told them in plain language that he - Major Maxwell Mahama Adam was a soldier? This might be a grand plot or the culture of senseless mob action which has insidiously eaten up our morals as a people time immemorial. I cannot still come to terms with this. How can an armed robber single handedly rob a whole village in broad day light?

We are all aware and most of the time, witnesses to mob justice in our communities. It is not uncommon to hear or see suspected offenders in our societies been summarily prosecuted and executed by wrong thinking individuals. This is because our society believes that power belongs to the people. This is true, however, prosecutorial power does not lie in the hands of the people! This mindset is nourished by the conspicuous silence of people, especially those in authorities who neither publicly condemn nor exact punitive actions against such miscreants. As a result, this has continually existed and festered, and one of its various manifestations is what happened in Denkyira Oboasi. 

Before this Denkyira Obuasi madden murder of Major Maxwell Mahama Adam, we have heard news of innocent women and men suspected of witchcraft, wizardry and other forms of crimes, more often involving crimes of misdemeanour. And, these persons are beaten to pulp and in worst cases to death on the grounds of mere suspicion and no one says nothing. No suspect is guilty until proven by a competent court of jurisdiction! Is this just a cliché?

In my observation, our society continues to suffer this cancerous menace because the following; 

First, no one finds it needful to wage war against mob action which has been with us for years. No one, not even government agencies such N.C.C.E, the Information Service Department and human right non-governmental organisations find it necessary to educate Ghanaians and create awareness on the need to report suspects of any sort to the police or even the traditional authorities and not take the law into their hands.

Again, the society has no much trust in our justice system. This is a society where more often than not, the justice system is believed to have allowed offenders walk freely from the grips of the law. With this in the minds of some members of the society, they prefer taking the law into their hands to resorting to the rule of law. And, when evidence of crimes is relegated, confidence of the society is affected!

Another factor that has contributed greatly to this barbaric culture in our society is political intolerance and impunity. History will side with me that, both past and recent developments in our political discourse and advancement have been many at times dotted with chaotic scenes. We can talk of excesses of the military regimes in the past and the present political party vigilantism. Most of these groups in their attempts to protect their political parties's interest indulge in violence of excessive proportions. Perpetrators of these perpetual brutish behaviours are often shielded and at the end, left off the hook by the powers be. We are all witnesses,  and we can cite instances, and both N.D.C and N.P. P are the worst culprits. When this is not bated, it becomes the order of the day.

One cannot genuinely talk about causes of mob actions without taking into accounts our educational system. The kind of educational system we run is also to be blamed for some of these excesses and atrocities by members of the public. Why? You will notice that, most of the persons involved in this so-called 'mob justice' are the youth. These attackers on the average, are Junior or Senior High School leavers. These people have passed through the JHS and/or SHS system(s) but do not have a modicum of civic knowledge or awareness that, suspects when arrested are to be handed over to the police or in its absence the traditional authorities. If you take a cursory look at video clips of the many public brutalities of innocent people, most of the perpetrators are either in their thirties or below. Which means, they are products of the current educational system. The national curriculum has confined  civic education and home knowledge to the garbage bin. When mere and ordinary teachers like some of us call for inclusion of civic education in our curriculum, no ear will pay heed. The society only listens to  persons with lists of titles.

The untimely death of Major Maxwell  Mahama Adam should be enough a lesson for us all. But, it should not be left, as usual, off the hook. Those idiotic imbeciles should be hunted down and brought to book. His killing was not only dastardly cruel but barbaric at the highest level. Look at how short his life is ended. This was a bright and promising citizen of our land. But, Ghana, the nation he defended and fought for gave him out. What a wicked place to live. The people involved in this heinous cruelty have robbed the nation a precious gift of a personality that has no substitute and can never be traced. Put together the entire Upper Denkyira West District and tell how many second degree holders can be counted of. 

A Tribute From University of Leicester

Here was an individual with great prospects who was pursuing a Master of Science in Criminology, a discipline with a chasm in Ghana. How many criminologists can we boast off as a country, aside Prof. Ken Attefuah, Dr. Kwesi Anning and Mr. Alex Segbefia. There is no shreds of doubt that, this handsome gentleman was not going to be a perfect personality in that field taking into account, his military background, educational prowess and his amiable disposition. He was a loving husband and caring father. Yet his life was snappily stupidly snatched away from him.

Major Maxwell Mahama Adam & Family

The wife together with the family has not lost but Ghana has.  Because, every well meaning and patriotic Ghanaian is pained to the marrow, the actions of these animalistic elements of our society. Tributes from his burial and memorial service have made me more than convinced that Major Maxwell Mahama Adam was by all standards a military personnel with different orientation. Those who unscrupulously joked with his death should by now bow their heads in shame. 

The tributes showed how caring, loving and compassionate Major Maxwell Mahama Adam was to all. Who in the face of death by attackers will not use any possible weapon? He had a weapon that he could have taken the lives of his lynchers with him. However, he wanted these stupid raging people to give him a listening ear, so he chose the path of compassion and protection. How many of us will not pull the trigger in the name of self defence in the same instance? Especially, when he had the means and in this regard, an expert in using that weapon. He showed them love but in return the people of Denkyira Obuasi reciprocated hatred which they will in due course pay for. I strongly believe that, even on the day of judgment, when we will all stand before our maker - the Almighty, Major Maxwell Mahama Adam will still be compassionate and ask the good Lord to forgive his killers. But, until that day, they should face the full brunt of their deeds. I support the call for the trial of the offenders to be televised for all to see so that the public learns lessons.

A True Inspiration

For the fact that he is given a state burial clearly shows that he - Major Maxwell Mahama Adam has triumphed over these callous murderers. A grand funeral ceremony of befitting! He will forever be a national hero and a martyr. A golden spot in our minds and a glistening example to the youth of this country. Not many at his young age attained this higher heights. We pray for Allah's guidance and protection of his family most especially the widow, the two sons and the unborn baby.

I am however, gladden by the fact that, government and the security agencies are committed to get to the bottom of this case and exact appropriate punitive sanctions to all found guilty of his murder. Also, the trust fund set for his family with a seed money of Ghc 500,000 by president Akufo Addo is heart warming and great consolation. It is also laudable the idea to immortalise him by erecting a statue or constructing a monument in his honour. I hope and pray that Major Maxwell Mahama Adam's gruesome murder would mark the beginning of an end to the mob 'justice' menace in Ghana. This should be the last ever to be occasioned in our society. And, it should be a 'spiritual bloodshed' to cleanse all future mob lynching and related killings. 

Rest in Perfect Peace

I am also heartened by the tenacity and patriotism of the father. Upon the trauma, grief and loss, he had promised to take upon himself, the task to educate and create awareness in the public the need to stop mob or instant 'justice' of suspects. I entreat all, especially corporate entities to support his noble intentions in all aspects. 

To the bereaved family, my condolences!

And to you, Major Maxwell Mahama Adam! My thoughts are with you! Rest in perfect peace.

Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder!

"THOSE WHOSE PALM KERNELS WERE CRACKED FOR THEM BY A BENEVOLENT SPIRIT SHOULD NOT FORGET TO BE HUMBLE "

"THOSE WHOSE PALM KERNELS WERE CRACKED FOR THEM BY A BENEVOLENT SPIRIT SHOULD NOT FORGET TO BE HUMBLE"

Essentially, this write-up is a response to Manasseh Azure Awuni's attempt to rationalise and justify the guff of Multimedia. He in fact, wants all to accept the move by the News File's team that derogatorily denied an NPP youth the opportunity to rep the party on their flagship programme. If we allow this to go un-condemned, it will be a very big blow;  an indictment to the youth of this country and of course an affront to our intelligence. 

Manasseh's reaction to this fellow on Facebook in my view was not the best and more over unappreciative of his benefactors. For the purposes of fairness here are the fellow's question and Manasseh's subsequent response. Halid Blewusi: Today you are here talking about standards and referring to others as "anyone at all". Remember where you were and grace found you. Until you won the journalist of the year award and people like Sefa Kayi interviewed you, where were you? If you don't believe people should be given opportunities to develop, then you don't deserve the grace you have enjoyed so far.

Manasseh Azure Awuni: Where was I? I was doing journalism with impact. Kwame Sefa-Kayi interviewed me because I was worth being interviewed for that purpose. Or? Why have you not been celebrated by him so that you can become a star or?

If Manasseh cannot be humble enough but finds answers in rhetorics as appropriate, then, there are so many of such. So, don't you; Manasseh think the interview granted you by Mr. Sefa-Kayi presented you some opportunities and attention for which you are what you are today? 

Let's learn to give opportunities to the young ones to grow their capacity. Is intelligence about the individual or the position of the individual? Like president Nana Addo said in his so-called plagiarised inaugural speech, "Our success or failure should be judged by the quality of the individual, by his knowledge, his skills, his behaviour as a member of society, ...". In this statement, I reckon;  the individual's ability should be measured by his skills, intelligence and quality. Mind you, you are not Mr. Manasseh because you're a journalist in Multimedia, but because of your intelligence and your capacity in that profession. And, you will agree with me that, your standing in journalism didn't happen out of the blue but by years of practice, hard work and determination brought to fruition by the magnanimity or good-will of others. Remember, no matter how good you are, you still need the platform of others to stand on their shoulders to showcase what you got. Did you just burst into the media scene at the time you were a rookie? No! You passed through a process to where you are today. So what do you want to deny others?

I remember in one of your Facebook write-ups, you talked about how you literally went on your knees for television stations to play your news works which eventually won you awards. If opportunities were not granted you, would you have become the Manasseh that we know today? Haven't those indulgence and people's 'obligeness', be them on merit or not, developed your capacity?  Before I go on, let me remind you of a saying from one of your favourite authors - Chinua Achebe in his evergreen book; "Things Fall Apart" and this should be our watch word, "Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble" 

Once again, let me remind you of the recent happening in your outfit since you talked about not lowering standards of your flagship programmes. Where were you when the issue of someone's response to your Facebook message about African leaders having economic submits in Geneva became a topic of discussion on the "Super Morning Show"? I hope that wasn't lowering of standards in Multimedia! Was that not trivializing your programmes? The Super Morning Show to be precise. I in particular jumped to your defence on WhatsApp group platforms. 

You should understand that it is one thing to talk about someone not being the appropriate discussant due to the issues tabled for discussion and another thing to talk about the person not meeting standards. I would like to find out the standards you are talking about? In any case, what are the minimum standards for choosing panelists for News File. Tell us to see whether people like Sam George, Felix Kwakyi, Otokonor, David Annan and the likes met those standards at the time they were been paraded on New File. How exceptional are these guys from Nana B? The electronic media in Ghana are fanciful of parading individuals with big titles meanwhile, the ideas and views they express are not exceptionally different from the ordinary Ghanaian's. 

We say the youth are tomorrow's leaders. So, how can they lead tomorrow when they are not given chance to develop themselves today? How will they lead if the old folks do not afford the new ones some room to operate. How will the youth handle the mantle of leadership tomorrow when today's leaders decimate young ones' initiatives? 

I believe in the youth of Ghana and I challenge the News File team to give the youth wings of political parties the chance most especially, the gentleman in question and he will prove them wrong. I do not even understand where this supposedly lack of confidence in the gentleman comes from. Didn't some of our current leaders namely Haruna Idrissu, Mustapha Hamid and the rest passed through this show? The recent crop of young politicians who are doing very well such as Sammy Awuku, Sammy Ablekwa just to mention a few all passed through this programme. So what is changed about the programme that, young ones can no more participate in the programme? If the News File's team takes this stance then, I am not certain that, after four or five years that programme will exist any longer. For the benefit of doubt, I challenge the News File team to empanel Nana B. in their subsequent editions and I strongly believe that, he will put his critics to shame.

You and my cherished media personality - the vintage Samson Lardi Anyenini benefited from people's benevolence to become the brands you are today and not just only by sheer dint of your hard-work, determination and intelligence. I remember the first time I heard of Mr. Samson on radio was as a reporter of Joy FM. Though, by then, a host on Luv FM - a subsidiary media outlet of Multimedia. So how did he arise to become the host of the number one sociopolitical programme (The News File) in Ghana. I know, at the time the job of a host for News File became vacant, they were equally competent and more qualified media personalities who could have handled this most respected programme the same as Mr. Samson if not better. There were media giants who were more positioned and well known in the media circles and to the Ghanaian public than Samson Lardi Anyenini. But, grace found him and he was preferred against all those guys by the employer. Many were the doubting Thomases. A lot of News File's external publics sat on the fence to see whether he was going to pass the test. Because, the bars and standards for the show were already raised to its apex by media gurus such as Kweku Sackyi Addo  and Matilda Asante. So, any personality who wears their shoes was expected to walk in their space if not talk with their pace. Mr. Samson as fallible as human, made some mistakes in the course, but no one can take it away from him that, he improved over the years from experience and has grown to become the finest and in that regard, the best talk show host in Ghana. I believe all will concur with me that he has covered more miles in that journey than even his two predecessors put together. So if he, a first timer for such a gigantic programme has been overwhelmingly successful, what shows that a first time panelist will not be creditably good for News File programme? 

I think Multimedia should give chance to others especially the youth and they will grow to become the kind of persons they want to empanel on their programmes. If this is done, it will help break the monotony of voices on the electronic media and also avoid the monopoly of the usual politicians/journalists. Let the public have variety no matter how novice their submissions will be. We all learn from practice! 

I faintly remember a well known programme on either DW TV or Aljazeera which one time empaneled Kwamena Ato Dadzi from Multimedia then. Not to berate his capability, but they were senior media persons DW TV/Aljazeera could have invited for that programme because, he was not the best of all in the Ghanaian media but at least, it indicated that, the Ghanaian media is made up various kinds of personalities and not only the famous ones.

Lest I forget, Mr. Manasseh might be better informed than me on this matter. Bernard Nasara Shaibu was Manasseh's senior colleague in Multimedia. But he left Multimedia because favour and grace did not either stretch their boughs to him or did not find their way to dawn on him by the powers that be in Multimedia. But we all know that in the run-up to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's exit from Multimedia, Bernard was paired with Kojo on the Super Morning Show for several months in a bit to groom him for a take over. He even single handedly handled and some times co-hosted the show with Francis Abban for a couple of weeks before Kojo Yankson came. No single listener of the Super Morning Show doubted Nasara's ability to host it, but he was not given the opportunity to challenge himself and develop his capacity. Though, he is making it on a different platform which is not substantially different from what he would have been doing in Multimedia. But, the fact is that, if he were to be hosting the Super Morning Show, he could have performed far more perfectly and better build his experience and capacity than where he is, due to Multimedia's brand. I think this scenario gives us a better reason and more forceful understanding why people, especially the youth should be given opportunities to exhibit what they are inertly made of. 

My humble advice to Multimedia is that, with the advent of social media, the mainstream media should understand that, the power of media today is in the hands of the consumer ie, the reader, listener or viewer and not the journalist, editor or the owner. And to my brothers in Multimedia, permit me to say as a Northerner, I see you as our torchbearers and for that matter, I employ you to  be more reflective of your decisions, actions and reactions.

Thnx!
Naa Gbewaah Sidiq's Folder.