Let Ghanaian political office holders off the Ghanaian treasury. Let the President and other professional politicians be in charge of governance only while people with integrity and good character are placed to control our money and this will have its consequences in checking corruption in Ghana’s public offices.
It will curtail the rat race for public offices and reduce electoral malpractices.
sIn my attempt to look for the greatest good for the greatest number, I am suggesting that a Trust be founded as a pool to control all Ghanaian income and expenditure.
I am not oblivious of the fact that those my suggestion will affect negatively will ferociously oppose this idea and therefore will do everything to scuttle it.
I expect people to say this idea will create two parallel governments or government within government. No, what I am simply suggesting is a kind of Trust manned by people with proven integrity who can only release money for running costs, salaries and for programs to be carried out by people in government.
When any project to be executed has passed due process and has been vetted by the Ghanaian public, the members of the Trust will now release the monetary instrument for its execution directly to the contractors on the advice of either the President or the Minister or anybody who is implementing such program.
This will not only check the menace of kickback and undue influence, it will eradicate the culture of paper contractors and unnecessary middlemen.
We only hear billions, billions and billions of cedis being spent on our behalf by Ghanaian rulers every day but without having anything to show for it in term of development and infrastructure in our Country. All we see are the mansions of Ministers, Legislators and even special aides.
Because they are wicked but very stupid, these corrupt politicians dangle their wealth nakedly on the faces of more than 80 per cent of Ghanaians who wallow in abject poverty among whom are millions of university graduates.
Since Ghanaian rulers have been living like that unchecked in our almost 53 years of independence, there is no shaking as they have nothing to fear, after all, they are the boss and do not need our votes which never count in elections. They assume all the time that we are helpless.
The cabal has continued to use our commonwealth to harass and oppress the people it is supposed to look after because it has direct access to the Ghanaian vault.
Take America for example, the rulers set out their programs and those in charge of the money will release it to agencies or contractors that are to execute those projects and that is why you only see isolated cases of corruption in public offices in America. You will never see a public official becoming rich by virtue of his office in America. Whoever is rich among the political office holders there must have been rich before coming to public office.
Apart from the advantages that I have stated, this idea will empower contractors to do their work very well. A situation where a government official has to award a contract to a company or person with a condition that 5 per cent of the contract sum be paid back to him is wicked. Such a condition will put the contractor under undue pressure of executing the contract very well, meeting the running costs and making some profit.
It does not even stop at this point. We have seen so many cases of abandoned government projects over the years because good fraction of the money the contractor would have used to execute the project has been taken from him for personal use by the official who awarded the contract. When the contractor is in short of money to execute the project not to talk of making profit from it, the project is thus abandoned.
A government official who demanded and took a huge kickback from a contractor for awarding the contract which is his official duty through which he earns salaries from tax payers’ money will have no courage to persuade or force the contractor to finish the project.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Konadu Bombs Mills, Kwabena Agyei!
On The Reshuffle…
The oft-propagated claims by adherents of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) that President Atta Mills is transparent has come under attack, from no less a source than the wife of the founder of the party, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings! Nana Konadu, who is the 1st Vice Chair of the NDC, has waded into the mounting intra party anger over the appointment of three key leaders on the Majority Bench in Parliament for Ministerial jobs.
Mrs. Rawlings told Citi Fm in an interview yesterday that President Mills’ nomination of Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, Deputy Majority Leader, Hon John Tia, and Majority Chief Whip, Hon ET Mensah for executive jobs, was undemocratic because it was done without adequate consultations with key party figures.
She has therefore faulted party Chairman, Dr Kwabena Agyei, for failing to consult the newly elected national leadership of the party ahead of the nomination of the three majority front benchers for executive positions.
The NDC Chairman had claimed in an earlier interview with the same station that President Mills duly consulted the NDC leadership ahead of his reshuffle on Monday and the decision to raid the Majority front bench was taken along with the NDC Executive!
But this assertions has been challenged by Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings who claims that none of the newly elected executives were consulted stressing that ‘these are the things that have made some of us go into the party so that we will have at least a democratic way of doing things in our party’.
“We have to first find out if Dr. Kwabena Adjei was consulted as an individual or he was consulted as the chairman of our party. If he was consulted as Chairman, he was elected as a member of the party to chair the party’s activities; we also as national executives were equally elected to the party.
“So I think that if he was consulted, then he should also have come to consult the rest of us so that collectively we can give our ideas or feelings towards this decision”, she said.
“The chairman cannot take a decision for the rest of us without informing us, and he is not a rubber stamp’, she fumed. The former First Lady’s comments come at a time the Majority MPs are preparing to face President John Mills to reject outright what they see as the President’s attempt to impose a new majority leadership on them.
Hon. Cletus Avoka and Rashid Pelpuo have confirmed to the media that they are going to be the replacements for Hon Bagbin and Hon John Tia on the Majority front bench.
This assertions has also been challenged by James Agyenim Boateng, a Deputy Minister of Information who said on Radio Gold on Wednesday that the ‘two men did not have sufficient understanding’ of what the President told them.
The oft-propagated claims by adherents of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) that President Atta Mills is transparent has come under attack, from no less a source than the wife of the founder of the party, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings! Nana Konadu, who is the 1st Vice Chair of the NDC, has waded into the mounting intra party anger over the appointment of three key leaders on the Majority Bench in Parliament for Ministerial jobs.
Mrs. Rawlings told Citi Fm in an interview yesterday that President Mills’ nomination of Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, Deputy Majority Leader, Hon John Tia, and Majority Chief Whip, Hon ET Mensah for executive jobs, was undemocratic because it was done without adequate consultations with key party figures.
She has therefore faulted party Chairman, Dr Kwabena Agyei, for failing to consult the newly elected national leadership of the party ahead of the nomination of the three majority front benchers for executive positions.
The NDC Chairman had claimed in an earlier interview with the same station that President Mills duly consulted the NDC leadership ahead of his reshuffle on Monday and the decision to raid the Majority front bench was taken along with the NDC Executive!
But this assertions has been challenged by Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings who claims that none of the newly elected executives were consulted stressing that ‘these are the things that have made some of us go into the party so that we will have at least a democratic way of doing things in our party’.
“We have to first find out if Dr. Kwabena Adjei was consulted as an individual or he was consulted as the chairman of our party. If he was consulted as Chairman, he was elected as a member of the party to chair the party’s activities; we also as national executives were equally elected to the party.
“So I think that if he was consulted, then he should also have come to consult the rest of us so that collectively we can give our ideas or feelings towards this decision”, she said.
“The chairman cannot take a decision for the rest of us without informing us, and he is not a rubber stamp’, she fumed. The former First Lady’s comments come at a time the Majority MPs are preparing to face President John Mills to reject outright what they see as the President’s attempt to impose a new majority leadership on them.
Hon. Cletus Avoka and Rashid Pelpuo have confirmed to the media that they are going to be the replacements for Hon Bagbin and Hon John Tia on the Majority front bench.
This assertions has also been challenged by James Agyenim Boateng, a Deputy Minister of Information who said on Radio Gold on Wednesday that the ‘two men did not have sufficient understanding’ of what the President told them.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Re: Extortionist Cum Blackmailer!!!
I write in response to an opinion captioned “Ken Kuranchie: Extortionist Cum Blackmailer!!!” written by Biakoye Nana and published on Ghanaweb on Tuesday January 26, 2010.
But for the crude and un-journalistic manner the columnist tried to once more smear my boss and myself and the fact that your publication gave a very wide publicity to a hitherto obscure and discredited publication whose stock-in-trade is to fabricate stories and smear high ranking political figures, public office holders and colleagues of the inky family, I would have treated that opinion with the utter contempt and disdain it rightly deserved, by completely ignoring it.
I owed it a duty of the highest order to clear my good name and that of my boss whose reputation, integrity and sense of fair play the very caption of the opinion under discussion sought to impugn, by setting the records straight.
I, Prince Prah did not call the Deputy Chief of Staff let alone send a damning text to the effect of killing a story; the reporter in question who was following that story was Kwadwo Yeboah Breman.
“Unable to cow the man into submission, Ken and his operative, Prince Prah, pretend to be doing Alex a favour by killing a foolish story and ask the Deputy Chief of Staff to find “something small” for them to kill the foolish story”, a lie which can only be found in your wee and apio choked head.
In the text message in question, Mr. Breman had written, ‘the investigations team has decided to kill the story based on security implications ur house may have if we made known ur house to the public domain. Thank you sir’.
The author of the text message and story is currently on suspension and it tells you that Ken Kuranchie does not condone wrong doing like the man you follow and praise.
I am cheerful that Biakoye Nana whose identity is Kobby Fiagbe and his colleagues in the ruling government are frightened whenever I write a story in the Daily Searchlight or post an opinion here.
My boss never asked the said reporter to send the text message Biakoye is talking about. Ken was not aware and come to think of it why would he kill a story because issues that are very sensitive to the state have been published in his newspaper with the Military High Command pleading with him and myself to stop it.
Because of our motto, we do our work without fear or favour.
I have not written a single story about the parasites and the hypocrites in your government building mansions but the only story concerning a building that I have done is the allocation of Bungalow Number C2 to Madam Lordina Mahama.
Come to think of it Kobby Fiagbe does not measure up in status with my boss whose newspaper is doing well on the market and has gone colour compared to your eight paged political insults rag which is hardly seen on the market when it appears on the stands.
May be in your attempt to smear me, you hurriedly got a prostitute of a single parent Minister together with a drunkard paid agent host of a political programme of your government to come and say things which got them gate crushing.
Kobby, please do some diggings so that you can smear me and stop being cheap.
Whist you are busy scrutinizing the Buttocks of others, your Buttocks is widely opened that nothing can cover it.
But for the crude and un-journalistic manner the columnist tried to once more smear my boss and myself and the fact that your publication gave a very wide publicity to a hitherto obscure and discredited publication whose stock-in-trade is to fabricate stories and smear high ranking political figures, public office holders and colleagues of the inky family, I would have treated that opinion with the utter contempt and disdain it rightly deserved, by completely ignoring it.
I owed it a duty of the highest order to clear my good name and that of my boss whose reputation, integrity and sense of fair play the very caption of the opinion under discussion sought to impugn, by setting the records straight.
I, Prince Prah did not call the Deputy Chief of Staff let alone send a damning text to the effect of killing a story; the reporter in question who was following that story was Kwadwo Yeboah Breman.
“Unable to cow the man into submission, Ken and his operative, Prince Prah, pretend to be doing Alex a favour by killing a foolish story and ask the Deputy Chief of Staff to find “something small” for them to kill the foolish story”, a lie which can only be found in your wee and apio choked head.
In the text message in question, Mr. Breman had written, ‘the investigations team has decided to kill the story based on security implications ur house may have if we made known ur house to the public domain. Thank you sir’.
The author of the text message and story is currently on suspension and it tells you that Ken Kuranchie does not condone wrong doing like the man you follow and praise.
I am cheerful that Biakoye Nana whose identity is Kobby Fiagbe and his colleagues in the ruling government are frightened whenever I write a story in the Daily Searchlight or post an opinion here.
My boss never asked the said reporter to send the text message Biakoye is talking about. Ken was not aware and come to think of it why would he kill a story because issues that are very sensitive to the state have been published in his newspaper with the Military High Command pleading with him and myself to stop it.
Because of our motto, we do our work without fear or favour.
I have not written a single story about the parasites and the hypocrites in your government building mansions but the only story concerning a building that I have done is the allocation of Bungalow Number C2 to Madam Lordina Mahama.
Come to think of it Kobby Fiagbe does not measure up in status with my boss whose newspaper is doing well on the market and has gone colour compared to your eight paged political insults rag which is hardly seen on the market when it appears on the stands.
May be in your attempt to smear me, you hurriedly got a prostitute of a single parent Minister together with a drunkard paid agent host of a political programme of your government to come and say things which got them gate crushing.
Kobby, please do some diggings so that you can smear me and stop being cheap.
Whist you are busy scrutinizing the Buttocks of others, your Buttocks is widely opened that nothing can cover it.
Dr. Arthur Kennedy's Mess
In the run-up to election 2008, The Enquirer newspaper edited by my friend now turned foe, Raymond Archer, carried a number of publications on Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, a foremost member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who was then the Director of Communications of the Nana Addo campaign.
The body of the publications was that Dr. Kennedy had been awarded some type of contract through allegedly underhand means in the health sector, and that he was in custody of a government vehicle which he is alleged to have used in his political campaigns.
At the time, I did not give the publications much credit. It was part of the murky but damaging slew of allegations made by the pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) press against leading functionaries of the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with the hope that some would stick.
Indeed some of the allegations stuck and the effect was the electoral loss of the NPP.
I am referring to this matter for one reason. Dr. Kennedy was supposed to be a communications guru for Nana Addo, but he could not save even his own reputation.
Indeed, by his association with Nana Addo, he became a liability, and the Akufo Addo campaign had to deal with the allegations against his conduct.
I also remember that at the time a number of scurrilous allegations were made against Nana Addo, allegations that did needless damage against the reputation of Nana Addo. Dr. Kennedy did pretty little about the situation, in spite of the fact that he was in charge of communications.
I remember listening to him on Radio Gold with communications disaster at the castle today, Koku Anyidoho, on the other line and out of public fame Deputy Minister of Information, James A Boateng as host and it was really bad for the Arthur K.
I don't want to repeat what Koku said about Nana Addo but Arthur K did nothing as the communications guru and the two NDC propagandists had their way.
Even in writing his own book, he consulted a known journalist who was against Nana Addo because he was turned down by the campaign team but found his way into the home of Ken Ofori Atta.
In Arthur K's book, everything he wrote about Malik Baako was also from this same journalist.
Also, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, who lives mainly in the United States, was one of the seventeen aspirants who tried to win the presidential slot of the NPP, an activity many blame for the poor fortunes of the NPP.
Imagine somebody walking off the plane after twenty years living abroad and seeking to become the President after a few weeks. That was Arthur Kennedy. I am unwilling to say this, but Arthur Kennedy contributed significantly to Akufo Addo's loss.
He played part of the mess, and I am glad that today he is so happy telling us of the whys and wherefores of the NPP's electoral loss.
I hope he remembers his own contributions. It is a very good work even though he is going to make some money, I doubt if he can look at the holes in his book.
I encourage him to continue with it, whilst members of the NPP engage in the real and very hard work of re-building their image for another attempt at power in 2012.
The body of the publications was that Dr. Kennedy had been awarded some type of contract through allegedly underhand means in the health sector, and that he was in custody of a government vehicle which he is alleged to have used in his political campaigns.
At the time, I did not give the publications much credit. It was part of the murky but damaging slew of allegations made by the pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) press against leading functionaries of the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with the hope that some would stick.
Indeed some of the allegations stuck and the effect was the electoral loss of the NPP.
I am referring to this matter for one reason. Dr. Kennedy was supposed to be a communications guru for Nana Addo, but he could not save even his own reputation.
Indeed, by his association with Nana Addo, he became a liability, and the Akufo Addo campaign had to deal with the allegations against his conduct.
I also remember that at the time a number of scurrilous allegations were made against Nana Addo, allegations that did needless damage against the reputation of Nana Addo. Dr. Kennedy did pretty little about the situation, in spite of the fact that he was in charge of communications.
I remember listening to him on Radio Gold with communications disaster at the castle today, Koku Anyidoho, on the other line and out of public fame Deputy Minister of Information, James A Boateng as host and it was really bad for the Arthur K.
I don't want to repeat what Koku said about Nana Addo but Arthur K did nothing as the communications guru and the two NDC propagandists had their way.
Even in writing his own book, he consulted a known journalist who was against Nana Addo because he was turned down by the campaign team but found his way into the home of Ken Ofori Atta.
In Arthur K's book, everything he wrote about Malik Baako was also from this same journalist.
Also, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, who lives mainly in the United States, was one of the seventeen aspirants who tried to win the presidential slot of the NPP, an activity many blame for the poor fortunes of the NPP.
Imagine somebody walking off the plane after twenty years living abroad and seeking to become the President after a few weeks. That was Arthur Kennedy. I am unwilling to say this, but Arthur Kennedy contributed significantly to Akufo Addo's loss.
He played part of the mess, and I am glad that today he is so happy telling us of the whys and wherefores of the NPP's electoral loss.
I hope he remembers his own contributions. It is a very good work even though he is going to make some money, I doubt if he can look at the holes in his book.
I encourage him to continue with it, whilst members of the NPP engage in the real and very hard work of re-building their image for another attempt at power in 2012.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Hypocrites & Bedbugs
Given the ‘high and mighty’ noises of truthfulness that our current crop of leaders in government took when they were in opposition, one would have thought we would not hear a single rumour or fact of official abuse about them, once they are in political office.
Now, we know better. From all that we have seen so far, it is too clear that the hypocrites and parasites we have in office today are much, much worse in terms of standards than the set of people they so bitterly maligned in order to oust.
Soon after the NDC came to power, reports of rampant profligacy on the side of the new people in government was rife in the media and still it exists. They were buying cars, building houses, renovating old and existing bungalows, and generally spending money as if there is no tomorrow. These reports shocked me, in that we had all been led to believe that these people were saints and that they did not believe in ostentation.
We have never seen a more two-faced set of people in power than the people at the helm of affairs today, and believe me and that is saying something.
In fact, I think that John Evans Atta Mils and his crew are bigger hypocrites than Rawlings and his team ever was. At least Rawlings makes the effort to be seen as someone who cares for the people. He makes the effort to be seen as one of the downtrodden. The same cannot be said for Mills and his crew, and now, even diehard members of the NDC are beginning to realize this.
For instance, during last week’s youth congress, many youthful members of the party were deeply shocked by the display of ostentation, signified by numerous Ford Explorer vehicles, and envelopes full of wads of cash being displayed as if these people owned a mint with a license to print their own money. The NDC youth are beginning to wonder; where is all this money coming from?
I laugh when I hear some people trying to claim that our President is a humble man who deplores ostentation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Have you seen the way he dresses of late? Have you seen the big three-piece agbadas and the spiffy suits? Atta Mills loves his fine suits and clearly, he loves the good living.
Since he became President, he has not renounced the Ford Explorers and the Mercedes Benzes and the wonderful bungalows and the attractive secretaries, all of which are the signs of alleged ostentation that he found so repulsive when he was in opposition, but which he finds very, very attractive now that he is in power.
When he was in opposition, Atta Mills said that he would not allow state money to be used on himself, that he would not amass properties. It is now public knowledge that he is putting up a fine mansion, and that he is renovating his father’s old residence, all at they same time.
And he is not alone. Many of his appointees are grabbing properties. I can name many. I can name the likes of Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who, soon after his party came to power, paid a huge sum of money for a piece of land at Sakumono and is now putting up a storey building, into which he has moved his family.
I can name Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, who is putting up two storey buildings at the same time.
There is John Jinapor, Aide to the Vice President; Tony Adioo who could not complete his building at East Legon and left it at the foundation stage and has started construction suddenly and near completion.
Enter the gourmet of a Major General’s son called Koku Anyidohu and his wife Mercy who have bought a new home and enjoying life and going on with his immoral lifestyle…. I hope he does not rape anybody there ooooo!
I ask where these people are getting all the millions of cedis to be putting up all these luxurious and buying mansions within months after coming into office.
My answer is simple; they are robbing us blind. They are picking us clean.
Times have changed, and our friends in the government have clearly arrived in the money. Indeed, for the observant, it is clear that each and every one of them have changed. They are all putting on weight, and acquiring the latest of power clothing. Even John Evans Atta Mills has changed, compared to December 2008, when he looked like death warmed over. These days he looks fresher, healthier, and his clothes are better, unlike when he was in opposition, when he looked like a clothes hanger. If one takes away the padding in his clothes, he is also quite well dressed of late, and there is no doubt, the suits are expensive.
One hopes that he would not deteriorate to his randy and happy cigarette chomping old days when he fathered a child outside of the marriage bed, but need I say this, he has already started bonking one of his female ministers and am sorry for Naadu because she is weak and Atta wants fresh blood.
I am glad that his oft-claimed assertion of austerity is having so little effect on him personally and on his appointees generally. It is clear that they preached austerity, but it is also clear that in the midst of plenty, they are finding it very hard to remember the gospel of austerity.
Hypocrites and parasites in deed!
Now, we know better. From all that we have seen so far, it is too clear that the hypocrites and parasites we have in office today are much, much worse in terms of standards than the set of people they so bitterly maligned in order to oust.
Soon after the NDC came to power, reports of rampant profligacy on the side of the new people in government was rife in the media and still it exists. They were buying cars, building houses, renovating old and existing bungalows, and generally spending money as if there is no tomorrow. These reports shocked me, in that we had all been led to believe that these people were saints and that they did not believe in ostentation.
We have never seen a more two-faced set of people in power than the people at the helm of affairs today, and believe me and that is saying something.
In fact, I think that John Evans Atta Mils and his crew are bigger hypocrites than Rawlings and his team ever was. At least Rawlings makes the effort to be seen as someone who cares for the people. He makes the effort to be seen as one of the downtrodden. The same cannot be said for Mills and his crew, and now, even diehard members of the NDC are beginning to realize this.
For instance, during last week’s youth congress, many youthful members of the party were deeply shocked by the display of ostentation, signified by numerous Ford Explorer vehicles, and envelopes full of wads of cash being displayed as if these people owned a mint with a license to print their own money. The NDC youth are beginning to wonder; where is all this money coming from?
I laugh when I hear some people trying to claim that our President is a humble man who deplores ostentation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Have you seen the way he dresses of late? Have you seen the big three-piece agbadas and the spiffy suits? Atta Mills loves his fine suits and clearly, he loves the good living.
Since he became President, he has not renounced the Ford Explorers and the Mercedes Benzes and the wonderful bungalows and the attractive secretaries, all of which are the signs of alleged ostentation that he found so repulsive when he was in opposition, but which he finds very, very attractive now that he is in power.
When he was in opposition, Atta Mills said that he would not allow state money to be used on himself, that he would not amass properties. It is now public knowledge that he is putting up a fine mansion, and that he is renovating his father’s old residence, all at they same time.
And he is not alone. Many of his appointees are grabbing properties. I can name many. I can name the likes of Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who, soon after his party came to power, paid a huge sum of money for a piece of land at Sakumono and is now putting up a storey building, into which he has moved his family.
I can name Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, who is putting up two storey buildings at the same time.
There is John Jinapor, Aide to the Vice President; Tony Adioo who could not complete his building at East Legon and left it at the foundation stage and has started construction suddenly and near completion.
Enter the gourmet of a Major General’s son called Koku Anyidohu and his wife Mercy who have bought a new home and enjoying life and going on with his immoral lifestyle…. I hope he does not rape anybody there ooooo!
I ask where these people are getting all the millions of cedis to be putting up all these luxurious and buying mansions within months after coming into office.
My answer is simple; they are robbing us blind. They are picking us clean.
Times have changed, and our friends in the government have clearly arrived in the money. Indeed, for the observant, it is clear that each and every one of them have changed. They are all putting on weight, and acquiring the latest of power clothing. Even John Evans Atta Mills has changed, compared to December 2008, when he looked like death warmed over. These days he looks fresher, healthier, and his clothes are better, unlike when he was in opposition, when he looked like a clothes hanger. If one takes away the padding in his clothes, he is also quite well dressed of late, and there is no doubt, the suits are expensive.
One hopes that he would not deteriorate to his randy and happy cigarette chomping old days when he fathered a child outside of the marriage bed, but need I say this, he has already started bonking one of his female ministers and am sorry for Naadu because she is weak and Atta wants fresh blood.
I am glad that his oft-claimed assertion of austerity is having so little effect on him personally and on his appointees generally. It is clear that they preached austerity, but it is also clear that in the midst of plenty, they are finding it very hard to remember the gospel of austerity.
Hypocrites and parasites in deed!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Kokofu Promotions & Appointments In GAF
2010 is here! As we brought the eventful 2009 to a close, many of us had hoped that this New Year would herald a difference in our political and social lives, and that we would not return to the humdrum of the life as we already know it.
But as I finally took my seat behind my desk and reviewed the news as they have occurred over the past couple of weeks, I could not fail but acknowledge that my hopes are going to be dashed. If anything, things are going to be worse than they used to be, in Ghana, African and the world.
The Military Secretary’s publication on the 23rd December 2009 taking effect from 22nd December 2009 was based mainly on political and ethnic considerations. The obvious political victimization was the case of Colonel K Oppong Otchere.
All the mates and immediate juniors of Colonel K Oppong Otchere who hold appointments that go with the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent have been promoted to the enviable rank of Brigadier General.
Worse of all, some of his juniors whose original appointments go with Colonels or equivalent have been elevated to the status of Brigadier Generals or equivalent purely on political grounds.
Colonel K Oppong Otchere whose current appointment is Deputy Commandant of Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) was promoted together with his mates as Lieutenant Colonel on 13th August 1996 and Colonel on 23rd August 2004. He was appointed as Deputy Commandant which goes with the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent on 12th May 2009 together with those of his mates who were appointed as Acting Director Generals during the NDC regime of President Mills.
Unfortunately for Col K Oppong Otchere because he is an Akim Chief and is perceived to be a loyalist of Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP he was not promoted as the others. Rather an attempt was made to send him to Chad to take a Colonel’s appointment instead of Brigadier General, which is a demotion. As luck was to smile on him, the UN took that appointment from Ghana.
Determined to push him out, the NDC regime has forced to get another appointment on UN peacekeeping operations for him. The intention of the NDC is to retire him compulsorily on age grounds on his return from the peacekeeping operations. What an injustice!!!
What a wicked victimization of an innocent officer who performed his duties creditably as Director Army Peacekeeping Operations until the NDC regime of Prez Mills!!!
The NDC will deny it just as they denied Brigadier General Oppong Kyekyeku’s retirement and yet the officer has begun his retirement process and is on terminal leave now.
The mates of Col K Oppong Otchere who have been promoted Brigadier General and their appointments are as follows:
1. Brigadier General F Iddrisu (GH/1760) –Director General Defence Intelligence- Northern Region
2. Brigadier General JK Klobodu (GH/1763)- Director General Plans and Development – Volta Region
3. Brigadier General SM Adams (GH/1782)- Military Secretary- Northern Region
4. Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei –Assistant Commandant GAFCSC- Ashanti Region
5. Brigadier General B Musah (GH/1759) –Defence Adviser, London- Northern Region
6. Poor Colonel K Oppong Otchere (GH/1757)- Deputy Commandant KAIPTC
It is obvious from the list that apart from Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei, the other officers are either from the Northern Regions or Volta Region. It is a known fact that Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei was added to the list at the eleventh hour not because he was an Ashanti and they wanted to give it a regional balance but because he was married to an Ewe wife who died a few years ago and her children have to be catered for by the officer.
A similar treatment has been given to Brigadier General DK Frimpong who is also married to an Ewe. When the likes of Brigadier Generals Okyere, Debrah, Oppong- Kyekyeku and Nana Acheampong were being retired, Brigadier General DK Frimpong was given an appointment that had never existed in the Ghana Armed Forces as Special Military Assistant/ Aide to JH Smith, the Defence Minister.
The other juniors of Colonel K Oppong Otchere who have been promoted over and above him are the Airforce Station Commander of Tamale and Takoradi respectively: Air Commodore PK Ayisa (GH/1819) and Air Commodore IAR Abbas (GH/1825). These two officers were among the team that accompanied ex-President Rawlings to visit the Airforce Base Accra at dawn early 2009 and have been recognized for that and rewarded approximately.
The case of Brigadier General DK Mishio is the most serious and clearest case of politically manipulated promotions. Brigadier General DK Mishio was promoted Colonel on 31st March 2005, a year after Colonel K Oppong Otchere and the others and appointed Deputy Director General Joint Operations on 12th May 2009. It was evident that he was going to take over the appointment of Director General Joint Operations and be promoted Brigadier General once Lt Col Gbevlo Lartey was the National Security Coordinator.
It is their alliance from the Forces Reserve Battalion (FRB) and now 64 Infantry Regiment days that are being exploited to maximum benefits.
Colonel George Partington who was appointed Director General Joint Operations was very ill to be able to take the appointment and yet was promoted Brigadier General on 12th May 2009.
It was then Lieutenant Colonel George Partington who handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Mishio as CO 64 Infantry Regiment before he also handed over to then Major AK Gbevlo Lartey as the last Commanding Officer of 64 Infantry Regiment under ex- President Rawlings. So the alliance is obvious, clear, unshakeable, nostalgic and mutual and explains why a very ill Brigadier Partington has been posted to the National Security Secretariat.
But as I finally took my seat behind my desk and reviewed the news as they have occurred over the past couple of weeks, I could not fail but acknowledge that my hopes are going to be dashed. If anything, things are going to be worse than they used to be, in Ghana, African and the world.
The Military Secretary’s publication on the 23rd December 2009 taking effect from 22nd December 2009 was based mainly on political and ethnic considerations. The obvious political victimization was the case of Colonel K Oppong Otchere.
All the mates and immediate juniors of Colonel K Oppong Otchere who hold appointments that go with the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent have been promoted to the enviable rank of Brigadier General.
Worse of all, some of his juniors whose original appointments go with Colonels or equivalent have been elevated to the status of Brigadier Generals or equivalent purely on political grounds.
Colonel K Oppong Otchere whose current appointment is Deputy Commandant of Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) was promoted together with his mates as Lieutenant Colonel on 13th August 1996 and Colonel on 23rd August 2004. He was appointed as Deputy Commandant which goes with the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent on 12th May 2009 together with those of his mates who were appointed as Acting Director Generals during the NDC regime of President Mills.
Unfortunately for Col K Oppong Otchere because he is an Akim Chief and is perceived to be a loyalist of Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP he was not promoted as the others. Rather an attempt was made to send him to Chad to take a Colonel’s appointment instead of Brigadier General, which is a demotion. As luck was to smile on him, the UN took that appointment from Ghana.
Determined to push him out, the NDC regime has forced to get another appointment on UN peacekeeping operations for him. The intention of the NDC is to retire him compulsorily on age grounds on his return from the peacekeeping operations. What an injustice!!!
What a wicked victimization of an innocent officer who performed his duties creditably as Director Army Peacekeeping Operations until the NDC regime of Prez Mills!!!
The NDC will deny it just as they denied Brigadier General Oppong Kyekyeku’s retirement and yet the officer has begun his retirement process and is on terminal leave now.
The mates of Col K Oppong Otchere who have been promoted Brigadier General and their appointments are as follows:
1. Brigadier General F Iddrisu (GH/1760) –Director General Defence Intelligence- Northern Region
2. Brigadier General JK Klobodu (GH/1763)- Director General Plans and Development – Volta Region
3. Brigadier General SM Adams (GH/1782)- Military Secretary- Northern Region
4. Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei –Assistant Commandant GAFCSC- Ashanti Region
5. Brigadier General B Musah (GH/1759) –Defence Adviser, London- Northern Region
6. Poor Colonel K Oppong Otchere (GH/1757)- Deputy Commandant KAIPTC
It is obvious from the list that apart from Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei, the other officers are either from the Northern Regions or Volta Region. It is a known fact that Brigadier General R Opoku – Adusei was added to the list at the eleventh hour not because he was an Ashanti and they wanted to give it a regional balance but because he was married to an Ewe wife who died a few years ago and her children have to be catered for by the officer.
A similar treatment has been given to Brigadier General DK Frimpong who is also married to an Ewe. When the likes of Brigadier Generals Okyere, Debrah, Oppong- Kyekyeku and Nana Acheampong were being retired, Brigadier General DK Frimpong was given an appointment that had never existed in the Ghana Armed Forces as Special Military Assistant/ Aide to JH Smith, the Defence Minister.
The other juniors of Colonel K Oppong Otchere who have been promoted over and above him are the Airforce Station Commander of Tamale and Takoradi respectively: Air Commodore PK Ayisa (GH/1819) and Air Commodore IAR Abbas (GH/1825). These two officers were among the team that accompanied ex-President Rawlings to visit the Airforce Base Accra at dawn early 2009 and have been recognized for that and rewarded approximately.
The case of Brigadier General DK Mishio is the most serious and clearest case of politically manipulated promotions. Brigadier General DK Mishio was promoted Colonel on 31st March 2005, a year after Colonel K Oppong Otchere and the others and appointed Deputy Director General Joint Operations on 12th May 2009. It was evident that he was going to take over the appointment of Director General Joint Operations and be promoted Brigadier General once Lt Col Gbevlo Lartey was the National Security Coordinator.
It is their alliance from the Forces Reserve Battalion (FRB) and now 64 Infantry Regiment days that are being exploited to maximum benefits.
Colonel George Partington who was appointed Director General Joint Operations was very ill to be able to take the appointment and yet was promoted Brigadier General on 12th May 2009.
It was then Lieutenant Colonel George Partington who handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Mishio as CO 64 Infantry Regiment before he also handed over to then Major AK Gbevlo Lartey as the last Commanding Officer of 64 Infantry Regiment under ex- President Rawlings. So the alliance is obvious, clear, unshakeable, nostalgic and mutual and explains why a very ill Brigadier Partington has been posted to the National Security Secretariat.
KOKU & AYARIGA TO BE FIRED!
The looming cabinet reshuffle has already started causing some jittery nights to some Ministers and Aides at the seat of Presidency, as information available to this blog indicates that Messers Mahama Ayariga and Koku Anyidohu, Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications respectively are to be fired.
According to sources, the two communicators who speak for the President, last week, placed calls to the phone of a very senior journalist who has very close links with the President and meets him often, to ascertain whether they would be given the sack or not.
“They are going to be fired; the President is sick and tired of all the lapses in the communications machinery and he has decided to deal with the matter. The Vice President is also very worried,” Castle sources said.
According to the sources, “Their fate precariously hangs in the balance; it is a done deal.”
Mahama Ayariga, a former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, was appointed by the President as his spokesperson but sources say the two communicators are going to have their positions scrapped for non-performance and “unguarded utterances Koku usually spews.”
This blog has also gathered that the President’s action to relief the two men of their positions was restore sanity into the communication set-up at the Castle.
Koku Anyidohu, the President’s best friend created his current post for himself so that he can be recognized after he was sacked from the Bank and became a columnist for the Ghanaian Lens newspaper under the pen name “Thoughts of Uncle JB”.
Mr. Koku Anyidohu placed a call to the landline of the said editor wanting to know from him his fate as to whether his name was on the list of the possible ‘push-outs’ come the reshuffle whist his colleague also called one of the many mobile numbers of the same editor.
There are rumours doing the rounds that Hon. Fritz Baffour, who has been tipped to replace Hon Zita Okaikoi, the current Minister of Information, has started meeting some editors and also going on radio stations to inform the citizenry about government’s programme, one such was at Obonu Fm, a Tema based radio station.
According to sources, the two communicators who speak for the President, last week, placed calls to the phone of a very senior journalist who has very close links with the President and meets him often, to ascertain whether they would be given the sack or not.
“They are going to be fired; the President is sick and tired of all the lapses in the communications machinery and he has decided to deal with the matter. The Vice President is also very worried,” Castle sources said.
According to the sources, “Their fate precariously hangs in the balance; it is a done deal.”
Mahama Ayariga, a former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, was appointed by the President as his spokesperson but sources say the two communicators are going to have their positions scrapped for non-performance and “unguarded utterances Koku usually spews.”
This blog has also gathered that the President’s action to relief the two men of their positions was restore sanity into the communication set-up at the Castle.
Koku Anyidohu, the President’s best friend created his current post for himself so that he can be recognized after he was sacked from the Bank and became a columnist for the Ghanaian Lens newspaper under the pen name “Thoughts of Uncle JB”.
Mr. Koku Anyidohu placed a call to the landline of the said editor wanting to know from him his fate as to whether his name was on the list of the possible ‘push-outs’ come the reshuffle whist his colleague also called one of the many mobile numbers of the same editor.
There are rumours doing the rounds that Hon. Fritz Baffour, who has been tipped to replace Hon Zita Okaikoi, the current Minister of Information, has started meeting some editors and also going on radio stations to inform the citizenry about government’s programme, one such was at Obonu Fm, a Tema based radio station.