Yes, the weeding out of Akan military personnel is in full swing. From the exclusive recruitment exercises for the Ghana Army, conducted in the Volta region only, to other confirmatory developments.
Col. Damoah was thrown out, Lt.-Col Richard Amponsem-Boateng-a stellar soldier, a brilliant and courageous soldier in excellent health, died so suddenly owing to pernicious juju of Ewe origin(Amponsem, we saw it, and could have reversed it...RIP), Officer Serebour is under persistent harassment etc.
Brigadier Mensah Wood, an excellent Fante Soldier, died mysteriously allegedly attributed to pancreatic cancer, but in truth, of poisoning. His death was to clear the way for an Ewe man to take his place.
Yes, the fact of it is, the Ewes are fighting dirty, throwing below the belt punches, and the Akans are sitting down, and resorting to ''Fa ma nyame'', i.e give it to God.
No wonder, our country, has been taken over by these Togolese degenerates and hardened ethnocentrics.
Yes, once more 1981and the immediate years afterwards, have come around again. Just as then, Arnold Quianoo, Tsikata, Captain Hugo Benzin Huppenbauer(Beninois-Fon/Ewe) and other Ewe officers were given the special task of hounding out Akans from the Ghana Armed Forces, and many Beninios/Togolese Ewe were recruited in replacement, to create a wholly ethnically biased in favour of the Ewe, Armed Forces, so have those days, once again, come to pass under this administration.
Yes, their rank and file, from officers to the filthy lowlifes, were recruited into the Armed Forces of Ghana, with the express purpose of harassing and throwing out Akan officers and Army personnnel.
In pursuance of this, they brought in riff-raffs from and other educated kith and kin from Togo and Benin.
Look up the name, Benzin. Do an internet search on it, and you'll know from whence, that name originates.Infact, anyone with just an appreciation of a little West African history, will know Benzin is a name so rife in Benin. How many Ghanaian Ewes, do you know, that go by that name? You'll come to know, its a Dahomey name. Did I hear you say, oohhh, a Ghanaian could have that name? Yes, they could...but it is most unusual for a Ghanaian, even an Ewe Ghanaian, to have such a typical Beninios name.
That man, I suspect strongly, was one of the many Beninois Fon men, who were recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces, and one of the many imported ones from Togo and Benin, brought in, to beef up the numbers of Ewes in the country.Benzin, Behanzin etc are all Dahomey Fon names. Where is Dahomey presently? In the country of Benin, it is.
Yes, such is how, Rawlings, Tsikata, Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor Williams(now and so shamefully, Head of the Council of State, deep rooted Ewe tribalist and supremacist, the brain behind most of the anti-Akan pogroms you all witnessed under Rawlings), pursued their ethnocentric agenda. Recruiting and settling Ewe and Fon people in bulk into the Armed Forces of Ghana and in Ghana in a well executed agenda of beefing up their mediocre numbers by hook or crook in Ghana. In addition, and in pursuance of their avowed policy of diminishing the numerical advantage of Akans in Ghana, they had uppermost on their agenda, a plan to merge Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso, into one supercountry. When Burkina Faso, refused, to tow along, after the Thomas Sankara overthrow, they sought to bring Benin into the plan. This plan, hasn't been buried, it is very much on the cards. What is happening now, is only the beginnning.
Such is what we got under Rawlings. Now, under Atta Mills, is it happening once more.
Akans, in the armed forces, are being hounded, falsely charged, maligned, harassed at the least opportunity. From officer rank to recruit, no one is spared. Once again, the armed forces of Ghana, is being rendered an Ewe exclusive bastion. Why, is Ghana an Ewe country?
Once again, despite denials, the truth of the NDC, being a vehicle for the Ewe dominance of Ghana, has been confirmed. I mean, it is as if, the NDC won all of its votes in the Ewe areas only. Did the NDC not win substantial votes in the Akan areas? Did Asante Region not give NDC, its 2nd highest votes in the country? Were all those, who wasted their 450,000 + votes on this useless, Ewe-centric party, in Asante Region, all non-Asantes?
Akans, wake up. You've been in a slumber for too long. It is only because of lack of a self-love, inter/intra ethnic love within the Akan family, that is permitting these Ewes, mostly of Togolese origin, and an inconsequential minority in Ghana, to ride heads and shoulders over us.
You gave the NDC, substantial votes, yet, see how, you've been discarded and are being shunted out of the good of the land. Open your eyes, open your ears, and see how the Ewes are taking up all the posts in the land. From Ministerships, Board Memberships, Diplomatic postings, scholarships, military posts, police, immigration, CEPS, IRS, etc.
For the 20+ years, of Rawlings's rule, many there are of Akan stock and others, who bemoaned the overbearing influence, favouritism, grossly disproportionate access and utilization of state resources and the then all-pervasive Ewe domination of Ghana. For 20+ years, we bore the yoke, we exercised restraint whilst suffering the insult, the ignominy, the pain and indignity of being rendered mere inconsequentials in our own land, despite we, being a majority in Ghana, and despite us, sustaining Ghana with our resources. We looked on and saw how our resources were utilized for the upliftment of the Ewe and Ewe only. How scholarships, aid etc meant for all Ghanaians, were so grossly diverted into the hands of Ewes exclusively. We endured the insults and disparaging remarks, such as:''oh, those Akans are not interested in education''.
Now, once again, under this ''push-around'' President Mills(whose own people the Fante, are so grossly disappointed in him), we've been ushered into another era of an Ewe dominance of Ghana.
Why, Akans, Dagombas, and many other non-Ewe Ghanaians? Should the good of Ghana, go to the Ewe only? Are we, the Akans so meek, so docile, so weak, so unassuming, that we willingly submit to servitude? Is that what our history informs us of? No.
We were a people fiercely protective of our independence, even when need be, we took on the Europeans(a people in terms of technological development, way way ahead of us.....yet, we took them on and defeated them several times, nonetheless). From Nzema, Ahanta, Aowin, Fante, Ga, and inwards, our histories are replete with many a time, when we arose to confront an oppression.
So then, what happened to this fighting spirit as was so witnessed in our forebears? Have we and are we allowing modernity, a love for money( a discernable weakness, of which ploy, they've capitalized upon to render most of our traditional leaders and men of influence, stupid submissive zombies--clowns given to wanton public displays of silly exuberance in honor of a murderer of Akans) and a lazy passing the buck philosophy, as exemplified in the ''Fa ma Nyame, Eny3 hwee, Onyame mere ne mere pa'' and other defeatist sayings, to render us all, easy push-overs and imbecilic inconsequential -even in our own land of birth?
For how long, Akans, should we allow, our subscription to our misinterpretations of Christianity(misinterpretations of its pacifist virtues. Are we the only Christians in this world? Where has it been written in the Bible that be stupid and allow yourself to be downtrodden or rendered such cheap fodder?Aren't Americans, Brits, and many others, also Christians, even to a greater depth of it, than us?
Yet, do they allow others to lord it over them in their own jurisdictions and even without?) to render us, such a cheap helpless bunch, easily harassed, easily murdered, easily raped, easily chucked out of public service jobs, easily chucked out of public institutions, perpetually subject to the dictates of a minority group of no essential contribution to Ghana, easily dispossessed of our lands(Afram Plains, etc), easily cowed into submission, (look on for our lands to be desecrated and stripped bare of its precious contents--surface mining, our river bodies polluted and our people fall prey to strange diseases as a result of, our farms confiscated) all because since Ghana came into being the burden of its sustenance has fallen so grossly disproportionately on the Akans and the Akan land areas.
Yet, worsening matters further--rubbing salt in our injuries, we the Akans are not allowed to enjoy the fruits of the sacrifices we have had to endure.
For how long, will we allow this rapacious bunch, essentially and yes, emphatically so; of Togolese mostly and Beninois origination and nationality, to control us/dominate us, sideline us, render us all inconsequentials , in our own land of birth and our own country of which we, in the main sustain?
Even in Ghana, do the Ewe, in the little part of their lands that come under Ghana's jurisdiction, allow non-Ewes to Lord it over them? Hell no. They won't even, to this day, allow any non-Ewe, to head any state institution in their region. Be it, any educational, health or any other Governmental Institution. Should a non-Ewe indigene be appointed to any such institution, even a private one in their homelands, they'll protest vehemently and make sure one is kicked out. That is how its been in their homelands ever since Kwame Nkrumah(and even, the Osagyefuo(the so-called unifier, eschewer of ethnocentrism), threw them out of his govt from 1961 onwards), committed the gross error of bringing them into Ghana. That is the sort of policy, these arch, yet, very deceptive deeprooted ethnocentric insulars, have held unto, since their inclusion to this day.
Yet, audaciously and so hypocritically, they've the temerity to accuse others of being tribalistic, whenever their glaring ''only us'' behaviour is exposed, and do, so affrontly, expect to be allowed free reign in other parts of Ghana.
How then, do we allow these outrageously ethnocentric people, and even worse, of a dubious Ghanaian nationality, to come over and Lord it over us in our own areas of Ghana?
Akans, why, since when did we become such zombies. If under Rawlings, in the face of the barrel of the gun we bore his oppressive Ewe domination agenda with fortitude in the interests of peace, and hence allowed ourselves to be taken for fools, do we have to make the same mistake again?
Since when did democracy mean, a majority group, should be rendered subject to a minority group of foreign derivation, in the land of the majority group? Do the English, the French, the Germans and many other democracies, worldwide, allow such nonsense? Yet, don't they all, have minority groups in their countries?
Will the Caucausian majorities in the Uk, France, Australia, Canada, USA, and elsewhere, in the name of democracy, sit down and allow their minority populations to render them so powerless and stupidly submissive in their lands? Won't they find a way, no matter how flagrantly unlawful, no matter how outrageous, no matter how unfair, no matter the prostestations, no matter how immoral, no matter how non-conformist to the status quo, of ensuring that, and yes, rightly and naturally so, others--the minorities, know of whom is in charge in their own land? Yet, aren't they, the espousers of most of the democratic principles they expect the rest of the world to follow?
Ahhhh, Akans, wake up. Put on your thinking caps.
Why, should we allow the fact of a mere inconsequential non-contributory--yet, expect to consume in excess of--so disproportionately and live off the fruits and toil of others--courtesy of a ready access to Ghana govt treasury ((of Togolese stock essentially)) rapacious, arch ethnocentric peoples(whose only concern is the wholescale promotion of their ethnic parochial interests, damn the consequences and come what may) to be pulling the strings in our own land of birth.
Does the fact of it happening now, not confirm the fact of the NDC, being a political party, set-up with the express purpose of ensuring the Ewe dominance and control of Ghana in perpetuity? Does it not give credence to the fact, often denied and so deceptively hidden--thanks to the Akans they make use of as mere window dressers(Mills, etc), that the NDC, is the catalyst and means by which a better ''Ewe only'' agenda is being pursued with a veageance in Ghana, to the detriment of all other non-Ewes?
Akans, for how long will we sit down, bicker endlessly, uselessly and stupidly amongst ourselves, allow the sight and issuance of pots of money to render our minds mushy and easily malleable(Akan chiefs, watchout, the day of reckoning will come) undermine one another, sell one another out(a fashion amongst Asantes nowadays--fools, t)n wo nua, kogye nim) dredge up some silly histories of inter-brotherly strife, of which in truth, we all are guilty of--when the causative factors are taken into account and honestly analyzed and proceed to use such to cut one another down; only for this Togolese group, of which we've no blood affinity, cultural, religious, ethnic etc, with guile and duress come to dominate us, lord it over us, push us aside into the gutters, render us cheap pushovers only fit for the consumption of leftovers in our own country and land all because, these of Togolese and Beninios stock mostly, have managed remarkably, to coalesce into a single entity--albeit temporarily, all because of a wholescale ethnic promotion and domination agenda.
These,--in ignorance, many of us, non-Ewes don't know--are the most divided people one can ever encounter anywhere on the face of the earth:
''THESE EWES, ARE A PEOPLE WHO IN THEIR HOMELANDS ARE SO DISUNITED. I HAVE LIVED THERE, I KNOW. THEY BICKER, QUARREL AND CURSE ONE ANOTHER, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.LET IT BE A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING, EVEN OVER TRIVIA, AND IMMEDIATELY, THEY'LL THREATEN ONE ANOTHER WITH THE INVOCATION OF A SO SO AND SO gOD, WITH THE ATTENDANT CURSE UTTERANCE. THE ANLO LOOK DOWN UPON THE NORTHERN EWE, THEY REGARD THEM AS THEIR SLAVES(HISTORICAL JUSTIFICATIONS), THE NORTHERN EWE HATE THE ANLO.
AND YET, WHEN OUT OF THEIR REGION, THESE PEOPLE, ARE ABLE TO, AND SO COMMENDABLY, DISPLAY A REMARKABLE SENSE OF UNITY. THEY SHED IMMEDIATELY MOST OF THEIR MISUNDERSTANDINGS.''.
Yet, they've been able to, despite being so attuned to disunity and disregard even for their own native authority, have been able to shed such unsavoury behaviours and unite, even creating trans-national groups(CEANA, spanning Ghana, Togo and Benin: an organisation with the express purpose of advancing their ''only us'' agenda) all in pursuance of a grand tribalistic self upliftment and domination in perpetuity of Ghana.
Akans, why can't we, who are all of one blood essentially, go anywhere in Akandom, and you'll find Oyoko, Bretuo, Aduana, Dehyena, Abiradzi, Ekuona, Asona, Twidan, and their equivalents, only the name change in Nzema and Aowin, all over Ghana, in all Akanman. Go over the border, in La Cote d'Ivoire, and it is same there.
So then, we who are all of a greater affinity, of same stock and race, why can't we shed our petty divisiveness and assert ourselves in our own land and country?
Please, let the men and women amongst us arise. Don't let our corrupt, Judas Iscariot Traditional Rulers hold you back. Their day of reckoning will come. On that day, we shall see, if they are our Rulers because of themselves or because, we allow them to be there. We shall see, whose interests, they'll have to be there for. Don't let this so-called Democracy, to render us slaves and inconsequentials in our own land.
Please arise, before it is too late. Ghana, our country, is in grave danger of slipping out of our hands. We are in grave danger of being rendered slaves, in our land of birth, by a rapacious foreign bunch.
Source:Nathan Harvey.
Guest
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Press Statement:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY DAYBREAK NEWSPAPER ON AN ATTEMPT BY THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS (BNI) TO TRAMPLE ON THE PAPER’S RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH
Officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) acting on the instructions of the Government of Ghana last Wednesday arrested, hand cuffed and detained Prince Prah, Editor of DAYBREAK newspaper, after the paper carried a story that it had received reports that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. P.A Blay, would soon be relieved of his post.
The Government of Ghana, speaking through Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has justified the arrest and detention claiming it was necessary because DAYBREAK has been fond of publishing stories concerning the Ghana Armed Forces.
We believe we owe Ghanaians and our readers, a duty to explain why we carry stories on the GAF and state for the records that the BNI cannot gag us from free speech and our constitutionally mandated media rights as long as we do so within the laws of Ghana.
DAYBREAK believes in protecting the professionalism, sanity, sanctity and dignity of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and that has been our prime goal in publishing stories about the military.
We also believe that the GAF, or no other group of Ghanaians, is not above the Constitution of Ghana and we shall at all times ensure this remains so.
It is for this reason that when we have cause to believe that the mode of enlisting recruits into the GAF is being done in a way that undermines the professionalism, sanity, sanctity and dignity GAF, we shall not hesitate in raising red flags and sounding an alarm.
This explains why DAYBREAK since November 2010 has serialized one publication after another concerning some sixty seven (67) persons who were illegally enlisted and smuggled into the GAF though they FAILED the recruitment processes.
An official GAF documents signed by Col (Rtd.) JKT Caesar on July 10 2010 under the reference GHQ/2034/801/RECS said the said persons had questionable documents and ages.
They were found to have also failed their entrance examinations.
When DAYBREAK broke the story, the GAF could not deny, completely ignored the publication and yet went ahead to illegally enlist the 67 illegal recruits.
DAYBREAK has also published several stories that the constitutional provision that calls for a regional balance in the recruitment and enlistment of Officers and Men is not been respected by the GAF.
Indeed, this same issue took center stage on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday November 10, 2010 where the Minority provided documents to prove to the Minister for Defense, Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith that indeed the GAF and government gave preferential treatment to people of a particular region in the 2009/2010 recruitment.
Certainly DAYBREAK was not publishing this story for the purpose of mischief but with all good intent and purpose in the name of the constitution of Ghana.
Again when DAYBREAK broke the story of a young Ghanaian soldier, Lance Corporal Bright Annor Apeadu of the Recce Regiment of the GAF died under mysterious circumstances while on guard at the residence of the CDS on Friday 29th October 2010 at the Juba Villas residence of the Chief of Defense , the paper was not acting in mischief.
The GAF remained silent on the matter and if not for the paper’s publication, Ghanaians would not have heard of that incident.
We believe the current government and some persons in the GAF have been uncomfortable about DAYBREAK accurate but unfavorable stories about the military and only used the story about the speculated dismissal of the CDS to get back at the paper.
For the records, DAYBREAK has not stated that it has seen a letter signed by anyone to relieve the CDS. Neither did we say the CDS has received any letter. What we said is that we have picked signals that the CDS is to be retired very soon via a release signed by the secretary to the President. We are a poor newspaper and cannot prevent government spokespersons from interpreting or misinterpreting what we published for reasons best known to them.
Interestingly, when the Office of the President wrote a rejoinder on our publication on the CDS, DAYBREAK was not and has still not being served a copy of a rejoinder to a story the paper broke.
DAYBREAK would want to state categorically that we are committed to the ethics of journalism and when we err, we would not hesitate to retract and apologize because we know journalists are not above the law.
What we are yet to confirm is who authorized the BNI to do what they did. If it was done in the interest of National Security then we suggest the National Security Adviser, Brigadier-General Nunoo Mensah (rtd) deserves a sack unless he starts to advice his security agencies to act professionally and respect basic human rights.
Indeed, this same Nunoo Mensah himself has repeatedly stated publicly that the GAF is been destroyed by ethnicity and partisan politics. He has been quoted be the Daily Graphic of March 31, 2009 in a story written by Albert K. Salia under the headline “Security Services urged to live above Partisan Politics”, and published on page 16 of the paper.
Finally we repeat that we refuse to be gagged by the BNI or whoever authorized them to do what they did on Wednesday March 16, 2011 against the DAYBREAK newspaper.
SIGNED
Prince Prah,
EDITOR- DAYBREAK.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Security Concerns (Part 2)
Coming events, the wise, intelligent and experienced persons say, cast their shadows. If this saying, pregnant with wisdom, is anything to go by and guide reasonably prudent persons for the future, taking cognizance of the past and present, then the New Patriotic Party (NPP), its leadership, rank and file and indeed all peace-loving Ghanaians had better taken the “Red Alert” warning by President Mills very serious.
For the President to have said that he has alerted and activated his security plans as the Commander-In –Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces on no less occasion than the State of the Nations Address to Parliament on Thursday 17th February 2011, meant that the NPP in particular and all members of the opposition in general should gird their loins for series of battles and war of survival.
Another wise saying modified slightly to suit the real purpose and intention of our great ancestors in proverbs is that when a blind person says he will throw a stone at an opponent or a perceived attacker in self defence or in an offensive operation, then that blind person already has a stone in his hands and not just under his foot.
Certainly, the President has ‘stones’ in his hands already and is more than ready to unleash ‘terror’ on the NPP in particular notwithstanding the “All Die Be Die” slogan of the party which is imbuing the members with the Enhanced Syndrome Of Resisting Oppressors’ Rule (ESOROR) and Bold To Defend Forever The Cause of Freedom (BOLDEFOCOF) as demanded of all reasonable Ghanaians by the National Anthem and Dr. Ephraim Amu’s “Yen ara Yaasaase Nie”.
By putting the “All Die Be Die” statement of Nana Addo in context and using proper interpretive skills within Ghana’s laws, including certain provisions of the Criminal Code, Act 29, NPP members were or are exhorted to avoid both over apprehension and over confidence in engaging the NDC and its hooligans, thugs, terrorist and accomplices as they demonstrated in Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa parliamentary elections with impunity.
There are abundant pieces of evidences by the actions and omissions of the President that he has indeed already prepared for atrocities, brutalities, harassment, intimidation and victimization of NPP and the opposition before Nana Addo’s call on party supporters to sacrifice for the party and the nation in order to develop, deepen and enhance Ghana’s democracy, freedom, justice, liberty and the rule of law.
The training of NDC foot-soldiers and members at Asutsuare Military Camp, in the general area of Bawku, some selected locations in the Greater Accra Region, Volta Region and at the Achiase Jungle Warfare School commenced in 2009 and has continued to date.
Some of these persons have already been smuggled into the Security Services notably the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Prisons Service while others are standing by to join.
For instance, when Major I Awuni (GH/3020) was reported to have led NDC thugs to the general area of Atiwa and the Director of the Ghana Armed Forces Public Relations Colonel Atintande denied it vehemently in the Daily Guide that the officer was working under him at his Directorate and not National Security where Office Complexes’ are built for Editors of newspapers, it took the publication of incontrovertible evidence for the GAF to be put to shame. Subsequent events showed that Major Awuni is in charge of special operations including Anti-Smuggling under the auspices of the National Security Coordinator.
There is ample evidence to support the allegation that Major Awuni is in the thick of affairs as far as the alleged training of NDC activists and conduct of offensive operations against NPP supporters are concerned.
The most important ‘stone’ already in the hands of the President is Strategic and Tactical appointments that he has made in the Security apparatus of the country since January 2009.
For the avoidance of any doubt, here are some of the key Strategic and Tactical appointments made by the President:
National Security Coordinator-Lt. Col AK Gbevo Lartey (Volta Region), Deputy National Security Coordinator-Mr. Kwashivi (Volta Region), Director BNI-Yaw Donkor (Volta Region), Deputy Director BNI- John Dogba (Volta Region),Director General CID of Ghana Police –Mr. Prosper Ablor (Volta Region),Deputy Director General CID of Ghana Police- Mr. Joshua Dogbeda (Volta Region), Director General Operations of Ghana Police- DCOP Kudalar(Volta Region), Director General Joint Operations GAF- 1 Star DK Mishio (Volta Region), Director Army Operations-Col SK Adeti(Volta Region), Chief of Staff (GAF)-Commodore GM Biekro (Volta Region),GOC Southern Command (GAF)- Brigadier Genera MK G Ahiaglo (Volta Region), Director General, Department of Communications and Information Systems GAF- Brigadier JCA Searyoh (Volta Region).
The rest are Commanding Officer 2Bn, Takoradi- Lt Col Ak Dawohoso (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 3Bn, Sunyani-Lt Col CK Lithur (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 4Bn, Kumasi –LT COL SWK Parbey (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 5Bn, Burma Camp-Lt Col LK Gbetanu (Volta Region), Commanding Officer Recce Regt- Lt Col Akou-Adjei (Volta Region), Commanding Officer48 Engineer Regt- Lt Col M Mustaha (Volta Region),Second In Command of 64 Infantry Regt- (taking over soon from the CO)- Major RK Mensah (Volta Region), CO Base Supply Depot-Lt Col S Gagakuma (Volta Region), CO Forces Pay Office- Lt Col AK Dziisi (Volta Region), CO Defence Signal Regt-Lt Col A Ntem (Volta Region), Commander 37 Military Hospital-Brig General PY Kponyoh (Volta Region), Commissioner of CEPS Division of Revenue Authority- Major General CS Modey (Volta Region) and Director General Prisons Services-Mr. Bansah (Volta Region).
An analysis of these appointments, leaving out the numerous Voltarians as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive, Directors of MDAS, Heads of State Financial Institutions and Quasi-state Institutions, would reveal that the appointment were well thought of, planned, executed with finesse with the knowledge and awareness at all levels and phases of the President.
As an illustration, the intelligence and operational set-ups of the Police, the Ghana Armed Forces and all the other major security services and state institutions are in the hands of Voltarians with 100% loyalty to the NDC and not necessarily the state.
The Police CID and the BNI are all choked with officials from the Volta Region from National through Regional to District levels all over the Country. Similarly, the operational set-ups in the Police and BNI are mainly in the hands of officers from the Volta Region to the exclusion of Akans especially those from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions. Only officers from the three Northern Regions proven to be NDC members are permitted to join the Voltarians.
The story is the same in the Ghana Armed Forces and the National Security Secretariat and network in the country. It is not by accident that the Chief of Staff (who coordinates activities of the three services-Army, Navy and Airforce), the Director General Joint Operations, the Director Army Operations, the GOC Southern Command responsible for Accra and the entire coastline of Ghana and 11 Commanding Officers of the very strategic units are all in the hands of Voltarians.
Very reliable sources have it that the intelligence Departments of National Security, BNI and Police CID are used to arrest NPP supporters on trumped charges to be put in remand custody either with the Police or the Prisons service which are all controlled by officers from the Volta Region.
These are part of the gamut of strategies to be used by NDC, the President and his security Capos to unleash atrocities, harassment, brutalities, intimidation and victimization of the NPP into submission in order to steal the verdict of the people in 2012 (Another stolen verdict in Ghana addition to 1992?).
Only time will tell but surely the President has the advantage and has already seized the initiative.NPP Beware!!!
For the President to have said that he has alerted and activated his security plans as the Commander-In –Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces on no less occasion than the State of the Nations Address to Parliament on Thursday 17th February 2011, meant that the NPP in particular and all members of the opposition in general should gird their loins for series of battles and war of survival.
Another wise saying modified slightly to suit the real purpose and intention of our great ancestors in proverbs is that when a blind person says he will throw a stone at an opponent or a perceived attacker in self defence or in an offensive operation, then that blind person already has a stone in his hands and not just under his foot.
Certainly, the President has ‘stones’ in his hands already and is more than ready to unleash ‘terror’ on the NPP in particular notwithstanding the “All Die Be Die” slogan of the party which is imbuing the members with the Enhanced Syndrome Of Resisting Oppressors’ Rule (ESOROR) and Bold To Defend Forever The Cause of Freedom (BOLDEFOCOF) as demanded of all reasonable Ghanaians by the National Anthem and Dr. Ephraim Amu’s “Yen ara Yaasaase Nie”.
By putting the “All Die Be Die” statement of Nana Addo in context and using proper interpretive skills within Ghana’s laws, including certain provisions of the Criminal Code, Act 29, NPP members were or are exhorted to avoid both over apprehension and over confidence in engaging the NDC and its hooligans, thugs, terrorist and accomplices as they demonstrated in Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa parliamentary elections with impunity.
There are abundant pieces of evidences by the actions and omissions of the President that he has indeed already prepared for atrocities, brutalities, harassment, intimidation and victimization of NPP and the opposition before Nana Addo’s call on party supporters to sacrifice for the party and the nation in order to develop, deepen and enhance Ghana’s democracy, freedom, justice, liberty and the rule of law.
The training of NDC foot-soldiers and members at Asutsuare Military Camp, in the general area of Bawku, some selected locations in the Greater Accra Region, Volta Region and at the Achiase Jungle Warfare School commenced in 2009 and has continued to date.
Some of these persons have already been smuggled into the Security Services notably the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Prisons Service while others are standing by to join.
For instance, when Major I Awuni (GH/3020) was reported to have led NDC thugs to the general area of Atiwa and the Director of the Ghana Armed Forces Public Relations Colonel Atintande denied it vehemently in the Daily Guide that the officer was working under him at his Directorate and not National Security where Office Complexes’ are built for Editors of newspapers, it took the publication of incontrovertible evidence for the GAF to be put to shame. Subsequent events showed that Major Awuni is in charge of special operations including Anti-Smuggling under the auspices of the National Security Coordinator.
There is ample evidence to support the allegation that Major Awuni is in the thick of affairs as far as the alleged training of NDC activists and conduct of offensive operations against NPP supporters are concerned.
The most important ‘stone’ already in the hands of the President is Strategic and Tactical appointments that he has made in the Security apparatus of the country since January 2009.
For the avoidance of any doubt, here are some of the key Strategic and Tactical appointments made by the President:
National Security Coordinator-Lt. Col AK Gbevo Lartey (Volta Region), Deputy National Security Coordinator-Mr. Kwashivi (Volta Region), Director BNI-Yaw Donkor (Volta Region), Deputy Director BNI- John Dogba (Volta Region),Director General CID of Ghana Police –Mr. Prosper Ablor (Volta Region),Deputy Director General CID of Ghana Police- Mr. Joshua Dogbeda (Volta Region), Director General Operations of Ghana Police- DCOP Kudalar(Volta Region), Director General Joint Operations GAF- 1 Star DK Mishio (Volta Region), Director Army Operations-Col SK Adeti(Volta Region), Chief of Staff (GAF)-Commodore GM Biekro (Volta Region),GOC Southern Command (GAF)- Brigadier Genera MK G Ahiaglo (Volta Region), Director General, Department of Communications and Information Systems GAF- Brigadier JCA Searyoh (Volta Region).
The rest are Commanding Officer 2Bn, Takoradi- Lt Col Ak Dawohoso (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 3Bn, Sunyani-Lt Col CK Lithur (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 4Bn, Kumasi –LT COL SWK Parbey (Volta Region), Commanding Officer 5Bn, Burma Camp-Lt Col LK Gbetanu (Volta Region), Commanding Officer Recce Regt- Lt Col Akou-Adjei (Volta Region), Commanding Officer48 Engineer Regt- Lt Col M Mustaha (Volta Region),Second In Command of 64 Infantry Regt- (taking over soon from the CO)- Major RK Mensah (Volta Region), CO Base Supply Depot-Lt Col S Gagakuma (Volta Region), CO Forces Pay Office- Lt Col AK Dziisi (Volta Region), CO Defence Signal Regt-Lt Col A Ntem (Volta Region), Commander 37 Military Hospital-Brig General PY Kponyoh (Volta Region), Commissioner of CEPS Division of Revenue Authority- Major General CS Modey (Volta Region) and Director General Prisons Services-Mr. Bansah (Volta Region).
An analysis of these appointments, leaving out the numerous Voltarians as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive, Directors of MDAS, Heads of State Financial Institutions and Quasi-state Institutions, would reveal that the appointment were well thought of, planned, executed with finesse with the knowledge and awareness at all levels and phases of the President.
As an illustration, the intelligence and operational set-ups of the Police, the Ghana Armed Forces and all the other major security services and state institutions are in the hands of Voltarians with 100% loyalty to the NDC and not necessarily the state.
The Police CID and the BNI are all choked with officials from the Volta Region from National through Regional to District levels all over the Country. Similarly, the operational set-ups in the Police and BNI are mainly in the hands of officers from the Volta Region to the exclusion of Akans especially those from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions. Only officers from the three Northern Regions proven to be NDC members are permitted to join the Voltarians.
The story is the same in the Ghana Armed Forces and the National Security Secretariat and network in the country. It is not by accident that the Chief of Staff (who coordinates activities of the three services-Army, Navy and Airforce), the Director General Joint Operations, the Director Army Operations, the GOC Southern Command responsible for Accra and the entire coastline of Ghana and 11 Commanding Officers of the very strategic units are all in the hands of Voltarians.
Very reliable sources have it that the intelligence Departments of National Security, BNI and Police CID are used to arrest NPP supporters on trumped charges to be put in remand custody either with the Police or the Prisons service which are all controlled by officers from the Volta Region.
These are part of the gamut of strategies to be used by NDC, the President and his security Capos to unleash atrocities, harassment, brutalities, intimidation and victimization of the NPP into submission in order to steal the verdict of the people in 2012 (Another stolen verdict in Ghana addition to 1992?).
Only time will tell but surely the President has the advantage and has already seized the initiative.NPP Beware!!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Kokufu Promotions Rocks Military
The much awaited publication of the Military Secretary (MS) has finally arrived. As was expected, the MS publication of 28th January 2011 is another of the ‘Kokofu Promotions and Appointments’ of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) started in 2009.
A major interesting observation was the failure of the NDC and the Military High Command to promote any officer to the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent owing to the disagreements and tensions between the ‘Volta ‘and ‘Northern’ caucuses in the military.
Very reliable sources indicate that the promotions to the rank of Brigadier General and more Colonels and their equivalents have been postponed to June 2011 when reasonable compromises are likely to be reached between the ‘Dzelukope Mafia’ from the Volta region and the ‘Pepe Barons’ from the three Northern regions.
Consequently, Colonels Kwashie, Nibo, Sakyi, Hatse, Saagbul, Isaa-Wuni, Guyin and Kusi are to wait until June 2011. So also will Lieutenant Colonels Leba-Kamanya, Dzotefe-Mensah, Bleboo and Dafeamkpor wait until June 2011 for their rewards for various contributions?
For the avoidance of any doubts, the following are the major revelations in the MS publication of 28th January 2011. The following former Lieutenant Colonels have been promoted to the rank of Colonel with effect from 26th January 2011; DK Mensah (Gh/2179), M Dakurah (GH/2063), WO Agekum (GH/2065), FD Ogbey (GH/2152), SK Assem (GH/2237), JWK Asabre (GH/2289), F Ofori (GH/2162) NK Kporku GH/2163), SP Ebonyi (GH/2315) and SK Lawerh (GH/2167). The only Naval officer promoted from Commander to Naval Captain (equivalent of Colonel in the Army) is Captain (GN) S Angmor (GH/2383).
An analysis of the background of all the officers promoted to the rank of Colonel and equivalent makes interesting revelations.
Firstly, out of the eleven officers promoted; four (4) are from the Volta region, two (2) from the three Northern Regions (Upper West and East), three (3) from the Eastern Region (Krobos) and two (2) from the Central Region.
Secondly, the list shows that the officers all hail from areas where the NDC won in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. For example, Colonels DK Mensah, Ogbey, Assem and Kporku are Ewes from the Volta region; Colonels SK Lawerh and Naval Captain Angmor are Krobos from the Eastern region with Colonels F Ofori and SP Ebonyi are Fantes from the Central region.
It may also interest concerned persons to know that Colonel JWK Asabre is not from the Ashanti region as many believe in the military. He was born in the Ashanti region but hails from the Northern region and explains why in 2000 when he was the second in Command to then Lt Col HWK Agbenuzah (now Brigadier General) at the 6th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, he worked tirelessly for the NDC to retain power but his efforts were in vain.
The promotions from Major to the ranks of Lieutenant Colonels and equivalent are also as follows: Lt Col JB Kpierel (GH/2562), Lt. Col WM Honkou (GH/2660), Lt Col NN Amegashie (GH/2662), Lt Col PK Hometowu (GH/2667), Lt Col EK Konadu (GH/2749), Lt Col RB Zubaviel (GH/2632), Lt Col GKT Sam (GH/2633), Lt Col J Vander-Pallen (GH/2645), Lt Col IK Twum-Ampofo (GH/2666) and Lt Col Y Salifu (GH/2685).
Those promoted in the Navy and Airforce to the ranks of Commander and Wing Commander respectively (equivalent of Lieutenant Colonels) are as follows; Commander BEK Atiayao (GH/2743), Commander EA Abrahams (GH/2744), Wing Commander EA Adongo (GH/2591) and Wing Commander CAN Mills (GH/2735).
It is interesting to note that the ‘value is the same’ for the promotions to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalents. Most of the officers promoted are from the same strongholds of the NDC that is the Volta Region, the three Northern regions, Central region and parts of the Eastern region.
Other major revelations of the MS publication of the 28th January are worth noting. Firstly, the name of Brigadier General M Owusu –Ababio (GH/1571) was conspicuously missing. While Brigadier General HWK Agbenuzah (GH/1565) has been posted to DR Congo for duties with MONUSCO as Western Brigade Commander to replace Brigadier General Owusu-Ababio, the latter has not been posted anyway.
Rumors are rife that the ‘powers that be’ want the immediate retirement of General Owusu-Ababio and Brigadier General GK Adjei. The intended release of General is part of the victimization of Akan officers from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions.
Officers concerned are wondering why General Owusu-Ababio who is yet to reach his compulsory retiring age would be retired while General Hope who has already passed his compulsory retiring age is going on United Nations operations for one year. In order to clear any doubts find below the dates of birth of the two Generals.
a. Brig Gen M Owusu Ababio: 03/12/51
b. Brig Gen HWK Agbenuzah:03/01/51
Furthermore, while plans are underway to promote NDC favorites to the rank of Brigadier General and equivalents, Ashanti, Akyem and other Akans suspected to be sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are being marginalized.
For instance, while Colonel DJ Sakyi is Acting Director General (IPSO), Naval Captains SK Darbo and BF Asante have been appointed Deputy Director Generals of Plans and Developments and Logistics respectively.
Group Captain E Asare Yeboah has been made Deputy Director General Training for over two years and is very significant to note that Colonel Issa Wuni (GH/1835) has been appointed as the Acting Principal General Staff Officer to the Minister of Defence.
Until the MS of 28th January, General DK Frimong was holding that appointment and as was predicted last year that DK Frimpong was going to take over from General Hope this year as the Deputy Commandant of GAFCSC, we are vindicated.
A major interesting observation was the failure of the NDC and the Military High Command to promote any officer to the rank of Brigadier General or equivalent owing to the disagreements and tensions between the ‘Volta ‘and ‘Northern’ caucuses in the military.
Very reliable sources indicate that the promotions to the rank of Brigadier General and more Colonels and their equivalents have been postponed to June 2011 when reasonable compromises are likely to be reached between the ‘Dzelukope Mafia’ from the Volta region and the ‘Pepe Barons’ from the three Northern regions.
Consequently, Colonels Kwashie, Nibo, Sakyi, Hatse, Saagbul, Isaa-Wuni, Guyin and Kusi are to wait until June 2011. So also will Lieutenant Colonels Leba-Kamanya, Dzotefe-Mensah, Bleboo and Dafeamkpor wait until June 2011 for their rewards for various contributions?
For the avoidance of any doubts, the following are the major revelations in the MS publication of 28th January 2011. The following former Lieutenant Colonels have been promoted to the rank of Colonel with effect from 26th January 2011; DK Mensah (Gh/2179), M Dakurah (GH/2063), WO Agekum (GH/2065), FD Ogbey (GH/2152), SK Assem (GH/2237), JWK Asabre (GH/2289), F Ofori (GH/2162) NK Kporku GH/2163), SP Ebonyi (GH/2315) and SK Lawerh (GH/2167). The only Naval officer promoted from Commander to Naval Captain (equivalent of Colonel in the Army) is Captain (GN) S Angmor (GH/2383).
An analysis of the background of all the officers promoted to the rank of Colonel and equivalent makes interesting revelations.
Firstly, out of the eleven officers promoted; four (4) are from the Volta region, two (2) from the three Northern Regions (Upper West and East), three (3) from the Eastern Region (Krobos) and two (2) from the Central Region.
Secondly, the list shows that the officers all hail from areas where the NDC won in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. For example, Colonels DK Mensah, Ogbey, Assem and Kporku are Ewes from the Volta region; Colonels SK Lawerh and Naval Captain Angmor are Krobos from the Eastern region with Colonels F Ofori and SP Ebonyi are Fantes from the Central region.
It may also interest concerned persons to know that Colonel JWK Asabre is not from the Ashanti region as many believe in the military. He was born in the Ashanti region but hails from the Northern region and explains why in 2000 when he was the second in Command to then Lt Col HWK Agbenuzah (now Brigadier General) at the 6th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, he worked tirelessly for the NDC to retain power but his efforts were in vain.
The promotions from Major to the ranks of Lieutenant Colonels and equivalent are also as follows: Lt Col JB Kpierel (GH/2562), Lt. Col WM Honkou (GH/2660), Lt Col NN Amegashie (GH/2662), Lt Col PK Hometowu (GH/2667), Lt Col EK Konadu (GH/2749), Lt Col RB Zubaviel (GH/2632), Lt Col GKT Sam (GH/2633), Lt Col J Vander-Pallen (GH/2645), Lt Col IK Twum-Ampofo (GH/2666) and Lt Col Y Salifu (GH/2685).
Those promoted in the Navy and Airforce to the ranks of Commander and Wing Commander respectively (equivalent of Lieutenant Colonels) are as follows; Commander BEK Atiayao (GH/2743), Commander EA Abrahams (GH/2744), Wing Commander EA Adongo (GH/2591) and Wing Commander CAN Mills (GH/2735).
It is interesting to note that the ‘value is the same’ for the promotions to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalents. Most of the officers promoted are from the same strongholds of the NDC that is the Volta Region, the three Northern regions, Central region and parts of the Eastern region.
Other major revelations of the MS publication of the 28th January are worth noting. Firstly, the name of Brigadier General M Owusu –Ababio (GH/1571) was conspicuously missing. While Brigadier General HWK Agbenuzah (GH/1565) has been posted to DR Congo for duties with MONUSCO as Western Brigade Commander to replace Brigadier General Owusu-Ababio, the latter has not been posted anyway.
Rumors are rife that the ‘powers that be’ want the immediate retirement of General Owusu-Ababio and Brigadier General GK Adjei. The intended release of General is part of the victimization of Akan officers from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions.
Officers concerned are wondering why General Owusu-Ababio who is yet to reach his compulsory retiring age would be retired while General Hope who has already passed his compulsory retiring age is going on United Nations operations for one year. In order to clear any doubts find below the dates of birth of the two Generals.
a. Brig Gen M Owusu Ababio: 03/12/51
b. Brig Gen HWK Agbenuzah:03/01/51
Furthermore, while plans are underway to promote NDC favorites to the rank of Brigadier General and equivalents, Ashanti, Akyem and other Akans suspected to be sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are being marginalized.
For instance, while Colonel DJ Sakyi is Acting Director General (IPSO), Naval Captains SK Darbo and BF Asante have been appointed Deputy Director Generals of Plans and Developments and Logistics respectively.
Group Captain E Asare Yeboah has been made Deputy Director General Training for over two years and is very significant to note that Colonel Issa Wuni (GH/1835) has been appointed as the Acting Principal General Staff Officer to the Minister of Defence.
Until the MS of 28th January, General DK Frimong was holding that appointment and as was predicted last year that DK Frimpong was going to take over from General Hope this year as the Deputy Commandant of GAFCSC, we are vindicated.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
WHY EWE OFFICERS AND MEN HATE REGIONAL BALANCE IN GAF!
The officers and men from the Volta Region especially the “Dzelukope Mafia” were and are vehemently against the policy of regional balance in the GAF because their strategy and tactical plans are geared towards dominating all the Security Services and more importantly the GAF.
Hiding under the guise of being a minority group in the country, the officers and men from the Volta Region especially the “Dzelukupe Mafia” has strategized since the days of General Kotoka to control and dominate the GAF to protect and defend their interests, politically economically, and socially.
This has permeated all regimes since independence particularly immediately after Kotoka’s coup d’état and Rawlings’ regimes stretching from 1979 through to 2001, until the democratic forces of the good people of Ghana freely and fairly elected President JA Kufour to the throne. Even during the first term of President Kufour, when General SK Obeng was the CDS, the Volta Region had an undue advantage in the recruitment and enlistment of personnel into the GAF as the military hierarchy which had been dominated by the Volta Region during Rawlings too – long stay in power continued and persisted in their strategic march. For instance, between 2001 and 2005, Volta Region enjoyed 33.38% of officers commissioned into GAF. In the case of the other Ranks in 2003 the Volta Region had 210 out of 772 recruited into the Army (representing 27.21%), 61 out of 250 recruited into the Navy (representing 24.40%), 42 out of 176 recruited into the Airforce (representing 23.20%) for the same 2003 the Ashanti Region also had 93 for Army (12.05%), 19 for the Navy (7.60%) and 22 for the Airforce (12.50%).
The situation for the other Ranks recruitment in 2004 followed the same pattern. The Volta Region had 137 out of 618 recruited into the Army (22.17%); 97 out of 350 for the Navy (27.71%) and 51 out of 350 for the Navy (27.71%) and 51 out of 204 for the Airforce (25%). For the same 2004, Ashanti Region had 51 for the Army (8.25%); 24 for the Navy (6.85%) and 20 for the Airforce (9.80%). Between July 2002 and December 2004 Colonel MK Amuzu was the Director General (Personnel Administrator), having taken over from Brigadier General Wallace Gbedemah.
Incidentally, instructions issued by Colonel MK Amuzu clearly allocated vacancies on regional basis using figures from the then last known population census of Ghana but the orders were circumvented. The Volta Region with more representation on the regional teams entrusted with the recruitment exercise managed to have its way and dominated absolutely and functionally in all the three services (Army Navy and Airforce) in the recruitment of 2003, 2004 and 2005.
It was the attempt by General JB Danquah and the entire Military High Command to enforce the policy on regional and gender balances as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution under Article 35 (6) (b) that saw all the Ewe officers and men in the GAF protesting thereby inviting unfortunate comments on it from FLt Lt JJ Rawlings in October 2008 at Peki in the Volta Region during a political rally of the NDC. For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitutional provision states that “Towards the achievement of the objectives stated in clause (5) of this Article, the state SHALL take appropriate measures to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices.”
There is no doubt that the GAF are part of the public offices as the officers and men are paid from the Consolidated Fund and all their requirements are provided by the state (public funds).
Even during the period 2006 to 2008 when the attempt was made to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance, the Volta Region still topped if figures from all the three services were put together for the officers and men. That explains why to the date the Volta Region commands between 24 and 28% of the Ghana Armed forces.
The situation is being worsened under President Mills. Under the current NDC regime, there has been a systematic deliberate conscious and well planned effort to augment the proportion of personnel from the Volta Region in the GAF while at the same time denying persons from the Akan dominated regions especially Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Entry into the GAF.
As if that was not enough, several Akan officers have been targeted for release from the GAF whereas their counterparts from the Volta Region are not being released even where there are several years above their compulsory retiring ages. This strategy is ensuring attrition for the Akans particularly Ashantis, Brongs, Akyems, Akwapims, and Kwahus while ensuring an accelerated admission of more persons from the Volta Region, especially Southern Volta Region (Anlos) into the GAF.
It may interest well meaning Ghanaian to note that when a massive release of Other Ranks recruited between 1979 and 1983 was effected between May 2009 and June 2010 under President Mills, the Ex – Soldiers from the Volta Region and those from other regions perceived to be NDC sympathizers have been employed by the National Security Secretariat and the Ministry of Defence in aid of capacities while the rest have been left to their fate to ensure NDC and Volta Region domination in the GAF.
These are acts of unfair treatment, victimization of Akans, from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions and ill-treatment against perceived NPP sympathizers in the military are breeding tension in the military and threaten our peaceful democratic march.
It is better for these facts to brought out for discussion and solution than to sweep them under the carpet using uncalled for accusation of whipping tribal sentiments when in fact the NDC and its Agents are the causes of the tribal and ethnic politicization of the GAF.
The fraudulent recruitment exercise of 2009/2010 showed clearly that the NDC has a serious agenda to recruit more persons from the Volta Region than the others in order to achieve political gains during the 2012 elections.
Several persons from the Volta Region and a few other regions belonging to the NDC were fraudulently recruited into the Army, Navy and Airforce and are currently undergoing training at the various Military recruit training schools at Shai Hills, Tema and Takoradi. The list of persons selected shows the dominance by the Volta Region and foot soldiers of the NDC from other part of the country.
For instance, out of the 453 sent to Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills, 122 hail from the Volta Region even though only 38 were recruited from Ho. Another figure of 57 persons hailing from the Volta Region was recruited from the Greater Accra Region. Several of these persons did not go through the recruitment process. Some of them were made to replace others from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions who had genuinely been processed for various stages of the recruitment exercise. Particular mention has to be made of persons who were brought to Burma Hall on 16th April, 2010 on the authority of Brigadier General EC Quist (the Director General Personnel Administration at the time).
These persons numbering over 300 were illegally inserted into the selection process. Some of them were made to join the Army first Batch on 1st July 2010 while some joined the Navy and the Airforce who are all currently undergoing training. This illegal insertion brought some misunderstandings between Brig Gen Quist and Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah, the Director Manpower Planning: Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah’s insistence on the right thing being done resulted in his removal and his “good riddance” to Sabbatical Leave in China under the guise of a Course.
As for the rumors being peddled by some Ewe officers and men that the victimized Colonel was the course of the Brigadier General’s death, the least said about it the better. The only possibility of a justification for the unfair allegation and accusation is the Back –To- Sender Argument”. If indeed it is true that juju was found in Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah’s office and the juju was alleged to ‘eliminate him’ then the only reasonable inference is that because God loves him and comes from the Upper West where the “trees” are very powerful , he managed to survive the juju and naturally the “poison” went back to the sender.
Furthermore, the strategy of the current NDC and Volta Region controlled Ghana Armed Forces is to systematically reduce the representation of Akans from the NPP strongholds while increasing the representation of the Volta Region and the NDC strongholds Regions. For instance, since January 2009 over thirty military officers of various ranks between Colonel, Major and Lieutenant Generals have been released compulsorily mainly under the pretext of age and lack of vacancy while officers from the Volta Region who are several years and months overaged have been given juicy and motivating appointment and promotions.
Efforts are still under way to release Colonels Agyekum Yamoah, EA Mensah, MD Boampong and Ankomah Danso and Brigadier General George Adjei and at the same time, the Military High Command is preparing to submit the names of Colonel DJ Sakyi, Group Captain EK Boateng, Colonel RPKZ Hatse, Colonel EWK Nibo, Colonel Senchim and Colonel FK Kwashie for promotion to Brigadier General and equivalent.
Hiding under the guise of being a minority group in the country, the officers and men from the Volta Region especially the “Dzelukupe Mafia” has strategized since the days of General Kotoka to control and dominate the GAF to protect and defend their interests, politically economically, and socially.
This has permeated all regimes since independence particularly immediately after Kotoka’s coup d’état and Rawlings’ regimes stretching from 1979 through to 2001, until the democratic forces of the good people of Ghana freely and fairly elected President JA Kufour to the throne. Even during the first term of President Kufour, when General SK Obeng was the CDS, the Volta Region had an undue advantage in the recruitment and enlistment of personnel into the GAF as the military hierarchy which had been dominated by the Volta Region during Rawlings too – long stay in power continued and persisted in their strategic march. For instance, between 2001 and 2005, Volta Region enjoyed 33.38% of officers commissioned into GAF. In the case of the other Ranks in 2003 the Volta Region had 210 out of 772 recruited into the Army (representing 27.21%), 61 out of 250 recruited into the Navy (representing 24.40%), 42 out of 176 recruited into the Airforce (representing 23.20%) for the same 2003 the Ashanti Region also had 93 for Army (12.05%), 19 for the Navy (7.60%) and 22 for the Airforce (12.50%).
The situation for the other Ranks recruitment in 2004 followed the same pattern. The Volta Region had 137 out of 618 recruited into the Army (22.17%); 97 out of 350 for the Navy (27.71%) and 51 out of 350 for the Navy (27.71%) and 51 out of 204 for the Airforce (25%). For the same 2004, Ashanti Region had 51 for the Army (8.25%); 24 for the Navy (6.85%) and 20 for the Airforce (9.80%). Between July 2002 and December 2004 Colonel MK Amuzu was the Director General (Personnel Administrator), having taken over from Brigadier General Wallace Gbedemah.
Incidentally, instructions issued by Colonel MK Amuzu clearly allocated vacancies on regional basis using figures from the then last known population census of Ghana but the orders were circumvented. The Volta Region with more representation on the regional teams entrusted with the recruitment exercise managed to have its way and dominated absolutely and functionally in all the three services (Army Navy and Airforce) in the recruitment of 2003, 2004 and 2005.
It was the attempt by General JB Danquah and the entire Military High Command to enforce the policy on regional and gender balances as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution under Article 35 (6) (b) that saw all the Ewe officers and men in the GAF protesting thereby inviting unfortunate comments on it from FLt Lt JJ Rawlings in October 2008 at Peki in the Volta Region during a political rally of the NDC. For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitutional provision states that “Towards the achievement of the objectives stated in clause (5) of this Article, the state SHALL take appropriate measures to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices.”
There is no doubt that the GAF are part of the public offices as the officers and men are paid from the Consolidated Fund and all their requirements are provided by the state (public funds).
Even during the period 2006 to 2008 when the attempt was made to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance, the Volta Region still topped if figures from all the three services were put together for the officers and men. That explains why to the date the Volta Region commands between 24 and 28% of the Ghana Armed forces.
The situation is being worsened under President Mills. Under the current NDC regime, there has been a systematic deliberate conscious and well planned effort to augment the proportion of personnel from the Volta Region in the GAF while at the same time denying persons from the Akan dominated regions especially Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Entry into the GAF.
As if that was not enough, several Akan officers have been targeted for release from the GAF whereas their counterparts from the Volta Region are not being released even where there are several years above their compulsory retiring ages. This strategy is ensuring attrition for the Akans particularly Ashantis, Brongs, Akyems, Akwapims, and Kwahus while ensuring an accelerated admission of more persons from the Volta Region, especially Southern Volta Region (Anlos) into the GAF.
It may interest well meaning Ghanaian to note that when a massive release of Other Ranks recruited between 1979 and 1983 was effected between May 2009 and June 2010 under President Mills, the Ex – Soldiers from the Volta Region and those from other regions perceived to be NDC sympathizers have been employed by the National Security Secretariat and the Ministry of Defence in aid of capacities while the rest have been left to their fate to ensure NDC and Volta Region domination in the GAF.
These are acts of unfair treatment, victimization of Akans, from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions and ill-treatment against perceived NPP sympathizers in the military are breeding tension in the military and threaten our peaceful democratic march.
It is better for these facts to brought out for discussion and solution than to sweep them under the carpet using uncalled for accusation of whipping tribal sentiments when in fact the NDC and its Agents are the causes of the tribal and ethnic politicization of the GAF.
The fraudulent recruitment exercise of 2009/2010 showed clearly that the NDC has a serious agenda to recruit more persons from the Volta Region than the others in order to achieve political gains during the 2012 elections.
Several persons from the Volta Region and a few other regions belonging to the NDC were fraudulently recruited into the Army, Navy and Airforce and are currently undergoing training at the various Military recruit training schools at Shai Hills, Tema and Takoradi. The list of persons selected shows the dominance by the Volta Region and foot soldiers of the NDC from other part of the country.
For instance, out of the 453 sent to Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills, 122 hail from the Volta Region even though only 38 were recruited from Ho. Another figure of 57 persons hailing from the Volta Region was recruited from the Greater Accra Region. Several of these persons did not go through the recruitment process. Some of them were made to replace others from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions who had genuinely been processed for various stages of the recruitment exercise. Particular mention has to be made of persons who were brought to Burma Hall on 16th April, 2010 on the authority of Brigadier General EC Quist (the Director General Personnel Administration at the time).
These persons numbering over 300 were illegally inserted into the selection process. Some of them were made to join the Army first Batch on 1st July 2010 while some joined the Navy and the Airforce who are all currently undergoing training. This illegal insertion brought some misunderstandings between Brig Gen Quist and Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah, the Director Manpower Planning: Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah’s insistence on the right thing being done resulted in his removal and his “good riddance” to Sabbatical Leave in China under the guise of a Course.
As for the rumors being peddled by some Ewe officers and men that the victimized Colonel was the course of the Brigadier General’s death, the least said about it the better. The only possibility of a justification for the unfair allegation and accusation is the Back –To- Sender Argument”. If indeed it is true that juju was found in Colonel T Ba-Taa-Banah’s office and the juju was alleged to ‘eliminate him’ then the only reasonable inference is that because God loves him and comes from the Upper West where the “trees” are very powerful , he managed to survive the juju and naturally the “poison” went back to the sender.
Furthermore, the strategy of the current NDC and Volta Region controlled Ghana Armed Forces is to systematically reduce the representation of Akans from the NPP strongholds while increasing the representation of the Volta Region and the NDC strongholds Regions. For instance, since January 2009 over thirty military officers of various ranks between Colonel, Major and Lieutenant Generals have been released compulsorily mainly under the pretext of age and lack of vacancy while officers from the Volta Region who are several years and months overaged have been given juicy and motivating appointment and promotions.
Efforts are still under way to release Colonels Agyekum Yamoah, EA Mensah, MD Boampong and Ankomah Danso and Brigadier General George Adjei and at the same time, the Military High Command is preparing to submit the names of Colonel DJ Sakyi, Group Captain EK Boateng, Colonel RPKZ Hatse, Colonel EWK Nibo, Colonel Senchim and Colonel FK Kwashie for promotion to Brigadier General and equivalent.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Disclaimer: Akufo-Addo’s strategy backfires
The attention of the publishers and management of DAYBREAK newspaper has been drawn to a story posted on www.ghanaweb.com under the headline 'Akufo-Addo's strategy Backfires' and wrongly attributed to DAYBREAK newspaper.
We wish to put on record that DAYBREAK has not put out any story with the said headline. We also distance ourselves from the entire contents of the story and state categorically that our paper knows nothing of it.
We are at a loss as to where www.ghanaweb.com had the story from and we are tempted to suspect that it was for mischievous reasons that the story was attributed to us.
We call on the operators of www.ghanaweb.com to as a matter of urgency; retract the attribution they have made to our paper as far as that story is concerned.
We want to assure our esteemed readers once again that the story did not come from DAYBREAK.
We can only hope that www.ghanaweb.com would be cautious in crediting the right sources for the stories they put out.
Signed
PRINCE PRAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
We wish to put on record that DAYBREAK has not put out any story with the said headline. We also distance ourselves from the entire contents of the story and state categorically that our paper knows nothing of it.
We are at a loss as to where www.ghanaweb.com had the story from and we are tempted to suspect that it was for mischievous reasons that the story was attributed to us.
We call on the operators of www.ghanaweb.com to as a matter of urgency; retract the attribution they have made to our paper as far as that story is concerned.
We want to assure our esteemed readers once again that the story did not come from DAYBREAK.
We can only hope that www.ghanaweb.com would be cautious in crediting the right sources for the stories they put out.
Signed
PRINCE PRAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Friday, November 5, 2010
James Agyenim - Boateng's Secret Text Message Exposed!!!
I published an unedited text message that I intercepted last Sunday!
Private and confidential
Yesterday’s meeting did not go the way prof wanted us to conduct these meetings. If der is a new face around, we must be notified. Konadu has jerry's network dat gathers gud intelligence. I don't trust some of these hungry cpp guys we r using to form this AFRO pressure group! i am tracing one of dem to someone around Konadu en dis is dangerous. if de priamary goal of dis group is to scatter Konadu's ambition as uncle ato wants indicated, we can't afford any scandalous leaks. de bempah en dela boys hv de media en jerry's commandos sniffing around for dem. we must double check none of de cpp guys we programmed has links with nduom coz npp will know. see yu at castle meeting morrow. watch yur back esp these stupid foot soldiers. james Agyenim - Boateng
+233277319053
Received: 17:19:27
31 - 10 - 2010
Source:Dela Coffie
Private and confidential
Yesterday’s meeting did not go the way prof wanted us to conduct these meetings. If der is a new face around, we must be notified. Konadu has jerry's network dat gathers gud intelligence. I don't trust some of these hungry cpp guys we r using to form this AFRO pressure group! i am tracing one of dem to someone around Konadu en dis is dangerous. if de priamary goal of dis group is to scatter Konadu's ambition as uncle ato wants indicated, we can't afford any scandalous leaks. de bempah en dela boys hv de media en jerry's commandos sniffing around for dem. we must double check none of de cpp guys we programmed has links with nduom coz npp will know. see yu at castle meeting morrow. watch yur back esp these stupid foot soldiers. james Agyenim - Boateng
+233277319053
Received: 17:19:27
31 - 10 - 2010
Source:Dela Coffie