WELL ORGANIZED NPP MPS CAN USHER THE PARTY TO POWER IN 2016

We often hear political commentators say “oppositions don’t win elections, governments lose them”. What a load of bollocks. A well organized, highly disciplined and clear thinking opposition can take a term or two from just about any government.  Politicians and political advisers must never stop believing that an opposition can win the next election. 

Opposition can always snatch power from even the most entrenched government basking in euphoria of massive public good-will.  How the Republicans in United States recently recaptured control of the U.S. Senate and expanded their edge in the House of Representatives, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress for the final two years of President Barack Obama's presidency tell us that everything is possible in politics.

In recent times, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of parliament have come under heavy barrage of criticism for not effectively holding the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to account to Ghanaians from their first day. It seems the honeymoon given to the NDC is still in motion. Almost all the scathing criticism of the government has emanated from the Party`s communication outfits and other political organizations and individuals with NPP sympathies. 

Last year, Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, editor of Statesman went to town on the MPs lackadaisical attitude towards the struggle and activities of their party.  The criticism suddenly awakened the MPS, and in an unprecedented manner joined the pressure group, Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) to stage the “Agbeii wo” demonstration. Until Mr. Otchere-Darko took the MPs to the cleaners, they have not been taken active part in demonstrations organized by AFAG.  It was as if the MPs needed a serious push from its constituents to be effective. 

Why is the NPP MPs perceived as non-performing? In order to be able to hold the government to account, opposition as the direct representative of the people need to perform their watchdog role and bring out any secret deal the government undertake at the blindside of the populace. In performing their parliamentary functions, the MPs also owe their constituents and the party on which ticket they were elected into the chamber.  Most often the MPs get so engrossed with their parliamentary functions more than their allegiance and work towards their party. It is when this situation rises that, the supporters of their party quickly get angry at the MPs for their total neglect. 

However, let us also not lose sight of the fact that one of the reasons why political parties find it so hard to rally all its MPs/legislative members to tow party lines is that, parties no longer have any control over who runs for office. In the modern politics, as practiced in Ghana, elections are “candidate centered.”  Candidates choose to run, raise their own funds, build their own organizations and win elections largely on their own, without significant help from a political party. It presupposes that parties have little control over the candidates that run under its labels. 

Since 2009, Honourable Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonso, the minority Leader had had difficult time organizing the NPP MPS to follow party lines. Even in election times the party structures cannot control the MPs and sometimes are forced to make concessions to them. Though the party tries hard to generate funds for the aspiring candidates to execute their campaign, but that money is woefully in adequate, as a result the money-bag aspiring MPs and sitting MPS also make serious demands of the party. These demands when not met, makes the candidates to do things their own way and that behavior festers on after the elections.

Lobbyist organizations and corporate institutions that supports a particular candidate for a particular constituency as a result of its business interest in the MP`s constituency or a national policy or bill serves as complete hindrance on the MP to kowtow to party lines. In such situation, where a particular issue is of paramount interest to the party but it will affect the interest of the clandestine financial backers of the MP, the MP is most likely to be mute on the issue. This is a serious happening currently going on in our democratic exercise but much attention has not been given to it.

One other major factor is also the creation or existence of safe seats. Most MPs that occupies the safe seats are the notorious slackers when it comes to working assiduously to the benefit of their party. They tend to be lazy and prefer to sit on radio stations in Accra, rather than to visit their constituencies regularly to preach the policies alternatives of their party and attacking the government of its electoral failures, corruption and mismanagement of the economy. 

But are the MPs the only ones that must be blamed for recent NPP`s inaction and effective opposition to NDC?  An NPP MP told me last year that “Here is the hard truth: something we are doing isn’t quite working. Let’s now put aside any notion that the media are going to carry our message to the public over the next two years. They are not.”  He was pissed off that most blames are placed on the bosom of NPP MP`s for not helping the party, when the focus should be on the grassroot mobilization. He opined that the making NPP buoyant and effective critic of the NDC regime is not only the prerogative of the MPs and few party heads at the Headquarters, but the party must challenge the grassroots to help polish the its image with a plan to enlist at least 2,000 “Patriotic ambassadors” to bypass the media by speaking to one million voters — two per day for each volunteer — by 2016. 

In his view if NPP push for 100 supporters to take a lead and start a personal blog about the party’s positions NPP can capture the entire reading public and internet user-voters. He told me “Write your blog. Write letters to the editor. Call in to the local radio talk show. Talk about why you support NPP and submit ideas for 100 changes to be implement in 100 days if the NPP forms a government".

Whilst I share the laudable ideas of the MP, I am still of the opinion that the MPs have an advantage of criticizing the government and exposing corruption to undermine it. This can only be done when the MPs get organized by having a Secretariat, where every staff member is selected on merit – in opposition there can be no passengers. That also means taking pragmatic steps to engage advisers with the most important policy, press and forensic skills to assist them.  The Secretariat must have a staff and on the frontbench a mix of youthful enthusiasm and experienced operators.  As the saying goes, “War-gaming” and forward planning should be part of NPPs, weekly routine.

The MPs must come to the realization that an effective opposition is more akin to an insurgent force than a standing army and they must therefore be prepared to do detailed research on the shortcomings of the government and its members,. Their Shadow Cabinet system must be re-branded to make it possible to have a weekly meetings and properly drafted policy papers circulated well in advance of the meeting. Conscious effect must be made by the MPs to reconnect with the electorate – particularly those who left them at the election.  All attempts must be taken to avoid ‘Do repetition of the sins of office from opposition'.

The NPP MPS need to initiate serious business of policy development early and reach out to those groups NPP probably stopped listening to in government.  Gathering around as many outside sources of advice as possible will engender a growing band of useful and well informed experts in any number of areas who will happily give up their time to assist the party.

Most importantly, NPP MPs have to get down to the business of constant campaigning on every platform that is avail to them. Elections are won by those who campaign from the first day in the term, not from the day the election is called. However, effective campaigning requires discipline and adherence to processes by making sure media monitoring never misses a day and valuable clips are collected, catalogued and stored.

Constant campaigning is only effective if NPP MPs are willing do all the things listed above, alongside what their party is also doing simultaneously. There are no shortcuts to winning office.  NPP MPs need to learn from what the Republican Party utilized to effectively clinch a majority victory at the Congress. 

As Jonathan Chait rightly observed,: “The GOP has withheld cooperation from every major element of President Obama’s agenda, beginning with the stimulus, through health-care reform, financial regulation, the environment, long-term debt reduction, and so on. That stance has worked extremely well as a political strategy. Most people pay little attention to politics and tend to hold the president responsible for outcomes. If Republicans turn every issue into an intractable partisan scrum, people get frustrated with the status quo and take out their frustration on the president’s party. It’s a formula, but it works.”

NPP MPs must make itself as a useful catalyst for the party to use the next one and half years to show they are a party of government, and not a lazy ideologues, opportunistic and selfish leaders who only care about their own welfare. NPP itself must show that they can govern and that the public need to trust them by going to the every hook and cranny of the country, with a simple message: ‘time for a change!” This is not only a valid way to proceed, it’s a pretty likely outcome.

My own feeling is that both the MPs and the party should pour major energy into extra-opposition activism and prioritize elevating the voice of activists. Instead of a Minority Leader or the Chief Whip and the National party heads being a person sitting in a palace office, like a potentate, what these personalities must rather do is to find a way to live and work among the people and be subjected to their pressures.  That would be a valuable step.

The NPP must know that governments thrive on divided opposition, especially the visceral internal divisions in the main opposition group. It makes it easy for the incumbent to win elections by fair or foul means. 2012 elections is a valuable epitome of what a fundamental flaws in internal party work and lukewarm attitude of MPs refusing to go back to their constituencies to campaign on the ground can affect our electoral chances.

I know old habits are strong. In fact, old pressures of institutions cannot be overcome in a day as individuals and organizations tend to be persistent and preservationist. We all carry baggage. But, with enough popular energy and pressure, I think we can succeed. As activist and educator Effie Jones once said, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." 

We in NPP cannot afford to lose 2016 elections.

A Plea to My Readers

Please Help A Child This Season 



It is my hope and prayer that all goes well with you this season and that you come out of it a better person with renewed energies for life.

May I however make a humble appeal that in your own small way, you make a concerted effort to show some love to a needy child during this season. There are several thousands of innocent children all around us who are finding life really tough and their plight is no one’s business.

There are thousands of children around in an urgent need of food, clothing and shelter.  There are thousands of brilliant children who may be going wayward mainly because they have no one to advice them and mentor their lives.

There are several brilliant orphans who are in school alright, but are still wearing their faded,  worn-out  and out-seized school uniforms and are in need of learning materials or are yet to pay for one fee or another; be it examination fees, school fees or extra classes fees.

There are many more out there who have gained admission to one school or the other but do not have even the admission fees.

There are thousands of children out there who need attention, a listening ear, encouragement, hope and someone to show them the least form of love.

Children in need of love this season are not limited to the ones in our orphanages; the majority of them are the very children we come across on a daily basis; the very ones we send on errands or chance upon dribbling soccer with their bear-foot on the hot pavements under the scorching sun.

I am also referring to children who have no choice but to sell iced-water in traffic jams just to make a living; children who drop out of school to join their parents at work.

I am thinking of the innocent children from poor homes and in need of succour but are being abused by their benefactors; I am thinking of that malnourished child that has no idea what a good piece of balanced meal means.

I am concerned about that teenage girl out there who may not have money to buy a piece of decent pad for her menses; I am worried about that teenage boy in need of money to buy an anti-per spirant for his armpit.

During this season, it would be worthwhile to put a smile on the face of a needy child. They need our help and if we can, please let us give it.

We may not necessarily need to become missionaries or turn our houses into shelter for the homeless child but we can definitely make a difference in the life of a deprived child this season. 

As we make merry this season, let us remember that several thousands of innocent children out there are struggling with the storms of life through no fault of theirs and the slightest intervention from us would be a great relief to them.

Once again I wish you the best compliments of the season as you reach out and touch a needy child to make life more meaningful and easier for him or her. 

Remain Blessed.

Ghana’s Academic Generals

Time was when soldiers were considered riff-raffs. Time was when Ghanaian soldiers were known to be never-do-wells. Time was when it was said that it was only school-drop outs or young people who were lazy, unproductive and trouble-causers who joined the military.

There have been many other unpalatable descriptions of Ghanaian soldiers. We may no longer call them abongo, which thankfully is gradually dying, but we still believe in our heart of hearts that our soldiers are still abongo. Or we can still recall the late popular and controversial Nigerian musician, Fela, who euphemistically described soldiers in his country and Ghana as zombie. Yes, they just follow order without thought.

Today, all that has changed. Today, the Ghana Armed Forces can boast of thousands of soldiers (both officers and men) holding very prestigious academic and professional qualifications. There are professionals of almost every description in the Ghana Armed Forces. We have highly qualified and practicing lawyers, who defend cases in court; we have highly qualified engineers , architects , land economists and medical doctors, among the latter specialist in many areas of health delivery . We have professional telecommunications specialists. There are many others.

Years gone by there were a few people who were so qualified. But in the last two decades the population of highly professional and academically qualified soldiers has increased tremendously. Today, even private soldiers and non-commissioned offices (NCOs) have first degrees in almost every field of their choice. Everyone is going to school and as you rise on the rung, many senior leaders and commanders, among them brigadier generals and colonels, have second and third degrees.

For instance, the Chief of the Defence Staff and administrative head of the Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie, holds a Master of Arts degree in governance and leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)

The Chief of the Army Staff and head of the Ghana Army, Major General Richard Kwame Opoku-Adusei, holds a Master of Science (Msc) degree in strategic studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and has just concluded a Master of Arts degree course in International Affairs and Diplomacy at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, University of Ghana.

The Chief of Naval Staff and head of the Ghana  Navy , Rear Admiral Geoffrey Mawuli Biekro,  also holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in development studies from the University of Ghana , a graduate diploma in public administration from GIMPA and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in management studies from the Pacific Southern University in California, United States of America. He also holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of Ghana and is currently pursuing a Barrister at Law programme (post –LLB professional course) at the Ghana School of Law.

The Chief of Air Staff and head of the Ghana Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, also holds a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the National Defence University, Washington DC, United State of America and a graduate diploma in counter-terrorism from Montgomery Air University/ Air War College, also in the United States of America. He also holds a professional air transport pilot license and has a flying experience of over 10,000 flying hours on various types of aircraft.

And with the Ghana Armed Forces having its first home-grown Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree holders in three decades, this is all a positive trend. This is indeed the era of Ghana’s academic generals and there is no doubt that those at the helm of affairs in the Ghana Armed Forces are professional and academically qualified. Certainly, the open combined with the sword must be mightier and better.

Credit: M'bawine

Hot Ice

In the second phase of my journey

I walk hand in hand with her;

Not just any woman but my woman

She who entices and makes me feel like a king

She who listens, advices and pampers me

Her touch…? Ouch I cannot say

But what I can, is when united-

Well… we’ll surely have no ordinary family

But in span of events

I wonder if my true love really existed

Hence out of much grief
I sought for a brief separation

That which resulted in the biggest emotional battle ever sparked by us both

And now I ponder

With distance placing us worlds apart

I wonder

Who is behind the woman I know; or I thought I did

For in the deepest of hearts; I meditate

How can she with such wild passion-

Chill my heart with hurtful wording in rage?

Can I control such fury when fully bond?

I know not

But in the current-

I’m deeply involved in hot-iced passion …

NPP & The Concordia Ventures Affair (2)

Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, the National Treasurer of the NPP expressed surprise at the turn of events and said that it ran counter to an earlier agreement that the Party had reached with Concordia Ventures for an amicable settlement of the dispute. "WE HAD AGREED WITH THEM (CONCORDIA) IN PRINCIPLE TO PAY-OFF THE DEBT AND HAD EVEN AGREED UPON A SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT WE DREW UP TO THAT EFFECT," he explained. 

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said that, following this agreement, the lawyers of the NPP were to liaise with the counsel for Concordia Ventures to have the case formally withdrawn from court for the settlement to be effected. "IT IS SURPRISING THAT, AFTER ALL THESE, THE CASE WAS STILL IN COURT AND A RULING ON THE MATTER HAS BEEN GIVEN," he said.

The Press Secretary of NPP, Mr. Adu Kwabena- Essem, issued a statement in support of J.A. Kufuor. The statement described as "unscrupulous and outrage to journalistic ethics" the publication in the June 19 - 25 edition of the African Observer that the party's flag-bearer for the 1996 general elections, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, was involved in the purchase of vehicles for the last elections. 

The statement said the Party was shocked to read the front page banner headline: "Political deceits" and its purported story on page two entitled "Doubts about Kufuor". The Press Secretary said that "ALTHOUGH THE NPP, AS A LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS COMMITTED TO FREEDOM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND, PARTICULARLY THE MEDIA, IT IS DISTRESSED BY DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS TO PORTRAY IT OR ITS LEADERSHIP FOR WHAT THEY WERE NOT.

He continued: "IT IS AN OUTRAGE TO JOURNALISTIC ETHICS AND AN AFFRONT TO ALL THAT IS FAIR AND DECENT" for the African Observer to label a political leader as "deceitful", and to "impute" other highly libelous intentions to him on the basis of fact the paper itself acknowledges are very sketchy. 

In his statement the Press Officer of the NPP stated that, when a reporter of the African Observer called on him to comment on the issue, the reporter was asked to come back after the Efigya Sekyere East election to speak to the General Secretary, Mr. Agyenim Boateng; but the reporter failed to do so. 

According to the Press Officer, the fact that the paper published its "very sketchy" fact without calling back to see the General Secretary suggested that the paper "was not really interested in getting the true facts of the matter".

He then stated that any fair-minded person would conclude from the approach of the African Observer that it was a deliberate attempt by the paper to tarnish the image of Mr. Kufuor for reasons best known to the paper. He then added that "the party has had no doubts about the integrity of Mr. Kufuor who, the party is convinced beyond all doubt, has always tried to serve it". 

Rejecting the claim by the paper that Mr. Kufuor wanted to win more clout within the party, the statement said Mr. Kufuor was elected by the party's national delegate's conference and confirmed as the Great Alliance presidential candidate. 

As stated earlier the Deku Committee appointed to investigate the charges by Mr. Essamuah against J.A. Kufuor decided to request Essamuah to substantiate the charges he had leveled against Kufuor but would not deal further with the issue of the transaction regarding the purchase of motor cycles from Concordia Ltd. Mr. Essamuah objected to this procedure and sent a letter of protest to the Chairman of the party.

In a statement, the NPP Executive described as unmeritorious the protest of Mr. Colin Essamuah against the procedure adopted by the Deku Committee. The statement, issued in Accra and signed by Mr. N. Adu Kwabena-Essem, was issued to clarify the Deku Committee report and to respond to the comments and observations by some members of the party against the report. The statement explained that, while the national executive committee of the party was deliberating on the Deku Committee Report, Mr. Essamuah protested against the procedure adopted by the committee to investigate the allegations contained in his letter. According to the statement, Mr. Essamuah had protested against the fact that no one else apart from himself was invited to testify at the Committee. He also protested at the fact that the report had been leaked to the media. 

With regard to the leakage of the report, the statement of the National Executive Committee noted that the Deku Committee had suggested that, since it was itself suspected, an entirely new committee should be set up to investigate who leaked the report. The statement also said that, in accepting the Committee's report, the National Executive Committee decided not to accept the Committee's recommendation that Mr. Essamuah be referred to the Party's disciplinary committee to be sanctioned. The statement added that "IT WAS AFTER THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAD GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THESE AND OTHER SALIENT MATTERS THAT IT DECIDED TO PUT THE WHOLE EPISODE BEHIND THE PARTY". 

Although the NPP had agreed to settle the dispute concerning the transaction with Concordia Ventures without further recourse to the court, subsequent developments showed that the issue itself did not go away as quietly as had been hoped. 

With a view to helping the NPP to defray the costs of the Concordia transaction and the court action relating to it, the National Executive Committee decided to request every presidential aspirant to contribute $2,000 to funds to be mobilized by the Party to settle the debt incurred in respect of the Concordia Ventures transaction. 

However, Mr. Koi-Larbi, one of the Party's presidential aspirants, expressed opposition to the special levy on presidential aspirants to help settle the $90,000 debt to Concordia Ventures Ltd.

In a letter to the General Secretary of the Party which was later issued to the press, he said: "I SHALL BE READY TO PAY THE SAID AMOUNT IF WRITTEN ASSURANCES WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE EFFECT THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHALL BE PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE".

He added that, to avoid a repetition of such a serious matter, it was essential for the party to identify and deal with those who led it into incurring such a debt. He described the incident as unfortunate and lamented the fact that, instead of looking for money to revitalize constituency organizations, "WE ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY TO PAY DUBIOUS DEBTS FOR WHICH NOBODY HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED OR DISCIPLINED". 

He also queried why the National Executive Committee of the party had decided to impose "the tax" to settle the debt only on the presidential aspirants for the year 2000 elections. He further demanded an assurance that the items were duly received by the accredited agents of the party in the constituencies. 

Eventually, the Party considered it necessary to put the controversy behind it, and to concentrate its efforts rather on the preparations for the next electoral battle which was expected in 2000 when elections would be held for both President and members of Parliament.

‘Agbadza and Batakari’ Promotions (2)

continued from last edition

The Armed Forces are no longer operating professionally with high senses of camaraderie and/or esprit de corps. It is now a question of show of power and arrogant victimization of opponents. It is very sad that the Voltarians and the Northerners with NDC hearts and minds are outsmarting, cheating, bullying, humiliating and victimizing very brilliant, promising, young and enterprising officers (Akans and Non-Akans) suspected to be politically incorrect.

One may ask the following questions:

1. What has Lieutenant Colonel JA Aphour done to undergo such a humiliating treatment?

2. Is it not a similar treatment given to Lieutenant Colonel Adjaye-Gaisie that is being given to Lieutenant Colonel J.A. Aphour? Was it not because he was the Commanding Officer of the 6Bn in Tamale at the time of the 2008 elections (just as Lieutenant Colonel Adjaye-Gaisie was the Commanding Officer of 1Bn) that he has been given humiliating and unfair treatment since January 2009?

3. Is Lieutenant Colonel JA Aphour not far ahead of the Komlagas, Dawohosos, Ntems, Dzandu-Hedidors and Mustaphas?

4. What is the crime of Lieutenant Colonel Agyemang-Prempeh? Why is he so much hated by Colonel Akou-Adjei?  Is it true that Colonel Akou-Adjei (the Army Secretary) has sworn never to recommend Lieutenant Colonels Agyemang-Prempeh, Amissah and Oddoye for promotion to the rank of Colonel? 

5. If it is not true (based on comments made by the ethnocentric Akou-Adjei) then why were the three officers denied promotion while all their mates have been promoted Colonels.

6. What about Lieutenant Colonel BB Owusu? Why was he not promoted Colonel?

Colonel Akou-Adjei has positioned himself very strategically just as Colonel Senchim did under Generals Odotei and Adinkrah and is using his position as Army Secretary to enhance the chances, opportunities and careers of his Voltarian and Northern partners while destroying Akans and Non-Akans perceived or suspected to be NPP sympathizers because of positions they occupied during the Kufuor Administration.

Colonel Akou-Adjei has found a willing partner at the General Headquarters as the Military Secretary. With Commodore M. Beick-Baffour, also a Voltarian from the same area as Akou-Adjei, Colonel Akou-Adjei is now a ‘tin god’ in the Ghana Army and is the one defining and directing the destinies of Army officers. Commodore M. Beick-Baffour pretends to be helpful and sympathetic and yet behaves as a snake under grass pursuing the policies and programmes of Brigadier General M. Seidu Adams (the DMNAA in Washington) who controls the Armed Forces from outside. 

Because Commodore Beick-Baffour was a deputy to General Seidu Adams and was briefed to continue the strategic plan of the current administration, he is leaving no stone unturned in pursuing the wicked agenda 2012 and 2016 as prepared by General Seidu Adams and approved by the hypocrite.

The current administration is preparing for war and is positioning its trusted officers and men in key positions. 

Patriotic, nationalistic and peaceful Ghanaians must take note of these developments to stop them now or have to regret later.

It is evident at the General Headquarters and Service Headquarters that the current administration has a war plan with the Military High Command helping the inefficient, incompetent, corrupt and bankrupt regime of our current Commander-In-Chief to stay in power against the wishes of the people.

All key appointments in the Ghana Armed Forces are in the hands of Voltarians and Northerners of wicked intentions. Analysis of the key appointments in subsequent publications will throw more light on the war plan of the current administration.

The current number of undeserving Brigadier Generals and Colonels is untenable. A lot of these officers do not deserve these enviable ranks. The ranks have become so cheap that thieves, criminals, dishonest and morally bankrupt persons are wearing them while very competent and professionally well-developed officers are being denied their fair share of the promotions.

Not even the British Armed Forces can boast of several Brigadier Generals, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels based on the thin strength of the officer Corps and men of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Promotions have been given to officers as political rewards and not on sound judgment and professional competence. For instance, how many Brigades (based on the British strength of a Brigade (i.e. NATO strength) can the Ghana Army boast of?

When the two existing commands (Southern and Northern) were in place, they did not have the requisite strength (personnel) and Unit Equipment Tables (UETs). The two former Commands did not measure up to full Brigades by NATO standard, and yet they have been divided into three Commands just to flatter and appease the men in uniform. Is it not a mockery of the military profession?

What is happening in the Ghana Airforce? 

What does somebody want at all? Why should full blooded Ghanaians be treated this way?

What has been the crime of Air Commodore EO Obeng?

Why should health challenges be used as a crime against an individual? There is this saying that when you want steal or cheat, it is better to cheat death but not anything else and have we forgotten that both green and brown leaves fall? 

You were there when Lieutenant General P.A Blay visited Lebanon every six months and intermittently for medical check-ups after collapsing during a tour of the UNIFIL Area of Operation? Was General Blay not allowed to complete his tour of duty?

Is Brigadier General Adokpa not going in and out of the 37 Military Hospital owing to medical challenges? Yet, is Brigadier General Adokpa not occupying two Departments at the General Headquarters (i.e. DG DID and Director Resettlement) with the blessing of the Military High Command?

Was Colonel R. Nyaka not having serious medical challenges and yet got appointed Director Army Training and Director General Joint Operations at the General Headquarters?

Is Colonel RJK Komlaga not facing medical challenges and yet in your recent promotions and appointments he has been elevated to the status of Deputy Director General at the Department of Defence Intelligence?

Air Commodore EO Obeng, kindly ask yourself that where are the Smiths, Odoteis?  It is not a crime to be honest, God-fearing, humble and faithful to one’s wife so you should expect this demotion.

Is it a crime in the Ghana Airforce not to be a Northerner or Voltarian? 

As for the Kadiris (NR), Evans (VR), Nagais (Krobo), Wayoes, Dzokotos and Nyadoduis, don’t be shocked if same happens to you and to Evans in particular, if you think you can become Airforce Commander because of the war college nonsense which Nagai is yet to undertake and I doubt he will, forget your ambition. 

Nagai, you have smartly cleared the Narteys, Krakues and now is the turn of the Obengs abi? My principle of both green and brown leaves falling is a big lesson. As then Colonel I.K. Acheampong used the popular twi song – “ Towoboase o nafidiewurabeba, neaobe bowo maa ye a wo se obiara ntumiwo …” to overthrow Prime Minister Dr. K. A. Busia, so also will a day come when your godfathers won’t be there. Even Colonel Gadaffi is no more and President Hosni Mubarak is also languishing in close arrest.

Well, why has the Military High Command been selective in dealing with the issue of the Nurses (Female Nursing Officers) in the Ghana Armed Forces?

How come that only two of the Nursing officers (One a Voltarian and the other a Northerner) were promoted Colonel while several others (Gas and Akans) have been retired or are being retired?

Why could the Military High Command not treat the case of the Nursing Officers on Departmental basis as they did for the military Medical Officers so that they could also be promoted Colonels?

Is it not funny to promote Colonels Tamakloe (VR) and Amantana (UER) as Deputy Matrons (Admin Nursing) and (Clinical Nursing) respectively?

Was the same thing not done for Colonel CK Agbeka at the Obs. and Gynae Department in the early days of the NDC as a reward?

Hmm, the evil that men do lives after them . . . . . .