Hah! These are interesting times, as I keep on saying. Some days ago, a group of people, all members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), took it into their heads to storm the toll booth on the Adomi Bridge to take it over, because in their opinion, it was not being properly managed. For me, once again, this act is a direct attack on the state of Ghana by people who ought to have known better, and it is all too good that the police went in there to arrest them.
Ideally, they should be prosecuted to serve as an example to others who would behave in such reprehensible manner in future.
In defending this matter, Ahmed Baba Jamal popularly known as Baba Bin Jahadist Jamal who is the Deputy Eastern Region Minister, said that most of the activists of his party were feeling left out in the scheme of things, hence the agitations across the country by activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
I can understand their woes; they see the people they were in the trenches with bettering their lot as if there is no tomorrow. They can see the new cars, new mansions, and luxuriant new women being enjoyed by some of their leaders, and they wonder why they are not getting their share. They feel denied, and they think that they must go out to grab their own.
One such party official who feels bitterly betrayed in the NDC is Mordecai Ofosu Mensah, popularly known as Mordecai, a serial caller of the NDC.
Mordecai feels betrayed. A couple of days ago he walked into our offices with his woes and I personally spoke with him, among them the fact that even though he is very sick, he does not even have money to go to hospital.
This is a man who sacrificed his all to bring the NDC to power. Today, he has been declared as a persona non-grata within the NDC.
The leaders of the NDC are chopping as if there is no tomorrow and greedy bastards as they are, they do not realize that they are sowing the seeds of their own political undoing.
I rest my case.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Massive Fraud In Recruitment!
True to predictions by military experts and analysts on military and security matters in Ghana and especially on P/NDC tactics, there has been a massive fraud in the 2010 recruitment exercise. The Ghana Armed Forces General Recruitment Exercise in 2010 has been bedeviled with fraud right from the beginning of the process to date.
The fraud started from the short-listing of the qualified candidates to appear at the ten regional capitals for the screening phase. The fraud was planned at the highest government level with the consent, concurrence, cooperation and support of the Castle, the National Security Coordinator, the Minister of Defence, the Military High Command and the teams that were sent to the ten regional capitals of Ghana.
Instructions were issued from Castle and the office of the National Security Coordinator to NDC Ministers, MPs, MCEs/DCEs, National, Regional and District NDC Headquarters to forward the names and documents of the NDC activists, sympathizers and members who are to be recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces to the authorities concerned. This directive was part of the grand strategy to recruit only NDC members and sympathizers into the GAF for Agenda 2012. When the names were forwarded to the castle and office of the National Security Coordinator, a list was prepared to be given to the Director Manpower Planning, Colonel T. N. Ba-Taa-Banah at the General Headquarters (Personal Administration) in Burma Camp.
The no-nonsense Colonel Tom Ba-Taa-Banah politely refused to be part of that fraudulent practice and maintained his stand that he would work as a professional military officer and not as a politician since he is not a politician. In fact, he was very harsh on some of the politicians and military personnel who approached him or tried to give him directives on the massive fraud that was to be initiated. As an antidote to the intransigence of Colonel T. N. Ba-Taa-Banah, the short-listing phase of the General Recruitment Exercise in 2010 was for the first time in recent times decentralized.
Instead of allowing the Director Manpower Planning and his staff (mostly National Service Personnel) to do the short-listing, the politicians (NDC government) used the Military High Command to direct the Director Manpower Planning to hand over all application forms to the three Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate namely Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Airforce Headquarters and General Headquarters (Medical) respectively to do the short-listing. The massive fraud started this stage.
The three Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate were staffed with NDC officers and men to ensure that all the personnel elected by the NDC machinery were short-listed. The lists from the Service Headquarters and Medical Directorate comprising mainly NDC foot-soldiers, activists, sympathizers, members and their children /Wards were then sent to the Director Manpower Planning to issue them with individual letters.
The Director Manpower Planning did not have the documents of the applicants to verify their eligibility or otherwise and yet was obliged to invite them for the regional screening. Thus, a lot of NDC sympathizers and wards who did not qualify were given invitation letters to appear at the regional screening phase while most of the applicants who genuinely qualified were rejected at the short-listing phase. That explains why the Minister of Defence said on the floor of Parliament in February 2010 that out of over 46,000 applicants only about 7,000 were short-listed by the GAF for further screening.
The next major fraud occurred at the regional screening. The letters of the few non-NDC sympathizers who were short-listed were collected from them under the pretext that they did not qualify but were given letters of invitation inadvertently. Those affected were driven away by the Military Police and members of the selection teams. Another group of applicants who were allowed to write the examinations but were found to be non-NDC sympathizers were also sacked when the results were announced. The letters of this group of candidates were also collected from them before they were dismissed.
In lace of these two categories of applicants, who were sacked either before or after the examinations, were inserted names of NDC sympathizers who did not pass the examination at the regional screening. The letters of the affected persons were collected from them to ensure that they would have no documents to show as evidence in case of any investigations. What the teams did was to camp all the applicants at the respective stadia (centers) from the beginning of a day’s proceedings to the end without allowing anybody to go out at any stage.
It was only after letters had been retrieved and names of the successful applicants had been announced that all the candidates were escorted out of the stadia.
The worst form of the recruitment fraud was to happen in Accra after the regional selection teams had submitted their reports.
Instead of submitting reports directly to the Director Manpower Planning and giving copies to the respective Service Headquarters as had been the normal practice, the teams sent to the regions were directed to send their reports to the Service Headquarters and General Headquarters (Medical Directorate) only without copies being sent to the Director Manpower Planning.
The Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate sent only lists of the short-listed persons from the regions to the El-Wak stadium on the stipulated dates. The Director Manpower Planning and his team were to act only on the lists of names submitted by the Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate.
This strategy made it possible for the NDC to do yet another type of “delete” and “insert” all that stage.
Applicants whose names were mentioned at the regional centers to come to Accra for medical examinations were shocked at the El-Wak stadium when they realized that their names had been deleted and replaced with persons whose names were not mentioned at the regional centers.
Again, those affected had their letters confiscated from them and were made to wait until the end of the day’s proceedings before they were allowed to leave the El-Wak Stadium. While some of them were not allowed to write the examinations in Accra, a few were allowed to write the examinations but were all failed and driven away. Their letters were also retrieved leaving them hopelessly devastated.
As at date, it is only candidates from the greater Accra region who are yet to appear at El-Wak stadium as part of the Army first Batch, Naval and Airforce Groups on Wednesday, 14th April 2010 to do the final screening before proceeding to undertake medical examinations at the 37 military hospitals.
The number involved in the Greater Accra region is over 700. It is feared and anticipated that the mother and father of the massive fraud in the GAF 2010 General Recruitments Exercise would occur when this group reports at the El-Wak stadium.
Ghanaians would be shocked to realize that several hundreds of eligible Ghanaians who took part in the GAF 2010 general recruitments exercise and were short-listed in January 2010 at the national level initially and later at the regional level in February 2010 have dropped unjustifiably and wrongly and their places taken by unqualified NDC sympathize who failed during the selection process at the regional centers or at the El-Wak stadium. So far, the break-down of those affected persons who have been wrongly dismissed and their placed taken by NDC sympathizers are as follows:
A. Volta region: Army 15, Airforce 18
B. Western region: Army 19
C. Eastern region: Army 38
D. Northern region: Army 17
E. Upper East region: Army 10
F. Upper West region: Army 8
G. Brong Ahafo region: Army 30
H. Ashanti region: Army 60
Certainly, the massive fraud perpetrated by the Military High Command in the 2010 GAF General Recruitment Exercise calls for a Presidential Commission of inquiry. This call is made against the background that in 2009 the NDC government cancelled the recruit training of 1200 Ghanaians for no apparent reason. The Minister of Defence, General JH Smith, tried in vain to justify the cancellation of the initial 420 Army Potential Recruits and finally the entire 1200 Potential Recruits for the Army, Navy and Airforce in February and June 2009 when he appeared before Parliament.
This is a real test case for the NDC government. The Index Numbers and names of the applicants and candidates who have been robbed in this massive fraud are being kept for now and would be published later.
Parliament must also protect the current Director Manpower Planning, current TN Ba-Taa-Banah whose appointment career and life are being threatened. Already, Air Vice Marshal Dovlo former Director General (Personnel Administration) and Brigadier General Quist, the current Director General (Personnel Administration) are alleged to have sounded that warning of getting Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah removed from the appointment of Director Manpower Planning for his uncooperative for attitude towards the NDC machinery. So far they have succeeded in by-passing Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah in the massive recruitment fraud of the GAF in 2010.
They are however afraid of Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah’s insistence on conducting further examinations at the El-Wak stadium which have revealed a lot of anomalies in the selection process.
A Parliamentary Enquiry or a Presidential Commission is urgently required to trace the GAF 2010 General Recruitment Selection Process from the beginning to the end before eligible candidates are allowed to undertake military training.
The Enquiry or Commission must also check the regional balance and the gender balance as required by the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 35 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
The fraud started from the short-listing of the qualified candidates to appear at the ten regional capitals for the screening phase. The fraud was planned at the highest government level with the consent, concurrence, cooperation and support of the Castle, the National Security Coordinator, the Minister of Defence, the Military High Command and the teams that were sent to the ten regional capitals of Ghana.
Instructions were issued from Castle and the office of the National Security Coordinator to NDC Ministers, MPs, MCEs/DCEs, National, Regional and District NDC Headquarters to forward the names and documents of the NDC activists, sympathizers and members who are to be recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces to the authorities concerned. This directive was part of the grand strategy to recruit only NDC members and sympathizers into the GAF for Agenda 2012. When the names were forwarded to the castle and office of the National Security Coordinator, a list was prepared to be given to the Director Manpower Planning, Colonel T. N. Ba-Taa-Banah at the General Headquarters (Personal Administration) in Burma Camp.
The no-nonsense Colonel Tom Ba-Taa-Banah politely refused to be part of that fraudulent practice and maintained his stand that he would work as a professional military officer and not as a politician since he is not a politician. In fact, he was very harsh on some of the politicians and military personnel who approached him or tried to give him directives on the massive fraud that was to be initiated. As an antidote to the intransigence of Colonel T. N. Ba-Taa-Banah, the short-listing phase of the General Recruitment Exercise in 2010 was for the first time in recent times decentralized.
Instead of allowing the Director Manpower Planning and his staff (mostly National Service Personnel) to do the short-listing, the politicians (NDC government) used the Military High Command to direct the Director Manpower Planning to hand over all application forms to the three Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate namely Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Airforce Headquarters and General Headquarters (Medical) respectively to do the short-listing. The massive fraud started this stage.
The three Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate were staffed with NDC officers and men to ensure that all the personnel elected by the NDC machinery were short-listed. The lists from the Service Headquarters and Medical Directorate comprising mainly NDC foot-soldiers, activists, sympathizers, members and their children /Wards were then sent to the Director Manpower Planning to issue them with individual letters.
The Director Manpower Planning did not have the documents of the applicants to verify their eligibility or otherwise and yet was obliged to invite them for the regional screening. Thus, a lot of NDC sympathizers and wards who did not qualify were given invitation letters to appear at the regional screening phase while most of the applicants who genuinely qualified were rejected at the short-listing phase. That explains why the Minister of Defence said on the floor of Parliament in February 2010 that out of over 46,000 applicants only about 7,000 were short-listed by the GAF for further screening.
The next major fraud occurred at the regional screening. The letters of the few non-NDC sympathizers who were short-listed were collected from them under the pretext that they did not qualify but were given letters of invitation inadvertently. Those affected were driven away by the Military Police and members of the selection teams. Another group of applicants who were allowed to write the examinations but were found to be non-NDC sympathizers were also sacked when the results were announced. The letters of this group of candidates were also collected from them before they were dismissed.
In lace of these two categories of applicants, who were sacked either before or after the examinations, were inserted names of NDC sympathizers who did not pass the examination at the regional screening. The letters of the affected persons were collected from them to ensure that they would have no documents to show as evidence in case of any investigations. What the teams did was to camp all the applicants at the respective stadia (centers) from the beginning of a day’s proceedings to the end without allowing anybody to go out at any stage.
It was only after letters had been retrieved and names of the successful applicants had been announced that all the candidates were escorted out of the stadia.
The worst form of the recruitment fraud was to happen in Accra after the regional selection teams had submitted their reports.
Instead of submitting reports directly to the Director Manpower Planning and giving copies to the respective Service Headquarters as had been the normal practice, the teams sent to the regions were directed to send their reports to the Service Headquarters and General Headquarters (Medical Directorate) only without copies being sent to the Director Manpower Planning.
The Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate sent only lists of the short-listed persons from the regions to the El-Wak stadium on the stipulated dates. The Director Manpower Planning and his team were to act only on the lists of names submitted by the Service Headquarters and the Medical Directorate.
This strategy made it possible for the NDC to do yet another type of “delete” and “insert” all that stage.
Applicants whose names were mentioned at the regional centers to come to Accra for medical examinations were shocked at the El-Wak stadium when they realized that their names had been deleted and replaced with persons whose names were not mentioned at the regional centers.
Again, those affected had their letters confiscated from them and were made to wait until the end of the day’s proceedings before they were allowed to leave the El-Wak Stadium. While some of them were not allowed to write the examinations in Accra, a few were allowed to write the examinations but were all failed and driven away. Their letters were also retrieved leaving them hopelessly devastated.
As at date, it is only candidates from the greater Accra region who are yet to appear at El-Wak stadium as part of the Army first Batch, Naval and Airforce Groups on Wednesday, 14th April 2010 to do the final screening before proceeding to undertake medical examinations at the 37 military hospitals.
The number involved in the Greater Accra region is over 700. It is feared and anticipated that the mother and father of the massive fraud in the GAF 2010 General Recruitments Exercise would occur when this group reports at the El-Wak stadium.
Ghanaians would be shocked to realize that several hundreds of eligible Ghanaians who took part in the GAF 2010 general recruitments exercise and were short-listed in January 2010 at the national level initially and later at the regional level in February 2010 have dropped unjustifiably and wrongly and their places taken by unqualified NDC sympathize who failed during the selection process at the regional centers or at the El-Wak stadium. So far, the break-down of those affected persons who have been wrongly dismissed and their placed taken by NDC sympathizers are as follows:
A. Volta region: Army 15, Airforce 18
B. Western region: Army 19
C. Eastern region: Army 38
D. Northern region: Army 17
E. Upper East region: Army 10
F. Upper West region: Army 8
G. Brong Ahafo region: Army 30
H. Ashanti region: Army 60
Certainly, the massive fraud perpetrated by the Military High Command in the 2010 GAF General Recruitment Exercise calls for a Presidential Commission of inquiry. This call is made against the background that in 2009 the NDC government cancelled the recruit training of 1200 Ghanaians for no apparent reason. The Minister of Defence, General JH Smith, tried in vain to justify the cancellation of the initial 420 Army Potential Recruits and finally the entire 1200 Potential Recruits for the Army, Navy and Airforce in February and June 2009 when he appeared before Parliament.
This is a real test case for the NDC government. The Index Numbers and names of the applicants and candidates who have been robbed in this massive fraud are being kept for now and would be published later.
Parliament must also protect the current Director Manpower Planning, current TN Ba-Taa-Banah whose appointment career and life are being threatened. Already, Air Vice Marshal Dovlo former Director General (Personnel Administration) and Brigadier General Quist, the current Director General (Personnel Administration) are alleged to have sounded that warning of getting Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah removed from the appointment of Director Manpower Planning for his uncooperative for attitude towards the NDC machinery. So far they have succeeded in by-passing Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah in the massive recruitment fraud of the GAF in 2010.
They are however afraid of Colonel TN Ba-Taa-Banah’s insistence on conducting further examinations at the El-Wak stadium which have revealed a lot of anomalies in the selection process.
A Parliamentary Enquiry or a Presidential Commission is urgently required to trace the GAF 2010 General Recruitment Selection Process from the beginning to the end before eligible candidates are allowed to undertake military training.
The Enquiry or Commission must also check the regional balance and the gender balance as required by the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 35 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Alan: The Loose Cannon
“Is it because he has been a member of the Young Executives for a long time? Or because he has been a Minister before, or is it because he had 700 votes? Would the delegates who voted for him follow him?”- Egbert Faibille on Joy Fm’s news file on 26 April 2008.
“I think Alan Kyeremanteng is bluffing the party. The party should not tolerate such bluff”- the late Mr. Da Rocha
“We must also not lose sight of the fact that national interest is superior to the interest of any single party. In this regard, I will soon give a firm indication about the role that I expect to play on the political landscape in the country. This, I believe, will bring hope and confidence to all Ghanaians irrespective of the political or religious affiliations or ethnic background”- Alan Kyeremanteng.
“I suggested to him that many within the party would interpret his action as lack of loyalty and commitment to the party. His response was that, if anybody thought so, so be it”- the late Mr. Da Rocha
“I wish to state categorically that I have not rescind my decision to resign from the party”- Alan Kyeremanteng.
From the above quotes especially paragraphs 3, the clear import of what Alan said was that he has in mind, a national interest superior to the interest of the NPP.
This is unequivocal declaration that he (Alan) has thought for himself a future role in politics outside the NPP. It is obvious that he has no deep- rooted commitment or loyalty to the party.
Am not a member of the NPP but to me Alan should not be made the touch bearer of the NPP and just to remind you (Alan) and your followers and aware of the monies you are sharing on your tour in Greater Accra.
“I think Alan Kyeremanteng is bluffing the party. The party should not tolerate such bluff”- the late Mr. Da Rocha
“We must also not lose sight of the fact that national interest is superior to the interest of any single party. In this regard, I will soon give a firm indication about the role that I expect to play on the political landscape in the country. This, I believe, will bring hope and confidence to all Ghanaians irrespective of the political or religious affiliations or ethnic background”- Alan Kyeremanteng.
“I suggested to him that many within the party would interpret his action as lack of loyalty and commitment to the party. His response was that, if anybody thought so, so be it”- the late Mr. Da Rocha
“I wish to state categorically that I have not rescind my decision to resign from the party”- Alan Kyeremanteng.
From the above quotes especially paragraphs 3, the clear import of what Alan said was that he has in mind, a national interest superior to the interest of the NPP.
This is unequivocal declaration that he (Alan) has thought for himself a future role in politics outside the NPP. It is obvious that he has no deep- rooted commitment or loyalty to the party.
Am not a member of the NPP but to me Alan should not be made the touch bearer of the NPP and just to remind you (Alan) and your followers and aware of the monies you are sharing on your tour in Greater Accra.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Ewe Dominated Armed Forces!
The chickens are home to rest! The facts and figures on the ground suggest that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is gradually turning into the Ewe Armed Forces (EAF).
The data on the composition of the Ghana Armed Forces as at date are as follows:
Officers
Ashanti Region has 115 for Army, 17 for Navy, 16 for Airforce bringing the total to 148 representing 11.50%.
Brong Ahafo has 27 for Army, 7 for Navy, 10 for Airforce bringing the total to 44 representing 3.4%
Central Region has 100 for Army, 27 for Navy, 16 for Airforce bringing the total to 143 representing 11.11%.
Eastern Region has 143 for Army, 29 for Navy, 33 for Airforce bringing the total to 205 representing 15.93%.
Greater Accra has 105 for Army, 15 for Navy, 27 for Airforce bringing the total to 147 representing 11.42%.
Northern Region has 62 for Army, 8 for Navy, 10 for Airforce bringing the total to 80 representing 6.22%.
Upper East Region has 75 for Army, 7 for Navy, 9 for Airforce bringing the total to 91 representing 7.07%.
Upper West Region has 52 for Army, 11 for Navy, 8 for Airforce bringing the total to 71 representing 5.52%.
Volta Region has 228 for Army, 39 for Navy, 50 for Airforce bringing the total to 317 representing 24.63%.
Western Region has 31 for Army, 5 for Navy, 5 for Airforce bringing the total to 41 representing 3.18%.
Other Ranks
Ashanti Region has 1055 for Army, 136 for Navy, 174 for Airforce bringing the total to 1365 representing 10.34%.
Brong Ahafo has 518 for Army, 75 for Navy, 70 for Airforce bringing the total to 663 representing 5.0%
Central Region has 954 for Army, 256 for Navy, 194 for Airforce bringing the total to 1404 representing 10.64%.
Eastern Region has 1868 for Army, 321 for Navy, 360 for Airforce bringing the total to 2539 representing 19.32%.
Greater Accra has 619 for Army, 174 for Navy, 104 for Airforce bringing the total to 897 representing 6.80%.
Northern Region has 582 for Army, 77 for Navy, 70 for Airforce bringing the total to 729 representing 5.52%.
Upper East Region has 795 for Army, 120 for Navy, 98 for Airforce bringing the total to 1013 representing 7.68%.
Upper West Region has 380 for Army, 52 for Navy, 73 for Airforce bringing the total to 505 representing 3.83%.
Volta Region has 2646 for Army, 458 for Navy, 534 for Airforce bringing the total to 3638 representing 27.57%.
Western Region has 311 for Army, 73 for Navy, 49 for Airforce bringing the total to 433 representing 3.28%.
With this representation in the Ghana Armed Forces, the question now is “why were officers and men from the Volta Region against the policy of Regional Balance?”
The data on the composition of the Ghana Armed Forces as at date are as follows:
Officers
Ashanti Region has 115 for Army, 17 for Navy, 16 for Airforce bringing the total to 148 representing 11.50%.
Brong Ahafo has 27 for Army, 7 for Navy, 10 for Airforce bringing the total to 44 representing 3.4%
Central Region has 100 for Army, 27 for Navy, 16 for Airforce bringing the total to 143 representing 11.11%.
Eastern Region has 143 for Army, 29 for Navy, 33 for Airforce bringing the total to 205 representing 15.93%.
Greater Accra has 105 for Army, 15 for Navy, 27 for Airforce bringing the total to 147 representing 11.42%.
Northern Region has 62 for Army, 8 for Navy, 10 for Airforce bringing the total to 80 representing 6.22%.
Upper East Region has 75 for Army, 7 for Navy, 9 for Airforce bringing the total to 91 representing 7.07%.
Upper West Region has 52 for Army, 11 for Navy, 8 for Airforce bringing the total to 71 representing 5.52%.
Volta Region has 228 for Army, 39 for Navy, 50 for Airforce bringing the total to 317 representing 24.63%.
Western Region has 31 for Army, 5 for Navy, 5 for Airforce bringing the total to 41 representing 3.18%.
Other Ranks
Ashanti Region has 1055 for Army, 136 for Navy, 174 for Airforce bringing the total to 1365 representing 10.34%.
Brong Ahafo has 518 for Army, 75 for Navy, 70 for Airforce bringing the total to 663 representing 5.0%
Central Region has 954 for Army, 256 for Navy, 194 for Airforce bringing the total to 1404 representing 10.64%.
Eastern Region has 1868 for Army, 321 for Navy, 360 for Airforce bringing the total to 2539 representing 19.32%.
Greater Accra has 619 for Army, 174 for Navy, 104 for Airforce bringing the total to 897 representing 6.80%.
Northern Region has 582 for Army, 77 for Navy, 70 for Airforce bringing the total to 729 representing 5.52%.
Upper East Region has 795 for Army, 120 for Navy, 98 for Airforce bringing the total to 1013 representing 7.68%.
Upper West Region has 380 for Army, 52 for Navy, 73 for Airforce bringing the total to 505 representing 3.83%.
Volta Region has 2646 for Army, 458 for Navy, 534 for Airforce bringing the total to 3638 representing 27.57%.
Western Region has 311 for Army, 73 for Navy, 49 for Airforce bringing the total to 433 representing 3.28%.
With this representation in the Ghana Armed Forces, the question now is “why were officers and men from the Volta Region against the policy of Regional Balance?”
Pull An Atta Mills
Students of political science in the nation’s university are likely to take on a new expression in their lingua franca. The expression, which I foresee, would be ‘to pull an Atta Mills’.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘to pull an Atta Mills”? The expression would stand for people, particularly politicians who say one thing and do something completely other.
It would stand for inconsistency and double-dealing. It would stand for being two faced on issues. Politicians across board do this but that of our President and his government is too much.
When he was swearing in as the President of Ghana, President Professor John Evans Atta Mills said he would endeavor to be a President for all Ghanaians.
It was not long after that that his friends in the NDC were chasing his political opponents (and in some cases even members of the NDC) all over the place, harassing and intimidating them.
Today, there are millions of Ghanaians who feel particularly unGhanaian whilst the President looked on. That is pulling an Atta Mills.
Days after it came out that the former President John Kufour was going to occupy a state building as an office, it emerged that he had sought for, and received the permission from President Atta Mills, through his Aide Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, to occupy that building. Since then, Kufour has been chased out of the building. That is pulling an Atta Mills.
When he was campaigning for power, President Atta Mills consistently belabored the fact that Ghanaians were suffering. He said that Ghanaians were over taxed and that fuel prices were abnormally high. Since then, he has increased fuel prices.
That, my brothers and sisters, is pulling an Atta Mills.
In the Manifesto of the NDC for the 2008 elections, the Manifesto for a Better Ghana, the party and Professor Atta Mills promised that they would create a lean government. They promised that they would appoint forty percent of appointees from our women folk. They promised to introduce and implement a comprehensive set of tax policies to ensure that the Ghanaian is relieved. Again, Atta Mills failed to live up to this promise!
Folks another pulling an Atta Mills.
But for me, the greatest of these gimmicks I have seen in spite of the constant and consistent claims by Professor Atta Mills that this country was broke, it emerged that he had splurged 3.6 billion old Ghana cedis on members of his transition team.
That, folks, is pulling an Atta Mills of Herculean proportions! Clearly, our President Associate Professor Atta Mills is a man who is an expert at saying one thing and doing something completely different. He thrives on deceit and lies, and for me, this behaviour has a great potential of completely undermining the integrity of our politics and politicians.
The level of hypocrisy that we are witnessing in presidential terms is probably unprecedented in the history of this country.
Our President has refused to receive per diem with the claim that he does not need it. At the same time, he is refusing to travel much, even when it is required to drum up investment, because he says that Ghana is broke and he needs to cut down cost.
Then it emerges, like a bad dream, that he spent 3.6 billion old cedis on members of his transition team.
When I heard of this matter, my body went cold with shock. I could not understand and I could not believe that our President could be that capricious or I should add the other one!
I mean, this is a government that has been shouting at the rooftops that this nation is broke. In this direction, it has even increased fuel prices by a cumulative percentage of 40%, which is causing hardship in many homes across the nation, particularly for the rural poor.
So I wonder how we are going to justify the payment of three billion six hundred thousand cedis to our folks in the village?
The level of hypocrisy that the Atta Mills Administration represents is truly mind-boggling, and leads one to wonder whether such dishonesty is acceptable in governance.
What is the meaning of the expression ‘to pull an Atta Mills”? The expression would stand for people, particularly politicians who say one thing and do something completely other.
It would stand for inconsistency and double-dealing. It would stand for being two faced on issues. Politicians across board do this but that of our President and his government is too much.
When he was swearing in as the President of Ghana, President Professor John Evans Atta Mills said he would endeavor to be a President for all Ghanaians.
It was not long after that that his friends in the NDC were chasing his political opponents (and in some cases even members of the NDC) all over the place, harassing and intimidating them.
Today, there are millions of Ghanaians who feel particularly unGhanaian whilst the President looked on. That is pulling an Atta Mills.
Days after it came out that the former President John Kufour was going to occupy a state building as an office, it emerged that he had sought for, and received the permission from President Atta Mills, through his Aide Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, to occupy that building. Since then, Kufour has been chased out of the building. That is pulling an Atta Mills.
When he was campaigning for power, President Atta Mills consistently belabored the fact that Ghanaians were suffering. He said that Ghanaians were over taxed and that fuel prices were abnormally high. Since then, he has increased fuel prices.
That, my brothers and sisters, is pulling an Atta Mills.
In the Manifesto of the NDC for the 2008 elections, the Manifesto for a Better Ghana, the party and Professor Atta Mills promised that they would create a lean government. They promised that they would appoint forty percent of appointees from our women folk. They promised to introduce and implement a comprehensive set of tax policies to ensure that the Ghanaian is relieved. Again, Atta Mills failed to live up to this promise!
Folks another pulling an Atta Mills.
But for me, the greatest of these gimmicks I have seen in spite of the constant and consistent claims by Professor Atta Mills that this country was broke, it emerged that he had splurged 3.6 billion old Ghana cedis on members of his transition team.
That, folks, is pulling an Atta Mills of Herculean proportions! Clearly, our President Associate Professor Atta Mills is a man who is an expert at saying one thing and doing something completely different. He thrives on deceit and lies, and for me, this behaviour has a great potential of completely undermining the integrity of our politics and politicians.
The level of hypocrisy that we are witnessing in presidential terms is probably unprecedented in the history of this country.
Our President has refused to receive per diem with the claim that he does not need it. At the same time, he is refusing to travel much, even when it is required to drum up investment, because he says that Ghana is broke and he needs to cut down cost.
Then it emerges, like a bad dream, that he spent 3.6 billion old cedis on members of his transition team.
When I heard of this matter, my body went cold with shock. I could not understand and I could not believe that our President could be that capricious or I should add the other one!
I mean, this is a government that has been shouting at the rooftops that this nation is broke. In this direction, it has even increased fuel prices by a cumulative percentage of 40%, which is causing hardship in many homes across the nation, particularly for the rural poor.
So I wonder how we are going to justify the payment of three billion six hundred thousand cedis to our folks in the village?
The level of hypocrisy that the Atta Mills Administration represents is truly mind-boggling, and leads one to wonder whether such dishonesty is acceptable in governance.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Are These The Men Of Integrity?
Ghana is for all of us. No sole Ghanaian is more Ghanaian than the rest. Before the law, we are all equal. And no single Ghanaian can decide to get up one day to launch violence against his fellow Ghanaian in the name of another Ghanaian.
I normally do the best that I can to avoid hard language, but sometimes, I am sorely tempted, particularly when a bunch of nitwits take it into their head that one particular person is their ‘idol’ and therefore they would attack anybody else who takes on their idol.
In this particular case, I am speaking of the dead brains that have been thronging the precincts of the Cocoa Affairs Court each time Yaw Barfi Darkwa, the young man who accused former President Rawlings of burning his house, visits the court where he is on trial.
My fears were born out a few days ago when people who describe themselves as friends of Barfi also visited the courts and confronted the elements who had been attacking their friend.
I understand that by the time the dust had settled, two people were badly injured. I am sure that unless this matter is addressed, we may see an escalation of this confrontation at the next adjourned date.
The real question that arises is whether the Ghana Police Service is going to be able to do what is necessary to be done before the next adjourned date, because if the police fail, then we may end up with major trouble when Barfi goes to court next time.
Talking of the police, I guess that by now all of us have heard of the troubles that are brewing between the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Techimanhene, all arriving out of the attack on the Chief of Tuobodom by the Techimanhene.
Once again in this instance, I must blame the Ghana Police Service for its laxity in implementing the law. This is for a simple reason.
In 2008, the Chief of Techiman was traveling to Techiman to attend a ceremony organized by a certain person he has recognized as the Chief of Tuobodom. According to him, on the outskirts on Tuobodom, he runs into a barrier created by a group of people who shot into his car.
He is claiming that the people were inspired by the man who is generally recognized as the Chief of Tuobodom, who is a Paramount Chief just like the Techimanhene.
I am not interested in who is right or wrong in the matter as to the legitimate Chief of Tuobodom. Suffice it to state that the Techimanhene at that time made a report to the police, who failed to bring all the suspects to book or at least initiate half way satisfactory investigation.
Then recently, the Chief of Techiman, who according to the Chief of Tuobodom is a supporter of the NDC, organized a group of macho men to kidnap him and this was sanctioned by the traditional council as I heard one his subjects say on radio.
He was taken to the palace of the Techimanhene, beaten up, stripped naked according to his own reports, before being handed over to the police.
This was no Joy Fm and in newspapers for close to two weeks where some youth of Tuobodom promised mayhem if their Chief is not released and nobody including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) listened and so were vindictive Lt. Col Gbevlo Lartey and 1 Star General Nuuno Mensah who claim are in charge of security.
But instead of dealing with the people who had attacked the Chief of Tuobodom in this manner, the police rather arrested the Chief who had been kidnapped, put him before court and sought legitimate backing to remand him.
The chief of Tuobodom swears by the Asantehene, and so when he was granted bail, he traveled to Kumasi to report to his liege.
The Asantehene, riled, then organized a public forum and said that unless the government acted swiftly in this matter, he was going to retaliate against the Techimanhene.
I do not agree with the pronouncements from the Asantehene, but I think that it has become manifestly obvious that until and unless the police begin to act as an independent institution, some of these unfortunate incidents would continue to hound us forever.
I normally do the best that I can to avoid hard language, but sometimes, I am sorely tempted, particularly when a bunch of nitwits take it into their head that one particular person is their ‘idol’ and therefore they would attack anybody else who takes on their idol.
In this particular case, I am speaking of the dead brains that have been thronging the precincts of the Cocoa Affairs Court each time Yaw Barfi Darkwa, the young man who accused former President Rawlings of burning his house, visits the court where he is on trial.
My fears were born out a few days ago when people who describe themselves as friends of Barfi also visited the courts and confronted the elements who had been attacking their friend.
I understand that by the time the dust had settled, two people were badly injured. I am sure that unless this matter is addressed, we may see an escalation of this confrontation at the next adjourned date.
The real question that arises is whether the Ghana Police Service is going to be able to do what is necessary to be done before the next adjourned date, because if the police fail, then we may end up with major trouble when Barfi goes to court next time.
Talking of the police, I guess that by now all of us have heard of the troubles that are brewing between the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Techimanhene, all arriving out of the attack on the Chief of Tuobodom by the Techimanhene.
Once again in this instance, I must blame the Ghana Police Service for its laxity in implementing the law. This is for a simple reason.
In 2008, the Chief of Techiman was traveling to Techiman to attend a ceremony organized by a certain person he has recognized as the Chief of Tuobodom. According to him, on the outskirts on Tuobodom, he runs into a barrier created by a group of people who shot into his car.
He is claiming that the people were inspired by the man who is generally recognized as the Chief of Tuobodom, who is a Paramount Chief just like the Techimanhene.
I am not interested in who is right or wrong in the matter as to the legitimate Chief of Tuobodom. Suffice it to state that the Techimanhene at that time made a report to the police, who failed to bring all the suspects to book or at least initiate half way satisfactory investigation.
Then recently, the Chief of Techiman, who according to the Chief of Tuobodom is a supporter of the NDC, organized a group of macho men to kidnap him and this was sanctioned by the traditional council as I heard one his subjects say on radio.
He was taken to the palace of the Techimanhene, beaten up, stripped naked according to his own reports, before being handed over to the police.
This was no Joy Fm and in newspapers for close to two weeks where some youth of Tuobodom promised mayhem if their Chief is not released and nobody including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) listened and so were vindictive Lt. Col Gbevlo Lartey and 1 Star General Nuuno Mensah who claim are in charge of security.
But instead of dealing with the people who had attacked the Chief of Tuobodom in this manner, the police rather arrested the Chief who had been kidnapped, put him before court and sought legitimate backing to remand him.
The chief of Tuobodom swears by the Asantehene, and so when he was granted bail, he traveled to Kumasi to report to his liege.
The Asantehene, riled, then organized a public forum and said that unless the government acted swiftly in this matter, he was going to retaliate against the Techimanhene.
I do not agree with the pronouncements from the Asantehene, but I think that it has become manifestly obvious that until and unless the police begin to act as an independent institution, some of these unfortunate incidents would continue to hound us forever.
Friday, March 26, 2010
RE: Atta Mills: What Are We Re-branding?
Kindly permit me a space to react to the article titled- Atta Mills: What are we Re-Branding? As published on your website Ghanaweb.com on Tuesday, 16 March 2010.
In the said article, the author Mr. Prah , instead of displaying candor and intelligence in his writing to promote a proper challenging discourse, sounded more like a mischievous politician whose only interest is to paint black and create panic, confusion, lack of trust and render as in his words, disastrous and chaotic, The ‘Brand Ghana Office’ project instituted by His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills.
For the sake of public interest and to cure the author of his gross ignorance as far as Country Branding and its benefits are concerned, I decided to share some light on what exactly Country branding is and also answer some of his grievances raised.
Mr. Prah argued and I quote ‘’what is he re-branding? It is not that Ghana does not have a good name. The visit by Barrack Obama, President of the United States of America to Ghana demonstrates amply that indeed Ghana does not need any re-branding. We have, or had a good international reputation, and all that we needed to do was continue with the quiet but effective steps previous leaders were taking to create a good image for this country.”
If Mr. Prah thought that a mere visit by President Obama of the US is enough proof that our country has achieved enough international credibility and goodwill as a democracy and a favourable investment destination then God help us because only an analogue minded individual in a 21st century digital age will arrive at this narrow and myopic conclusion.
It has to be noted that the President is not Re-branding Ghana as he alleged out of pure mischief because Ghana as a country is not a commercial product whose look can be altered or improved upon which is known as re-branding. The ultimate goal for Branding a developing Country like Ghana is to stimulate economic, social and psychological wellbeing for its citizenry through the development and implementation of a proactive and integrated national and international strategy.
Even the United States with her high standing in the international arena as far as tourism, migration, trade and international diplomacy is concerned still spend lots of money improving its image abroad and compete for her fair share of the worlds tourists, investors and international allies.
South Africa, India and many other developing countries are actively engaging in Country branding business with tremendous benefits in terms of the feel and pride if their citizens, achievement of favourable image abroad and parenting local brands into commercial success.
Sitting down to do nothing but to disregard primary journalistic ethics to politicise and ridicule a noble project like Ghana Brand Office shows that this guy was writing from sick and confused imagination when put under a social psychological microscope. Since Mr. Prah choose to confuse branding with re-branding, it’s important to understand country branding which to experts is a nation’s identity that has been proactively distilled, interpreted, internalized and projected for international recognition and to construct a favourable national image. In this vain, Mr. Prah should be aware that country Branding is not just about ‘’good image’’ determined by a foreign Presidents visit which he seeks to project as the case.
A nation’s identity defines its true self, values of her people, essence and character driven by a vision thus different from others and resistant to change. It is a call to duty of every citizen coming together willingly to tell the world same powerful, believable and interesting story about their country through a common communication channel.
Country branding is not in any way a positive spin or propaganda as he tried to paint it but rather involves the act of harmonizing all channels of national expression as varied as acts and policies of government, values and behaviours of the Citizenry, education, culture, sports, public health, taxation, public diplomacy, build and feel of settlements, promotion of export and investment and infrastructure development.
It becomes a framework to bring all Ghanaians including its diplomats, footballers, international icons such as Kofi Annan and every citizen from all walks of life in holism to be goodwill ambassadors of our nation happily espousing our achievements, greatness, hospitality, and business friendliness and to create strong local brands into commercial success.
Just as nobody goes on a therapy or medication unless diagnosed of a sickness so are Countries in the branding business too. Only nations with some kind of traditional position influence and reputation which they seek to change or improve of which Ghana is a prime example, goes into Branding.
For instance we have a past history of instabilities and revolutions not discounting the negative image of our sub-region noted for its unimaginable corruption, civil strife, indiscipline, filthy cities, erosion of some cherished values, failed States, wars, famine, diseases which all feed into the international perceptions that we are all one and the same irrespective of the reality. In spite of our shortfalls, we have achieved substantial progress in areas of democracy, good governance, human and national security, economic growth, food security and our daily efforts to lift ourselves out of poverty are attractive and positive sides of our story that need to be told through country- branding with a clear, direct and coherent communication strategy.
Creating the impression as though Ghana Brand Office is duplicating the roles of State Institutions and Agencies in marketing Ghana is quite unfortunate, ridiculous and clearly demonstrated the author is at complete loss of the roles played by branding organizations.
Country-branding in the case of Ghana is the missing link between national mobilization and development and as such the integral role of Country -branding anywhere involves the creation of more harmony and coordination among stakeholders to tell the same powerful, believable and interesting story about their country with the aim to unite the nation under a common vision and shared values, nourishing confidence, pride, harmony, ambition and national resolve, to enhance nationhood and citizenship and not to endorse and perpetuate division, create discord and other vices of gangsterism and criminal behaviours against the state and people of Ghana.
If the author is a true patriot and a concerned citizen of my Country hence decided to ridicule the branding project, then he should be asking himself why should countries such as South Korea and Malaysia whom we were at par with during independence have achieved so much in terms of development while we in Ghana stagnate as a nation and sadly see us retrogressing in our developmental efforts instead of our desired progressive development goals!!!.
The answers are pretty clear in that we have set grand targets for ourselves as a country with little or no road map to that destination. Vision 2000 came and went and now we have vision 2015 and in some quarters vision 2020 yet there is no clear cut programmes in place allowing for total citizens voluntary acceptance and participation in achieving those goals and it is no surprise that characters like Prah are on the sidelines just to criticise and destroy others’ dreams for this nation as a whole because they do not feel belonged and are brimming with selfish interest of who might take the credit when the dividends begin to pour in.
We aim for a middle income status but our rate of economy growth remains stunted with GDP per capita as low as $450 while we continue to export our major commodities in its primary or raw form in line with the colonial legacy left behind 53 years ago.
Not only did we lack commercial brands with international marketing support but also our level of infrastructure development cannot support the needed foreign direct investment. Incomes from remittances still trickles in from abroad and tourism but too slow and too small to support any major economic push while at the same time not only are we too divided on partisan political and tribal lines for any radical national mobilization for development but also we keep suffering from the negative connotation of Africa as a continent because we are doing very little to positively differentiate ourselves from the larger African and our own past despite our tremendous achievements in the last two decades which warrants international attention and goodwill.
As a Ghanaian, I feel so insulted, ashamed, and disturbed that one will choose to chastise and describe as treacherous the Mills government attempt to investigate the fraudulent sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodaphone as well as the dubious importation of Rice from India in clear violation of our laws and that of India which in part help drive Ghanaian rice farmers out of business.
Brand Ghana Office has come at no other better time to address the concomitant obstacles on our path to national cohesion and development so we can attract the needed investment, tourism and exports, jobs and not short change the birth rights of Ghanaians such as selling national assets for peanuts and granting contracts based on ‘’compassion’’ to achieve false praise singing by foreign ‘friends’ and for other parochial gains.
I urge Mr. Prah and his cronies he sought to impress to adopt and support ‘Brand Ghana Office’ project because they will be emancipated mentally and morally through the brands citizenship development programmes which will consciously affect social regulation.
The fact that brand-Ghana understands that People’s active intellectual and emotional buy-in is critical in reducing Ghana’s negative scorecard such as crime and violence, corruption, unstable political environment, poor safety and security, poor labour productivity, poor public health and sanitation makes a laudable and compelling one. The above is crucial in ending the culture of impunity, political patronage, self-vested interests, greed and loyalties to political and economic godfathers and ethnicity which can only further divide our country and set us on the bloody path of attrition.
Mr. Prah accused the President of manning the Ghana Brand Office with a little known PR man when the project has not even taken off yet!!! If you have the courage to cite Obama’s coming as the sole reason of Ghana as having a good image, then let me remind you of him telling us that Africans does not need ‘’strong men’’ but strong institutions. Ghana in this vain does not need to pay millions of dollars to well known lobbyists or PR groups to market us in the international corridors of power but strong institutions manned by competent and well qualified people operating outside the influences of politics.
We have waited for 44 years since the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah to have another visionary leader that seeks to unite Ghanaians by putting premium on our values and loyalty to God and Country through guidance and inspiration and what else can be so commendable than this.
A society can only succeed when its inhabitants can master the courage to condemn what is condemnable and embrace, support and encourage what is just. Anything short of this will only portray us as backward thinking people walking with our feet up and heads down so Mr Prah work up to your responsibilities for God and Country.
Credit: Mathias Alagbo (kabrocky@yahoo.co.uk)
In the said article, the author Mr. Prah , instead of displaying candor and intelligence in his writing to promote a proper challenging discourse, sounded more like a mischievous politician whose only interest is to paint black and create panic, confusion, lack of trust and render as in his words, disastrous and chaotic, The ‘Brand Ghana Office’ project instituted by His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills.
For the sake of public interest and to cure the author of his gross ignorance as far as Country Branding and its benefits are concerned, I decided to share some light on what exactly Country branding is and also answer some of his grievances raised.
Mr. Prah argued and I quote ‘’what is he re-branding? It is not that Ghana does not have a good name. The visit by Barrack Obama, President of the United States of America to Ghana demonstrates amply that indeed Ghana does not need any re-branding. We have, or had a good international reputation, and all that we needed to do was continue with the quiet but effective steps previous leaders were taking to create a good image for this country.”
If Mr. Prah thought that a mere visit by President Obama of the US is enough proof that our country has achieved enough international credibility and goodwill as a democracy and a favourable investment destination then God help us because only an analogue minded individual in a 21st century digital age will arrive at this narrow and myopic conclusion.
It has to be noted that the President is not Re-branding Ghana as he alleged out of pure mischief because Ghana as a country is not a commercial product whose look can be altered or improved upon which is known as re-branding. The ultimate goal for Branding a developing Country like Ghana is to stimulate economic, social and psychological wellbeing for its citizenry through the development and implementation of a proactive and integrated national and international strategy.
Even the United States with her high standing in the international arena as far as tourism, migration, trade and international diplomacy is concerned still spend lots of money improving its image abroad and compete for her fair share of the worlds tourists, investors and international allies.
South Africa, India and many other developing countries are actively engaging in Country branding business with tremendous benefits in terms of the feel and pride if their citizens, achievement of favourable image abroad and parenting local brands into commercial success.
Sitting down to do nothing but to disregard primary journalistic ethics to politicise and ridicule a noble project like Ghana Brand Office shows that this guy was writing from sick and confused imagination when put under a social psychological microscope. Since Mr. Prah choose to confuse branding with re-branding, it’s important to understand country branding which to experts is a nation’s identity that has been proactively distilled, interpreted, internalized and projected for international recognition and to construct a favourable national image. In this vain, Mr. Prah should be aware that country Branding is not just about ‘’good image’’ determined by a foreign Presidents visit which he seeks to project as the case.
A nation’s identity defines its true self, values of her people, essence and character driven by a vision thus different from others and resistant to change. It is a call to duty of every citizen coming together willingly to tell the world same powerful, believable and interesting story about their country through a common communication channel.
Country branding is not in any way a positive spin or propaganda as he tried to paint it but rather involves the act of harmonizing all channels of national expression as varied as acts and policies of government, values and behaviours of the Citizenry, education, culture, sports, public health, taxation, public diplomacy, build and feel of settlements, promotion of export and investment and infrastructure development.
It becomes a framework to bring all Ghanaians including its diplomats, footballers, international icons such as Kofi Annan and every citizen from all walks of life in holism to be goodwill ambassadors of our nation happily espousing our achievements, greatness, hospitality, and business friendliness and to create strong local brands into commercial success.
Just as nobody goes on a therapy or medication unless diagnosed of a sickness so are Countries in the branding business too. Only nations with some kind of traditional position influence and reputation which they seek to change or improve of which Ghana is a prime example, goes into Branding.
For instance we have a past history of instabilities and revolutions not discounting the negative image of our sub-region noted for its unimaginable corruption, civil strife, indiscipline, filthy cities, erosion of some cherished values, failed States, wars, famine, diseases which all feed into the international perceptions that we are all one and the same irrespective of the reality. In spite of our shortfalls, we have achieved substantial progress in areas of democracy, good governance, human and national security, economic growth, food security and our daily efforts to lift ourselves out of poverty are attractive and positive sides of our story that need to be told through country- branding with a clear, direct and coherent communication strategy.
Creating the impression as though Ghana Brand Office is duplicating the roles of State Institutions and Agencies in marketing Ghana is quite unfortunate, ridiculous and clearly demonstrated the author is at complete loss of the roles played by branding organizations.
Country-branding in the case of Ghana is the missing link between national mobilization and development and as such the integral role of Country -branding anywhere involves the creation of more harmony and coordination among stakeholders to tell the same powerful, believable and interesting story about their country with the aim to unite the nation under a common vision and shared values, nourishing confidence, pride, harmony, ambition and national resolve, to enhance nationhood and citizenship and not to endorse and perpetuate division, create discord and other vices of gangsterism and criminal behaviours against the state and people of Ghana.
If the author is a true patriot and a concerned citizen of my Country hence decided to ridicule the branding project, then he should be asking himself why should countries such as South Korea and Malaysia whom we were at par with during independence have achieved so much in terms of development while we in Ghana stagnate as a nation and sadly see us retrogressing in our developmental efforts instead of our desired progressive development goals!!!.
The answers are pretty clear in that we have set grand targets for ourselves as a country with little or no road map to that destination. Vision 2000 came and went and now we have vision 2015 and in some quarters vision 2020 yet there is no clear cut programmes in place allowing for total citizens voluntary acceptance and participation in achieving those goals and it is no surprise that characters like Prah are on the sidelines just to criticise and destroy others’ dreams for this nation as a whole because they do not feel belonged and are brimming with selfish interest of who might take the credit when the dividends begin to pour in.
We aim for a middle income status but our rate of economy growth remains stunted with GDP per capita as low as $450 while we continue to export our major commodities in its primary or raw form in line with the colonial legacy left behind 53 years ago.
Not only did we lack commercial brands with international marketing support but also our level of infrastructure development cannot support the needed foreign direct investment. Incomes from remittances still trickles in from abroad and tourism but too slow and too small to support any major economic push while at the same time not only are we too divided on partisan political and tribal lines for any radical national mobilization for development but also we keep suffering from the negative connotation of Africa as a continent because we are doing very little to positively differentiate ourselves from the larger African and our own past despite our tremendous achievements in the last two decades which warrants international attention and goodwill.
As a Ghanaian, I feel so insulted, ashamed, and disturbed that one will choose to chastise and describe as treacherous the Mills government attempt to investigate the fraudulent sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodaphone as well as the dubious importation of Rice from India in clear violation of our laws and that of India which in part help drive Ghanaian rice farmers out of business.
Brand Ghana Office has come at no other better time to address the concomitant obstacles on our path to national cohesion and development so we can attract the needed investment, tourism and exports, jobs and not short change the birth rights of Ghanaians such as selling national assets for peanuts and granting contracts based on ‘’compassion’’ to achieve false praise singing by foreign ‘friends’ and for other parochial gains.
I urge Mr. Prah and his cronies he sought to impress to adopt and support ‘Brand Ghana Office’ project because they will be emancipated mentally and morally through the brands citizenship development programmes which will consciously affect social regulation.
The fact that brand-Ghana understands that People’s active intellectual and emotional buy-in is critical in reducing Ghana’s negative scorecard such as crime and violence, corruption, unstable political environment, poor safety and security, poor labour productivity, poor public health and sanitation makes a laudable and compelling one. The above is crucial in ending the culture of impunity, political patronage, self-vested interests, greed and loyalties to political and economic godfathers and ethnicity which can only further divide our country and set us on the bloody path of attrition.
Mr. Prah accused the President of manning the Ghana Brand Office with a little known PR man when the project has not even taken off yet!!! If you have the courage to cite Obama’s coming as the sole reason of Ghana as having a good image, then let me remind you of him telling us that Africans does not need ‘’strong men’’ but strong institutions. Ghana in this vain does not need to pay millions of dollars to well known lobbyists or PR groups to market us in the international corridors of power but strong institutions manned by competent and well qualified people operating outside the influences of politics.
We have waited for 44 years since the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah to have another visionary leader that seeks to unite Ghanaians by putting premium on our values and loyalty to God and Country through guidance and inspiration and what else can be so commendable than this.
A society can only succeed when its inhabitants can master the courage to condemn what is condemnable and embrace, support and encourage what is just. Anything short of this will only portray us as backward thinking people walking with our feet up and heads down so Mr Prah work up to your responsibilities for God and Country.
Credit: Mathias Alagbo (kabrocky@yahoo.co.uk)