‘Agbadza and Batakari’ Promotions In Our Community

Unprecedented gargantuan ‘Kokofu promotions’ wearing ‘agbadza’ and ‘batakari’ have been made by the Mahama/Arthur administration. The Military Secretary’s publication signed on 29th August, 2014 with reference GHQ/18023/MS is a further manifestation of the ‘kokofu spirit’, ‘divide and rule’ and malicious victimization of ‘perceived enemies’.

While undeserving persons with low moral character and dubious integrity have been rewarded, others who are very efficient, diligent, knowledgeable, morally upright but not bootlickers have been humiliated and denied promotion. 

For the records, the following officers have been promoted to their next higher ranks by the MS publication signed by Commodore M. Beick-Baffour on Friday 29th August, 2014.

ARMY

BRIGADIER GENERALS

1.         Colonel M. Alhassan (GH/2204) (NR)                       -           Brigadier General

2.         Colonel R.K. Ametepi (GH/2284) (VR)                    -           Brigadier General

3.         Colonel F. Vib-Sanziri (GH/2184) (UWR)                 -           Brigadier General

4.         Colonel M.K. Akpatsu (Jnr) (GH/2038) (ER-Krobo) -          Brigadier General

5.         Colonel S.B. Alloh (GH/2024) (VR)                          -           Brigadier General

6.         Colonel F. Buliga (GH/2030) (UER)                          -           Brigadier General

COLONELS

1. Lt. Col I.L. Tamakloe (GH/2015)                           -           Colonel   (VR)

2. Lt. Col M.A. Tenkorang (GH/2207)                       -           Colonel   (ER)

3. Lt. Col G. Amantana (GH/2060)                            -           Colonel   (NR)

4. Lt. Col R.J.K Komlaga (GH/2497)                                  -             Colonel   (VR)

5. Lt. Col A.K. Dawohoso (GH/2545)                       -           Colonel   (VR)

6. Lt. Col J Hagan (GH/2548)                                                -           Colonel   (CR)

7. Lt. Col M. Mustapha (GH/2426)    (Fulani)            -           Colonel   (NR)

8. Lt. Col A. Ntem (GH/2434) (Mafia Member)        -           Colonel   (VR)

9. Lt. Col T. Ampofo-Gyekye (GH/2436)                  -           Colonel   (ER)

10. Lt. Col JK Baa-Tsiquaye (GH/2541)                    -           Colonel   (GAR)

11. Lt. Col W. Dzandu-Hedidor (GH/2435)              -           Colonel   (VR)

LIEUTENANT COLONELS

1. Major M. Salifu (GH/2800)                                    -           Lt. Col    (NR)

2. Major G.I. Sulleman (GH/2858)                             -           Lt. Col    (NR)

3. Major R.K. Adzagba (GH/2853)                            -           Lt. Col    (VR)

4. Major E.L.S. Gyadu (GH/2813)                             -           Lt. Col    (VR)

5. Major E. Annor (GH/2714)                                              -             Lt. Col    (AR)

6. Major S.G. Odei (GH/2912)                                   -           Lt. Col    (ER)

7. Major R. Narh (GH/2914)                                       -         Lt. Col    (ER) (Krobo)

8. Major BB Pantoah (GH/2915)                                -           Lt. Col    (NR)

9. Major M. Wumbei (GH/2916)                                -           Lt. Col    (NR)

10. Major I.B. Mohammed (GH/2917)                       -           Lt. Col    (NR)

11. Major E.N. Mensah-Yawson (GH/2822)              -           Lt. Col    (NR / CR)

12. Major F.C. Adzasu (GH/2835)                             -           Lt. Col    (VR)

13. Major J.K. Kumado (GH/2837)                            -           Lt. Col    (VR)

14. Major A.K. Oduah (GH/2839)                             -           Lt. Col    (VR)

15. Major H.K. Badasu (GH/2840)                            -           Lt. Col    (VR)

16. Major G.K. Wilson (GH/2841)                             -           Lt. Col    (CR)

17. Major N.C.D. Dei-Alorse (GH/2869)                   -           Lt. Col    (VR)

NAVY

NAVAL CAPTAINS (COLONELS EQUIVALENT)

1.  Commander M. Arhen (GH/2742)            -   BAR            -         Captain (GN)

2.  Commander E. Wayoe (GH/2663)            - ER (Krobo)     -        Captain (GN)

3.  Commander W. Tay (GH/2664)                -    GAR            -         Captain (GN)

COMMANDERS (LT COL EQUIVALENT)

1. Lt. Cdr R. Kyaano (GH/2958)                   - GAR             -           Cdr

2. Lt. Cdr R. Bagoniah (GH/2960)                 - UER              -           Cdr

3. Lt. Cdr S.B. Nyam (GH/2872)                   - WR               -           Cdr

4. Lt. Cdr J.A. Agambire (GH/2873)             - NR                -           Cdr

AIRFORCE

GROUP CAPTAINS (COLONELS EQUIVALENT)

1. Wg Cdr R.Y. Cole (GH/ 2597)                  - GAR             -           Gp Capt.

WING COMMANDERS (LT COLONELS EQUIVALENT)

1.  Sqn Ldr S.A. Jiagge (GH/2863)                - VR                -           Wg Cdr

2. Sgn Ldr K.K.M. Atiemo (GH/2962)          - ER                 -           Wg Cdr

In addition to the promotions, there were very strategic and tactical appointments in the Military Secretary’s publication of 29th August, 2014. The Army of Ghana has been restructured without any extra funding or provision of resources and personnel. The two existing Commands (Northern and Southern) of the Ghana Army have now been divided into three Commands namely Northern, Central and Southern Commands with the same number of units and sub-units.

Another Formation – a Training Brigade –has been added to the Army just as was done for the Airforce and Navy to create “JOBS AND PROMOTIONS FOR THE BOYS”.

While it was found prudent to create more space for promoting officers from the Volta Region and three Northern Regions, officers from the Akan areas (Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western) suspected to be non-active NDC members occupying appointments and positions meriting promotions were maliciously denied their due.

For instance, the Army Training Brigade was created so that Colonel SB Alloh, returning from Operations in Liberia, could be promoted to Brigadier General. Similarly, a third Army Command (the Central Command) was created in order to create a vacuum for Colonel F. Buliga to be promoted Brigadier General.

While the authorities did not have any regret in playing the chess game of rewarding the ‘agbadza and batakari’ cloths they shamefully denied very upright, professionally very competent and intellectually very sound officers of Akan extraction purely because they find them politically incorrect because these officers have been acting very professionally and diligently without engaging in bootlicking and ‘eyes service’ (military jargon).

A Tale of Two Contradictory Gospels

The true gospel empties the churches; while the false gospel fills them.

Most Christians are unaware that the gospel Jesus preached is contradicted by Paul. The gospel of Jesus is bittersweet; presenting great challenges to believers. Paul’s gospel is “sugar and spice and all things nice;” offering few challenges.

Of course, the preferred gospel is the one Paul preached. It is the commercial gospel, tailor-made for lovers of life. It is enamoured by those who desire salvation but are not inclined to meet its costs. But don’t buy the lie. Paul’s gospel cannot save. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour.

Gospel imperatives

At the centre of Jesus’ gospel is the need for sinners to repent. Jesus says: “‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13). But Paul disagrees. He says: “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29). Furthermore, he bases his gospel on sacrifice. Hear him: “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The gospel of the kingdom requires that we yearn for the righteousness of God. Jesus says: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). However, righteousness is not a prerequisite in Paul’s gospel. Instead, he reassures sinners nonsensically that God justifies the ungodly: “To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5).

In Jesus’ gospel, the righteous are rewarded with eternal life. (Matthew 25:46). Jesus says: “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43). However, in Paul’s gospel: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). Therefore, Paul says: “(Righteousness) shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4:24).

The gospel of a kingdom not of this world is bad news to the rich of this world. Jesus says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24). But Paul’s gospel of grace is about our becoming rich in this world: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Faith with works

Jesus’ gospel requires us to become God’s children by doing God’s works. Jesus says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45). “Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:29).

However, Paul’s gospel is about faith without works. He says: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In Jesus’ gospel, we determine our salvation. His cardinal kingdom principle makes salvation entirely our responsibility. Jesus warns: “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25). He says elsewhere: “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mark 4:24).

But in Paul’s gospel, salvation is God’s responsibility; we are predestined to salvation. Paul’s says: “Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son… And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified.” (Romans 8:29-30). This clearly contradicts Jesus position that: “Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14).

With Jesus, we carry our crosses ourselves. Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). However, with Paul, Jesus allegedly carried our crosses for us in that we were crucified with him. Paul says: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).

Cost of salvation

With Jesus, forgiveness comes as we readily forgive all our offenders. Jesus says: “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15). But with Paul, forgiveness comes without preconditions; it is the grace of God: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.” (Colossians 2:13).

With Jesus, freedom from sin comes as we follow his word. Jesus says: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). But with Paul, Christians are automatically free from sin because we died with Christ: “Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7).

Paul says: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). But according to Jesus, eternal life is not God’s gift at all; it comes at great cost. Jesus says: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29).

Therefore, Jesus warns us to count the cost before deciding to follow him: “No one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings- and then renounces them all for me.” (Luke 14:33).

Everlasting gospel

Some maintain Paul’s gospel of grace is a post-resurrection dispensational replacement for Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. However, Jesus confirms no such replacement. Instead he says: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus does not introduce Paul’s doctrine of blood-atonement on his resurrection. His directive remains that “repentance and forgiveness of sins” should be preached in his name.” (Luke 24:47).

In Acts, Peter does not associate Jesus’ death with the atonement of sins. (Acts 2:37-43). He says the righteousness of God comes by works. (Acts 10:34-35). But Paul says Christians automatically become new creatures: “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In effect, Paul’s gospel is false. It merely tests those who would embrace Jesus’ gospel. Jesus’ gospel offers a narrow gate and a difficult way that leads to life; while Paul’s gospel offers a wide gate and a broad way that leads to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14). Accordingly, the true gospel empties the churches; while the false gospel fills them.

Christians must reject Paul’s enticing gospel. John warns: “Whoever does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him.” (2 John 1:9-10)


Source: Femi Aribisala.

Femi Aribisala.

Femi Aribisala.

 

The Good News and the Deceitful News

Those who followed Jesus did so because of his life. But because of Paul’s ignorance about his life, many who follow Jesus now do so because of bogus claims about his death.

The good news proclaimed in the churches today is false. It is different from the one Jesus preached. Today’s good news is the one declared by Paul: “the good news of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24). This says: “Rejoice: Jesus died for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Accordingly, Christians insist Jesus carried away all our sins at Calvary. In exchange, he is alleged to have imparted to us the righteousness of God.

If this were true, it would be wonderful news indeed. It would mean once we answer the altar-call and declare that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour; we are automatically “born again.” We become heaven-bound because we believe and trust in “the completed works of Christ.” Whatever happens; Jesus has done it for us. We are saved by the magnanimity of God’s grace and not because of any works of righteousness on our part. (Ephesians 2:8).

However, the problem with this good news is that it is one big deception. It is actually contrary to the true good news that Jesus delivered. Paul was not one of Jesus’ disciples during his ministry. He never heard Jesus preach and he displays unpardonable ignorance about Jesus’ doctrine in his epistles. Bereft of the discipleship of Jesus, Paul fabricated his own Christology. His epistles ignore Jesus’ life while focusing exclusively on his crucifixion. Thus, Paul says disingenuously: “I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

KINGDOM OF GOD

However, the good news Jesus proclaimed has nothing whatsoever to do with his “death” on the cross or with any sacrifice for sins. This is because Jesus and his disciples preached their good news before his crucifixion. So doing, not once did they say he would die for our sins. On the contrary, their good news requires everyone to carry his own cross and do away with his own sins.

Jesus says: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). This shows Jesus’ good news is about the coming of the kingdom of God. If it was about him taking away our sins, there would have been no point in asking us to repent for the same sins. What would be the point of repenting if Jesus has taken or will take away our sins?

Indeed, if Jesus has really taken away our sins, how come Christians are still so sinful? How come “sinless” priests are still raping young boys? How come “sinless” pastors continue to swindle the gullible poor of their meager savings? If, according to Paul, Christians are now new creatures in whom “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17); why are we still stealing, cheating, telling lies, fornicating and committing adultery?

ENTICING WORDS

Don’t be deceived by enticing words. The true good news is not about the unmerited grace of God. If it were, there would be no need to repent for repentance is by works and not by grace. The true good news is about the coming of the kingdom of God. Moreover, compulsive and unrepentant sinners are not welcome in God’s kingdom. Entry into the kingdom is also by works and not by grace. Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

For this reason, John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of Jesus. He came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4). Accordingly, Jesus’ good news requires a penitent response. If we believe the good news that God’s kingdom has come down to men, then we should repent of sin so that we can enter and secure our inclusion in the kingdom.

I repeat: the true good news is that Jesus brought the heavenly kingdom of God down to earth. The evidence for this is right there in his superlative ministry. Jesus raised the dead; signaling the triumph of life over death. He healed the sick; announcing the end of human suffering. He multiplied loaves of bread; pointing to the satisfaction of all physical need.

He stilled the storm; heralding the emergence of peace on earth. He forgave sins; proclaiming the dawning of righteousness. He cast out demons; demonstrating the overthrow of the kingdom of Satan. Therefore, he said to his Jewish opponents: “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” (Luke 11:20).

CHILDREN OF GOD

The true good news is also that what used to be the exclusive preserve of God, has now become available to men through Jesus Christ. It is now possible not only to be like God, but actually to become children of God. That is why John exclaimed: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Therefore, he counsels: “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3).

Those who have this hope in them do not fool themselves that Jesus has taken away their sins by sacrificing himself. Those who have this hope in them purify themselves. They are purified by hiding the words of Jesus in their hearts, and by repenting of sin and abstaining from sin. In short, the good news offers a narrow gate that leads to life; while the deceitful news offers a wide gate that leads to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14).

Those who are disciples of Jesus receive the power to become children of God. (John 1:12). We are indwelt by the Spirit of God and can do the wonderful works of God. Jesus says: “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8). This is most certainly good news.

LIFE OR DEATH

 Jesus’ birth brought the good news and not his “death.” (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus came that we may have abundant life. (John 10:10). Therefore, we are required to emulate his exemplary life. Indeed, those who followed Jesus did so because of his life. But because of Paul’s ignorance about his life, many who follow Jesus now do so because of bogus claims about his death.

 

Paul says: “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). However, Jesus’ resurrection is not part of the good news. On the contrary, the resurrection is “a sign of Jonah;” reserved for those who do not believe. Jesus says: “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16:4).

Without Calvary, Zacchaeus received the good news of the kingdom and Jesus declared that salvation had come to his house. (Luke 19:8-10). As a matter of fact, in one of Jesus’ stories, Abraham de-emphasizes the resurrection by saying: “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31).