Cry Our Cry Please (1)

The overwhelming euphoria that greeted the victory of the powerful and attractive duo of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the various barracks is gradually but incrementally turning into despondency, despair and uncertainly.

The vim and zeal with which most soldiers, policemen, firemen, prisons officers, immigration officers, customs officers, operatives of the BNI and National Security Secretariat voted for change massively expecting in return “recognition”, “rewards” and reversal of the old order of hatred, victimization, harassment, inequity and injustice are slowly but surely evaporating into the air.

To most of these ardent supporters for change and the NPP, “baboons” worked hard to ensure victory for the NPP but “monkeys” are reaping from where they sowed nothing. Most these persons who are members of the Patriotic Concerned Officers and Men (PACOM) are extremely worried about the developments in our communities.

PACOM has come to the realization that owing to the cosmetic changes in and maintenance of the top hierarchies of the security services, it appears and in fact it is the situation that, the known NDC activists are now enjoying more than expected and in most cases are lording it over their NPP counterparts.

By the cosmetic changes made so far and the inertia at most of the top hierarchies of the security services, the capacities and power bases of the known, vociferous and shameless NDC members have been strengthened.

Officers and men of the NDC continuing in their appointments or shifted to equally attractive positions, posts and appointments are victimizing and ridiculing their colleagues who were ardent supporters of the NPP and played very useful roles to ensure the return of the “Elephant”.

Officers and men of the NDC in sensitive appointments are provoking and mocking at members or sympathizers of the NPP. Some of the NDC officers and men are making the lives of these NPP sympathizers very uncomfortable. With the least opportunity, the NDC members want to show their NPP counterparts where real power lies.

Members of PACOM are unnecessarily being targeted by their NDC “superiors”. There are so many reported cases of NPP sympathizers being “charged” for various “service offences” with flimsy excuses under bizarre circumstances.

A lot of NPP men are undergoing various punishments by way of “extra duty” under harsh conditions, loss of seniority, denial of promotions, denial of participation in peace support operations and denial of participation in any assignments, duty or task that may be attractive, lucrative, professionally rewarding or challenging capable of enhancing their abilities, competences and skills.

Paradoxically, it is the known activists and members of the NDC who are flying very high with juicy appointments thereby “teasing” their NPP colleagues.

For instance, most of the military, police and BNI officers and men at the Flagstaff House (Jubilee House) are NDC sympathizers. Instead of accepting and forwarding the names of the NPP sympathizers, “the entrenched and confirmed” NDC superiors, commanders and chiefs in the various services decided to “push” their own  people into the Presidency thereby filling vacancies that could and should have been filled by the NPP sympathizers.

Bodyguards, drivers, cooks and relatives of some of the former “Top Officers and Men” of the Security Services are now comfortably operating and working at the Flagstaff House, the National Security Secretariat (National, Regional and District Levels) and at Castle.

Some of these “risky elements” are part of the VVIP and VIP Protection Units. Some of them are driving these VVIPs and VIPs. Others are part of even the “Close Protection” Teams. Apart from the potential physical danger that they pose, these “elements” are vital sources of intelligence for the NDC. Vital documents, audio and video recordings are being given to the NDC on regular basis.

The alleged beating of a police officer by some “security” personnel at the Flagstaff House got leaked to the NDC and media houses by the “unkind courtesy” of some of these NDC risky elements who had and still have access to the security devices at the Flagstaff House.

Can we be safe at the Flagstaff House, when known activists and members of the NDC are still in charge in certain locations and places?

How on earth can a former Chief of Staff and the current Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces place a Corporal in the guardroom of the Military Police for over one week on suspicion that he is a member of the NPP and therefore might have leaked information on the military preparations, planned operations and relevant documents to the NPP during the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections? 

Assuming, without admitting that the allegation is true, does it not suggest that the NDC is still in control of affairs in the military?

How on earth can a “loyal Chief of Staff” appointed by the NPP Administration allow such a stupid and reckless action of an extremely arrogant, over ambitiously treacherous and wicked former Chief of Staff to go unnoticed?

Several Commanding Officers of units, Officers Commanding of sub-units, Commanders Rear of Units, Base Commanders of the Air Force and Navy are still in charge and are making life very uncomfortable for those they now perceive as “traitors” instead of being recognized as heroes and heroines under the NPP Administration.

Can we not draw an analogy between what happens after electoral victory to what happens after a successful coup d’état? Coup d’états are primarily unlawful or unacceptable behaviour in democracies. But they remain so only when the coup d’état fails. Any time there is a successful coup d’état, the illegality becomes legalized through the Proclamations, Decrees and Laws that are passed by the “New Order”.

Consequently, what originally was an aberration become the acceptable norm and the order of the day. Similarly, all members of the Security Services are required to be loyal to the incumbent government and therefore Security personnel are expected to show “absolute loyalty” to the Ruling Government.

Any signs of disloyalty may therefore attract “notice or enquiry” and appropriate consequential “reactions” if the incumbent government secures victory. But when an incumbent government loses elections so miserably and abysmally, as happened in 2016, does it not justify the support that members of the security services gave to the Opposition Party which has now become the “Ruling Government”? 

Does the previously considered unacceptable behavior not become a lawful, legitimate, heroic and courageous behavior as successful architects of coup d’états become?

Was it not the successful coup d’états of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) that made Jerry Rawlings a hero in Ghana? 

Was the 15^th May 1979 attempted coup of the same Jerry Rawlings not considered as a treasonable offence attracting a Court Martial Trial?

We are therefore appealing to the beneficiaries of NPP appointments, especially the respective Heads of the various security services, to recognize that fact in order to “cry the cry” of the gallant, heroic and courageous members of PACOM who contributed immensely towards the success story of the duo of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and the NPP.

Thus, members of PACOM are demanding that “cry our cry” but “do not cry the cry of John Mahama and his NDC” who created, looted and shared the resources of Ghana in an unprecedented manner.

PACOM says “cry our cry” but do not cry for the former service chiefs and the others who are still clinging onto power by the magnanimity of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP Administration.

Several heads of state institutions, including the security services, are still at post to the annoyance of most concerned NPP members, loyalists and supports because of the way these very senior public officials behaved during the NDC era.

If these heads of state institutions had behaved professionally without any forms of discrimination and biases in favour of or against any group, members of PACOM would have had no problems or would not have any problems with them. It is the unprofessional attitude, arrogance and flagrant show of power which characterized the conduct, behavior and operations of these very senior public officers, especially those in the security services, which have created fear, anxiety and suspicion between them and the concerned rank and file and members of PACOM.

In the military, for instance, all the Commanding Officers of the Army Units are still at post. Most of the Commanding Officers of Army Battalions and Regiments were specially selected by the NDC on their membership of and loyalty to the NDC.

Most of them were briefed on how to assist the NDC to be declared winners of the 2016 elections. The situation was therefore created for them to have unfettered powers and authority to deal with any opposition (mainly the NPP) challenges and threats. That may explain why Lieutenant Colonel Awarbey, Commanding Officer of 3 Infantry Battalion and the Police Regional Commander at Sunyani condoned all the atrocities and harassments meted out to the NPP parliamentary candidates in the Ahafo and other Areas of Brong Ahafo Region.

Similar things were done in some other Regions such as Ashanti, Western, Central and Eastern Regions of Ghana by some Commanding Officers, Officers Commanding, Platoon Commanders, Sergeant-Majors, Senior NCOs and others.

Similar operations were conducted in various parts of the country by security commanders of the Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana National Fire Service, Prisons Service and the Ghana Police Service.

Most of these security commanders openly supported the NDC and spoke very unkind and harsh words against the then presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akuffo-Addo.

For instance, then Lieutenant Colonels and now Colonels Salifu and Gbetanu Commanding Officers 4 Infantry Battalion and 5 Infantry Battalion respectively openly at durbars with troops in Kumasi and Burma Camp openly insulted the current President of the Republic of Ghana.

These two Colonels were alleged to have indicated that Nana Akufo-Addo was vertically handicapped, too old and lacked ideas to rule Ghana. They were advising troops under their command to vote for John Mahama who they claimed had real plans to equip and resource the Ghana Armed Forces. Then Lieutenant Colonel SWK Parbey cast similar insinuations against the current President in the run-off to the 2012 elections as the Commanding Officer of the 4 Infantry Battalion, Kumasi.

Most of the officers who were and still are dyed supporters of the NDC made disparaging remarks about then Presidential Candidate of the NPP with impurity at various military official and non-official Rendez-Vous.

In very recent times, Lieutenant Colonel Asia, then Commander of Ghana’s 4^th Engineer Company in Mali and Captain AKB Vovobu openly insulted the current President, who was then the NPP 

Presidential Candidate, in Mali. Even after Nana Akufo-Addo had been declared winner of the 2016 Presidential elections, the two officers (Lieutenant Colonel Asia and Captain AKB Vovobu) continued insulting the President-elect in the Mission Area.

Colonels Gagakuma and Ntem are also alleged to have made very uncomplimentary comments about the President.

Lieutenant Colonel Merdiemah, who is currently at the Department of Defence Intelligence, is also alleged to have made very reckless and unhelpful statements about the President.

Our source have hinted us that most of these “Against Officers” are being considered for appointments as Commanding Officers of 49 Engineer Regiment and 3 Infantry Battalion respectively while Colonel Gagakuma is to take over from Colonel Agyarkwa as Director Supply and Transport.

These are some of the worries of the members of PACOM. The question agitating the minds of our PACOM friends is that known disloyal senior officers are being sent to sensitive commands and appointments in the Ghana Armed Forces while those considered to be very loyal have either been ignored or marginalized.

Members of PACOM are expecting that absolute or clear loyalty to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and the NPP Administration would be one of the major criteria for the appointment of Commanding Officers. It may not be enough to appoint persons on professional competence and merit. Loyalty may have to take precedence over only professional competence.

It is argued by members of PACOM that Majors and very Junior Lieutenant Colonels who are very loyal may be preferred over Senior Lieutenant Colonels.

Members of PACOM are equally worried over the officers and men at the Department of Defence Intelligence. Most, if not all, of the officers and men currently at GHQ (DI) are dyed in wool members or supporters of the NDC. The Komlagas, Salifus and Mustaphas are certainly very loyal members of the NDC and should be posted out of GHQ (DI) as a matter of urgency. Other officers and men with GHQ (DI) must be posted out for seemingly very loyal ones to be appointed in their places.

As long as the disloyal officers and men are kept at the Defence Intelligence, the NPP Administration and the Military High Command risk having all sorts of sabotaging activities. Military secrets and confidential matters will be at mercy of these NDC members and sympathizers.

His Excellency the President of the Republic and the NPP should not forget that the NDC is preparing feverishly to recapture power in 2020.

Probe Brigadier General F Ofori Now!

The Patriotic Concerned Officers and Men (PACOM) of the Ghana Armed Forces are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for equity, fairness and justice in one breadth and eradication of corruption, corrupt and inappropriate practices in anther breath.

After calling for forensic audit into the activities of the Department for Planning and Development (GHQ PxD), Department of Defence Industries (GHQ DID) and Directorate of Resettlement with respect to the incorporation of the Armed Forces Bank (Services Integrity Savings and Loans Limited) and the Shoe Factory, Directorate of Army Peacekeeping Operations (DAPKOP) and Office of the Army Secretary with respect to payment of “fees” and “charges” for peacekeeping vacancies, PACOM’s binoculars are now zoomed on the Directorate of Engineer Services (GHQ DES) of the Ghana Armed Forces.

We have conducted an extensive research on the Engineer Services. The Directorate of Engineer Services is the technical head for the combat engineers (48 Engineer Regiment) and civil and electrical engineers (49 Engineer Regiment). Until the reorganization of the Engineer Regiments, the two Regiments existed as separate and distinct units performing different roles.

The current 49 Engineer Regiment used to be the Works Services Engineer Regiment and had nothing to do, by core functions, with then Field Engineers Regiment. The Works Services Engineers were and are still essentially in charge of constructional works, maintenance and repairs of living and office accommodation for the Ghana Armed Forces and indeed the Ministry of Defence.

To enable them perform their core mandate, the then Works Services Engineers and now 49 Engineers Regiment have had to entice, retain, motivate and utilize the expertise, competences, skills and abilities of the requisite professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors, electrical engineers, building technologists and civil engineers. 

The original Field Engineers Regiment and now 48 Engineers Regiment were and are mandated to see to it that the Army (and for that matter the entire military) lives, moves and fights in both peace and war times. Thus, the Field Engineers or 48 Engineers are combat engineers.

With the appropriate equipment and technology, the “combat engineers” (field engineers or 48 Engineers) are to construct roads, bridges and field tracks for human and vehicular movements in combat and during exercises. The combat engineers are responsible for laying and breaching mines either to deny entirely or to limit enemy movements or to facilitate movement of own troops.

Other duties of the combat engineers include providing temporary or permanent living accommodation, trenches and shelter during combat or field exercises. The combat engineers may assist in preparing improvised and actual ordnance, devices and explosives as weapons of war or help in detonating or incapacitating them as appropriate.

It is obvious from the discussions that the traditional roles of the “Works Services Engineers” and “Combat engineers” were distinct, different and separate. The work or duties of the “Works Services Engineers” are essentially peace time roles of construction, maintenance and repairs of office and living accommodations.

The reorganization of the Engineer Corps has brought in its trail the integration of the two main branches of “works engineers” (combat and field engineers). Personnel of the hitherto separate and distinct Regiments now have a lot of things in common including courses and training. The Engineer Training School, for instance, is responsible for providing military engineer training to officers, men and civilian personnel of both 48 and 49 Engineer Regiments.

Consequently, the two Regiments are headed by one Directorate (The Directorate of Engineer Services-DES). The Directorate of Engineer Services is the “policy head” and “brain” of the two Engineer Regiments. One would therefore have expected a very healthy, symbiotic relationship. But that is not to be.

Depending on the character traits of the officer who is appointed the Director of Engineer Services (DES), the two Regiments and their personnel may live in harmony or not. The days of Colonel Gyimah Danso and Brigadier General H Nana-Acheampong as Directors of Engineer Services are relished with nostalgia.

In recent times, the tenure of office of then Colonel and now Brigadier General CS Alhassan (GH/2213) as Director of Engineer Services saw harmony between the two Regiments and their personnel.

What enabled these Directors of Engineer Services to cultivate, nurture and sustain the peaceful and harmonious relationship was essentially owing to the fact that they were professionals in the various disciplines of engineering. They understood the real professionals (civil engineers, electrical engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and building technologists among others) and the artisans and craftsmen and knew where to draw the lines, allocate responsibilities and duties according to their respective acumen, experiences, know-how, expert opinion and advice.

Unfortunately, for the Engineer Corps, the situation changed drastically when then Colonel and now Brigadier General Francis Ofori (GH/2162) became the Director of Engineer Services on 20^th December 2013.

Owing to inferiority complex, Brigadier General F Ofori did not feel comfortable working with the real professionals. He refused to take advice and expert opinion from the real professional architects, electrical and civil engineers, quantity surveyors and building technologists but rather preferred dealing with non-professionals and “compromised professionals”. This way, Brigadier General F Ofori was able to have firm control in the award of contracts. He selected his contractors-main and subsidiary ones- for all the major contracts in the various Garrisons of the Ghana Armed Forces.

All the contractors are currently opposition members who had been brought into the system since the tenure of General Smith as the Defence Minister. The Engineer Corps and opposition solidarity was exploited and deepened by Brigadier General F Ofori to the exclusion of all non-NDC contractors.

Worse still, almost all the contracts entered into or promoted by Brigadier General F Ofori for various projects in the Ghana Armed Forces were “sole-sourcing”. Then Colonel Ofori and his Engineer and NDC cohorts ensured that their preferred contractors for specific projects were selected based on the “sole sourcing” facility in the Procurement Act.

This arrangement did not find favour with the real professionals at the Directorate of Engineer Services and 49 Engineer Regiment. The faint-hearted professionals, after several unsuccessful discussions and hearings on the need to use professional approaches in assessing contract sums and in the award of the contracts ultimately, either retired voluntarily from the service or remained dumb and irrelevant in the Engineer Corps.

Other professionals who would not bulge and kowtow to the wishes and unprofessional directives of Brigadier General Ofori were victimized and humiliated. Some of these patriotic officers who would do due diligence for value for money and high standards in the award and execution of contracts have been denied promotion to their next appropriate ranks. 

Some of them were posted out of the main Engineer Corps to units, departments and formations where their professional expertise and knowledge are either not being used at all or are seriously being under-utilized in order to satisfy Brigadier General Ofori’s whims and caprices.

One such professional engineer officer who has suffered unnecessarily under the instructions of then Colonel and now Brigadier General Francis  Ofori is Lieutenant Colonel Bennet Kwaku-Mensah Arkutu (GH/2626) who  in 2014 was posted out of GHQ(DES) and 49 Engineer Regiment to Army Headquarters as Deputy Director Administration.

Realizing that Lieutenant Colonel BK Arkutu might be able to win the favour of the Chief of Army Staff, as an Army officer, while working at the Army Headquarters, then Colonel F Ofori managed to get him posted out of Army Headquarters to the Headquarters Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS), Command as the Commanding Officer on 26^th February, 2016. Lieutenant Colonel BK Arkutu has remained at MATS, HQ as the CO while former Colonel Francis Ofori has been appointed the Commander of Support Services Brigade Group and has been promoted Brigadier General since 1^st July, 2016. 

Brigadier General F Ofori perceived Lieutenant Colonel BK Arkutu as a member of the New Patriotic Party and therefore did everything humanly possible to frustrate Lieutenant Colonel BK Arkutu in terms of job satisfaction, appointments and promotion. 

Currently, Lieutenant Colonel BK Arkutu remains one of the senior-most Lieutenant Colonels and as a PSC (Passed Staff College) qualified Regular Officer and a professional more than deserves to be promoted to the rank of full Colonel. But will it happen? Perhaps Yes, but may be not any soon.

Why? Because Brigadier General F Ofori continues to be the main power broker in the Engineer Corps today even under the NPP Administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The multi-dollar question that members of PACOM are asking is this: “When shall Brigadier General Francis Ofori be made to face the full rigors of the law?”. Members of PACOM are armed with all the allegations on the “sole sourcing contracts” signed by and executed during the tenure of Brigadier General F Ofori as the Director of Engineer Services of the Ghana Armed Forces.

PACOM is demanding a forensic audit into the activities, actions and contracts of then Colonel Francis Ofori as a matter of urgency. The allegations are rife that most of the “sole sourcing contracts” are stinking with malfeasance.

Allegations about the Tamale projects and others require immediate action and forensic audit. Nothing more nothing less!!! 

The Directorate of Engineer Services follows only the Department of Plans and Development in the allocation of budgetary funds. GHQ (DES) controls “very heavy budgetary” items and funds that must be used in the best interest of the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation state Ghana. Obtaining maximum value for money according to the highest standards and best practices should be matters of concern to a disciplined institution such as the Ghana Armed Forces.

Unfortunately, PACOM is of the opinion that, that did not happen when then Colonel F Ofori was the Director of Engineer Services. He is alleged to have sidelined all patriotic professionals at the Directorate to enable him “milk” the system to its barest breasts.

In order to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations made by PACOM and silent observers at GHQ (DES) and 49 Engineer Regiment against now Brigadier General F Ofori, the DAYBREAK is calling on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and ultimately the President and Commander In Chief of Ghana Armed Forces to institute an urgent forensic audit into all contracts entered into by GHQ (DES) on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces especially since 20^th December 2013.

It is also alleged by observers at GHQ (DES) and 49 Engineer Regiment that then Colonel Francis Ofori took away several machines and equipment (especially generators) belonging to the Ghana Armed Force.

In order to determine the truth or falsity in all these allegations, a forensic audit may be imperative.

Fortunately, some of the officers and men are ready, willing and anxious to provide useful pieces of information on all these allegations if the forensic audit were to be conducted. 

  

In order to “cover his back” and to seal all those stinking sole sourcing contracts then Colonel F Ofori managed to get a “combat engineer” and not a “Works Services engineer” to succeed him.

Thus, Colonel Daniel Yaw AduBoafo Nyarko (GH/2425), a combat engineer, was preferred to Colonels Patrick Korankye Apenkwah (GH/2529) and Jonathan Mensh Opai – Tetteh (GH/2574).

Colonels PK Apenkwah and JM Opai-Tetteh who are professional engineers have been scattered and posted to GHQ(Logistics) as Director Lands and Director Logistics respectively, far away from GHQ (DES) where Brigadier General Francis Ofori and his surrogates are in firm control awarding their sole sourcing contracts.

It is alleged that even though Brigadier General Ofori is the Commander Support services Brigade Group, he continues to control remotely all the contracts and activities of GHQ (DES).

What an unfair system?

Members of PACOM allege that Brigadier General F Ofori exploited his membership of the NDC to full advantage. There is no doubt that Brigadier General Ofori is a full member and proud one of NDC. He does not hide his membership of and association with the NDC. He has openly been supporting, financing and strategizing for the NDC over the years. 

As a “barracks boy” (son of an Other Rank of the Supply and Transport Corps), who joined the officer corps during the era of the Provisional National Defence Council of FLT LT JJ Rawlings, Brigadier General F Ofori and his wife, Aba, have always fallen in love with the P/NDC and NDC governments of Jerry Rawlings, Professor Mills and Mr. Mahama.

Brigadier General F Ofori has been exceptionally lucky and fortunate to be covered by the umbrella of the NDC and the canopy of the Engineer Corps. He was and remains the darling boy of General JH Smith owing to the Engineer Corps solidarity. He benefitted from the same warmth and succor of the late General Mensah Wood. He would have benefitted even more than this had Gen Mensah Woodd “been allowed” to live longer.

As the ADC to General Mensah – Wood, who was then the Chief of Defence Staff (General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Forces), then Captain Francis Ofori got introduced to and acquainted with most of the prominent and respected serving and retired Officers of the Engineer Corps. 

Right from the Ghana Military Academy an umbilical cord link had been established between then Major Emmanuel Okyere and Officer Cadet Francis Ofori.

With his commission into the Engineer Corps on 17^th August 1985, Second Lieutenant Francis Ofori got into touch with other serving Engineer Officers such as Colonel Lord Attivor (GH/1187), Lieutenant Colonel RE Baiden (GH/1260), Lieutenant Colonel F Adu-Amanfo (GH/1264),  Lieutenant Colonel JT Dottey (GH/1267), Lieutenant Colonel AA Donkor (GH/1392), Lieutenant Colonel PK Opoku (GH/1426), Lieutenant Colonel CS Modey (GH/1434), Lieutenant Colonel GY Dordunoo (GH/1450), Lieutenant Colonel AK Amedoh (GH/1510), Major GY Mahunu (GH/1672), Major B Musah (GH/1759), Major  JK Klobodu (GH/1763) and several others.

The network of the Engineer officers has become very useful to Brigadier General F Ofori to date. The Engineer Corps had been predominantly PNDC and NDC omented.  It has been continuity and business as usual whether the NDC or the NPP is in power.

Brigadier General F Ofori has used “eye service” boot licking and sycophancy to survive the Kufuor Administration after demonstrating over-zealously his PNDC and NDC affinities during the regimes of Jerry Rawlings

The second- coming of the NDC under the regimes of Professor Mills and John Mahama became a special blessing for then Lieutenant Colonel Francis Ofori. Between January 2009 and January 2017, Lieutenant Colonel F Ofori has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (two incremental jumps within 7years; promoted Colonel on 26^th January 2011 and Brigadier General on 1^st July 2016).

In addition to juicy appointments and promotions, Brigadier General F Ofori has become fabulously rich within the period in question.

Brigadier General F Ofori has demonstrated his richness to all and sundry in the Ghana Armed Forces and the entire world or universe. The evidence of his opulence may be found in the Armed Forces News (AFnews) issue No 127 for the Fourth Quarter 2016 at Page 7.

In a report by one Raphael Ohene- Kwapong, it is stated as follows “Commander Support Services Brigade Group, Brigadier General Francis Ofori has donated sets of computers and Uninterruptible Power Supper (UPS) to some units of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Support Services Headquarters at Burma Camp on Wednesday 30 November 2016.

According to Brigadier General Ofori, the donation was a personal initiative to assist the beneficiary units to foster work efficiency.

The items were received by the Commanding Officer (CO) Lieutenant Colonel Abednego Shooter of 49 Engineers and also supervised by the distribution of the items to the beneficiary units on behalf of the Commander.

In all, 12 sets of computers with UPS and earphones were given to 11 units. Among the units that benefitted were Armed Forces Central Band (AFCB), GHQ Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), GHQ Camp and Ghana Military Police (GMP) among others..”

The report in the AFnews has gone unnoticed because most readers could not ascribe any meaning to it. At best, most readers see him as heroic philanthropist. But to the well informed keen observer, the gesture calls for several pertinent questions and thorough interrogations.

Firstly, there is the need for a clarification on the clause “a personal initiative” May we rightly assume that the sets of computers, UPS and accessories were bought by Brigadier General Francis Ofori from his own financial resources? Or is it a case that he solicited for donors who willingly gave these items to him to be distributed among the units under his command? 

Even though that is a possibility, we may refuse to go by or accept it. The reason is that if Brigadier General Ofori managed to secure donors (benevolent ones) and the items were to be given to those military units pro bono then it was unfair for Brigadier General Ofori to refuse or fail to make a full disclosure to that effect. Those benefactors, obviously undertaking part of their corporate or civic responsibility to humankind, may very well want to be credited for that. 

No such donation may prudently be done in conditions of anonymity. Even the Lord Jesus Christ admonishes us to show gratitude to our benefactors and persons who show compassion and love on the vulnerable through the parable of the lepers.  How much more Military Personnel?

In the circumstances, we are persuaded and rightly so, to conclude that the 12 sets of computers, UPS and accessories were bought by Brigadier General F Ofori from his own resources and should be accounted for. Working conveniently with that assumption, may we please know the price of a set of the computer, UPS and the accessories either in Cedis or Dollars?

We estimate that each set of computers, UPS and accessories would conservatively cost about at least $150.  If we even work with that assumption, the cost of the twelve sets would be in the neighborhood of $1,600. We dare say that the unit price of one set of those computers, UPS and accessories may be more than US $150.00

Granted that it is just about $150 per a set culminating in a total cost of about one thousand six hundred dollars which could be converted to Ghana cedis at not less than GH¢ 6,400

How much is Brigadier F Ofori’s monthly income? How much of his income is spent on his household (Feeding and maintenance of his wife and children)? How many of his children are working for reliable monthly or periodic income? What about the children in school? How much is spent on the education of those kids?

Since Mrs. Aba Ofori took advantage of GCB’s policy of redundancy, how much is her monthly support to the family income? How much financial support comes from the working children (or should I say young men) of the Ofori family? What therefore is the Gross Income of the family? What would be the Net Monthly Income of the Ofori family?

How long (number of months) did it take Brigadier General Francis Ofori and his family to accumulate the savings with which he bought those sets of computers, for these 11 units of the GAF?

These are relevant pertinent questions that Brigadier General Francis Ofori must answer with documentary and convincing evidence. He should not wish them away.

We are more strengthened and justified by public interest to demand that there should be a forensic enquiry/audit into the affairs of GHQ (DES) during the period that Brigadier General Francis Ofori was the Director of Engineer Services.

And Brigadier General F Ofori is currently in Germany with his family for holidays.

And we know that your wife cooks for Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere who is your main anchor but we shall return.

Peacekeeping Slots Go For $3000

One of the greatest concerns of the Patriotic Concerned Officers and Men (PACOM) of the Ghana Armed Forces is about the allocation of vacancies to Units, Formations, Commands, Bases, Services Headquarters, General Headquarters, Departments, Directorates, Offices and Staff Officers for peacekeeping operations.

Reliable information in the custody of PACOM and forwarded to the DAYBREAK newspaper indicates that very senior officers in the military have turned the allocation of  vacancies for peacekeeping operations into a goldmine from which they are excavating several thousands of American Dollars.

The allegation is so stinking and reprehensible that Major Generals OB Akwa and WA Ayamdo must put their feet down, act swiftly, immediately and urgently in order to avoid any form of mutiny in the military.

The allegation is that each time vacancies are given by the United Nations for the various Mission Areas of peace support operations, according to the Order of Battle (ORBAT), some of the staff officers at Army Headquarters, other Service Headquarters, General Headquarters, Formation Headquarters, Command Headquarters, Base Headquarters, Unit Headquarters, Departments and Directorates sell some of the vacancies to poor soldiers who  are desperate to go on peace support operations in order to improve upon their economic circumstances.

Investigations conducted by DAYBREAK have revealed that some vacancies are either reserved for these staff officers or are added to the regular allocation with the explanation that the additional vacancies are meant for specified Staff Officers, Director Generals, Directors, Commanding Officers or Officer Commanding or these Staff Officers give the names directly to the Director Army Peacekeeping Operations (DAPKOP) who releases them subsequently to the individual soldiers concerned. 

The Staff Officers then charge these poor soldiers between $2,000 and $3,000 per soldier per an operation.

Some of the staff officers are allocated as many as six (6) vacancies for each operational area. Thus, one staff officer may get as many as twenty-four vacancies (six times four) for four operational areas in a year.

A conservative calculation shows that such a staff officer would receive a minimum of $42,000 per annum and as high as $72, 0000 per annum. 

The  number of operations concerned is given as follows: Labanon (UNIFIL), Congo (MONUSCO), Southern Sudan (UNMISS), Liberia (UNMIL), Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), Mali (MINUSMA) and United Nations Military Observer Missions (MILOBS) or Staff Officers.

At the peak of the peace keeping operations by formed troops, Ghana could boast of about six Mission Areas between 2010 and 2015. Additionally, Ghanaian officers were selected for United Nations Observer Military Missions (MILOBs) or Staff Officers in various countries around the world.

Thus, at the peak of the External Peace Support Operations, the Staff Officers in charge of allocating vacancies or to whom certain vacancies had been allocated could “earn” as much as $108,000 ($3,000x 6 persons x 6 operational areas) or a minimum of $72,000 ($2,000 x 6 persons x 6 operational areas) per annum while in Ghana without participating in any of the operations themselves.

This practice which has been on-going for some years now with impunity amounts to “slavery or servitude” in the Ghana Armed Forces.

It is so sad that this inhuman treatment is being meted out to poor soldiers by their superiors who are Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors and their equivalents or Chief Warrant Officers.

The allegation is that these officers either make the offer to the soldiers or the soldiers who are aware of the “facility” go to these staff officers or appointment holders to negotiate for these vacancies at the pre-arranged prices ranging between $2,000 and $3,000 depending on the Mission Area, period (duration) and whether it is formed troops peace support operation or Military Observer Mission.

In course of our investigations, it came to light that the main architects of this inhuman, irresponsible, insensitive and reprehensible practice are the Directors Army Peacekeeping Operations (DAPKOP) and Army Secretaries at Army Headquarters and some Commanding Officers of some Battalions and Regiments. The names of some Director Generals and Directors also featured prominently.

An assessment of the pieces of evidence showed that the names of two Colonels who were DAPKOPs and Army Secretaries respectively between 2013 and early part of 2016 were synonymous to the practice of offering peacekeeping vacancies to officers and men for a “fee” or “charge”.

The officers allegedly linked to this practice are Colonel JK Akou-Adjei (GH/2268) and now Brigadier General NK Kporku (GH/2163).

Colonel JK Akou-Adjei was the Army Secretary between 20^th December 2012 and 7^th April 2016 when he recommended himself for Course Overseas in the United States of America and left the shores of Ghana.

Then Colonel (and now Brigadier General) NK Kporku was appointed Director Army Peacekeeping Operations on 26^th April 2013 and remained so until 1^st July 2016 when he was appointed Director General Joint Operations at the General Headquarters and promoted Brigadier General.

The allegations have it that then Colonel NK Kporku reserved at least six (6) vacancies on each operation for the then most powerful Army Secretary, Colonel JK Akou-Adjei for his “administration”.

Others beneficiaries allegedly included Colonel LK Gbetanu, then Commanding Officer 5 Battalion, Brigadier General AK Adu then Director Military Records and Colonel RJK Komlaga, Deputy Director Defence Intelligence (DI).

The allegation have it that several “friends” at the Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Airforce Headquarters, General Headquarters, Command Headquarters, Formation Headquarters, Base Headquarters, Commanding Officers and Officers Commanding units and sub-units respectively benefitted from the “vacancy allocations”.

Colonel NK Kporku is alleged to have also kept some “reserves” (vacancies) at the DAPKOP’s office which were also issued out along the same terms as or more favorable terms than those offered by Colonel JK Akou-Adjei.

Additionally Colonel JK Akou-Adjei is alleged to have offered Military Observer Missions (MILOBS)/Staff Officers’ vacancies to some Commissioned Officers for similar or higher “fees” or “charges”.

Some of the officers and men who were “victims” of these acts of “slavery or servitude” and were interviewed by our sources claimed that they had become desperate and needed urgently those operations to “survive” and/or to “avoid very shameful embarrassment in their economic circumstances”.

According to some of these victims, they needed the dollars to care for their families and also to undertake various projects. They were therefore willing and prepared to forgo about one-third or one-quarter of their “Earned Dollar” to their benefactors (Colonels Kporku and Akou-Adjei in particular) in order to make ends meet.

Most of these “victims” claimed that they did not have any reliable persons to lean on in order to get these operations. They intimated that accepting those terms (parting with between $2,000 or $3,000) enabled them to jump the queue of non-participants or seniority of participants. Thus, these officers and men (victims of slavery or servitude by then Colonels Kporku and Akou-Adjei) did not consider the immoral and unprofessional aspects of the “contract of servitude” but were rather grateful to these vampires.

Most of them said the Animal farm situation that had been created in the barracks by the NDC administration of John Mills and John Mahama pushed them to accept those “contracts of slavery” as the alternative was living in poverty and disgrace while the NDC favoured ones lived in opulence and extravagance in and outside the barracks.

Notwithstanding the fact that most of the victims entered into these contracts of slavery or servitude out of their own volition, PACOM and this paper feel strongly that the alleged conduct of all the officers involved is unacceptable, shameful and prejudicial to good order and discipline contrary to Section 54 of the Armed Forces Act, 1962, Act 105.

Again, the conduct of those officers, especially Colonel JK Akou-Adjei and Brigadier General NK Kporku, if proven to be true, would be scandalous and wicked and would constitute offences under Section 32 of the Armed Forces Act, 1962, Act 105.

In fairness to the two “principal suspects” in the alleged “Earned Dollar Sharing Agreement between staff officers and servants of Peacekeeping Operations”, PACOM is demanding an impartial inquiry into the allegation.

PACOM is aware that one of the principal characters in the alleged scandal-Colonel JK Akou-Adjei- is on course in the USA and may have to return to Ghana before a full scale inquiry by way of a Board of Inquiry could be instituted into the allegations. However, in order to avoid the continuity of that practice, the current Chief of Army Staff, Major General WA Ayamdo and the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General OB Akwa, the immediate past COAS, are humbly requested to put mechanisms in place immediately to protect the pieces of evidence that may be available at the office of the DAPKOP at Army Headquarters.

Furthermore, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff are humbly requested to streamline the allocation of vacancies for peacekeeping operations such that those “abuses” by staff officers for pecuniary purposes and interest are eschewed.

The Chief of Army Staff, the Chief Staff Officer at Army Headquarters and the Chief of Defence Staff are please requested to take special interest in the ORBAT of every operation, vacancies allocated to Services, Formations, Commands, Bases, Units, Departments, Directorates and offices (i.e. Forces Sergeant Major’s Office).

Furthermore, the Department of Defence Intelligence needs to be re-organized to reflect the current political realities in order to make it more effective, purposeful and relevant.

The previous NDC Administration had deliberately removed all professional “intelligence officers” who were either neutral or suspected to be sympathetic to the NPP or were seen to have been posted to the Department of Defence Intelligence during the regime of President JA Kufuor.

In the places of these professionally upright “Intelligence Officers” such as Brigadier General T Oppong-Peprah and Colonel Agyemang Prempeh, the following officers with the NDC Umbrella on their heads were made to inundate the Department of Defence Intelligence: Colonel RJK Komlaga (GH/2497)-DDG, Colonel Mohammed Mustapha (GH/2426)-Course Overseas, Colonel Twum Ampofo Gyekye (GH/2436)-D CINT, Colonel Isaac Nicholas Paintsil (GH/2560)- D Trg, Colonel Fuseini Salifu (GH/2638)- D CINT, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Ebenezer Alo (GH/2824)- DD OPINT, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Kelvin Merdiemah (GH/2898) DD CINT, Lieutenant Colonel Elikem Korku Fiamavle (GH/2926)-DD DIT, Major Richard Komla Nyamador (GH/3051) AD CINT, Squadron Leader Mark Kizito Adelibam (GH/3092) AD DIT, Lieutenant Commander Paul Vuoche Aatara (GH/3492) AD OPINT and Major BA Khemchand (GH/3219) OC 5DDI

It is obvious that the above-named “Umbrella officers” have been positioned strategically and tactically to serve the interest of the NDC. They are real moles and would thwart all efforts to “clean the system” as the “purgatives” will affect the “NDC eaglets” sitting on the umbrella. But that should be expected when the previous NDC Administration deliberately adopted a divide and rule policy by giving appointments to their favorites, cronies and kinsmen. They had also anticipated that there could be a change in government but would remain in “effective power” owing to the strategic and tactical appointment that they reserved for themselves.

As matters stand now, no action can be taken against the “NDC current and former appointees” in the Armed Forces. The likes of Colonel JK Akou-Adjei, Brigadier General NK Kporku and Air Commodore IR Wayoe would walk away free with the NDC Service Commanders, Chief of Staff, Director Generals and Directors still in firm control of affairs. 

It is extremely sad that persons previously considered to be enemies of the NDC (because they were suspected to be NPP sympathizers) in the barracks and were victimized, humiliated, harassed and dehumanized are still at the mercy of these wicked, vicious and callous appointment holders.

Rather sadly also, there are some so called NPP office holders who are more than prepared to protect the “NDC gurus” in the barracks at the expense and to the detriment of ever poor, vulnerable and unprotected “NPP faithfuls” in the barracks. Eh, hmm, Asem beba o!

PACOM wants the allegation of “dollar extortion” by the former Army Secretary and Director Army Peacekeeping Operations to be fully investigated. Even though attempts may be made by the “suspects” to interfere with and pervert the course of justice, PACOM is convinced that if there is the good will and determination to “uproot this canker”, the relevant documentary pieces of evidence could be found.

Witnesses, who were victims of the scandalous practice, may fear to appear to give information voluntarily because of possible victimization thereafter by members of the cabal and mafia.

But it cannot be business as usual, oooo!!!