Open Letter to Gbevlo, Smith and the CDS (Part 2)

1. To remember all on these year’s Independent Day Celebration, some troops were seen at the parade presenting them as SF which brought fear to the general public.   

Just after the celebrations, the said SF was dissolved.  72 young soldiers of the rank of Cpls and below were later sent to Asutuare Camp to be train for a special purpose known to the GAF.  An official letter from the Chief of Staffs of the GAF indicated the distribution of the entire GAF into 3 groups to be deployed in 8 out of the 10 Regions. 

2. They have completed the training and have been deployed with their own tasks. They have been divided into three groups.  The 1^st group is located at Agyriganor and are been trained by some Cuban Expects and Personal Security Officers (PSO) of Castle.  The 2^nd group lives in the Barracks and performs their duties to and from the Castle. To remember you, during the funeral of the Late President Mills, some young men were seen in suits with red ties; they are the 3^rd group.  At the moment, they are located at an unknown place. Under-listed are few of the SF whose names have been retrieved:

Cpl Dormabele Snr                             Cpl Dormabele Jnr

Cpl Tando                                            Cpl Ankemah

L/Cpl Ameyaw                                     L/Cpl Natornah

L/Cpl Issah                                          L/Cpl Anyomi

L/Cpl Yeboah                                     Pte Bu-Blaummeh

Pte Boakye                                          Pte Adrah

Pte Mohamed                                      Pte Oppong

3. During the 2008 General Election, NDC won most of the Central Region Poll through the help from 64 Infantry Regiment. Similar task has been assigned them this year.  Locations to operate are Cape Coast Metropolis, KEEA Municipality, Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, Assin North and South Districts and Winneba.  According to a letter I have seen, suitable accommodation has been allocated to them in those locations for same duties and the CO – 64 is to visit Dunkwa-on-Offin for same task.  Their aim is to organize a fake duty call, Operation Peace Trail, just to deceive the people around, of their safety during and after the incoming election.  In his brief, he also talked of an effort being made to ask for old vehicles from Forestry Commission to be repaired for such operation in the Central Region.

4. In the GAF, every unit purchases its own Corps of Drums. In the issue of 64 Infantry Regiment, according to the CO, he had received 16 brand new musical instruments from National Security for the establishment of their Unit Corps of Drums. As we are talking, some personnel are undergoing training at the Central Band.  At the moment, the 64 Infantry Regiment as they are known to the public, but whose real name is (SIX FOUR – 6, 4), meaning June Fourth, are been portray as Super-Powers of the GAF.  I don’t know whether it has come to your notice; have you watched its colours and that of NDC Party colours, what is the difference?

5. During Colonel Oppong-Peprah’s period as CO 64 Inf Regt, he put up a 1 x 10-Unit Flat project, which was almost at the finishing stage (Roofing) located closer to the Recce Regt and 64 Cook House. This project has been abundant for so many years.  From the present CO’s brief, he made mention of shortage of funds to complete the said project, so assistance is needed.  Right now, the unit has putting up timber on the project with the help from Directorate of Engineer Service.

Questions

There are so many areas recognized as problem zone, Central Region has never been describe as such, why is it that, only that Region has been  chosen for such duties and not the other problem areas like as Hohoe and others?

The GAF is to provide all the needed equipment to operate on any duty it wants to perform. Can High Command tell the whole nation, why they are going for unserviceable vehicles from the Forestry Department and this time, it is not from their usual National Security?

Talking about the corps of drums for every unit in the GAF, it is a way of investment for all units not to depend fully on the GAF. Upon that, all Units purchase its own Corps of Drums, but this time, 64 Inf Regt received a free Drums from the National Security.  Why, was it donated from the National Security?

Can the CO state where his project is located, apart from that of Col Oppong-Peprah’s project?

6. Talking of statistics of Command structure in the GAF, specifically, how Battalion Units are been run.   Under-listed is the table of prove:

Srl	Rank	Full Name	Unit	Appt Date	Remarks
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)
1	Col	Anthony Kwasi Dzisi	Pay Office	12 Mar 09	Ewe
2.	Lt Col	Mohammed Mustapha	48 Engrs	31 Dec 08	Ewe
3.	Lt Col	Wekite Abase Seidu	66 Arty	12 Mar 09	North
4.	Lt Col	Cornelius Kobla Lithur	3 Bn	22 Jul 09	Ewe
5.	Lt Col	Lawrence Gbetanu	5 Bn	22 Jul 09	Ewe
6.	Lt Col	Stephen Kwaku Parbey	4 Bn	08 Jul 10	Ewe
7.	Lt Col	James Hagan	6 Bn	22 Jul 11	Akan
8.	Lt Col	Isaac Nicholas Paintsil	64 Regt	09 Mar 12	Fanti (But)
9.	Lt Col	George Tawiah Sam	2 Bn	17 Jul 12	Fanti
10.	Lt Col	Frederick Dankyi Ntiri	1 Bn	09 Mar 12	Ewe
11.	Lt Col	Ben Gah	Recce Regt	21 May 12	Ewe
12.	Lt Col	F Ampofo-Gyakye	ABF	25 Aug 12	Akan (But)
13.	Maj	AduseiPoku	Central Band	29 Feb 12	North Volta

PROMOTION OTHER RANKS

MANDATORY NUMBER OF YEARS IN RANK

SERVICE AND COURSES ATTENDED – 25 YEARS

7.  Before a soldier is promoted, one has to cover some period.  Under-listed are tables to show the structure of GAF promotion. 

           

Srl	Rank	Years In Rank	Years In Service	Courses	Remarks
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)
1.	Recruit	6 Mths	6 Mths	Recruit Trg	6 Months
2.	Private Class III	6 Mths	1 Year	Candidates should attend relevant career courses	Annual Report/Confidential Reports should accompany all recommendations
3.	Private Class II	6 Mths	2 Years
4.	Private Class I	6 Mths	4 Years
5.	L/Cpl to Cpl	4 Years	8 Years
6.	Cpl to Sgt	4 Years	12 Years
7.	Sgt to Staff Sgt	3 Years	15 Years
8.	Staff Sgt to WOII	3 Years	18 Years
9.	WOII to WOI	2 Years	20 Years

8. In the military, every soldier has to be in a Substantive Paid rank before been moved to higher rank.  WOII Joseph Kaku was enlisted into the GAF in 1999.   The said WOII is a cousin and a personal Clerk of the CDS.  He has in the short time rising from the rank of a Cpl to WOII in less than 4 years.  He was a Cpl in 2004, when he offended and was reduced from his rank to a Private Soldier and appointed L/Cpl same day.  On 15^th Jun 08, he was promoted from L/Cpl to Cpl.  31^st Dec 08 almost 6 months, he was appointed Acting Sgt. A rank he was never given a Substantive Paid Rank but was promoted to Staff Sgt on 10^th Jul 09, less than 1 years.  He is at the moment a (WOII) on 5^th Jul 12, but low and behold, he was back dated by higher command to read 31^st Dec 11, almost 7 months back dated.  He is less than 13 years in service and boosting about that, he will surely be promoted to WOI by the end of the year because of his relationship with the CDS.  

9. S/Sgt Sulemana Mohammed was also enlisted into the GAF in 2003.  He is a staff at the CDS office.  He has risen from A/Cpl to S/Sgt in less than 4 years.  On 29^th Jan 09, he was appointed Acting Cpl.  He never had his Substantive Paid Rank but was promoted Sgt on 10^th Jul 09, in less than 6 months.  He is at the moment a (S/SGT) on 5^th Jul 12, but was also back-dated by higher authorities to read 31^st Dec 11.  He is less than 9 years in service and believing surely that, he will be promoted to WOII by the end of the year, because he is working with the CDS.  

10. In 2003, S/Sgt Mohammed Awal was enlisted into the GAF.  Right now, he is a personal driver of the CDS.  He has risen from A/Cpl to S/Sgt in less than 4 years.  On 21^st Jan 09, he was appointed Acting Cpl.  He was promoted Substantive Paid Cpl on the 1^st Dec 09, in less than 1 year. He was again appointed Acting Sgt on the 7^th Nov 10, a rank that he was never given a Substantive Paid Rank in less than 9 months.  As we are talking, he is a (S/SGT) on 5^th Jul 12, but was back-dated by higher command to read 31^st Dec 11.  He is less than 9 years in service and believing surely that he will be promoted to WOII by the end of the year, because he is the driver of the CDS.  

11. S/Sgt Abdulai Haruna was also enlisted into the GAF in 2003; he is also a personal driver of the CDS.  He has risen from A/Cpl in less than 4 years to S/Sgt.  On 22^nd May 08, he was appointed Acting Cpl.  On 10^th Jul 09, he was promoted to the higher rank of Sgt, whereby he was never promoted a Substantive Paid Cpl.   Right now, he is a (S/SGT) on 5^th Jul 12, but was back dated by higher authorities to read 31^st Dec 11.  He is less than 9 years in service and believing surely that he will be promoted to WOII by the end of the year, because of him being his personal driver.

12. Sgt Williams Acheampong was also enlisted into the GAF in 2003, and a Body Guard of the CDS.  He was posted to this office when his formal Body Guard went for officer commission.  Almost all his mates in the Battalion Unit where he was posted from to this office are either L/Cpl’s or A/Cpl’s.  He had his SGT rank on 5^th Jul 12, but was back dated by higher authorities to read 31^st Dec 11.  He is less than 9 years in service and believing surely that he will be promoted to S/SGT by the end of the year as a Body Guard to the CDS.

13. According to the GAF Regulation, all service personnel are to serve for 25 years before retirement.  Again, for a soldier to be promoted, he/she has to under-go a medical check-up and completes a form called Re-engagement.  In every soldier’s first 10 years in service, he/she is automatic re-engaged by the Forces Records Office.  His/her first re-engagement that need a medical check-up is at age 15 of service.  Right now, some of the soldiers are over 25 years and have finished all his/her re-engagement period, not retirement and still serving the nation.  Command is not accepting their promotion to their next high rank.  Information indicates that, he/she should be re-engaged before promoted.  Till date, High Command has not come out clearly of how many years a soldier is to serve before retirement where by one will be qualify to his next higher rank.   

QUESTIONS

Talking of WOII Kaku, troops want to know whether the mandated years of service for promotion are working or not?

Why was WOII Kaku and the other staffs in the CDS Office not promoted to a Substantive Ranks before their next higher rank and whether the years in rank and service are workable?

  

    Is it ones fault to work with lower offices or should everybody work with High Authorities before he/she is promoted?

How come Command has sat down for the CDS’s Staff to be promoted in less than 4 years from a lower rank to the higher ranks?

INCOMING ELECTION

14. Information gathered from High Command indicated that, troops who have just rotated from UNIFIL – Lebanon, UNMIL – Liberia. UNOCI in La Cote D’Ivoire and MONUSCO – Congo cannot vote in the incoming general elections but registered with the Biometric system. Right now, the EC is registering Diplomat for proxy votes in the Barracks.

15.  On 27^th September, 2012, at the 5Bn Junior Rank Mess, troops received lectures on Operation Peace Trail from the Greater Accra Regional Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Alexander Opoku-Akubea on Troop’s Role Before, During and After election.  Questions time was allowed after the lectures for the troops.  A soldier asked a question on the CI 78 issue that, if the CI 78 will bring any problem in the nation, why can’t the nation wait for the right time?   He answered and I quote, “I wonder how people who called themselves Politicians and Learned Lawyers can be that STUPID by saying, the timing was wrong and that there were errors in the CI’s.  Who created these errors?  Wasn’t it their own political gains, just because they don’t want the CI to come into being” unquote.

16. A question about proxy votes was also thrown to him and he said, “As for the proxy voting, it will come on and it is to our favor.  At first, we decided not to agree to the proxy voting, but we later thought it otherwise, because we do not want to disenfranchise any soldiers that would be away.  Their number can make up difference.

17. Another question was asked on ROPAL not being implemented, but people are been registered abroad by EC?   And this was what he said, “Yes, ROPAL is not implemented, however there is the need to register students on government scholarships and Embassy officials and staffs and those on mission aboard.  This is not the first time we undertook such exercise.  We have been doing this for many years when it was their time, because all those people must vote” he retorted. 

18. Generally, the gentleman’s demeanour pointed to the fact that, he was acting as representative of the government and not independent as they always want people to believe. In fact, everything he said was directly in favour of the government with the mind set that, all the soldiers in the lecture room are in support of their present government.

QUESTIONS:

  

  Can Command tell troops who have returned from the above-mentioned missions and have already registered, why they cannot vote?  If they are refused voting, then who is going to use their names to vote?

Troops want to know how the proxy voting is going to work as most of the troops are already in the mission area?

Authorities have started registration for Diplomats and Government appointees in the Mission Areas.  Information gathered indicates that they will be voting on proxy basis, what is the truth in this story?

With this short brief, why can’t Mr. Alexander Opoku-Akubea the Greater Accra EC boss be brought to book for polluting the soldiers?

STATE OF IN-SECURITY

19. From the initial days of Kufour’s government, when the Operation Calm Life started in the cities of Accra, GAF was operating with 12 Pick-Up vehicles and were chalking all the success from the entire public.

To tell you the truth, troops are willing to serve the nation when all needed equipments are in place and available.  At the moment, the said duties is been operated with 3 vehicles till date instead of the 12, all this is due to lack of maintenance of the vehicles, bad tires and other uncontrollable  difficulties on the vehicles.

20. Talking about in-security in the country, it is totally different from the Peace Talk being preached by the Prez Mahama and his team.  I am to inform you that, some retired loyal soldiers of the 1983 Group of this government have been called by National Security and are been used with issued Military Uniforms.  To mention few of the retired soldiers I have seen in military uniform are EX WOI’s MARTEY and LATSUA who were formally with the Military Academy Training School (MATS).  Right now, that is the topic on all tables everywhere in the Barracks.  At the beginning of the year, National Security bought 500 per of Camouflage Uniforms from the Army Shop.

QUESTION

  

 Command should come out and tell us why the vehicles for Operation Clam Life have dropped from 12 to 3 till date?

  

 Can Command tell the entire nation, if there are not enough vehicles available to operate in Accra, then why the new Operation at Central Region which is going to borrow unserviceable vehicles from Forestry?

What is Command saying about the retire soldiers in military uniforms and where they got the said military uniform from?

Open Letter to Gbevlo, Smith and the CDS (Part 1)

With two weeks to elections, I wish to put it on record that I am saddened by the open and reckless show of power that has characterized your administration in the last four years.

To have a peaceful election, I as Editor of this newspaper, have conducted some investigations which need answers from your outfit.

I hope, in spite of the naked hatred shown me, you would let your conscience prevail and read this so that all the slates are cleaned in fashioning out new arrangement in making Ghana a peaceful country. I have no where to run to like some of you; so I care about Ghana.

Please read on

1.  The under-mentioned are some useful information with its attachments to support my points to defuse the misinformation that is spreading out from the NDC Propaganda Team in the Barracks.

2. There have been so many propagandas going on in the Barracks such as, Dr. Bawumia comment on, when the NPP comes to power, soldiers Single Span Salary will be reduce and added to support the Free Senior High School Education Policy. Questions been asked from wives of soldiers is that, at the moment, their house keep monies cannot keep the house, why the reduction?  Because of this misinformation, some wives have been asked to join the NDC meetings to diffused this evil plans.

3. Another comment is that, Nana has also said that, when he comes to power, he will send soldiers to the bush to farm.  In that, at the moment there is nothing much for soldiers to do at home.  Believe you me, this comment from your team has gone down well with some of the wives and even some soldiers who are on the other side.  But I thought this community (barracks) is not used for politics or I lie? There are many ways you can win soldiers to your side but this is not one.

4. Those on the other side can talk of soldiers buying their own uniforms and boots.  Right now, how to get uniform is a big problem.  A particular Uniform for all Officers and Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) called; Number One Dress and a Stick which is supposed to be an initial issue to all Officers after commission and WOI when he/she is promoted from WOII is not available.  In the Military structure, a WOI is a General of the Other Ranks and equivalent to a Major in the Officer Corp.  To tell you the truth, every Officer receives his/her issue of the said dress, even those below the rank of a Major. Come back to the Barracks and see it yourself, what happened some years ago is going on again. What am I talking about? It was during Hon. Addo-Kufour’s administration that soldiers put on one uniform because the issued was been done regular.   At the moment, every soldier wears any type of camouflage he/she come across.  There is no offence on what you put on because no one can be question.

5. Per laws and regulations in the military, Parties are not to organized meetings within the Barracks.   But right now, such things are going on in the Camp.  One of such meetings is organized by the wife of Lt Col Robert Yaw Affram, assisted by EX WOI Brown’s wife (Sister Marrie) to pollute wives with negative things. They are linked up with MP for Dadekotopon and monies are being giving as loans.  These meetings are mostly organized in a Drinking Spot at Recce Junction and at El-Wak Night Market, just opposite the Air Force Officers Mess.

Questions

For your information, Soldiers are not on the SSSS Pay Policy but rather on Pay Adjustment.   Can you please ask them, who instituted the SSS pay policy?

During the Kufour Administration, soldiers were receiving their pay normal. Right now, Operational Allowance which was given to all troops whether on ground or in the mission area has been reduced from 33% to 20% of their Basic Pay. Risk Allowance which was paid to all soldiers has been removed from their Pay Roll. Can you tell them why all this reductions on our pay?

Talking about uniforms that are not available, soldiers put on any type of uniform they come across, which is not in uniformity. Can you tell them, whether you want them to go back to the 90’s when soldiers were dressing in different types?

Again, on the issue of soldier to the bush to farm, you should come out and tell the public where Nana stood to deliver such message?

To maintain the due respect between Officers and Men in terms of dressing, Command should tell troops, why those dresses are no more being issued to the WOI’s but to the Officers?

UNCOMPLETED ACCOMMODATIONS

6. During the construction of the Jubilee House at the Flag Staff House, the Kufour Administration deems it necessary to relocate all troops opposite the Jubilee House.  Upon that, there came a plan of building a new Flat in Burma Camp to accommodate those families, so the location will be used as Presidential Escort Living Area. 14 Flats of 16 family occupants totaling 224 Living Room project was put in place and left at its finishing stage before the end of his turner.  As we are talking, the said projects have been abundant in the bush.  Again, a 1 x 16 family Flat project which was completed before Kufuor leaving office which is located at the Air Force Base, as am talking to you, has not been occupied, but their troops are now renting accommodations outside the Barracks. Due to this uncompleted project, the men are still been kept at the Flag Staff House.

7. Still on accommodation, due to strength increase of Officer, High Command thought of renting Hostels to accommodate them.   Two apartments located behind Zenith University College just behind the Trade Fair Centre have been rented to accommodate the said officers.   They are; URBAN and ECCLESIA Hostels. As if that is all, 14 Civil Landlords have also rented their houses to the GAF outside Burma Camp to accommodate other officers. Memo on Officers Allocation Committee Meeting held at Director General, Logistics Office on 24^th July 2012 with the sub-heading Item 1 – Allocation of the Fifty-Two Rooms to Subalterns and that of Item 2 – Allocation of the Sixteen Flats to Majors and Captains.

Questions:

Can the Minster and his High Command tell us where these uncompleted projects has been left over the years in the bush and then going for the STX deal for the military as it was said?

 Can they again tell the whole nation, how much is a flat for an officer per Month?

They should tell the whole public, whether renting of the 2 x hostel and the 14 Civil Rented Houses is not creating Financial lost to the State, since money used on the hostel and the 14 Civil Houses could have been used to complete the uncompleted projects in the bush for it to become the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) property instead of paying for the said rented hostels and the 14 Civil Rented Houses?

Information gathered indicates that, some few weeks ago, Armed Robbers raided the said hostels when they left for work, due to insecurity at that place.  Can the Minister confirm the truth in the said story?

UN RENTED HELICOPTERS TO LA COTE D’IVOIRE

8. In the year 2004, H.E President Kufour purchased four (4 x MI-17 Helicopters) for the Air Force from the Republic of Russia, at the cost of Twenty Million US Dollars ($20m).  That was the second biggest Helicopter in Russia with a 36 Seater capacity that can sling 5,000 tons cargo in addition to passengers.  On 5^th July 2012, Parliament approved and amount of Twenty Four Million, One Hundred and Ten Euro (€24,110m) loan to purchase same (4 x MI-17 Helicopters) from same country.  Source from The Chronicle, Friday July 06, 2012 (Page 10).

9. In 2006, three (3) out of the said Helicopters were rented to the UN Operations in La Cote D’Ivoire for Peace Support Operations.  The fourth one that was left in the country clash landed at Akropong when it was sending the mortal remains of the Late Air Marshal Otu leaving no helicopter at Base. 

10. The UN has been paying the Ghana Government an amount of Two Thousand, Five Hundred US Dollars ($2,500.00) per hour. From 2006 to 2010, the 3 helicopters were flying Sixty (60 Hours) each per month, totaling (180 hours x $2,500.00 = $450,000.00).  Beside the flying hour payment, information gather indicate clearly that January 2012 alone, two out of the three helicopters which were serviceable yielded an amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) to the nation.

11. Due to lack of servicing to the UN Rented Helicopters, two out of the three helicopters was grounded unserviceable and brought down to our home country. At the moment, only one helicopter is operating with the UN in La Cote D’Ivoire which is due for major servicing.

 

12. Upon series of warnings from UN HQ, New York to Ghana Government that, either the helicopters are changed or serviced to perform it duties, they will terminate the contract with the Ghana Air Force.  Yet the Government has placed deaf ears to it and forced their way to purchase the CASA 295 Plane instead of the Helicopters which bring incomes to the nation.  

Questions:

Hon Minister, can you please tell us why the same 4 x MI-17 Helicopters in 2004 have different cost to 2012 and what constituted the raise in cost?

Can the Minster tell the nation what advice he gave to the Government concerning the Helicopters that needed immediate action instead of the purchasing of the CASA 295 Aircraft?

Can you please tell the public why no priority was given to the state of the Helicopters in La Cote D’Ivoire which bring income to the nation?

Hon Minister, to the break-down of the MI-17, that tells, the whole country there is no Helicopter in operating. We are in election year; most of our brothers are living behind the waters, how will their electoral materials reach them?

COMMISSIONGING OF SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT

RUNWAY AND LANDING LIGHTS

13. In March, 2012, the Air Force received quantity 4 x DA 42M Diamond Surveillance Aircraft from Austria for Maritime Patrol around the Oil Field Areas to monitor and observed situation.  It is a 4 seater capacity aircraft. The aircraft has since being packed at Takoradi Air Force Base and has since been in used for the past 7 months. 

14. During the CAN 2008, the Kufour Government refurbished the entire Airport and its Runway with Landing Lighting System around the country. A contractor was tasked to install the Landing Light Bulbs at Takoradi Airport. Unfortunately, the tenure of the NPP came to an end.  The France Contractor which was at site during that time; was immediately asked to stop work which was at almost at the completing point with only bulbs to be fixed. 

The said project has been completed including the fixed bulbs and will soon be commissioned with 2 new Aircraft Hangers or it has been done already?

Questions:

Hon Minister, what was the rational behind the four (4 x Diamond Aircraft) which has been in the country since March 2012 for almost seven (7) months and is yet to be commission?

Can you please tell the public the number of Airmen that the Diamond Surveillance Aircraft carried for such patrols?

What is the cost of 1 x Diamond Surveillance Aircraft and that of 1 x MI-71 Helicopter?   With urgency to demand, among the two; i.e. the helicopters and the surveillance aircraft, which one is urgent?

Can you please let us know, when was the Runway and the Landing Light constructed?