“We are writers, not fawning sycophants, not manipulable puppets.
We write as we please – within the Law and ethics of journalism. It ny a pas de sots metriers”
We could go back to pre – 1979 when J.J Rawlings paraded Ghana like a colossus Rawlings. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem Ozymandias says it all. “My name is Ozymandias King of Kings. Look on my mighty works, ye mighty and despair! Nothing beside remains (besides his broken statue in the desert).
Where is he now? When Okatakyise Afrifa and others were callously murdered at Teshie Range, we tore our clothes, and footed from AshTown to Stadium naked – we lost the key to our room!
The split between James Owusu (PFP) and Paa Willie (UNC). Destiny placed us among the latter, and we backed Professor Adu Boahen to the hilt – that was 1992 after Rawlings himself had opened the sluice gate for partisan politics. Then the various associations and political groupings buried the hatchet and came together to form the NPP.
At those times, nobody had money to influence voters to even file nomination forms. The electorate themselves gathered their widow’s mite to support their MP candidates. Glorious Kufuor won overwhelming lay 2020 and his successors had his legacy to bask on. Complacency and NDC’s Atta Mills took over in 2008.
His life-long ambition. He had the whole world at his beck and call. But great thanks to the beautiful First Lady, Auntie Becky for her wise counsel, otherwise… as for us, we do not have any life-long ambition, and we are treated like garbage!
In choosing his Cabinet and Ministers, the President. He knew, those who had followed him in his unsuccessful first and second attempts. No, it was those who followed him in the third attempt that had propelled him to the Presidency.
Good for them. But the first categories had built the base. It’s no joke: following him to Kumasi (Tafo and Jubliee Park), Koforidua Nkenkansu, so “they” alone deserve the goodies, the spoils of war – for seven years, and the President will not listen to any advice to reshuffle the Cabinet. What kind of daftness is this? No one is saying dismiss them; changes here and there will do the trick.
Otherwise, you see the situation of Abena Dapaah. Who do you blame? Your guess is as good as ours. Perhaps, the Presidency and those who matter do not believe in honest people – because they would say it as it is.
The Abena Dapaah’s $1m – plus under her bed may only be a tip of the ice berg. Check all the Ministers: go to their residences lift up their carpets. Go into their accounts – local and foreign. Please, we are not children!
But for Okudzeto Ablakwa, we would not have known the extravagance of the Presidency. Okudzeto is not our friend! And the NPP communicators make a mess of themselves, defending the indefensible.
Look! Let all the Ministers and close associates pull out their dollars from their closets and cash them in the bank and we would not need to go to IMF for a meagre $3bn bail-out. “We are a proud nation… we won’t go to IMF’ so says the economic guru…then we went to invite the IMF “small boys”.
Arrogance! Don’t think you know it all you are not omniscient; listen to criticism; All governments “review” policies from time to time. Why can’t we review the free SHS? The “free” tag can still remain.
It has taken Ayorkor Botchwey seven (7) years to learn of the existence of the Goro Boys at the Passport Office. Better late than never. When Professor Atta Mills went to Tema to heap invectives on customs officers, people were basking in the warmth of “see those customs officer, after being employed for 3years they start building mansions,” We would have built twenty mansions!
It is your government who said “see something, say something” otherwise, we would keep what we know to our chest or whisper and later tell you “I told you so”
If your mother were among the pensioners who decided to save their pesewas you would not hesitate at all to pay them their due bond holdings. Sophia Akuffo the former Chief Justice joined the picketers; that should tell you something. When in our history did, we hear of Domestic Debt Exchange programme? And the ‘holy’ Ken Ofori Atta will quote Bible verses to silence us. Who eats Bible quotations? And Kenkey costs GH¢ 5; Koko GH4…Jesus Christ!
And the president will assemble the 95 members of Parliament who demanded the sacking of Ken Ofori Atta and chastise them (why not put him at Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s Ministry – there is money there!) You may not like to hear this but we shall “thief” tell you. A lot of people switch off their TV sets when they see the face of some ministers and the…
President will criticise us: we are looking for a job; we are peeved, negative attribute; We followed you on your campaign tours, using our own vehicles and buying our own fuel; entertaining some poor persons; sharing wax prints (ask the People’s Mother, Elizabeth Agyemang) and discussing President’s speech with Gabby Otchere Darko.
And people will not learn lesson – the split between PFP and UNC, allowing Dr Hilla Limann of PNP to snatch the Presidency. 17 people competing to be presidential candidates in 2017 and now 10. Why? Are we going to have 10 Presidents? Jimmy Cliff sang: “When you look at the mirror tell me what do you see, is it who you think you are or who you like to be…”
All have good message: manifesto of Bawumia Ghana Card, Digital Address, Mobile Money Interoperability, Delivery of Medicine by drones, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Zongo Development Fund, Agenda III, Free TVET, Free SHS, – Slogan upon slogan:
Alan; A new Plan weaning our Economy off its perennial IMF subscription and maintain its stability, adding value to our commodities for our domestic consumption, and export, expand GTP (for all who don’t know, he initiated the “Friday Wear” which has caught on in Ghana and every person is wearing locally produced wax print – with many styles;
Kwabena Agyapong says: “We must rise and save this country from further decline…” His new vision would be hinged on a lean government with 19 cabinet ministers assisted by an equal number of deputies in addition to the 16 from the regions making them 54 ministries…
Boakye Agyarko: (glib – tongued on energy) says: Don’t impose presidential candidate on NPP for 2024” He would identify the changes Ghanaian are yearning for… provide strong leadership. Everywhere I go in the country I resist the temptation of listening to only the good thing I want to hear about our great party… I seek to delve into the inner recesses of the thinking of the Ghanaian…”
Afriyie Akoto says:“after working for 6 years I must rest!” I want to be President to lead NPP for progress.
Kennedy Agyapong: everyone appreciates his down – to-earth approach. Kennedy, the youth love you, they call you no nonsense man.
Joe Ghartey promises lean government…manage with 60 ministers.
Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku predicts Akufo-Addo will never sack the Finance Minister…
All the other aspirants’ talk of lean government; new vision (not fly on the fulcrum of Akufo-Addo). Does this send any message to Akufo-Addo?
““We hope all regional executives have taken note and will not repeat what Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) carelessly did at Oforikrom openly asking party elders whom they will vote for”. They all say.
Africanus Owusu Ansah africanusoa@gmail.com