“Some 3,500 refugees have crossed into northern Togo from Ghana, Togo's security minister says.” was the first paragraph of a news story on the BBC website titled “Ghanaians flee violence for Northern Togo” published at 11.26 GMT on Tuesday, the 25th of May, 2010.
After reading the full story I was petrified. The story came as a surprise to many Ghanaians. What got many most incensed was the label “REFUGEE”. In my lay mans understanding, I have known this word to be used on people mostly in war countries. So, I asked myself, is there war in my country?
We are all in the know of protracted conflicts in the northern part of Ghana, but little did I know those conflicts could be left to deteriorate to the extent that, our fellow compatriots would be referred to as “REFUGEES” in a different country.
Before I proceed any further, it must be noted, that the provision of law and order is one of the oldest functions of a government.
The refugees were resident of Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District. The District has been bedevilled with chieftaincy and land conflicts involving communities. The conflict has claimed lives, properties and has displaced many. The most affected in this conflict situation were women, children and the aged.
The Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District does not have a substantive Chief Executive to effectively manage the security situation. The former chief executive was dismissed following agitations by members of the NDC. Many would have expected that due to the volatility of the conflict situation in the District, a replacement would be swift. Currently, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Sam Nasamu is acting as the chief executive.
On the 9th of May, 2010, 2500 pieces of cartridges were intercepted by the Northern Regional Police command. The cartridges were being imported into the district to fuel the already volatile conflict in the District. This news caused so much fear in District.
Only a day (10th May, 2010) after this news broke, the police at the District withdrew their services. The reason for their withdrawal was because of FOOD. It was worrying to know that the lives and properties of the tax payers resident in that District could no more be protected because of food. When the news of police withdrawal was reported, many expected government would quickly respond by providing just food to these police men so that life and property would be protected, strangely, that was not the case.
The withdrawal of police service in the District greatly influenced the mass movement of people out of the District. The presence of the security in the District gave residents some assurance of safety. To think that the police had to withdraw their service because of food is most regrettable and shows how reckless government has treated those tax payers.
While our relatives are living under dehumanizing circumstances, government seems to be more interested in challenging the BBC over the numbers they put out. I find that most unnecessary.
However, I am inclined to believe the number provided by the UNHCR. Awurabena Hutchful, the Assistant Public Information Officer, for the UNHCR office in Ghana, stated that as at 17th May, 2010, the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo was 3,247,000. She said this number was arrived at after a HEAD COUNT. The operative word is head count. Government seems to be giving different figures at different times.
The second reason I am convinced to believe the UNHCR figure is because a GNA news report on the 20th of May, 2010 stated “The conflict involved six communities where some 368 houses were completely burnt, with 4,048 displaced persons while two lives were lost in the latest conflict, which occurred last April. The initial conflict was between Bufuok and Tobong communities over the rehabilitation of a grinding mill and later spread to the other four communities, namely Gbankoni, Kambatiak, Gbadauk and Nasiabuak and brought untold hardships to the residents, 3,000 of who are now seeking asylum in neighboring Togo.” This was a report of a state news agency. Clearly this report makes it comfortable for any serious minded person to stick to the over 3000 figure. What baffles my mind is, what action was taken after GNA reported this.
It is refreshing to hear government is all of the sudden working to make sure the right thing is done. According to the Deputy Information Minister, Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa, the President was aware of this situation some months back. This disclosure raises questions in the mind of many. What did our President do about the situation since the 25 April, 2010 when he got to know? It took a news report in the international media for government to be frantically working to relocate our relatives back home.
It would have been appropriate for our humble President to take a trip to Togo and see first hand the condition our relatives are living under. However, the president rather received a delegation from Togo. The host of our refugees had to make the trip to the castle to solve this matter. I don’t think that was proper. The Togo government took up a responsibility our government failed to deliver. They provided shelter, food and security for our relatives. It was only proper our government showed appreciation and respect by going to their country to resolve this matter not the other way round.
In conclusion, government has been very reckless in the handling of this matter. The situation our relatives found themselves could have been averted if government had been more responsible. Currently the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Sam Nasamu is acting as DCE for the District. Because of other responsibilities he has, he is not able to manage the District well. The president must as a matter of urgency appoint someone to take charge.
The only hope the residents had was the presence of police. The withdrawal of police service due to the inability of government to provide them food was another worrying factor that led to this unfortunate situation.
It is my fervent hope that, after relocating our relatives back home, government would ensure that law and order is maintained in that District.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Rejoinder-Nana Addo: Arrogance And The Culture Of Entitlement
I read an article with title “Nana Addo: Arrogance And The Culture Of Entitlement” authored be Abdul Sidibe on 21st May, 2009. Summarily, readers of the article could only conclude that the article was borne out of emotions and not logic. Readers expected the author to give basis for his claim that Nana Akufo-Addo is arrogant.
However, author failed to give any credible basis for his assertion. Why should people spend time to make damaging allegations against people without giving any shred of evidence to back them?
Nana Akufo-Addo has come a long way in life; he has struggled to build a reputation for himself which any young person like the author should emulate. Nana Akufo-Addo is one of the finest lawyers our country can boast of. He has tutored many seasoned lawyers of our time.
In a desperate attempt to justify his claim, the author stated “In 1992 when the party lost by over 20 points in the Presidential election, Nana Akufo Addo lead charge in writing The Stolen Verdict to delegitimize the Rawlings government even though the NPP knew from their heart of heart that there was no way they could win an election against a very popular incumbent head of state.”
How on earth could any serious minded person use this as a basis to justify an act arrogance by an individual (Nana Akufo-Addo). In the instance given by the author, a political party (NPP) felt cheated in the 1992 election, a decision was taken for a book(The Stolen Verdict: Ghana, November 1992 Presidential Election Report of the New Patriotic Party) to be published, why would anybody regard that as show of arrogance by an individual in that political party?
Again, this can not justify the assertion that Nana Akufo-Addo has a sense of entitlement to the presidency because; Nana was not the presidential candidate for the NPP in 1992.Clearly this is difficult to comprehend by discerning minds.
Another basis, borne out of emotion given by the author was that “When it became very obvious that Nana had lost in 2008, the conventional wisdom was that he would accept the result and congratulate Professor Mills. Given that he tinted himself as a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law. But Nana did not do that, rather during the second round of election he activated his plan B, connive with some in the Ashanti Region to inflate voting numbers as they come in, putting the nation on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”
I wonder how the author expected Nana Akufo-Addo to have conjured that the NPP had lost when the Electoral Commission was yet to receive some results from parts of the country. Is the author suggesting, Nana Akufo-Addo should have conceded defeat before the Electoral Commissioner had declared the final results?
In any event, even the second round was inconclusive as there was a need for a third round in TAIN.
Again, Nana Akufo-Addo did concede defeat and congratulated candidate Atta Mills when the electoral commission finally declared him (Prof. Atta Mills) winner. Nana Akufo-Addo was very swift with the concession. The electoral commission declared the final results on Saturday the 3rd of January 2009. Few hours after the declaration Nana Akufo-Addo stated "I acknowledge the Electoral Commission's declaration and congratulate Prof. Mills".
If the author wants readers to believe President Mills is humble because he conceded defeat for the 2000 and 2004 elections, then that logic (no matter how hollow) should equally apply to Nana Akufo-Addo in this instance.
The allegation being put out by the author and his political party (The NDC) that figures from Ashanti Region was inflated is laughable and regrettable. They make these allegations without any documentary proof.
In any event, how does this logically justify Nana Akufo-Addo is arrogant? Glaringly, the author has not given readers any basis to believe Nana Akufo-Addo is arrogant and has a sense of entitlement.
Indeed, Nana Akufo-Addo humbly combed through the whole country to canvass for votes. He never relented in his quest to serve the good people of this country during the 2008 electioneering campaign. Almost half of the population of this country saw the need to vote for the man.
How can anybody describe this man as having a sense of entitlement to the presidency? As a democrat, Nana Akufo-Addo believes in the power of the thumb. He believes he can only be the president of Ghana if the good people of this country give him the mandate.
Am also amazed the author who is cooling it off in Canada spends time to write such baseless article about an individual when there are many social and economic challenges facing the masses. The conditions of many Ghanaians have worsened since the author’s party (The NDC) took over the governance of this country. The NDC government has imposed very wicked fiscal policies which has further deepened the woes of many Ghanaians.
Amidst this draconian fiscal environment is the high sense of insecurity in the country. We have a situation where NDC members take the laws into their own hands by threatening to KILL District Chief Executives, sacking civil servants, closing down revenue agencies, closing down NYEP offices. No single person has been dealt with according to our laws.
Strangely, President Atta Mills rewards these “criminals” by heeding to their demands.
God save us!
However, author failed to give any credible basis for his assertion. Why should people spend time to make damaging allegations against people without giving any shred of evidence to back them?
Nana Akufo-Addo has come a long way in life; he has struggled to build a reputation for himself which any young person like the author should emulate. Nana Akufo-Addo is one of the finest lawyers our country can boast of. He has tutored many seasoned lawyers of our time.
In a desperate attempt to justify his claim, the author stated “In 1992 when the party lost by over 20 points in the Presidential election, Nana Akufo Addo lead charge in writing The Stolen Verdict to delegitimize the Rawlings government even though the NPP knew from their heart of heart that there was no way they could win an election against a very popular incumbent head of state.”
How on earth could any serious minded person use this as a basis to justify an act arrogance by an individual (Nana Akufo-Addo). In the instance given by the author, a political party (NPP) felt cheated in the 1992 election, a decision was taken for a book(The Stolen Verdict: Ghana, November 1992 Presidential Election Report of the New Patriotic Party) to be published, why would anybody regard that as show of arrogance by an individual in that political party?
Again, this can not justify the assertion that Nana Akufo-Addo has a sense of entitlement to the presidency because; Nana was not the presidential candidate for the NPP in 1992.Clearly this is difficult to comprehend by discerning minds.
Another basis, borne out of emotion given by the author was that “When it became very obvious that Nana had lost in 2008, the conventional wisdom was that he would accept the result and congratulate Professor Mills. Given that he tinted himself as a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law. But Nana did not do that, rather during the second round of election he activated his plan B, connive with some in the Ashanti Region to inflate voting numbers as they come in, putting the nation on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”
I wonder how the author expected Nana Akufo-Addo to have conjured that the NPP had lost when the Electoral Commission was yet to receive some results from parts of the country. Is the author suggesting, Nana Akufo-Addo should have conceded defeat before the Electoral Commissioner had declared the final results?
In any event, even the second round was inconclusive as there was a need for a third round in TAIN.
Again, Nana Akufo-Addo did concede defeat and congratulated candidate Atta Mills when the electoral commission finally declared him (Prof. Atta Mills) winner. Nana Akufo-Addo was very swift with the concession. The electoral commission declared the final results on Saturday the 3rd of January 2009. Few hours after the declaration Nana Akufo-Addo stated "I acknowledge the Electoral Commission's declaration and congratulate Prof. Mills".
If the author wants readers to believe President Mills is humble because he conceded defeat for the 2000 and 2004 elections, then that logic (no matter how hollow) should equally apply to Nana Akufo-Addo in this instance.
The allegation being put out by the author and his political party (The NDC) that figures from Ashanti Region was inflated is laughable and regrettable. They make these allegations without any documentary proof.
In any event, how does this logically justify Nana Akufo-Addo is arrogant? Glaringly, the author has not given readers any basis to believe Nana Akufo-Addo is arrogant and has a sense of entitlement.
Indeed, Nana Akufo-Addo humbly combed through the whole country to canvass for votes. He never relented in his quest to serve the good people of this country during the 2008 electioneering campaign. Almost half of the population of this country saw the need to vote for the man.
How can anybody describe this man as having a sense of entitlement to the presidency? As a democrat, Nana Akufo-Addo believes in the power of the thumb. He believes he can only be the president of Ghana if the good people of this country give him the mandate.
Am also amazed the author who is cooling it off in Canada spends time to write such baseless article about an individual when there are many social and economic challenges facing the masses. The conditions of many Ghanaians have worsened since the author’s party (The NDC) took over the governance of this country. The NDC government has imposed very wicked fiscal policies which has further deepened the woes of many Ghanaians.
Amidst this draconian fiscal environment is the high sense of insecurity in the country. We have a situation where NDC members take the laws into their own hands by threatening to KILL District Chief Executives, sacking civil servants, closing down revenue agencies, closing down NYEP offices. No single person has been dealt with according to our laws.
Strangely, President Atta Mills rewards these “criminals” by heeding to their demands.
God save us!
Rejoinder: Kwame Pianim Was Right And The NPP Must Shut Up!”
I read with distress an article authored by an activist of the ruling National Democratic Congress party, Emmanuel Dela Coffie with the title “Kwame Pianim Was Right And The NPP Must Shut Up!” published on the 22nd of May 2010 on modernghana.com and other news portals. The said article was about statements made by a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Kwame Pianim.
Before I proceed any further, I would like to state as a matter of fact that the New Patriotic Party has made its position clear on this matter. The National Executive Council at an emergency Steering Committee Meeting on Thursday the 20th of May 2010, decided not to take any disciplinary action against Mr. Kwame Pianim. This decision was taken after careful deliberations on the matter. Hence, as far as the party is concerned, there is no bone to pick with the maker of those statements [Mr. Pianim].
Having made this fact clear, I find it disappointing that the author is telling the party [NPP] to “shut up” as though the party has a problem with the comments of Mr. Pianim.
Again, Let me also state that, Mr. Pianim has stated categorically that he could not have been referring to any of the other NPP flag bearer aspirants as an IDIOT. And that he was misinterpreted. Indeed, persons like the author are those trying to blow some of what Mr. Pianim said out of proportion to serve their political interest.
As youth, we must recognize that we are the hope of today and the future; hence we must learn the right things now. While we learn from our elders, we must be bold to correct them when they are wrong. As much as possible, we must tell our leaders to avoid using words like GREEDY BASTARDS, WHO BORN DOG, and IDIOTS to describe others. Such words do not help in shaping our society right .
Many in the New Patriotic Party find the comments of Mr. Pianim quite unwholesome and grubby. Those who were unhappy have made their views equally known and democratically so.
Just by way of education to the author, in as much as Mr. Pianim has every right under our constitution to express his views, so does everybody including members of NPP. And that members of the New Patriotic Party can equally make comments or react to the views so expressed by Mr. Pianim.
Whiles we all enjoy this constitutional right, “we must talk our mind, and mind our talk” as a friend would say. I think the author has been undemocratic in his call for the NPP to “shut up”. Am not surprised the author could make such a demand. Some few weeks ago, the government through its Information Minister rather embarrassingly shouted at the opposition to “SHUT UP!”
The difficulty the author finds himself is that, when the owner of his political party, President Rawlings speaks, nobody else speaks, so he thinks same happens in the NPP. The owner of his political party has on several occasions made mean comments about the president and his appointees without many government official or party official calling him to order. The few courageous ones like Hon. Haruna Iddrisu who try to condemn such venomous attacks from the owner are threatened.
Proceeding further, in the second paragraph of the said article, the author stated “Mr. Pianim told a gathering at Professor Frimpong Boateng's campaign lunch that the aspirant was not corrupt but a principled man who will not condone criminality and corruption. He therefore urged delegates to vote for him for proper leadership or choose any other person if they wanted corruption to reign freely.”
The author tried but failed to justify the above statement. While the said article was written to support the statement made by Mr. Pianim, not a single credence was given to justify the statement. Just as it was difficult for the author to justify the other NPP flag bearer aspirants are corrupt, so do I believe the maker of that statement [Mr. Pianim] would have proving it too.
In any event, it would take more than a man’s word to assure Ghanaians that another man can fight corruption to the barest minimum. I believe effective and efficient laws and institutions are our only hope. Power corrupts, we must be reminded. I must commend President Kufour for championing the enactment of the Public Procurement Law which is curbing the corruption in government’s procurement.
Again, in his bid to make a case, the author stated “Professor Frimpong Boateng has never had any corruption allegation levelled against him in all his public life compared to the likes of Nana Akufo Addo and Alan Kyeremanten.”
In the first place, it is important for the author to know, that allegations of corruption against politicians regrettably seem quite common in our part of the world. But mere allegations are not enough to label somebody as corrupt. There have been many instances where people have been accused of crimes they never committed. There are also cases where people fabricate wicked stories against others to serve some purpose. For instance, a pro-NDC newspaper did publish during the heat of the 2008 electioneering campaign, that Ghana’s gold reserves have been sold. Strangely, that newspaper never contacted the right state institution for confirmation or otherwise of that allegation. That information was put out there for public consumption. Interestingly, the brain behind such a sadistic publication is a Minister of State today. That is how dirty our politics has gotten. Beyond mere allegations, there must be a way of proving that somebody is really corrupt.
Again, if somebody does not have corruption allegations against him/her, it does not necessarily mean that person is not corrupt. By this I am not for second insinuating Prof. Frimpong Boateng is corrupt.
Now back to the main subject, the author failed to give evidence that there have been allegations of corruption against Nana Akufo-Addo or Alan Kyeremanten. Rather the author proceeded that “Both Nana and Alan's camp are shouting hoarse without stopping for a moment to realise that both of them have been in positions of influence, yet there are kids on refuse dumps in Ghana, looking for scraps”
How incoherent, I thought. While I sadly agree that there are kids on refuse dumps in Ghana who are looking for scraps to make a living, I find it strange that the author would like to wholly put that blame on Alan Kyeremanteng and Nana Akufo-Addo because the two were Ministers of State. I think it would be more appropriate for us to blame this sad situation on all past administrations. I would like to remind the author that the sitting president [President Atta Mills] was the Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 and indeed the Chairman of Economic Committee of this nation, but such poverty level still exists. The president can not also absolve himself for not doing much to alleviate poverty, can he?
Again, the P/NDC [which the author belongs to] party has governed our country more than any other party in our country’s history. Fortunately for the author, Ghanaians have given his political party another opportunity to ensure such situations are curbed if not eliminated.
However, I am afraid if current happenings in the country are anything to go by, then Ghanaians should be ready to be disappointed by the NDC. Since the NDC party took over some seventeen months ago, conditions of many have worsened due to harsh fiscal policies. Businesses are not booming as was witnessed some years back. Indeed the Economic Activity Indicator (EAI) as announced by the governor of Bank of Ghana indicates that business activities have reduced as compared to the 2008. Even though inflation figure is gradually reducing, prices on the markets are rising at a higher rate.
Government seem to be reneging on its promise of cutting down on profligacy. On the 1st of May, 2010, the first lady, Mrs. Naadu Mills commissioned the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel and named it after Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in far away Jurong, Singapore. The special event which saw the symbolic act of breaking a bottle of chilled champagne to signify the naming of the vessel many have contended should have been held here in our country to save cost. Many have wondered the motive behind the trip because the vessel was to be shipped into the country in two weeks time according to reports. The resources spent on the ceremony far away Jurong, Singapore could have been channeled to other programmes that could lessen the plights of Ghanaians.
Again, recent events about the behavior of NDC foot soldiers’ calls for great worry. Lately, no day passes without hearing of one agitation or the other. It is either a D/MCE is being threatened or a state revenue agency is being taken over by mostly uneducated/unemployed foot soldiers.
A case in point is the Domi Bridge toll booth take over. This act of lawlessness was carried out by NDC foot soldiers who accused the civil servants of corruption. Surprisingly, the attack was masterminded by the district assembly. Apparently the district assembly had a meeting chaired by the DCE of the area to carry out such a lawless act. What baffles my mind is why the DCE who doubles as the Chairman if the District Security Council (DISEC) did not use the appropriate procedure in ensuring the right thing was done.
God save us!
[Just something for the author and the NDC to think about. Mr. Pianim also stated at the same event, that listening to the first ladies of Africa on BBC, there is no doubt the good first ladies are nurses and that Prof. Frimpong Boatengs wife is a nurse. Does the author believe in this statement too?]
FAISAL IBRAHIM
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