Democracy is about the rule of law, and fundamental human rights, freedom of association and of expression to promote pluralism of ideas.
In addition, functional democracy is also about respect for rules and regulations enshrined in the 1992 Constitution produced by the much hated PNDC with Jerry John Rawlings, the then “Common Enemy” of the violent prone-NPP right from 1992 until he exited office in the year 2001 and beyond.
When Corporal Halidu Gyiwah announced the overthrow of the PNDC on Sunday, June 19, 1983, this writer was then in Accra, the former Border Guards headquarters where I presented some food to one Kwame Adyimah who hailed from the Volta Region and was a card-bearing member of the June 4th Movement. He had been arrested and detained by the PNDC for campaigning against the PNDC’s U-turn in asking the IMF to assist the PNDC government.
But barely 20 minutes after eating the food I presented to him at the cells of the border guards, was he brutally shot dead by a uniformed soldier who was part of the PNDC and whose name I will not mention even though he is also dead. He just came around and ordered that those detained should come out and breathe fresh air, and the cells were opened and five inmates came out only to face bullets sprayed on them, and they lay dead, kicking their feet helplessly and it included my late comrade Kwame Adyimah.
What happened? Was it right for them to be killed in cold blood? Yes, because in time of war, every dissent means Treason and the punishment for treason is Death, and in another breath, the answer is no, because those five young men killed were never a threat to the PNDC government, but from January 1982 to December 1983 that era was known as the Popular Nonsense era”.
With a nation under curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, the 31st December Revolution continued as that ill-fated coup attempt was crushed by the late Major Courage Quashigah of blessed memory. Do you know what? After brutally shooting my good friend to death in cold blood right in front of me, he angrily turned the gun and pointed it at me while asking me who I was and what I wanted at that security zone. I then told him that I was a People’s Defence Committee (PDC) member from Obuasi who travelled all the way to give food to a fellow Comrade called Kwame Adjimah who he had just shot dead.
The man quickly called the PNDC District Secretary in Obuasi and he complained that I was a very active PDC member who works day and night for the Revolution and I was left off the hook.
He then invited me to join him in the pinze gear vehicle, a white operation vehicle, which I did and he drove straight to the Officers Mess at the Burma Camp, where I saw some two-star and even four-star generals gladly saluting a Warrant Officer and a Sergeant by virtue of their leadership of the PNDC. This writer was privileged and also very lucky to be saluted by those generals too.
DRAMA
We were served with fried rice with chicken equally. Forks and knives were provided, but I rather asked for water and soap and was using my hand, which I described as “my natural spoon.” The whole house supported me and said that I was right, and also abandoned their forks and spoons by washing their hands to eat as I described the forks as rakes and the knives as Cutlasses, which were foreign to our culture. I was wearing “Afro moses” (crossed sandals), which was in vogue at that time. It came to pass, my friend was dead and gone.
SHOCKER — EYES ARE WATCHING
On Sunday 19th June 1983, every Church in Ghana became a DANCE HALL when it was announced that J. J. Rawlings and his PNDC government had been overthrown by Carlos Alidu Gyiwah. Nobody should tell you that Ghana’s Clergy is part of the country’s numerous problems in this country.
It is a fact that the failure of the Clergy to speak against corruption in their various churches had made corruption a festering sore and very lucrative because the Church leaders are quiet and believes that money will not flow into their coffers if they preach against corruption. However, some one-man church leaders have boldly taken up the challenge by openly talking and speaking against corruption, and dare their followers to leave their churches if they support injustice and corruption. May God bless these patriotic God-fearing men and Women.
THE BLACK CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG
A whopping US$97 million has been sunk into a very deep hole called National Cathedral, and the President of the Republic has ordered a forensic audit to enable him determine how the resources were used. Then, a delegation of church leaders decided to visit the President and to pray for him. When they met him, they actually “prayed” for him but with a warning to the effect that they would turn their churches against him if he should prosecute any church leader or man of God found culpable in the handling of State Funds during the construction of the National Cathedral. How did we get here and why is it so?
The moral fibre of society is in the hands of the Clergy, and they must instil love, peace, discipline, honesty and patriotism into the society because people see the Clergy as the direct representative of God. Now, here is a very serious case in Ghana which involves corruption, mismanagement of state funds, diversion of millions of dollars into private pockets, leading to a whopping US$97 million that was used to sink a gargantuan manhole or pit, which led to a financial loss to the state. The President ordered a forensic audit in order to determine what to do next.
Within a twinkle of an eye, some church leaders informed the President that they were coming to pray for him at his residence. They actually went and prayed for our President only to warn him that they would turn the church against him if he decided to “investigate” [or] prosecute any man of God.
So, for Heaven’s sake, what are they trying to tell Ghanaians, and what are their reasons for warning the President of the Republic not to touch those so-called anointed men of God neck deep in corrupt acts, looting and stealing with impunity in the name of God? Are these the reasons why every part of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has a Church in Ghana?
Ghanaians are watching things as they unfold with eagle eyes, as well as the antics of these unholy men of God. The behaviour of these church leaders was the major reason why all churches became dance halls on Sunday, June 19th 1983, when it was announced that the late J.J. Rawlings’ (PNDC) government had been overthrown in a counter coup, which was foiled.
In reaction, we rounded up June 19th jubilants and gave them revolutionary tea to drink against their will, for two good weeks, and finally baptised them with revolutionary holy water, for them to repent, and it came to pass. After all, who borne dog? Democracy does not thrive on threats and intimidations as the Clergy and the NPP wants Ghanaians to believe.
An action generates a reaction as a result of intolerance. Extreme tolerant people would be compelled to react, because tolerance shows how mature we are in dealing with situations.
The Gonja Warrior will never condone any lowering of standards in fighting corruption, because “ORAL” has come to stay and is biting the cursed skins of its victims without fear or favour. We will live and die for Ghana.
Written by Clement Sangaparee, United Cadres Front, Obuasi East
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