After gaining power, use it in such a way that people respect you after you lose it.
– – – The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene
HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, in the concluding part of his speech at his first presidential media engagement of his second term on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Jubilee House, stated, “I am resolute in laying the foundation for economic recovery, resetting of our institutions to reflect the demands of modern governance and enhance service delivery for every Ghanaian…
The give-and-take encounter revealed many interesting issues which touched on policies, economy, social interaction, administrative direction amidst humour and wisecracks.
We limit ourselves to a few and one of them was that on “hate speech.” One wonders why people in Ghana have resorted to the social media and other media to spew out insults using the constitutional provision. Article 21 of the 1992 constitution says (1) (a) All persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression (which includes freedom of the press and other media). Freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Freedom of assembly, association and movement.
By the Criminal, code (Repeal of the Criminal and Seditions Laws-Amendment Bill Act 2001) people could walk freely unlike the past when journalist could be arrested and thrown into jail for doing their job. You may recall Section 208 of the Criminal and Offences Act 1960, Act 29 which reads: “A person who publishes or reproduces a statement, rumour or report which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the statement, rumour or report is false commits a misdemeanor” – and misdemeanor carries a jail term of three (3) years.
And such “seasoned” journalists as Kelvin Taylor, Captain Smart, Okatakyie Afrifa, Kwame Baffoe (Abronye) have arrogated to themselves the “right” to criticize political players using “hard” words like “foolish”; “stupid”; “mad”; “nonsensical”. Johnny Hughes is a bit more careful….. he can make a poignant point without insults.
The President in his speech noted “We can find you, you those doing hate speech. We use your IP number to trace you and we will deal with you under the criminal code for inciting violence and disturbance of peace”. Just when President Mahama was saying all these, mindful of the Rwandan genocide resulting from a journalist’s statement, “these people are cockroaches”, Kwame Baffoe (Abronye) was in his Ohia TV insulting the President and the IGP Yohuno.
When the judge in Abronye’s case refused to grant Abronye bail, he received such severe bashing from most people including Martin Amidu and Martin Kpebu that on Monday (15th/09/25) Justice Bright Acquah was “forced” to grant the bail with a GH¢50,000 and one surety. And Abronye got what he wanted – he is “trending.”
Is it a case of Munchausen syndrome? Forget the NPP loss of 10 seats in Bono Region to NDC under his chairmanship of the party or is it a desire for martyrdom. He has, perhaps, achieved it all as shown by his appearance and reception at the Asantehemaa’s funeral.
On the controversial issue on “galamsey” the President was in a “frante praecipitium, a tergo lupi (that is, between the devil and the deep blue sea or Homer’s Scylla and Charybdis (a six-headed monster and a giant whirlpool) – two equally unpleasant options (Hobson’s Choice).
During the pre-election, President Mahama had said that he would ban galamsey in four months if voted to power; he was urging the NPP government to withdraw LI 2462 (granting licences for mining in forest reserves). 9 months down the line, he is now singing a new song – community mining, responsible mining,…… criticizing Dr. Frimpong Boateng’s loss of 500 seized excavators?
Does Dr. Hannah Bissiw’s loss of 200 seized excavators explain anything? Sika ye mogya, and the allure of instant wealth, makes the perpetrators disregard the medical harm, pushing the country to import water by 2030 to avoid the birth of babies with deformities, including one-eyed cyclopes and Isaac Asimov’s giants.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference is calling on the government to impose a state of emergency on the affected areas. The conference says: “Government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed”.
On the question of the sacking of Chief Justice Torkonoo, President stirred controversy but what does the constitution by which the Chief Justice swore say? Article 146……? Stated misbehavior (unlawful expenditure of public funds: doing a private trip with her husband and daughter to Tanzania in 2023). We remember Vincent Ekow Assafuah v Attorney General where the Supreme Court in a 3 – 2 decision upheld the CJ’s suspension.
We also remember the filing of case upon case at the Supreme Court culminating in the case at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice with CJ Torkonoo demanding the payment of the taxpayer’s GH¢10 million! Any breach of Article 146 in the 1992 Constitution?. Poor Baffoe-Bonnie and Pwamang don’t deserve to hold the position of Chief Justice before they leave the Judiciary!
Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is now “begging” to be pardoned for the “mistakes” of the Akufo-Addo – Bawumia administration. Whilst others have resorted to denials, arrogance and excuse giving, Dr. Bawumia has been frank to Ghanaians, especially NPP adherents.
Last week, he addressed an NPP meeting in Kumasi and remarked; “Our researches have shown that we made some mistakes while in office; there were certain things we failed to do and there are others we ought not to have done. We have learnt our lessons, so we pray that you forgive us, the Vice-President, Ministers, MPs, MMDCEs… “What were the failures?
Quite intriguing: Bawumia did not mention Akufo-Addo! This man’s position was an anathema to some die-hard NPP supporters. Akufo-Addo’s arrogance was unprecedented! And it did more harm than good, as for example he would go to an event and order chiefs and other important personalities to rise up and acknowledge his presence; superintending over gross corruption (he who swore to uproot corruption; Good old Cecilia Dapaah was “exonerated” by Akufo-Addo over her keeping valuable cash in her room and getting $1 Million stolen by her house-help.
Arrogance upon arrogance; Akufo-Addo would not sack Ken Ofori-Attah (Minister of Finance) after he had messed up Ghana’s economy, despite the demand by over 80 NPP MPs.
And Akufo-Addo’s “inner circle” insist that Bawumia’s “apology” is an unpardonable insult, and constitutes a veiled attack on the legacy of Akufo-Addo’s government. (So, still some people do not see the harm Akufo-Addo has done to NPP)? Why would they when they enjoyed from the bounty of Akufo-Addo’s government: Scholarships given to cronies to do courses overseas when the same courses are available in Ghana’s Universities! Waste of public funds!
Some objective political analysts think that the Bawumia apology instead of muddying the waters, has come rather too late. Nkurofuo bo afu paa; if die hard Akufo-Addo supporters do not know. Gullible Ghanaians will not listen: “Ye woo me too NPP mu”.
Of course, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum cannot be enthused about Bawumia’s apology: he says, he “didn’t fail” as a Minister of Education. Distancing himself from the Bawumia stance, he stated, “In education, we did not fail Ghanaians, you (Bawumia) failed, apologise for yourself not everyone.
