“…We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow” – Lord Palmerston – House of Commons 1848
EI! Exclaimed the host at a radio station on 03/12/24 surprised at the aide to Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon saying he did not see the MP distributing items to Prison officers and others.
The MP initially denied: “I don’t even know what you’re talking about; the matter
At the by-election at Ejisu (for only NPP members) there was so much vote-buying to the extent that the MP for Kwadaso, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko was caught ON social media dishing out monies to Electoral Commission officials.
Akufo-Addo will be exiting the Presidency in a few days’ time. What is his legacy? There was so much hope, trust, faith in Akufo-Addo’s Presidency. “I‘ve never been corrupt” he said. And we believed everything he said, having been adherents of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition. We had discussions on Akufo-Addo’s speeches with Gabby Otchere Darko – but no records were kept.
We were very critical of the Mills-Mahama government of 2008 – 2016 and were quick to point out whatever we thought was wrong in the NDC. We were hard on Mahama when Atta Mills (Asomdweehene) died, even though it was in Atta Mills’s time that we lost our job.
We did all we could to help Akufo-Addo win the 2016 election, least of all, attending and contributing to Party rallies. Then, 2016 came, and with it, the crowning moments in Akufo-Addo’s life. We were ecstatic! We could go to Jubilee House and Parliament House ‘freely’ and share ideas with MPs and Ministers (Amoako Atta, Ignatius Baffour Awuah) and rub shoulders with Akoto Ampaw, Osei Owusu, Asante Bediatuo.
Then, the criticism poured upon Akufo-Addo; bloated Ministerial list (over 120); expensive government (travelling to overseas conference in expensive rented airplane, corruption in government (staff collecting $20,000 before visitors being chaperoned to see the President) bloated contracts, Cecilia Dapaah allegedly keeping $1 million under her bed. Akufo-Addo never did a re-shuffle of his Ministers, so that while a few of his close friends and family members enjoyed the fruits of Nana Akufo-Addo’s success others would be in queue. He would not sack the Finance Minister Dr. Ofori Attah even upon demand by 98 NPP MPs;
The ‘National Cathedral’, now “the most expensive hole” on earth is there as a mark of the kind of administration that Nana Akufo-Addo and his big-time economic wizards have run. Was it not a personal promise to God, after his visit to Jerusalem? With a personal contribution of GH¢100,000.00 the National Cathedral was to be “an avenue to call the nation to prayer, to worship to celebrate and to mourn… an iconic infrastructure for national, regional and international pilgrimage and tourism… to create jobs and that the building would not be a burden on the state…”
And an Ofori-Attah budget had paid off $58m from “Contingency fund” not “Consolidate Fund”.
As Vice-President Bawumia said: “I am like a driver’s mate” (despite the claim by Osafo Maafo that Bawumia was a highly professional man as the chairman of the Economic Team. “Momfa steer no ma me” (Give me the steering wheel). So, after running as Vice-President for eight (8) years, he now qualifies to run for eight (8) years more as President.
And 500 excavators got missing. Dr. Frimpong-Boateng wrote a report. It appeared Dr. Frimpong-Boateng did not find favour in the eyes of Akufo-Addo, and he went into oblivion.
Kwame Awuah, Esquire who can be described as the “people’s lawyer”: says “Bawumia ye me mmobo”. He pities Bawumia because despite his own showing, Nana Akufo-Addo has not helped him.
The common joke in town now includes the 2016 ‘analysis’ by Bawumia of the failure of the Mahama government: “When the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you”. And GH¢ 4.00 was $1.00. “Incompetent” Mahama.
But in NPPs time when GH¢17.00 was exchanging for $1.00 it was a result of the Russia-Ukraine war – in spite of the war we had to beg warring Ukraine to send us wheat, and rely on China to support the building of many projects. So, whether the NPP were better managers of the economy than the NDC or not, the cost of living has shot up, and the ordinary Ghanaian finds it very difficult to feed himself and his family. A ball of kenkey selling in Mahama’s time for GH¢1.50 is now GH¢5.00 and the ordinary Kofi Brokeman (toasted plantain) selling at GH¢1.00 per piece in Mahama’s time is now GH¢5.00. And the key to Mahama “medo Nyame” exchange rate had been given to the IGP.
And we are chastising Mahama’s “nkokonkete, nkete”? That was the same way we mocked I. K. Acheampong’s “Operation Feed Yourself” and Dan Lartey’s “Domestication”. What is wrong in urging people to do backyard gardening so that we eat what we produce and stop relying on imported frozen chicken; potatoes, cassava, plantain.
The free SHS? The less said about it the better! We sent our wards to school in the middle part of September. In the middle part of November she called us to come for her because the term had ended and they were to go home on holidays to give room for those in Form One. So we asked: “When are you going back to school”? Answer; “Early February, 2025.
Wow! Meanwhile, the school-children are fed with rice whose quality cannot be guaranteed. Rice imported from India was allegedly re-bagged, into bags without the “country of origin” and having no date of “expiry”. And our children continue to be used as “pawns” in the NPP/NDC imbroglio! And we see on TV a PA (Parent Association) letter to parents; Food Support; GH¢400 (for 2 semesters); PA Dues; GH¢400.00 OE: GH¢250.00. And who cancelled the “T” in PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) to obtain only Parent Association? Are we kidding?
And at a Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference recently, the Bar President, Yaw Boafo, Esquire proposed the support of some “well-endowed” parents to the funding of the free SHS. The President Nana Akufo-Addo, a member of the GBA , in a characteristic tintin-tinintin mood retorted: “Those who have money should send their wards to private schools (where they can pay their school fees)” ! Oh, so we “dare” not make suggestions? Where is our democracy drifting to?
But where is the Airport at Cape Coast? Where is the Pwalugu Dam? There can be as many questions as Bawumia posed to Paa Kwesi Arthur, and we know, in his affable, genteel, well-composed manner, Bawumia will explain away the reasons for their non-completion. Forget, one constituency, one $1m; one district, one dam.
And the almighty Galamsey! For the selfish comfort and of a few Ghanaians, galamsey continues unabated. Stylish young Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) may have had abundance of wealth – not from ‘galamsey’ but by legitimate means. With 2462 still hanging on our necks, and with it the President can give exemption for one to enter the Forest Reserve and mine!
Kwame Bediako says he will give a pathway to the sea to flow from Accra to Kumasi. Christian Kwabena Andrews (GUM) will revive Nkrumah’s developmental spirit.
No 3 Akua Donor (Enye enno no) is on the Electoral Roll though she is no more. Alan Kyerematen’s Transformational Plan has “leadership with integrity”.
Let’s end at this point” if we write everything today, what shall we write next week?
