Fixing The Country: Open Letter To The President On Leadership Matters - Part 10

Dear His Excellency President Nana Addo,

Your Administration has received and is receiving a lot of bashings since the introduction of the reportedly regressive tax of E-levy in November 2021 or so, coupled with the current decision by Ghana and not you to seek bail out, from the IMF. It is declared in the Holy Bible at 1 Peter 2:13-14 that “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the Punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right’. Hence, in obedience of God’s command, that the citizenry must give support and when necessary good ideas to the Government of the day to ensure the resources of the Nation is managed judiciously or in a way to ensure the needs and interest of the current and future generations, I write to motivate you as well as my fellow Ghanaians with some proverbs from the Holy Bible supported with some quotes on Leadership, to demo that with proper tweaking, Ghana may still be on the right track to attain your vision of Ghana Beyond Aid.

Mr President, the Holy Bible at Proverb 29:18 says ‘’Where there is no vision, the people perish’. So in line with a quote from Warren Bennis, which says that ‘the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality and Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. Consequently, you as our Leader, chosen by God, you came out with the vision of Ghana Beyond Aid, a very good vision for the Country. So, a leader is one ‘who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way’.as expounded by John Maxwell, this is reinforced with another quote this time from Rosalynn Carter which says that ‘a leader takes people where they want to go but a great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. Hmm, you have shown the way because we ought to be with IMF due to our situation.

Mr President, in attempt to translate your vision of Ghana Beyond Aid into reality, you came out with some good policies in Agriculture, though these policies are yet to make massive success in any of the heavily imported food items by this Country like what Nigeria reportedly succeeded in halting the importation of rice as part of import substitution in her efforts to change the economic fundamentals of that Country. Another laudable policy is the ‘One District One Factory’ aimed at industrialization of the Country nationwide to among others to ensure the processing of agricultural output in order to sustain farming and thus expanding the job network as well as generating more revenue through value addition.

Mr President, according to Wendell Willkie, ‘Education is the mother of leadership’, that is to say through education, we can learn on how to appreciate other people. Also through education we can know our strengths, weaknesses and develop them through wide leaning. Hence, as a very good leader, nominated by God, immediately on assuming office in your first regime, you fast-tracked a Constitutional provision on free SHS in our time, which others felt not possible now. This ensured free SHS education for all, with no discrimination or no one is left behind. The free SHS, is a very laudable policy which can help in the achievement of your vision of Ghana Beyond Aid, since it will help to unlock the potential of the affected youth, it will create further social capital/networking for the affected youth. The model ensures transparency and fairness, since all the citiznery pay tax at least VAT and the rich ones pay more than the poor persons and may even not have wards in school.

Mr President, the smart digitization and digitalization agenda by your Deputy, His Excellency, Vice President Dr Bawumia coupled with your policies, will fast-track the change in the Goggisburg economy template to a modern one thus making it possible for the achievement of Ghana Beyond Aid in our time.

Mr President an interesting and inspiring quote to urge you on is by Brian Tracy which says ‘Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems ‘. Hence, you dreamt and thought big outside the box and came out with some solutions for the attainment of Ghana beyond Aid. But we the citizenry talked of how some of the solutions especially the regressive e-levy will hurt us, hence not ready to pay or support the growth of this regressive tax. God willing, time will tell the success of your administration. That should be the prayer of the people of Ghana.

Mr President, Ghana is not an island nor Utopia, so as part of the global world, she got or is having her fair share of the causal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War, the associated hazard may not be same for two countries due to differences in trading partners, Association, consumption of goods or items, internal dynamics including the unique political atmosphere, that is the only Hung Parliament in the World, the attitude of the citiznery and of course governance with the likely elements of mismanagement and corruption are the contributing factors derailing the Ghana Beyond Aid vision.

Mr President, ‘A good Army General not only sees the way to victory in a battle but he also knows when victory is impossible as said by Polybius. Also ‘a formulae for failure is: Trying to please everybody by Herbert Swope. Hence you cannot please all the citizenry, so Mr President, Leaders need to make the call, be decisive, and watch for the results of that decision. If the decision turns out not to be working as expected, be quick to change course and get on the right track. .Furthermore, a true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. This was said by General Douglas MacArthur (nicknamed as the ‘I shall Return to the Philippines’ a General from USA during the World War2). So Mr President, Ghana is still on track for changing the Goggisburg economy.

The global calamity with the associated economic downturn or doldrums, a great depression since the last 100 years, with untold hardships, the causal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, aggravated by the Russia-Ukraine war demands a change of the means to the vision of Ghana beyond aid. So, Mr President your order to the Minister of Finance to open discussions with the IMF for bail out show that you have truly demo the qualities of a great leader as stated in the above Quotes on Leadership.

So Mr President, I hereby wish to congratulate your for your exemplary leadership. As one of the citizens who thinks that the Authorities and government of the day must be supported by his or her subordinates or citizenry especially towards peace and security or stability, generation of more revenue and employment towards sustainable national development, I wish to reiterate some measures previously sent to you that can help in the achievement of your vision. It is anticipated these submissions, may encourage you, your administration and the citizenry to buy the logical wisdoms made herein as well as in my previous submissions.

Mr President, Proverb 27:23-27 state that-- Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and neither does “a crown endure to all generations’. This is loaded with different meanings. The first part of the proverb that is 27.3 means that if one has flocks and herds, one will survive. One could still feed one household and barter and trade with one’s neighbors. So, nations or the citizenry must see or regard Agriculture or herein animal husbandry as the area for making chief investment and employment that can ensure the sustenance, maintance and longevity of life.

So, Mr President to reboot the economy you need to come out with transformation and modernization agenda for the Agricultural Sector, by supporting the private sector with capital or funding, technology, machinery like tractors, power tillers, transplanters, combined harvesters for mechanization, infrastructure (irrigation dams, feeder roads, warehousing, Green housing, Housing for rearing poultry etc,). Also readily available market/agro-industries for value addition for farmers to keep on producing in large quantities. Sir, you need to quirkily make a public broadcast on radio and TV to motivate the citiznery or the private sector to venture into large scale production of rice, maize and Poultry/fish, since the continual massive importation of rice and other food items is dwindling the foreign currency of the nation.

The citizenry must be urged to at least start backyard farm or garden. Hence, Sweet potatoes as advocated by the Kofi Annan foundation as good nutritive food item can be grown at the backyard or by mixing with or without rice husks with some soil. Preferably loamy soil (or mixture of sand and clay or black soil). Then spread fertilizer evenly on the top and water judiciously or preferably mix in a bucket the soil with handful or five or six matches boxes of NPK fertilizer 15; 15;15 or mix the soil with organic manure such as compost manure. Then, water it and fill a sack like rice sack etc with the watered mixed soil, otherwise fill the sack with the dry soil and water it judiciously. Look for potatoes stems with leaves and insert one foot or 8 inches of the stem with nodes or leaves by punching a hole on the sides 4cm apart and 5cm deep. You may plant two stems 4cm deep and 5cm apart from the top as well. Keep watering your petty farm or potatoes judiciously daily if not placed at the mercy of the rain. After 30 days, you should mix water in a pan or bowl with three to five matches boxes of inorganic fertilizer namely 15;15;15 depending on the soil used, then sprinkle with water or water your potatoes with the rich fertilizer solution from the top uniformly. You may also sprinkle the fertilizer uniformly on top and then water it judiciously to dissolve the fertilizer to reach the bottom to ensure your plants have even supply of nutrients. Keep watering daily. Add fertilizer after 60 days and keep watering till 100days for harvesting. Ensure to provide adequate sunshine.

.Mr President, the Citizenry must be made to appreciate that what has happened or is happening in Ghana is Biblical because the Holy Bible at Proverbs 27:24 says that ‘riches or wealth do not last forever’. Because wealth is not permanent. Not even nations last forever. It must be noted that employment and business world can change drastically and quickly. Businesses, jobs and Nations have been lost in the past by changes in laws, economic depressions, over-expansion, neglect and sloth, new inventions, competition, tax changes, war, political upheaval, natural disasters, theft, cultural changes, death, consumer trends, and so forth.

Mr President, according Proverbs 27:24 the whole economy of a Country or the world could go to ruin; and all the luxuries of country or the world could be lost. Note, the rich men of previous generations are not the rich men of this generation. The Onassis, Rothschild, the Morgans, Rockefellers have fallen far from the preeminence they once had. Today the rich are Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet etc, Riches are not for ever – they go away by many means. Economic success is temporary. Hence, solidarity and prayers are required at this crucial time.

Though both Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war play a key role for our suffering one cannot rule out bad governance or mismanagement since the onset of the fourth Republic by not investing a lot in Agriculture to halt the importation of Rice, Maize, Wheat, Fish Poultry/eggs, meat and vegetables to attain food security at all times. Nigeria has succeeded in halting the importation of rice with the help of a Ghanaian who has no Agriculture diploma apart from just a practice in farming.

Mr President it is a very big shame that the land and weather condition of Burkina Faso is below that of Ghana and Ghana with some many Universities with Faculties of Agriculture, we have Crop Research Institute, Soil Research Institute, some many Diplomas holders, Degree holders, PHD Holders/Professors and other experts in Agriculture yet for the past 30 years or so, Ghana is not able to get the right variety or the same seed and apply the same agronomic practices to halt our Tomatoes Queens from risking their capital or funds, lives and marriages by travelling to Burkina Faso to import tomatoes. There must be sometime very wrong with Ghana.

Mr President, I do know why you are not emulating the good work of the late General Acheampong when he launched and proclaimed through broadcasts on radio and TV and coverage in the print media his OPERATION FEED YOURSELF and OPERATION FEED YOUR INDUSTRY programme during the trying times which made him to declare the Yentua mantra and invested heavily in the Agriculture sector.

The late General Acheampong did so by adequate funding, acquisition of Agric machinery and construction of Agric infrastructure such as irrigation dams, feeder roads, warehousing etc supported the poultry industry as well. He ensured a very dynamic/ forceful Military Officer prosecuted the economy recovery programme to ensure food sufficiency and likely for export.

Furthermore, please take cue from the Liman’s Administration immediately on taking over in September 1979 from the AFRC, he launched the Two Years Rehabilitation and Redirection programme from 24 September 1979 to 24 September 1981, code name the New Deal and made Agriculture as number one priority to change the economic fundamentals of Ghana. This was made in the evening of the inaugural Day on radio and TV. He ensured he also invested heavily in Agric. For cost saving measures he made government officials to use Peugeot cars. For the public he brought in Tata buses (nicknamed Harry Sawyer) as mass transport system to ensure reduction of wastage in fuel etc. I recommend that you should consider the use of some of the buses bought with tax as trotro to help reduce cost of transport and buy more buses to augment the fleet of Omnibus Bus Authority when the situation improves.

Mr President the Proverb 27: 23 -27 warns us that political authority is temporary and must be used for the interest and happiness of the citizenry. So, Mr President as stated by one Arnold Glasow, One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency so you need to ensure the attainment of food security through transformation and modernization of Agriculture by spending more in Agric machinery and Agric Infrastructure especially more feeder roads to farm lands, warehousing, irrigation dams (need to commend you for the idea of constructing the Pwalagu integrated Irrigation and Power Project) as part of the home grown solutions or import substitution to save foreign currencies, to generate more revenue including foreign currency/exchange power from exports and provide additional employment for the youth,

Mr President, it is alleged that about US$5Billion is lost by the country through smuggling of gold from the small scale mining sector due to the illegal involvement of foreigners and activities of some locals. We also have a problem of not gaining enough revenue from the illegal involvement in small scale mining by the Chinese or foreigners through not banking their monies in Ghana, not paying statutory requirements like SSNIT contributions, PAYE etc by them (Chinese etc).

Mr President, mining is capital intensive (funding, equipment, technology), this has made some Ghanaians to collaborate with foreigners who have the needed capital. So, introduction of Medium Scale Mining of precious minerals to allow Ghanaians to collaborate with the Chinese under good legal/regulation frame work and strict Metallurgical security code can help reduce smuggling, check capital flight and the foreign currency that will be generated will remain in Ghana. As well as increase the revenue base through statutory payments including PAYE, SSNIT etc for the nations to reboot the economy. As stated the mining Sector is capital intensive, this has made Ghanaian tycoons to illegally collaborate with Chinese especially in the Small Scale Mining Sector with the attendant environmental hazards which caused the Country to waste huge funds since 2014 to combat illegal mining but no good results obtained as at date. Something must be very wrong with Ghana.

So Mr President once again, it is high time the Nation transform the mining sector by the addition of a Medium Scale Mining Law to the Small Scale Mining Law and Large Scale Mining law, since mining is capital intensive to allow some of the Ghanaian tycoons who have the penchant to collaborate with foreigners especially the Chinese in the Small Scale Mining Sector which is reserved for Ghanaians to operate legally and freely in the proposed medium scale mining sector and gradually grow it and virtually become the sole or majority owner and rival the large scale mining companies who are members of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

Mr President as stated the Chinese are noted for having the capital (funds, equipment and technology/expertise) as their visible investments in some parts of the Ashanti Region, Western Region, Central Region (from Kumasi to Tarkwa through Obuasi/ Dunkwa) helping in the growth of the economy of Ghana. So the presence of the Chinese should be regarded as God send as golden opportunity to help develop the capacity of some of the Ghanaians interested in the mining industry to virtually gain commanding heights in the precious minerals mining sector and in due course rival the large scale mining companies by acquiring huge mining rights or lease so that their earning in foreign currency stays in Ghana (no capital flight). Hence wise statecraft is needed. Note the Bible tells us that David’s grandson, Rehoboam, lost most of His kingdom in a few days due to proud neglect of wise statecraft. So once again wise statecrafts is needed.

The proposed Medium Scale Mining Sector which must allow partnership between Ghanaians and foreigners, must call for the incorporation of a company as per Ghanaian laws and it is recommended that the seed capital should be more than that for the Small Scale Mining sector but less than that for the operation of Large Scale Mining ($100million dollars). Hence, a minimum of $400,000.00 (cost of two or three excavators from China) and not more than 1million dollars by foreigners is suggested for the Medium Scale Mining Sector.

The proposed Medium Scale Mining Companies to be made to acquire Mining Lease of a minimum of 60 acres and not more than 120 acres as Mining Right for 15 years subject to renewal for another 15years. Under no condition should foreign partners be allowed to operate Medium Scale Mining Companies solely by operating without a Ghanaian Counterpart or by sacking or disengaging the Ghanaian Counterpart(s) from the partnership without replacement. Medium Scale Mining Companies to work under direct supervision of the Department of the Minerals Commission for Large Scale Mining or a separate Department designated for the proposed Medium Scale Mining.

Applicants for Medium Scale Mining Companies (both Ghanaians and foreigners) to be made to declare source of funding, the amount to be used in the operation, the number of local people to be employed or local a content policy to ensure they employ at least 10 people from the area to create employment vacancies and distribute wealth. The local content policy for the proposed Medium Scale Mining should make them to employ a Mining Officer or Manager, a Safety Officer, an Environmental Officer, a Nurse, to help create jobs and distribute wealth.

The proposed Medium Scale Mining Companies must be required to post Reclamation/Re-grassing Bond for restoring the land by the State, if they failed to do so. To reclaim the bond, Mine Closure and approval of the Abandonment/exoneration Certificate by the inspectorate division of Minerals Commission, the EPA and DCE should be required or as per current regulations/laws.

The propose Medium Scale Mining Companies must be made to strictly abide by the Minerals and Mining (General) Regulation 2012 (LI2173). Especially the conduct of responsible mining, smelting or processing and the gold produced is properly weighed, documented or recorded, assayed and valued and sold immediately to licensed buyers per Minerals and Mining (General) Regulation (LI2173) and the authorized buyers to also make immediate sales to the Precious Minerals Marketing Company The returns or reports are submitted as prescribed by regulations.

Protection of the Environment by Medium Scale Miners

Mr President, for the operation of the proposed Medium Scale Mining as stated there must be a requirement for Incorporating of a Company, with a spelt out minimum and maximum capital or funding threshold, posting of Reclamation Bond to ensure backfilling or reclamation and revegetation or regressing after mining, in addition to other prerequisites as deemed appropriate and it is permissible for the Registered Company to operate in more than one Districts or areas, provided it satisfies the preconditions.

Governance for the Medium Scale Mining

The governance of the Medium Scale must be the same for large Scale Mining Companies.

Mr President, it seems your administration and your party did not take cue from Proverb 27.2 that let another man praise you, and not your own mouth or not your own lips. You and your party, fully aware of the current political atmosphere with a Hung Parliament should always be building cordial stakeholders fora especially in Parliament. Unfortunately, you have ignored good statecraft and indulged and still indulging in the cacophony of breaking the eight mantra, knowing very well that political ownership is temporary because as stated among others in Proverbs 27:23-27 “a crown does not endure to all generations. So, you as the Leader or father of the Nation and the leader of your party must know the state of things and be diplomatic or discreet, considerate and judicious in the management of the resources of the Country, ensure nothing may be lost, no opportunity let slip and everything is done in proper time and good order and so as to turn to the best advantage.

Mr President, it seem your leadership style is in line with the wisdom of the late Ex-President Nelson Mandela which says ‘is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur and you take the front line when there is serious danger or emergency. Hence, so much has been said or documented about an adoption of apparent lukewarm leadership style by you, so no reshuffling of your Ministers because it appears, we either have weak intelligence gathering on corrupt practices or you are failing to see or hear no wrong acts by your appointees including the Finance Minister who has badly managed the economy.

The Finance Minister, a good Christian has ignored the warning in Proverb 27.23 coupled with basic fundamentals of economics theories including what to produce with limited or scarce funds or use of concept of opportunity cost (herein recommended the production of rice, maize, poultry by providing enough expenditure or budget for the transformation and modernization of Agriculture for production of rice etc) to save foreign currency and generate revenue to settle debts. How to produce (good seeds, application of fertilizer hence its availability, Agric mechanization with tractors, transplanters or seed drillers, power tillers, combine harvesters). Lastly, where/who to produce (massive rice production in the Volta Region which has the highest yield of 6 metric tonnes per hectare, Eastern Region with 4 metric tonnes per hectare and in the north especially the Fumbesi valley, Nasia etc.

The Finance Minister, seems to exhibit modern arrogance of continual progress or he is always overly confident in what future days hold especially with his e-levy and thus disregarded the caution in Proverb verse 27.1 in the Bible that do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth". So, it was very reckless or foolhardy for the rush in abolishing the Road Toll just to win support from a segment of the Country especially Drivers for the e-levy. He failed to say God willing’ or 'If the Lord wills, tomorrow we will do this, that and the other or herein God willing’ E-levy may yield good results and abolish the road Toll at the right time or improve on the road Toll System.' Because you really don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. It's all in God's hands. You don't even know if you're going to exist the following day.

Mr President, I agree 100% with His Excellency Ex-President Mahama, that the Finance Minister should be sacked before Breakfast. But I do not agree with Ex-President Mahama’s suggestion for the replacement of the very brilliant His Excellency VP Dr Bawumia, who even gave us an advance warning that it was not reasonable to tax MoMo transaction. So, the Finance Minister should have either made it as low as 0.5% for acceptance by the public and increase the threshold yearly or exclude MoMo transaction from the tax handle.

His Excellency Ex-President Mahama should know better with some experiences because as VP in the Mills era, he was saved by our dear mother Her Excellency Lordina Mahama from resigning as the VP when he was sidelined by the then Finance Minister and furthermore his administration also sidelined his Deputy, the late Dr Amissah Arthur (who was also an economic guru). Sidelining of the VP, is a disease in our Political Dispensation. It started from the era of the late Papa J with his deputy, VP Ekow Arkaah. This is so due to the Constitution model the same way as that of USA, which put the Vice President in just only on Standby role only, he has no executive power. Hence ex-President Mahama was sidelined in the Mills era an attempted to resign but the sudden death of President Mills saw him assuming Executive Powers as the President. The Constitutional experts led by Dr SKB Asante who drafted the 1992 Constitution actually recommended a President and a Prime Minister with some elaborate authority same as in India. The current Senior Minister Mr Osafo Marfo in your Administration has executive powers than the VP (Dr Bawumia). The VP is just like a Second-in-Command in an Infantry Battalion. I am not calling for Constitutional changes. But just stating the facts.

Electronic Levy means a lot because we can get revenue from Google, Facebook, the Financial institutions hence, the choice of the term E-levy and proclaimed to the public for a tax handle which seemed to be restricted to MoMo transaction levy was or is problematic, as stated the Minister should have termed as MoMo transaction levy so that MoMo transaction levy can easily be cancelled when faced with problems and we still retain the tax handle of E-levy against the other electronic financial sectors. Hence the Finance Minister Must go

Mr President, another good reason that he must be sacked because, he was the same cabinet Minister who by his cabinet oath was required to or is to defend the Free SHS policy model from cabinet, as rolled out but he rather provided ammunition to your detractors, when he said in public that he does not see why he can pay the school fees of his children, who are also covered by the Free SHS policy.

Furthermore, he poorly crafted the very good mineral royalty into what he termed as Agyapa Royalties which gave room for Hon Martin Amidu to make unpalatable remarks about your person sir. Mr President, but the poor work by the Finance Minister, the Minerals Royalty revenue portfolio will have helped to yield great revenue to the ailing economy as well as act as a policy that may help fulfill the provision of section 6 of Article 257 of the 1992 Constitution that all minerals are vested in the President of Ghana, on behalf, and in trust for the people of Ghana. Since it will create the window of opportunity for the citizenry to really own the minerals through purchase of some of the shares, hence a nationwide way of distributing the wealth from the minerals. Mr President, he must go now to give way to a new face who can rally support for the introduction of the Minerals Royalty, which is even the baby of His Excellency Ex-President Mahama and will receive his support with a new and humble Minister.

Mr President, this Minster failed to appreciate the state of affairs that could lead to the down grading of Ghana and had the audacity to dispute the poor grades of Ghana by International Analysis but later on agreed with their grading. This contributed to the loss of confidence by investors in his competence otherwise his integrity maybe questionable. Lastly. Mr President Good business analysis and foresight is part of wisdom and this is lacking Sir

Mr President, I envisaged, you may wish to read or known something about the author of this mail, so that you can match names with contributors to sustainable national development. So, for the next page or 30 minutes or so, let me give you some details about the author’s contributions to mankind, his Nation through both international peacekeeping/peace building and national building for the past 22 years or so to the Glory of God.

Contributions in International peacekeeping/peace building

Participated in peacekeeping in Lebanon, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The operations in Liberia were more interesting or newsy. Beside able to initially providing effective protection of the areas of Monrovia under my responsibility including, ACS, the Spriggs Payne Airport, residents of an areas within the then residence of Mrs Jewel Cianeh Taylor, the current Vice President of Liberia which was strongly defended including the repelling of some rebels of Charles who attempted to capture the Airport etc.

I, subsequently led my Infantry Company as the advance Infantry Company of the Ghanaian Battalion that captured the Robertsfield International Airport, Harbel from the rebels of Charles Taylor. During the advance, by the Ghanaian Battalion, there was a lull occasioned by some wounded casualties and serious shortage of ammunition but under intense enemy fire. Thanks to the Nigeria Artillery Unit which supported us when they counter attacked the enemy, hence provided us with good cover until we received resupply of ammunition from Nigeria against the lack of readiness of Accra to provide us with resupply of ammunition because, the Military High Command in Accra could not understand the reasons for the shortage wanted us to account the large quantities of ammunition supplied to the Battalion which were wasted in war by troops in the battle due to the thick forest which made long range visibility difficult and worse in the night with fright among all ranks, hence you need to fire ahead to clear areas suspected of enemies and enemy snipers etc.

The lull saw my body guard (then one Cpl Bawa) and myself volunteered with some foolish bravado under snipers fire to clear snipers of Charles Taylor to allow the evacuation to Monrovia for the treatment wounded troops including one of the Body Guards of the Commanding Officer who got wounded by enemy fire during the advance..

As the last Provost Marshal for ECOMOG Ground Taskforce Forces in Liberia ,I contributed immensely towards the shaping of the Liberia Police Force and the cohesion of societies in Liberia when I was appointed as the President of the general Mess of the Ghanaian Battalion and when I made making good use of my experience as former Entertainment Chairman of Republic Hall at UST Kumasi (now KNUST) and one of the promoter of Entertainment in Kumasi and Accra by Dance Bands (Sappers, Blast Kantinka, Sweet Beans etc in KNUST, Accra at Apollo Theatre and, Tiptoe Gardens) and Drama or Plays promoter (My Husband has Gone Mad Again etc). So I ensured the Ghanaian Battalion Band provided at the Mess good music (Reggae, Funky, and Highlife less Gospel music because the Liberians, in their own words they did not come to meet Jesus in an area where alcohol (beer and gin) were available when gospel songs were played by the Band. I also protected, and helped free or escort women and children when they were arrested by the Nigerian Battalion in Monrovia, when a curfew was instituted to deal with the threat of pockets of the enemy including banditry activities especially in the night.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with good foresight I bought in Ghana and supplied over 10 copies of peacekeeping books by Major General Anyidoho (Rtd) and Major General Francis Adu Amanfoh (Rtd), the current National Security Coordinator/my fellow Sapper from Field Engineers Regiment (he was our Regiment 2IC) to the Force Commander and Staff of the UN Peacekeeping Force in DRC as MONUC, They were very happy with my foresight that helped somehow in their command and received good commendation for that.

Nation Building

At Navrongo Secondary School, together with Hon Ambrose Dery, Joseph Osei, we formed the three musketeers and among others discovered a large tracts of arable land close to a river which could be used for irrigations for the cultivation of Rice. This helped the effective organization of the Agriculture Sixth Form. We were awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme metal

As the Commanding Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces Farms, between 1991 and 1992 then Army Captain I caused the GAFF to make modest profit to the admiration of the then PNDC Secretary for Defence (Alhaji Iddrissu Mahama) and by mysterious way I found myself working under the Confiscated Assets Committee (which worked against my parents etc and that motivated me to join the Ghana Army)

It was then chaired by Hon Mr Yireh Chireh, my senior at Navrongo Secondary School and senior at UST (now KNUST), this associate with Mr Yireh Chireh somehow changed my stand or outlook against the then PNDC.. Due to my background, I performed my duty with the dogma of probity, transparency and accountability, hence I imbued high level of honesty, fairness and professionalism in my work, So, I took very good care of some huge lands and cattle at Kasoa confiscated by the PNDC from Alhaji Mekankine and some of the fishing ships etc of the then Ghana Fishing Company for fishing and never attempted to make any gains like what most leaders especially politicians including some members of your administration do or did as exemplified by the late CEO of the Forest Commission did.

Between 2000 and 2001, as the Officer Commanding 2BN rear and therefore the Representative of the Southern Commander in both the Western Regional Security Council and the Central Regional Security Council (the membership at the Central Region was later on handed over to the current Army Commander then with 64 Regiment Gondar Barracks,) I caused the establishment of OPERATION CLAM LIFE with cash donations from Alhaji Asoma Banda and my associates at the Castle (including the late Mr Atiemo, then Chief Director at the Castle in 2000s)

I saw to the efficient operations of Mining Companies in the Western Region by deploying in their locations troops from the Military and Police.

I caused the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines to establish the Security Committee for the Ghana Chamber of Mines for networking (sharing of ideas and cooperating in the fight against crime and illegal mining activities)

In 2004 or so with the support of the Managing Director of Bogoso Mine, I initiated the policy of Live and Let us Live, which saw and encouraged Galamsey operators in Prestea to form the Prestea Mining Group and was allotted an area to operate. With the support of the GM of Bogoso Mine, we gave 90 days window of opportunity for Hansol Mining Company owned by Chairman Wontumi to operate in Prestea. I helped the then BNI Officers including the Head of Security for AGA Obuasi and AGA Tarkwa to prepare profile of Galamsey operators/ Small Scale Miners including Hansol Mining and as well as the usage of illegal explosives in Prestea. I helped in the Company’s attempt to settle Galamsey operators in the concession of AGA Obuasi and Bogoso Mine at Ayanfuri, the current location of Persues Mining Company by then it was the concession of AGA Obuasi.

I made good contributions as the Rep of the Ghana Chamber of Mines at the meetings of the National Security Taskforce Committee established under the then President Mahama’s administration in 2014 to combat illegal miners and how to isolate foreigners especially Chinese in the small scale mining sector and the protection of rivers and water bodies to ensure good water available for the citizenry. In 2017 I organized my first paper or submission to the almost all the key media houses in Ghana on the fight of Galamsey operators (you may Google for part of the story.

Since 2015 or so I have been making the suggestion that the current Small Scale Mining law was and is ambiguous and need to reflect as promulgated in Section 77 of the Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDCL153) and the Small Scale Gold Mining law 1989 (PNDCL215) which were attempts for the legalization and formalization of Galamsey operators for the rural communities where precious minerals were found. So to ensure the participation in the Mining sector by Ghanaian tycoons noted for their brand of collaborating with Foreigners especially Chinese, I recommended a law for medium Scale mining that could help provide additional jobs to youth, reduce smuggling of gold, ensure effective accounting of the gold produced and the gold is sold to immediately without hoarding to the Precious Minerals Marketing Company through Probity, Transparency and Accountability policy or Metallurgical Security Code and thus ensure no smuggling or hoarding of gold and most important the payment of statutory requirements including PAYE, SSNIT, etc, you may read this at Open Letter to the President on Medium Scale Mining.

MAJOR MOHAMMED BOGOBIRI (RTD)