THE UNPRECEDENTED VILLAIN OF THE PEACE OR NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN?

Once upon a time in the annals of Ghana history emerged a very youthful man called John Dramani Mahama. This young man was born to one E.A. Mahama, Esquire, former politician and regional minister, of the North during the Kwame Nkrumah regime of the First Republic. His emergence was at a time when African and for that matter, Ghana politics was very dirty. Even though John's father was a minister who was capable and could easily afford payment of fees for his ward at Achimota in Accra decided to do the otherwise. When the free fee policy for all the pupils in the North was introduced by Dr. Nkrumah, he quickly, in a whirl wind fashion, removed little John, his ward, who was then a pupil at the Achimota school to Tamale to benefit from that scheme. He never returned to the south to continue with his education until after completion of the second cycle module. As a result of the new policy, it was not only John who enjoyed the new facility, but also thousands of those whose brains could support their education, their parents ensured that assisted them with just the school uniforms to finish. As you read this piece today, many of them have now become wealthy in society and in business due to the academic exposure. There are others too in top positions with both the public and civil service and private sectors. For those who do not know but care to know, until 1960 or thereabout, the three northern regions were only one big and vast region and it was John's father, Mr. E. A. Mahama, the then regional minister. According to John's own book, titled, 'My first coup d'etat', because of the political kingdom that found his father as a minister in charge of the north, he was more or less a super prince. Since then he has taken delight to be called the youthful, handsome, very learned, very affable, very lovable man of integrity in Ghanaian politics. How -ever, he was aged 34 years when he first tasted the baptism of political life. Rather, it was on the ticket of the NDC in 1992. Since 1992 through to 2008 and until January 7, 2009, he had been the most trustworthy and highly indispens -able MP for the Bole-Bamboi constituency of the Northern Region. So, in effect, until luck and fortune smiled at him to become the luckiest running mate to partner the late president, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, of blessed memory, in his third attempt at the presidency to win the general elections of 2008, he had been one of the longest serving MPs in the country. So, in a nutshell, you could see that, he and probably, Hons. Alban Sumaila Kingsford Bagbin – Nadowli West constituency of the U.W.R. and Enoch Teye Mensah, of the Ningo-Prampram constituency in the Greater Accra Region, had been the Methuselah MPs for the NDC in parliament.

NORTHERN PEOPLE'S 'CAUCUS', 'THINK TANK' OR 'GONJA MAFIA'

1. Dr. Raymond Atuguba – Executive Secretary to the President at the 'Jubilee Flagstaff'.
2. Alh. Mohammed Mumuni, former Foreign Affairs Minister and being considered for the ECOWAS Secretary-General
3. Hon. Alban Sumaila Kingsford Bagbin, one of the three wise men, now supposedly demoted to be in charge of the Government Development and Infrastructure.
4. Mr. Mark Woyongo, Minister of Defence.
5. Dr. Sule Gariba, the President's Special Policy Adviser, Monitoring and Evaluation of government projects etc.
6. Mr. Moses Asaga of the 2009 End of Service Benefit fame, who behaved as Gehazi and circumvent to collect his benefits before the Mills Administration actually gained grounds to set him as a scapegoat when he admitted his guilt later.
7. Alh. Iddrisu Fuseini, Lands & Forestry Minister
8. Hon. Iddrisu Haruna, Trade and Industry Minister.
9. Hon. Rashid Pelpuo, the dribbled minister who went on merry-go-round before being considered from the Tourism ministry to finally dock at the presidency as minister of state at the “Jubilee Flagstaff House”.
10. Hon. Cletus Avorka, former Majority Leader after the 'demotion' of Hon. Bagbin from parliament to the Works, Water Resources and Housing ministry and one of the three wise musketeers who have been chosen/demoted to be in charge of government development projects.
11. Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Koku Anyidohu's No.1 rival (co-spokesman) at the Castle for dissemination of information during the Mills era, now in charge of the ministry of Communication.
12. Mr. Mohammed Alhassan, the Acting I.G.P., whose appointment has forced the sudden exit of Paul, 'the late comer' Tawiah Quaye, the substantive boss who acquiesced to do the dirty work for John during the just ended elections for probably, some diplomatic postings later when the dust settles on the disputed legal tussle in the law courts.
13. Mr. Mohammed Murbarak Muntaka, the former embattled minister of sports who quietly left the scene to save face after his girl friend's fraudulent visit.
14. Mr. Collins Dauda, the 'kantinka' minister. Above are the first 11 players plus their official three substitutes on the bench with the additional four in case there was a penalty shoot-out after the 90 minutes of play. Their names are shown below -

i) Baba Jamal, the controversial MP for Akwatia; and

Ii, iii & iv) The ministers for the three Northern regions to complete the list of 18 for a total rout of Ghana in any given match – be it corruption in governance, economic mismanagement, undaunted stance on educational improvement, frivolous expenditure et cetera.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL
However, other non-governmental personalities of importance but, who are unnoticed by the general public but quietly perform special functions for the government are as follows -

1. COP Rose Bio Atenga, the Police Queen, who knew by all means, and at all costs, would be considered for the slot as second Mills-Robertson (Mrs.) as the second woman to head the police service. But she was dribbled and side-stepped by the government. Rather, a male counterpart was chosen to replace the 'proceed on leave' Paul thus leaving Rose in limbo as to whether to give off her best with her maximum support. However, whether she likes it or not, madam would rather help than to let the opportunity slip by.
2. DCOP Patrick Timbila, the regional police top guru for Accra.
3. DSP Yakubu, commander of the police armoured squadron who came to limelight when the BNI caused the arrest and incarceration of the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong into custody one weekend.
4. Prof. Naa John Nabila, formerly of the Department of Geography, University of Ghana, Legon, now a traditional chief up north who doubles as the president of the National House of Chiefs could be a source of inspiration.
5. Mr. Peter Nantonma Nanfuri, the ex-BNI boss who later became the IGP. Even though he is on retirement and cooling off in Accra; he very often travels to the hometown to perform chieftaincy functions as and when the need arises. As the 'Kokofu Ball' cannot be ruled out and eliminated completely from the Ghanaian political game, it shouldn't be a surprise that he and several others were working on the quiet to consolidate the Mahama government in shape by way of national security. As a former security capo, his specialty should not astonish anybody.
6. Alh. Iddrisu Mahama, husband of the 'how dare they' Betty Mould, (ex Attorney-General and later Education Minister) and a former minister of Defence in the Rawlings PNDC.
7. Mr. Alhassan Andani, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, regardless of his political inclination, no doubt, may be co-opted to assist in their individual capacities to sustain the Mahama regime or Northern People's Caucus because the Fantes' “Adze wo fie a, oye” should not be brushed aside.
8. Mr. Roland Agambire, the so-called fabulously rich and wealthy bank-roller of the RLG Communications, who could dole out some Gh¢50, 000.00 (¢500m) during the funeral/burial of the late Prof. Mills and who, it is being argued, has gotten some $10bn loan/grant/goro for the Hope City at Kasoa, near Accra should not be glossed over. Is the 'hope', the hope of all Ghanaians, or a section of Ghanaians, or what?
9. All of us know Mr. Hassan Ayariga, the 'Kwame Nyanteh' of modern -day politics and his political leaning and special admiration for the NDC when Prof. Mills was alive. Many people of Ayaricough's caliber undoubtedly, could be helping in diverse ways for the sustenance of this government.
10. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, the kid brother of the president, who, pundits claim, could be richer than the Omanhene himself. Did Ibrahim get his wealth during the time his elder brother was the Veep when almost all the powers of State, had, virtually been transferred onto him to decide the fate of Ghana and Ghanaians? Adanko digs to find out, anyway.

CHRONOLOGY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS

1. 1992 – Parliamentary Candidate Mahama tastes political baptism on NDC ticket to become MP for Bole-Bamboi constituency in the North.
2. 1996 – Mr. Mahama becomes Minister of Communications.
3. 2004 - Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni was chosen for the running mate as against Mr. Mahama.
4. 2008 – Lucky Mahama wins the slot and goes on to win the general election with Mills partnership.
5. 2009 – From the horse's own mouth, almost all powers of State relegated to him due to the confidence reposed in him by his former boss.
6. 2010 – Unjustifiable payment of undeserved judgment debts –Alfred Agbesi Woyome, Armajaro, African Automotive Company etc. with high government officials fingered as beneficiaries – Madam Betty where are you? Is Uncle Barton alive to his responsibilities?
7. 2010 – STX Korea Deal Stinker bounces onto the Ghanaian scene and backfires.
8. 2011 – Purchase of Embraer aircraft and other accessories from Brazil and the attendant chop-chop by government officials without him being an exception as a beneficiary while not forgetting the Gruma of South Africa to replace STX. Don't forget the bulldozer killing the fly instead of the sledge hammer; profane words 'baloney, foolish' etc.
9. 2012 - Saturday, July 21 - the late president fetes some selected media at the Osu Castle Gardens where many people who watched their televisions noticed the very deteriorating state of the president's health; the strange nasal malfunction proved that.
10. ” Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - and time (as quoted by Henry Martey Newman, the then Chief of Staff - 14.15 hours GMT), disaster strikes Ghana. The sitting president, John Mills, dies mysteriously while as president. Even though many people who watched their television sets that Saturday before that eventful day knew his death was imminent. The same day, John Mahama was sworn in by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship, Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood when the parliament was summoned to meet at 20.00 hours for the change-over to ensure no vacuum was created for any misfit to be presented with an unexpected opportunity. Meanwhile, the bizarre death and circumstances surrounding it will one day be unraveled as to how. The pathologists and other doctors who performed the PM should prepare for answers to long questionnaire one day before the judgment throne.
11. 2012 - Thursday, August 10 - Funeral and burial of John Mills but, strangely enough, before then, as many as nine (9) graves had been dug – for just one coffin - at the Jubilee House by the Chinese until after some voices were raised before the final grave was dug for burial at the Castle Drive (Asomdwoe Park) and even then; information gathered was that the corpse was transported to his hometown, Essuehyia in the Central Region for interment to appease the family members. Ghanaians are yet to know the final expenditure from the Totobi Quakyi Committee on the funeral.

m) 2012 - Tuesday, November 27,– the Historic Kumasi Declaration that was mooted by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II under the auspices of the Peace Council at the KNUST Auditorium to ensure that peace prevailed before, during and after the elections. The large assembly of personalities that gathered included two former presidents, J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor, as special guests of honour to grace the occasion with their presence to signify peace. All the 8 presidential aspirants appended their signatures after colourful speeches that probably brought Ayaricough to limelight.

PUZZLE - Did you know that since Nkrumah's time to date, no government has ever contracted any huge loans much more than the NDC under Mahama? The Mahama government has contracted some $25bn more whereas before, the total debt stood at $9bn. Did you know that payment of judgment debt alone during the Mahama regime totals some Gh¢976m out of which a tenth of it could settle the striking teachers emoluments peacefully to go back to the classrooms to teach. Did anybody know until yesterday 25 March, 2012, that Mahama government has spent and wasted some Gh¢15m or ¢150bn on Guinea fowl Project for the SADA? And did anybody also know that tree planting or afforestation alone in the north cost some Gh¢33m or some ¢330bn? Mr. Mahama, couldn't some reasonable portion of these monies be used to house the Kaya yee girls roaming our cities and urban areas or set up vocational institutions for their well being? Further still, couldn't some portion of this settle the dwindling and crumbling NHIS to be on its feet once again? Who instructed the minister of Finance, Seth Terkper to slot in some Gh¢112m or ¢1,120bn for Capacity Building or conduit pipe for stealing money? Hmmm. 

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
Exod. 3:7-8 - Readers should be guided by the scripture verses quoted to have consolation in the Lord that the battle ahead that is being fought is the Lord's but not by human might. It reads, “ 7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt (Ghana), and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters (Mahama's Government), for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians, (the outcome of the genuine verdict by the Supreme Court latest end of April) and to bring them up out of their land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the place of the Canaanites (the outcome of the genuine verdict of the elections by the Supreme Court latest end of April) . . “. 'Se woanya biribi ammma w'ase a, yemmo no krono' literally translated to mean – you don't turn round to rob your mother-in-law by false pretences if you're unable to assist her financially. To bring the curtain down, this piece would definitely be incomplete without this illustration and it is this – the best suitable tag that neatly fits HE Mahama is the unprecedented villain of the peace and new sheriff in town because he has by natural instinct been involved in almost every governmental deal that neither worked satisfactorily to some perfection nor saved the government from payment of judgment debt to further worsen the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian taxpayer in the street rather than ameliorating the precarious financial condition. The most suitable acronym that best fits HE JDM is the above because of the lust for money and his involvement in almost everything called Money.

ADMONITION - Even though his father was minister who could afford fee-paying tuition for his ward; as a result of free education introduced by his regime, he leapt like a wounded rabbit to relocate his ward to continue with the upper primary and then the second cycle schooling at the Ghana Secondary School. Isn't it a shame? And have you not heard that the Ghana Government under the youthful Mahama should go begging for sponsorship (Elvis Afriyie Ankrah as courier with the bowl or calabash in hand) to enable some section of the clergy travel to Israel to pray for that bitter cup of death revealed by Rev. Osei Bempah to pass by? If it were true, was $600,000 some money that the government should look round for a benevolent philanthropist to push some 200 ministers to pilgrimage in Israel? Isn't it a shame and an indictment on the government? Is it true that the pith of the travel was to go and pray to cancel the unexpected death that might unexpectedly befall the president? Why does the government think most Ghanaians were still 5 year olds to pull such tricks on our intelligence? However, why do some people who live in glass houses such as Justice Kpegah – who, it is alleged, has stayed in his bungalow that he should have long vacated, like to throw stones? Why does such a seasoned legal brain who should know better, like to write letters and stamp with 'deputy chief justice', whereas Ghana's constitution has no place for any such position? Why do some persons like to cheapen themselves to be ridiculed for recognition at all times? Why did he try to cast a big slur on his integrity and his family? Many discerning people thought the least Justice Kpegah of all persons could do was to refrain from making such unfounded comments about Nana Akufo Addo instead of falling into that temptation. He would have earned his credibility and integrity if he had remained silent but for him to make that childish comments was quite unfortunate. The Supreme Court should not be prejudiced in the case before them but be circumspect because one day, certainly, not long from now, the steam of patience in most Ghanaians might run out and the consequences could be as disastrous as anybody's guess. The author wants readers to be reminded of the trivial incidents that sparked off and triggered the North African Tsunami in early 2011 that still look fresh in our minds.

Mr. President, all those urging you and propping you to stay on in power despite the legal hullabaloo are just political leeches, bed bugs or vampires; they don't want your good fortune and integrity. It is better to behave as a man of integrity to gain self-respect rather than being used as a robot to be tossed about by the wind. Ghanaians are not, repeat not, silly idiots as one can think of. Some of us are wide awake. Mr. Mahama is behaving as if he were Emperor Nero playing his violin hard when in fact Rome was burning. All Ghanaian teachers, TEWU, UTAG, POTAG, doctors, nurses, farmers, fishermen, traders and such others are in despair while some are dying . To quote the late American president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, of blessed memory, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich”. Another moment may be ripe for history to repeat itself here in Ghana, not mildly but could be violent because the rulers think they have the oil money and so could use it anyhow to oppress and suppress the governed without being mindful of the North African Tsunami by defenceless civilians. Anyway, who gave that jab of straw to break the camel's back – by knocking Mills dead in cold blood? Madam Lordina, you are the No.1 Chief Adviser to your husband, please, act now or never. A word to the wise is enough but in the Ghanaian context, they say, it is in the North. One can surround oneself with tribesmen like the late Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, not excepting Mahama, but when the inevitable struck, he passed on. Laureant Kabila of DR Congo, Charles Taylor of Liberia, Czacsesceau of Romania, Iddi Dada Amin of Uganda et cetera have come and gone. Take a cue and bow out. By:[email protected] Tel: 0277122 909