HAS GHANA ANY FUTURE AT ALL, AFTER 2013?

In choosing the caption for this article, I have tried painstakingly to get another suitable one; but try as I did; no better alternative came to mind except to use the same to test the pulse of readers to know the climatic condition prevailing. It is very obvious that many people and readers who have the chance to read it thoroughly will endeavour to digest and come to terms with me or agree with me in its entirety, while the other faction, no doubt, will brand me a doomsday prophet. Never mind, opinions are like onions; everybody on this planet Earth has his own opinion and is entitled to it as well. And that makes the beauty of democracy thrive. As the caption clearly depicts, I have taken cognizance the little historical background that was chanced upon by me and that dates back from the pre-independence days to date. As many people are already aware, the struggle for Ghana's independence was not won on a silver platter. It was through perseverance, hard work, patriotism, focus and service to humanity. Even though, initially, there were dissenting and divergent views as to the frequency or otherwise; eventually, the Colonial masters gave us our hearts desire. Not many were interested but the other party had to grapple with it to calm the political climate at the time. Our freedom fighters made up of Paa Grant, Mensah Sarbah, J.E. Caseley Hayford, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah, E.O. Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akufo Addo, William Ofori Atta a.k.a. Paa Willie and Ako Adjei however, were divided into two – i.e. the pros and cons. While the Convention People's Party (CPP) leadership made up of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Messrs. Kojo Botsio, Ako Adjei, Komla Agbeli Gbedema, Kofi Baako, Krobo Edusei, A.E. Inkumsah, A.J. Dowuona Hammond, L.R. Abavana, E.A. Mahama (Prez. John Mahama's father) pressed for immediate self-rule, their opposing counterparts such as Dr. J.B. Danquah, Simon D. Dombo, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Messrs. R.R. Amponsah, Victor Owusu, Yaw Manu, Jatoe Kaleo, Baffuor Akoto and their Trans-Volta Togoland strongman (modern day Volta Region) S.G. Antor, from the United Party (U.P. tradition), also agitated for self-rule in the immediate foreseeable future. Generally, that should have been the best option for them to have developed the Gold Coast like South Africa with all the available wealth for us but the incessant pressure that was mounted from CPP faction coupled with the prevalent malaria that took a toll on the British and expatriate nationals somewhat compelled them to relinquish power to the indigenous natives to toy with our lives. While the CPP shouted for immediate self-rule, the UP also posited for gradual steps to independence to enable the natives take time to learn the intricacies and master all the tricks in governance to cope with the administrative machinery of the country when the colonialists had left our shores. Their stance was however, very modest and to offer us a very ripe and smooth transition. As if by design or accident, while the colonial masters were day in and day out contemplating as to whether to grant us our political request, they took the due advantage of the apparent division amongst the elitist class and their disagreement and divergent views from both sides and furthermore, the unfriendly and endemic malaria that did a lot of harm to most of the expatriates at the time. They quickly and readily acquiesced the mounting pressures from the CPP and the Governor, Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, sent word to Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth Regina II of England for swift action to accede our request. The Queen too and her British Government also acquiesced and a date was fixed: March 6, 1957 - to grant independence to the Gold Coast – thus, becoming the first African state south of the Sahara Desert. As if by design but not accident, not long enough, Ghana's independence propelled many of the African countries in the east and west to gain their political independence from their colonial masters. Between 1960 and 1970, as many as 8 countries had gained their independence; with Ghana, also attaining a sovereign status.

THE CPP
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's government came and performed several feats including the establishment of about 250 senior high schools. They were known as the GET schools (Ghana Educational Trust) where almost, every district had a senior high school. He crowned the educational infrastructure with the establishment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology that was previously known as the Kumasi Institute of Technology in 1961. He did not rest there; he went a step further to set up the University College of Cape Coast almost at the same time with the aim of producing more teachers for our educational sector. A scholarship scheme was set up and the brilliant ones had chance to train abroad mainly in Russia and Cuba in science and technology, aviation and aeronautics, medicine, dentistry, and others. On agriculture, the State Farms was set up to engage many of the able bodied youth to go into farming. Food was such in abundance that there was no fear for famine. Many silos were built to store food for the lean seasons. As a result of his socialism-centred ideology, he set up the Ghana Housing Corporation to embark on cheap and simple but affordable houses on hire-purchase basis. His government embarked on such affordable hire-purchase houses in Accra, Kumasi and other places. In Accra, Teshie-Nungua Estates sprang up; at Kaneshie, the Awudome estates and its environs also took shape. Also, at Kanda, more than 100 decent bungalows came into being to house his ministers and top government appointees. At Lartebiokorshie, the magnificent ten or more 5-storey buildings overlooking the Kortle Bu Hospital have been in existence for ages to house senior government appointees. The Tema Township made up of several communities, was constructed by the Nkrumah government. His nationwide achievement will be replete if mention is not made of the Tema Harbour built by him in 1959 to supplement the existing Takoradi Harbour built in 1927. The Valco aluminum smelter plant and factory was jointly established with the Kaiser Aluminum Incorporation of the U.S. and Ghana. Dr. Nkrumah's achievements will not be complete without the mention of the Akosombo Dam that probably, has been the first man-made HEP on the African Continent and has continued to be the largest man-made lake in the world. The source of Ghana's energy has mainly hinged on the electricity powered by this multi-million US Dollar dam built and completed by the Italians in 1965. Unfortunately, Dr. Nkrumah never lived in Ghana for long to enjoy the benefits of same. Just about three weeks after its commissioning, Dr. Nkrumah left Ghana for a state visit to Hanoi, North Vietnam that became his journey of no return. The best proximity for him was Conakry, Guinea. The Tema Motorway, linking Tema with Accra, a distance of 25 kilometers, built with reinforced concrete cement, has been one of the greatest landmarks in Ghana's history since his exit. In the regions, Kumasi, the Ashanti capital also recorded similar estates at both North and South Suntresu plus of course, the Kwadaso and Patasi estates. On transport and communication, he established the State Transport Corporation for road transport; also, he set up the Black Star Line with as many as 6 or more sea-going vessels to cart the country's exports and imports to and from Europe. In order to boost the economy, he purchased two Viscount 10 (VC.10) aircraft to operate Accra-London-Accra, Accra-Beirut-Accra routes and initially, Ghana's economy boomed to make Ghana the beacon of Africa. On culture, the Kumasi Cultural Centre received a boost and that saw tremendous change indeed.

STAR OF AFRICA
That was when Ghana earned the accolade, “Star of Africa” and it is unfortunate that due to greediness, nepotism, tribalism and avarice, none of these former state owned enterprises can be said to be our pride anymore. In general, almost everything worked to perfection those days. Decentralization was at its best; from the district to the regional and finally to the headquarters in Accra or the ministry's head office. Dr. Nkrumah's penchant for the total liberation of the African Continent probably must have accounted for his downfall. He became power drunk and started spending money here and there to ensure every bit of the continent was liberated. As a result, nationals from other countries came to the Winneba Ideological Institute to study and be indoctrinated with Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, Nkrumaism, Socialism, et cetera. It was not surprising at all that soon after their course of study, these products went back to destabilize their home governments with the fresh ideas gained from Ghana. The net result was that Nkrumah became so powerful that back home in Ghana, he set up the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) to couch his opponents. The least noise heard, his opponents were thrown into jail at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison for life in condemned cells without the option of a fair trial by our courts. Some, it was not secret, died while in detention. Notable ones amongst them was Dr. J.B. Danquah, who died in 1965. Unlike E. Obetsebi Lamptey, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's father, his corpse was found on time for family burial whereas the former's was allegedly buried by the prison authorities. The lucky ones however returned maimed or blind soon after his overthrow. Some of such persons were Messrs Victor Owusu, R.R. Amponsah, Yaw Manu and many others. The situation became worse off that the military could no longer tolerate his countenance and had to boot him out a day after he had left Ghana for a state visit to Hanoi, North Viet Nam.

ONE MAN'S MEAT …..
While Rome was burning, Emperor Nero was busily feasting with the family. He did not give a dime. He did not mind a hoot about the catastrophe that had befallen his compatriots. This same statement or phenomenon coincidentally fits the unpatriotic stance of HE John Mahama. Ghana can burn, he does not bother. All Ghanaians can go hang! Ghanaians talk too much. As long as he remained the president whether by legal or illegal means, no matter how Ghanaians rubbish him, he does not matter. To him, Ghanaians are too lazy because, many people waste their time at the radio stations to talk “nonsense and rubbish” on very trivial and frivolous things instead of staying at the office working to make meaning to the country's development. But why can we not talk? How much is the ordinary worker's salary per month? Just peanuts! This scenario is synonymous of what is happening now at home while the entire family is holidaying elsewhere at the expense of the State. The news in town is that while most Ghanaians cannot easily afford two or three square meals a day, while others too, take just one meal in two days (not because such people want to go on a diet or on a slimming course); pay for their children/wards school fees plus a bag of cement and a bucket of oil paint that have become unofficial but a sanctioned conditionality from all heads of government schools, the exorbitant and 'shylock' rent for housing accommodation all over the country, buy the commonest food – “yorke garri” (garri and beans with palm oil and fried ripe plantains – courtesy, pre-chairman Rawlings of yesteryears), high transport fares, plus of course, the already cooked increases of electricity and water bills that will go up by 7.4% and 6.8% respectively on January 1, 2014, et cetera, the State has quietly endorsed the payment of a special package for the family to cool off in far away oil-city Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Information reaching this junketing author indicates that a modest hotel room (like the “Ebeye Yie” Hotel at Bubuashie, an Accra suburb, that has been in existence before modern 3, 4 and 5-star hotels like the Novotel, Golden Tulip, La Palm, La Beach Hotel etc. ) in that oil-city costs some $800.00 per night excluding meals (lunch and dinner) that normally cost $200.00 per plate minus the cost of wines and hot drinks that could easily be the delicacy of the first family of four (4) to be on a safe side. Since they are not Moslems, (that could, otherwise, have been an abominable 'haram' damnable and chastised by the Holy Quran), special drinks would be tasted for talkative Ghanaians to pick up the bill. Because of the expensive nature and cost of living there, many Ghanaian travelers share the room in fours with four beds in a room to cut cost. Or could it be that he has bought a house in Dubai that he wanted to christen it around the Xmas but we do not know yet! Could the same place have been the rendezvous where a leading Ghanaian judge transited en route to the US for holidays soon after the August 29 infamous ruling? Hmmm! To buttress this point, I will like to quote former US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, “If a free society cannot help the poor, it cannot save the few who are rich”. Even though the president needed some rest and take leave of his busy schedule, the fact that he decided to travel to Dubai where a bottle of coca cola costs US$10.00 and US$15.00 canned one was not the best option and more especially, the timing. The staring and poignant poverty in the faces of many Ghanaians and the thousands of teenage kayayee porters who are predominantly natives from his own backyard (the northern region, who cannot easily find decent accom -modation in our cities and urban towns, provide themselves with two (not three) square meals a day and their hundreds of children without proper fathers should have pricked the president from taking that childish decision if even his advisors had so badly advised him for that trip. Anyway, “a large chair does not make a king”. And so also, “anybody who does not know history, cannot plan for the future”, and it looks obvious that since Mr. Mahama is a communi -cator, might not have knowledge in history, otherwise, he would not have undertaken that frivolous trip to incur the displeasure of the many poor ones and burden us with US$3,000.00/night with his family of four at the expense of the State. If Mr. Mahama does not know now, may be his minister of Education, can furnish him with this latest information. And it is that the parent of a new student who gained admission to pursue the NDC's 3-year senior high school course at the Yaa Asantewaa school in Kumasi last October (mid-October-December, i.e. 1stterm) was asked to pay a total of Gh2,000.00 before securing admission – not bribe money but all incidentals. Not only that but also while her ward carried her chop-box and handled her suitcase under one armpit, the poor student's mother also carried a 5-gallon emulsion paint with the father trying to stiffen his neck to carry a bag of 50-kilo cement for the school's infrastructure development. You may ask me why? That is 'Mahama Ghana' for you. Why are all this nuisance from these heads of schools (CHASS), one will dare ask? It is hoped that S.O.A., her deputy, will jump into the cockpit to rescue the situation as he used to worry Mr. Martin A.B.K. Amidu to endorse the payment of unjustified judgment debt with telephone calls and the like.

DATES TO REMEMBER
For those who care to know a little bit about Ghana's history, here are some dates that should never be glossed over but be seriously remembered all the time: The first and foremost, is March 6, 1957 is when the country gained independence from the British. The second is July 1,1960, when Ghana became a sovereign state ahead of all the African states south of the Sahara. The third and probably, a date many people who did not agree with the event will not like to revisit was, Thursday, February 24, 1966, when the CPP government was overthrown in a military coup d'etat led by Col. Emmanuel Kwashie Kotoka. The first coup d'etat that administered the country for three and a half years or more (February 24, 1966 to early October 1969) before they handed over power to a civilian government of the Progress Party led by Dr. K. A, Busia after he had won a general election supervised by the military with Mr. V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe as an impartial non-partisan and biased electoral commissioner. The Busia Administration stayed in power for 30 months and was booted out by Col. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. On January 13, 1972, the second military adventurists usurped the democratically elected government that had come to power through a keenly contested election conducted in 1969 and a landslide majority had been won - a total of 105 out of a 140-seat parliament. Dr. K.A. Busia's (PP - Progress Party that won against K.A. Gbedema's NAL (National Alliance of Liberals) was also overthrown by Acheampong on the flimsy excuse that he, Acheampong, was a product of Nkrumah's Ideological Institute of Winneba. He saw no reason why his mentor's government should be overthrown by Busia's benefactors and be aided to head a quasi-government institution, the Mass Civic Education, that enabled him to go round the nukes and cronies of Ghana just as the National Centre for Civic Education does recently and when the ban on party politics was lifted, Dr. Busia, then chairman of that institution, after gaining a quick and false start, quickly stepped in to form a party to contest that same election. They also stayed on for 6 years – the National Redemption Council - NRC – until some misunderstanding arose between the leadership and a palace coup also took place – this time, a bosom colleague – Fred W.K. Akufo on or about July 8, 1978.

AFRC – ARMED FORCES REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL AND PNDC
As snipers often say, Fred's envy to boot out Acheampong from office enabled Mr. Jerry Rawlings to sneak through to also enter the political arena on Monday, June 4, 1979, with the charge that the so-called senior military officers had abandoned the military profession and gone overboard into business; and some others abusing the system by using their uniform to acquire wealth and property. What do we see now these days anyway? Has anything changed? A senior officer (Col. Roger Felli), was said to have used his uniform to secure just Gh¢5.00 (¢50,000.00) those days for some urgent need but was later arrested alongside other senior officers – Major-Generals R.E.A. Kotei, E.K. Utuka, Commander Joy Amedume, Air Vice Marshal Yaw Boakye, including three former heads of State – General IK Acheampong, F.W.K. Akuffo and especially A.A. Afrifa (who had since long retired from the military but wanted a return to politics). All the above were shot by firing squad between Saturday, June 9 and 16, 1979. The salient and probably the more intriguing question one would dare ask Mr. Rawlings and his former clique is, since their death by firing squad to put fear in the Ghanaian, how much wealth and properties have the same accusers not made in life without first and foremost, forgetting to remove the peck that was in their eyes as explicitly stated by the Book of Matthew Chapter 7:7? Then came also the dastard and bestial murder of three high court judges – Justices Cecilia Koranteng (then a 3-month-old nursing mother), Sarkodie, Agyepong and a retired Army Major, Sam Acquah, then personnel manager of GIHOC, on June 30, 1982, whose labour case versus the State, was said to have been won by the workers group to discredit Joachim Amartey Kwei, who was then a PNDC member. Mr. J.J. Rawlings as Chairman of the PNDC for 11 years, became the household name in Ghana and because of atrocities that were meted out to political opponents, his Mao Tse Tsung style of governance became intolerable by the international community and was compelled to entertain divergent views from opponents and so was advised to allow multi-party democracy to prevail otherwise, Ghana was to be cut from the outside world. Having been propped up by the likes of the Tsikata and Ahwoi Brothers – Kojo as security capo, Tsatsu as legal and finance and later becoming Jerry's financial wizard and Fui, the quiet and unassuming unsung hero dictating the pace from the background; and Ato for Trade and Energy, Kwesi for Ghana Export Promotion and Kwamena Ahwoi for the never-to-be-forgotten Citizens' Vetting Committee that sent thousands into self-exile respectively for 11 years where these two trios were in fact the master tacticians and strategists with Paul Victor Obeng dictating the administrative pace and doing the “monkey” work from the touchlines as the de facto prime minister with oratorical skills, Ghana in fact became the epitome of anarchy. Those who could not tolerate such sight and scene decided to leave the shores for their safety and peace. One really wonders whether none of them earned much more than Gh¢5.00 while in office or had much more wealth than those they accused of and sent to the gallows? All the same, Ghanaians are the best judges as you read this piece.

REFERENDUM FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY
The referendum at the end of April 1992 settled the scores for return to multi-party democracy to pave way for general elections on December 7 of the same year to elect Mr. Rawlings as the military-turn-coat president after 11 years. After Rawlings' two successful terms came to an end, he had managed to give Accra, the national capital with new facelift. Also, the National Theatre, the Accra Conference Centre, and some hundreds of kilometers of road infra -structure had been made. But his tenure will go down in history as the government that spoilt our educational structure with the hurriedly packaged introduction of the infamous JSS educational policy while he quickly sent his kids abroad to escape the experiment. After Rawlings, Mr. John Kufuor beat his challenger, Prof. John Mills, who had been unilaterally declared by his mentor at a Swedru rally by acclamation in a second round contest on December 28, 2000. Mr. Kufuor also became president for two terms. While in office, he managed to set up many poverty alleviation measures including the school feeding program -me to encourage many children of school-going age to go to school; free school children bussing to enjoy free ride on public transport buses; free ante-natal maternal health care facility, the National Health lnsurance System, the criminal libel law was also repealed and scrapped from our statute books. Free speech became the order of the day in his era; thousands of kilometer road networks were put to shape. Again, the Accra-Aburi road that had for ages been the no-go area for large 60-seater buses and trucks, especially, long articulated trucks, could, for the first time in Ghana's history, ply the Accra-Aburi road with the utmost ease. The Peduase Lodge, the presidential weekend resort that had not seen any facelift since 1966 was refurbished for the first time. The Ministry of Defence also had their fair share with ka new multi-dollar edifice near the El Wak Stadium. The Burma Hall, notwithstanding, needing some modern renovation, also was given a new facelift. The Kasoa-Yamoransa-Cape Coast road network that was the native route of the late former president, Prof. John Mills (who was for 4 years vice-president, but never saw the need for that facelift), has reduced the travel fatigue of motorists greatly. The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi now has a helipad from where accident victims could be airlifted from the hospital to say, the Korle Bu Hospital that hitherto been classified as graveyard by Mr. Rawlings when he overthrew the Limann's democratically elected government but equally, failed on his part during his 19-year reign; first, as chairman of the PNDC for 11 years and second, as president of both the two terms of the 4th Republic to do any refurbishment on the hospital. On sports, Mr. Kufuor built two new stadia at Essiepong, near Sekondi and Tamale with the Baba Yara and Ohene Djan Stadia in Kumasi and Accra respectively seeing great signs of improvement in their structures. To crown his haul of medals, JAK added the construction of the Bui Dam in Brong Ahafo region to alleviate the suffering of energy deficit. Even though he knew he was leaving office, he purchased a 15-seater presidential jet for the in-coming president to enjoy his privacy instead of flying alongside with the public on commercial passenger flights. Mr. Kufuor's 8-year tenure of two terms indeed saw tremendous changes in Ghana and could be ranked as the No. 2 to Dr. Nkrumah's reign. jUnfortunately, his heir-apparent, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo failed to snatch the golden diadem in a first round encounter and lost narrowly in a re-run to Prof. Mills on January 4, 2009, Mr. Mills's presidency more or less was shrouded in secrecy; but as one would think, his health fast deteriorated and eventually lost his nasal senses and the party big wigs sensing danger that he might not last his term because of periodic health problems, all what Ghanaians were presented with was the sudden unprecedented announcement by the chief of staff, Henry Martey Newman, one lunch-time of Tuesday, July 24, 2012; time ,14.15 hours that the associate professor had passed on. That same day, Mr. John Mahama was quickly sworn into office by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship, Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood at 20.30 hours when the parliament was rushed into convening for that momentous occasion. To date, no one except those close to him, know how the celebrated icon met his death after he had feted the Castle press corps the previous Saturday night on his birthday occasion. The continuation of the NDC governance is what everybody seems to witness since that day. The saying that, “if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you” clearly fits Mr. Mahama's posture because, Ghanaians have accorded him special respect till now. For all you know, his regime will go down in history as the first to be the professor of promises that never bear or yield fruits – the Kotukuraba Market in Cape Coast to be the No.1 in the sub-region; the KIA to become the domestic airport to be replaced by a more modern airport at Prampram; the Tamale airport to be the first international yet to compete with Johannesburg or Charles de Gaulle airport of Paris; 200 community senior high school all over the place whereas in fact none has seen the green light at the close of his first of his 4-year term in office; a domestic airport to be constructed at Koforidua, a flying distance that a chopper can easily make it in 8 minutes; the removal of 2,000 schools under trees whilst only 60 had so far been lucky to have sandcrete structures. May be, he has forgotten himself that “a large chair does not make a king as well as anybody who does not know history, cannot plan for the future”. All that JDM has done or can do with perfection is tones of promises to confuse the Ghanaian populace.

PERSECUTION
The best anybody could say about the NDC 3 under Mr. Mahama is nothing less than persecution of businessmen. Prominent amongst them are the proprietors of Kinapharma company, Pokupharma, and latest, the Tobinco Pharmacy. As if possessed, since the last 30 years, the NDC, characteristic of their governance, has not been able to fathom any new mechanisms but only to destroy the businesses of the few well-to-do persons in society. Their war cry has always been to help the poor but in a way, tend to run down other people's businesses thus creating unemployment. Since January 7, 2009, the number of businesses that have been ruined run to billions of the US Dollars. Their cup of tea has always been to create, loot and share with the chop-chop from judgment debt the bread and butter of their big wigs. Take it or leave it!

COMPARISON
For the purposes of clarity, probity, accountability and transparency, Mr. Rawlings should try to expunge himself from what he said about Mr. John Kufuor sometime ago in May, 2007, precisely as recorded or quoted by the No.2017 edition of the “Daily Guide”, Monday, May 7, 2007 and titled “Rawlings Again” and compare same to his “student Mr. John Mahama” to determine which of the two regimes the American CIA would better have wished to throw out of government there and then. Is it because his hands have been softened secretly to silence him hence the inability to chastise JDM? I will urge readers to patiently read the statement attributed to Mr. Rawlings re his accusation as thoroughly captured by the paper's reporter, Bennett Akuaku, and simply compare the same to what pertains today in Mr. Mahama's government and the accuser's long silence. Please read the excerpts culled from that issue -

“The Ex-President, Flt.-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has indicated that the Fourth Republic Constitution could be thrown overboard in the not too distant future, hinting on another bloody revolution in the country. Justifying what he inflicted on the country in June 1979 and December 1981; in which hundreds were either killed, maimed or missing, the 'master coup planner' said the third revolution could be bloodier, stressing that the stage was already set. The only surviving Ghanaian former President, expressing this premonition when he delivered an address during the Africa Day 2007 celebration in The Hague, Holland recently, told his audience that but for a caution given by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to the Ghana government in January 2006, the coup would long have taken place. The CIA, he said, saw the coup from afar and rushed down to Ghana early last year to warn President John Agyekum Kufuor not to expect an American intervention if he failed to tackle the corruption in his government. In another breath, Rawlings said President Bush, whose government, he alleged, was then frowning at corruption in Ghana, hailed Kufuor as the most visionary leader on the African continent. According to him, the very circumstances that prompted him to pick the gun in his two previous military juntas against General Frederick W.K. Akuffo and President Hilla Limann had been repeated by President Kufuor, so it would not be out of place for the nation to once again tread the path of revolution. “A man has the right to revolt if there is no other means to liberate himself,” he told an African Bulletin reporter who wanted to know from him if he would love to save the country one more time. To him, the oppression and repression under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was many times worse than any other ……” Please grab a copy of that issue in question to complete reading and form your own opinion for time and space and be your own judge in that respect and perspective. Fellow countrymen/women, what do we see today, and all other days of late?

STARTLING BUT PUZZLING QUESTIONS
Meanwhile, Ghanaians should join the author to pose these startling questions: a. How much money was realized after many businessmen had been forced to

pay some money and who were the signatories to that so-called A/C No. 48 at the Legon Ghana Commercial Bank during the AFRC days?

b. Who was the buyer of the Aboso Glass factory that was divested under the PNDC regime? Was it Gilchrist Olympio and if so, how much did he pay to Ghana government chest?

c. Who also purchased the Nsawam Cannery and at what price? And was the money paid to Ghana at all?

d. Is it a truism that his “Nana” purchased the Kanda GNTC for Gh¢500.00 and was the payment made at all?

e. Who sold out all the 4 or so Black Star Line ships and for what price?

f. By Mr. Rawlings admission, was it true that some 232 Ghanaians were killed and got disappeared from the planet Earth during his second military adventure?

g. Did Mr. Rawlings not give instructions to the police to beat the 'poor' driver and his mate who inadvertently crossed his pleasure vehicle on the Tema motorway to death? As a staunch Catholic, he should be honest with himself through confession.

h. The NPP built 6-room block of classroom with toilet facility for Gh¢80,000 whilst his NDC led government, courtesy, Mahama Ayariga, then Deputy Minister of Education used Gh¢320,000.00 to execute same. What does he make of the Gh¢240,000,00 difference – corruption or what?

i. Has Mr. Rawlings been following the hue and cry or hullabaloo of the sale of the Merchant Bank by the Rand Bank of South Africa and the Fortis Bank where, in each case, the premier bidder offered to pay $194m with additional responsibility for 70% of the bank's liabilities while the Fortis also pressed for $90m with liability for the banks 30% burden to shoulder and eventually, the last bidder was given the nod? What is Mr. Rawlings's stake on this national issue? Will he appreciate if the CIA or the FBI rushed in with full force to initiate their intelligence findings to uproot the rot?

j. Was Mr. Rawlings in the country when an NDC appointee purchased 4 car tyres (neither Michelin nor Dunlop) for Gh¢6,000.00? What is his stake on this also?

k. Where was Mr. Rawlings when Dr. Louisa Hannah Bissiw, the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works & Housing refurbished each vacated government bungalow by the out-gone ministers for Gh¢80,000.00?

l. Was Mr. Rawlings in town when 250 Ghanaian students for 5-year medical studies in Cuba was for free but his NDC government under JDM tried to compound the burden of the Ghanaian tax-payer with fictitious charges? Is Mr. Rawlings awake and did he noticed the attendant corruption?

m. Which of the two judgments (the 1982 for which 3 high court judges and the Major lost their lives or the August 29, 2013 corrupted judgment that will never be forgotten in world history) will he have raised queries if he had the power to punish if Ghana were still in the Stone Age era like he appeared onto the political landscape?

n. What prompted Mr. Rawlings to castigate his apprentice's government of surrounding itself with evil dwarfs with sharp teeth, corrupt ministers et cetera that was amassing wealth and properties all the time?

o. What is Mr. Rawlings's stake on the wrongful payment of judgment debts to Alfred Agbesi Woyome, ISOFOTON, CP, African Automobile, Waterville, etc., totaling $980m? Author stands for correction.

p. What was on Mr. Rawlings's mind when PNDC agreed with the US govern -ment on the extradition of his cousin, Michael Sousoudis, from the US to Ghana for 8 full-blooded Ghanaians alleged to spy for the US from Ghana to be banished from their own country to the US?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
· Mr Mahama ensured that he spoilt the Xmas celebration of Ghanaians and left for Dubai to enjoy the pleasures there. How can you as head of state leave your compatriots in limbo and go to enjoy leisure while so many problems keep mounting up? Will his obstinate action be tantamount to Emperor Nero of Rome? Had it not been the uprightness of the vociferous Ghanaian media, Madam Theodocia Oku – the National Flag designer, would have had her long toiled service to Mother been relegated to the dustbin. The reason, the national hockey pitch, that she single-handedly struggled and paid for its sustenance and maintenance from her little and meager resources would have changed and her name that will immortalize the facility been changed by the controversial and inconsequential Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye, the infamous Mayor of Accra. Accept, Madam, the little token from me by way of adding my shrill voice to the numerous voices that were heard and saved the situation on July 24, 2013 to unceremoniously and undeservedly rename the national hockey pitch to commemorate the first anniversary of the “strange” death of the late Prof. John Mills because of his interest in that sports while alive. As the patent and characteristic of the NDC, they always reap from what they have not sown. Madam, A Y E K O O O ! ! You have distinguished yourself from nowhere to fame and by their shameful action to re-name the National Hockey pitch after John Mills (whose mysterious death is still shrouded in secrecy) because of his interest in hockey became a non-starter. Haaba! W'awe nam no nyinaa ma no aka dompe nkoaa! Aden?

· Has Ghana any future after 2013 if Prez. Mahama has guts to negate a constitutional requirement stipulated in the constitution that he swore (Tuesday, July 24, 2012 on Mills's death and again on January 7, 2013) to defend at all times even at the peril of his life but has made a U-turn to legalize an illegality – i.e. the extension of an IGP's continued stay in the service after attaining age 60 (because of tribalism) and nobody, repeat nobody, raises any query, not even the Parliament?

· Has Ghana any future after 2013 if the SC, otherwise a very sacred institution, can relegate the supreme will of the people (electorates) to the background because they saw nothing wrong with the performance of Electoral Commission and its assigns during the 2012 general elections (not even 27 0 and the Finger of God) to warrant the marathon court proceedings?

· Cherished reader, has Ghana any future at all, if a learned intellectual judge of international repute instead of a day nursery pupil can lower the side glass of his car and throw an empty sachet water plastic bag onto the ground because Zoomlion has been contracted to do the nationwide cleaning, then where is the country heading towards?

· Has Ghana any future if the Supreme Court of all courts of adjudicature can be corrupted to give a corrupted ruling of international dimension in the full glare of the world on television, how will our developing partners take us for?

· Has Ghana any future after 2013 with the 'corrupted judgment of the 2012 EPH' that has sent shivers down the spines of our development partners?

· Has Ghana any future if the SC judges can corrupt a ruling, then what about the judges/magistrates of the smaller courts?

· Has Ghana any future if the Ghana Police will not stop collecting their daily bribes from motorists, then we're in trouble?

· Has Ghana any future if our governments defiantly continue to overlook the dastard activities of the nomadic Fulanis at the expense and to the detriment of indigenous Ghanaians in the Asante-Akyem and Afram Plains areas?

· Has Ghana any future “koraa” with the easy-going executive that has necessitated a stern caution from Mr. Rawlings for Mr. Mahama to sack his ministers?

· Has Ghana any hopeful future with the “yea, yea” lackadaisical legislature who will always use their numerical advantage to brush aside the sensible suggestions from the opposition?

· Has this dear nation of ours any better future with the spate of armed robberies?

· Has our country any promising future now that kidnapping has started from the church premises?

· Has Ghana any hope at all if Ghanaians do not have attitudinal change?

I will like to quote Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, former CEO of the Korle Teaching Hospital, and it is this: “Lord, let the change that I want to see in Ghana, begin with me”. Personally, not until all manner of persons had significance for attitudinal change in all spheres, there will never be anything better for us.

Is it proper for a father to leave wife and children to their fate in the hands of an unexpected caretaker visitor during the festive mood? That is the situation that Ghanaians find themselves now. It is only an irresponsible, reckless father who will leave his household to the care of an unknown person during an occasion such as that. After reading this lengthy piece, please confirm whether Mother Ghana has any future at all, after the just ended year, 2013.

ADMONITION
To bring the curtain down, let us as one nation with our common destiny, console ourselves with a quote from the Good Book, Isaiah 41:8-10 “But thou, Israel, art my servant (Ghana, my nation), Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my chosen. 9 Thou whom I have taken from the end of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

May the Good Lord Guide us all especially some of our judges to have the fear of the Lord (because good name is better than riches –money or wealth is nothing to mortal man) and usher us into the New Year with His abundant Grace, Hope and Cheerfulness. AMEN.

By:[email protected]