Aisha Shall Return?

Twee twee, twee twee, there he goes again, the gossip bird is tweeting. Never heard of his name before? He’s an old dog around the block. He hops from one place to another like Skippy the Australian Bush Kangaroo that starred in actor John McCallum’s TV series produced from 1967-1969.

But it seems he’s in trouble. It appears his world is spinning too fast and the end might happen too soon. He’d seen the lush vegetation disappear. The creeks and the brooks that he used to drink from are gone. Even the big rivers have become mere shadows of themselves. Offin River seems to be dying so fast. I used to sit on the pontoons and the canoes to cross it time and again. I wonder if the legendary crocks and the fishes have a sanctuary anymore.

Where is the flora and where is the fauna?
History has it that he and his master Aisha dwelt in a field of abundance. Ignorance had taken pole position. The trappings seemed too juicy to let go or ignore. With his connivance and unalloyed support Aisha was able to drive the entire nation to nut. The gossip bird saw his birth right stolen for a token but he thought it would last forever.

He also witnessed the lands the forbears bequeathed to us raped and laid bare. His master’s unholy trade like the Slave Trade had caught fire, as it spread its tentacles across Ghana. Aisha and her surrogates like the old pirates would pillage the gold-rich West African nation from dawn to dusk. Aisha is smart and canny, says the gossip bird.

Mighty Volta and the Greater Accra regions are the only ones that escaped Aisha’s ruthless attack!

It attracted the unemployed youth, the jobless and the hungry from within and outside the shores of Ghana. Aisha had become a queen and was nicknamed Yaa Asantewaa. The baldheads and the pot-belly men trooped to her house, but one couldn’t chase them away—money was talking. The powerful were there and the greed also showed up. It’s a culture that breeds the avarice vultures. The good shepherd had the wherewithal and she took care of them.

According to the gossip bird they lacked nothing. Their abode became the centre of attraction many flocked in day by day and night by night. And like Santa, Aisha doled out the cedis, claims the gossip bird.

Beyond the cash, Aisha had a secret weapon. It was that bait that drove machismo to the highlands and lowlands. Aisha’s beautiful curvy ladies would make the men drool. They fell head over heels in love. And with that Aisha’s fame in the Ashanti region would soar. In the midst of her popularity and power Aisha was also conscious of her safety /security. The guns would ring in the nights to deter intruders. The wild dogs perused her steel gates no one dared!

Still the gossip bird is chirping, twittering and singing. He claims he knows it all and has seen it all. Yes, he claims he is the only one who knows Aisha well.

“She loves the NDC with passion and I am aware that Aisha supported the party with a lot of money and other items. She printed NDC t-shirts as her own way of helping the NDC to win the last elections.

Aisha printed over 5,000 NDC t-shirts and she distributed them to the party ahead of the 2016 general elections. Some of the t-shirts were printed in some printing houses at Kaase and KTI, both suburbs in Kumasi.”

Where’s Okomfo?
Komfo Anokye was powerful but he failed to predict that this day will come. Night falls not until daylight is gone. The might of the giant might not be able to stand the fiery fight. In the heartland of Adum, Kumasi, Komfo Anokye’s footprints are visible to this day.

Our rivulets and streams are gone. Our rivers and vegetation are pacing to extinction. Our flora and fauna are in danger. They sold our lands and sold our rights. Their pursuit of happiness led to the search for gold and their love for money has led to degrading of our once lush vegetation. What’s left for the eyes to behold?

Indeed, Anokye didn’t say Aisha shall return. But if he did, I bet the naysayers would rubbish his foretelling. Of course, Anokye didn’t tell us that Aisha shall come from the Far East, China and leave her footprints in Ash town and its environs. Anokye didn’t say, when the ashes fall they shall rise and Aisha shall return. In my struggle to locate her I travelled miles and miles away. I went to Kase, Aisha wasn’t there. I went to Nyiaeso she wasn’t there either.

Once visible, now invisible her footpaths like caterpillar grazed the streets of Kumasi. From Bantama, Asafo, Dekyemso, Manhyia to Ash town, Aisha shuttled.

In her native China, Article 44 of the Mineral Resources Law adopted on March 19, 1996 and amended on August 29, 1996 states a person, in violation of the provision of this law, mines mineral resources in a destructive way, he shall be fined and his mining license may be revoked, if serious damage is caused to the mineral resources, the person who are directly responsible shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the provisions of article 156 of the criminal law.

It further states that if anyone resorts to violence or intimidation when obstructing state functionaries engaged in supervision and administration of exploration and mining of mineral resources from performing their duties according to the law, he shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the provisions of Article 157 of the criminal law.

Aisha Arrested
On Saturday 6 May luck evaded Aisha. She was arrested at her residence in Kumasi and brought to Accra.Aisha manipulated authorities in Ghana and boasted that no one could arrest her. Three times she was arrested three times she was released. Finally Aisha got nabbed. Before or after her arrest a letter popped up on the social media. And the purported letter signed a former Regional Coordinating Director who doubled as the secretary to the REGSEC, Kofi Dwomor-Asubonteng.

It was dated August 16, 2016, which presupposes that it was written and actioned by the previous administration. Aisha had since been remanded by an Accra High Court (not Kumasi) alongside five other Chinese male nationals. Aisha is expected to reappear on Tuesday 23 May 2017.

The aide, who only gave his name as Kwadwo, alleged that Aisha made massive financial contributions, which were geared towards helping the NDC to hang onto political power at all cost during the last polls.

Kwadwo, who was speaking in an interview with Kwame Adinkra of Abusua FM in Kumasi, disclosed that several top NDC members in the country frequently visited Aisha in her house in Kumasi for some discussions, some of which bordered on business.

“But for her arrest, she would have turned and acted like a strong NPP lady now. She is very smart and she knows how to pretend to get whatever she wants in life,” he remarked, adding that Aisha would bounce back strong if she is set free.

Galamsey Queen
Kwadwo, who worked as house boy for five years for the Chinese powerful lady, alleged that Aisha indeed indulged in illegal mining activities at a higher scale, thereby making a lot of money in the process.

He claimed Aisha was fond of setting up her colleague Chinese nationals in the country who are into illegal mining, alleging that “she will call for their arrest and then take over their mining equipment.”

Government to resettle galamsey operators – Akufo-Addo

Prez Akufo-Addo hints steps are underway to provide other sources of livelihood for galamseyers

President Akufo-Addo has indicated that his government is in the process of identifying alternative sources of livelihood for persons involved in illegal mining, popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’ across the country.

According to President Akufo-Addo, a cabinet committee, headed by the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has been established to implement to the letter government’s strategy on combating illegal mining.

“But we cannot allow mining to compromise our future environment,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

That, he said, was because 60 percent of Ghana’s water bodies have been affected by illegal mining.

For him, “That is unacceptable for which reason government is trying to find an alternative source of livelihood for those who are into the illegal mining business, popularly known in the local parlance as ‘galamsey.’