A season of promises

THE game is getting more and more exciting as all the parties and their candidates criss-cross the length and breadth of the country, drawing attention to themselves with their promises. The season is ripe for such promises that are being dished out with gusto from all the parties and their candidates to those who are willing to hear and believe. There are many others who will listen but reject or treat with contempt some of the outrageous promises, based on past experiences. Promises, sometimes compiled into manifestoes, are like the grease that lubricates the campaign machinery of the parties and their candidates. At least, they are necessary to test the candidates’ appreciation of our national problems and how they are going to solve them. It is a phenomenon associated with the democratic culture and Ghanaian politicians are not alone when it comes to campaign promises. What is lacking, which has created a big gap between the promises and the reality once parties win power, is our inability to take parties/candidates on for their campaign promises. Elsewhere, politicians are careful about what they say on campaign platforms lest they lose their credibility and integrity. Here, politicians just drop the promises like ripe mangoes in windstorm without regard to the sensibility of the electorate, knowing very well they are as soon forgotten as they were delivered. There could be many reasons why our politicians often escape with their empty promises. I could readily cite a media that is not aggressive enough to hold politicians accountable for their promises. The media which credit itself as the fourth estate of the realm very often abandon their traditional roles and become appendages of politicians in government or in opposition. Our journalists become so much attached that they lose the moral courage and strength to speak authoritatively and objectively on issues of national interest. Second, there is so much fanaticism in our politics that we fail to see the good in others and the evil in ourselves. Party supporters take entrenched positions and defending their parties even if it is clear that the national interest is suffering. Even when it comes to fighting corruption, party fanatics are not able to differentiate between individual misbehaviour and party interest, and so as long as government functionaries can count on party support, they can easily escape sanction for undermining the national interest. In other words, governments are able to escape with failed promises because majority of Ghanaians are not prepared to assess our leaders by the quality of their performance or the calibre of people who constitute the leadership of parties. The promises being made today towards Election 2012 are not different from the ones we have heard since we returned to constitutional rule in 1993. We have had enough of promises to turn this country into a paradise. If promises were anything to go by, there should have been two additional international airports in Kumasi and Tamale. Again on transportation, there should have been a railway line connecting Accra, the national capital, to Tamale in the Northern Region and beyond, while expressways with asphalt cut across the length and breadth of the country, linking all our major towns and cities. Based on previous promises, fishing communities on the coastal belt should be brimming with fishing activity at modern landing sites with refrigeration facilities. Still on agriculture, the Afram and Accra plains should by now become food baskets of the nation, with irrigation canals feeding farms with water from the River Volta, which flows wastefully into the sea. While we continue to pronounce the private sector as the engine of growth, the sector has not benefitted from the needed government support to truly deliver as the engine of growth. The sector continues to battle the same problems – lack of capital and unfair competition from cheap imports from outside, especially China and other Asian countries. All our governments at various times made promises that were never delivered, either because they were made without any commitment or they were made without calculating the costs and other social implications. We cannot continue to survive on empty promises. Our political parties and presidential candidates must begin to take the business of campaigns serious and tell us what they can do and do well and not what we want to hear from them. The electorate must also be discerning and begin to assess candidates on merit and not by party affiliation. We should be able to disengage ourselves from our candidates if it is obvious that their interest does not coincide with the general good of Ghanaians. It is only when politicians realise that they cannot take the support of their traditional strongholds for granted that they will buck up and deliver when given the mandate. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

Who caused the STC mess?

The nation’s biggest and best-selling newspaper, the Daily Graphic, was screaming with the banner headline: ‘STC FOR SALE’. Those who were old enough could remember with nostalgia, the State Transport Corporation (STC) in its full glory. They could not but open their mouths in shock and disgust at such a story about a national institution that had left sweet memories in the minds of many households. What went wrong? Is an obvious question they would be asking. Those were the days the nation’s number one transporter – the brainchild of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah – was the dominant carrier of human beings and cargo in the country, visibly commanding the country’s roads. The STC was not only a symbol of national pride but the main guarantor of road safety. No wonder every Ghanaian wanted to enjoy the services of STC. Students particularly going to and returning from school, would go for nothing except the STC bus which provided safety and comfort. In those days, even young children were ‘posted’ on STC buses or trucks and they would be delivered safely to their relatives. STC trucks also delivered mails on behalf of the then Post and Telecommunications Department throughout the country with regular precision while its tankers made sure fuel and other lubricants reached the remotest corner of the country. Then the rot set in. The STC, like all other state enterprises, started experiencing a downward slide in its operations thanks to undue political interference, cronyism and corrupt practices. The time came when the stage was set for the STC to go the way of other state enterprises nurtured and groomed and made vibrant under the First Republic – divestiture – or in most cases, as a giveaway to whoever is nearest and dearest to the ruling clique. A Serious Fraud Office (SFO), now Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), report stumbled upon by yours truly cleared showed how some organisations and individuals conspired in various ways to strip this country naked and milk it dry of precious national resources. It began in 1996, when the STC was put on divestiture by the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC). Bids were received from three companies, namely; Vanef Consortium Limited (VCL), Yellow Cab Limited and Densu Ventures Limited. The bid price was US$12.4 million and a cedi component of c4,984 billion. VCL won the bid but could not pay within the stipulated time so it lapsed. The divestiture was re-advertised in 1998 and October, 1998, three bids were received from VCL, WMBO (Workers Management Buy Out) and Kalahari Investments. The bid was won again by VCL. The bid price was US$14.52 million and VCL was to pay as follows: US$2.4m to be paid upon execution of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA); another US$10m payment within eight weeks of finalising due diligence on assets to be taken over to DIC. A third instalment of US$2.12 was to be paid six months after the second payment. The SPA was signed on December 1999, thus by January 2000, the payment of US$12.4m was to be effected, leaving a balance of US$2.12m to be effected by June 17, 2000. VCL managed to get a loan from the Social Security Bank (SSB), which was guaranteed by Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) totaling US$14m and c4.98bn based upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with SSNIT on December 14, 1998, that SSNIT would purchase STC through its debt swap arrangement with Government for VCL which spelt out the responsibilities of SSNIT. As would be expected, VCL defaulted in the loan repayments even though it operated the full fleet of the transport company and SSNIT had to settle SSB which became SG-SSB. In any case the personalities behind VCL have raked in millions of cedis and dollars in personal gains at the expense of the taxpayer. What became known as Vanef-STC was actually acquired with moneys from SSNIT with nothing coming from VCL. The capital and expertise were expected to be injected into the company to make it more viable and profitable before did not come. If anything at all, it made people to reap where they never sowed. Meanwhile organisations and individuals mentioned by the SFO report, that benefitted illegally in the transactions which imposed extra burden on the Ghanaian taxpayer went scot free, until the company changed hands again with SSNIT owning 80 per cent shares and the government 20 per cent in Intercity-STC. In 2005, in what could be described as conflict of interest, the then board chairman of Intercity-STC, Mr Stephen Sekyere Abankwa, who was also the Managing Director of Prudential Bank, engineered a loan of US3,783,935 from his bank for the purchase of 45 FAW buses. The acquisition of the buses was fraught with irregularities as they were not tested and certified to be suitable for our roads and climatic conditions. According to most of the workers of Intercity-STC, none of the buses could last two years, thus creating payment problems. This is the loan that the beleaguered Intercity-STC had defaulted in paying, compelling Mr Abankwa to seek a court order to go in for his pound of flesh from the company he one-time was the board chairman. As in the case of Vanef-STC, SSNIT, the nation’s number one workers’ pension manager, will have to use workers contributions to pay a debt created by some few unscrupulous people who have made fortunes on the blood and sweat of Ghanaian workers. The divestiture concept under its current execution has not helped the nation and the workers of those organisations and firms. It has become a big joke, since it would have been better giving out these companies free of charge than using state money to purchase a company and handing it over to a few individuals to rape it and create more debts for the state. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

Tribute to a living V-Mate

We live in a world where as soon as a person dies, that person becomes a saint. The tributes that pour forth in the event of death make it look as if while that person was alive, he had never stepped on an ant, spat or blown his nose in public; everything about the dead person was exemplary and needed to be emulated by all. In fact, so copious and flowery are the praises that there is no doubt in the minds of anybody that if there is truly any place as heaven, then that person is marching straight to a first-class apartment in that celestial realm. Sincerely speaking, there were and still are, men and women who have made and continue to make their lives worth emulating. That is why there is nothing wrong with tributes per se. If for nothing at all, they serve as inspiration to those still alive to either continue in their good ways or mend their lives where they obviously believe they have fallen short of expectation. For the dead, I wonder whether those sweet tributes serve any useful purpose for them. That is why some of us would prefer that those who do well in life are told about it before their demise. In that wise, those persons and those close to or associated with them would savour their good works. It will also urge them to do more and inspire others to follow suit. Moreover, in our part of the world, where certain virtues have become scarce commodities and at best exist as mere words, it is only fair and in order that those who have exhibited certain sterling qualities become examples for the rest of us. It is on account of this that I join many others to congratulate Mr Justice Saeed Kwaku Gyan. Justice Gyan has found himself in a profession that has its peculiar challenges. As a High Court Judge, his job definitely puts a lot of physical strain on him. He is also confronted with the challenge of interpreting the law to the letter and satisfaction of those who appear before him. I do not think Justice Gyan ever declared himself incorruptible, the way others do. I do not think he ever made claim to honesty, impartiality or fairness. It is his deeds and not words that are speaking for him. At the recent annual conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), held in Takoradi in the Western Region, Justice Gyan came up for special mention. He was singled out for mention by the august body of legal brains for his exemplary performance. The inscription on the plaque presented to him read; “For his uprightness and will to resist corruption in the discharge of his duties as a Justice of the High Court”. It said, “The National Executive Committee of the GBA toured the regions and visited Sekondi-Takoradi in its Western Regional tour. Nowhere in the regions visited was a judge so singled out for praise by the Bar and Bench”. It went on; “Your first station as a judge was Sekondi-Takoradi where you remained for four years. We visited the region in your absence, but the lawyers could not stop mentioning you for instilling in them discipline and diligent work. “They confirmed you upheld your path of office and dispensed justice without fear or favour. You worked very hard, without thinking of being in competition with anybody. No wonder you gained the admiration of your peers who wondered whether they could leave office with the same commendation and accolade. “Human as you are, you were bound to have made some mistakes. But none bordered on corruption whatsoever. The testimony was that not even ‘thank you’ gift after a decision would be entertained by you. Indeed, in you, we have an anti-corruption personality. “It is for reason, therefore, that the Bar is bestowing on you this singular honour for being who you are, an honest, hardworking and incorruptible judge”. This is the verdict of the members of the Bar and Bench who are the peers of Justice Gyan. These are people who have worked with Justice Gyan over the years either defending clients in his court or observing his performance as fellow professionals on the Bench. So they stand in a very good stead to make judgement and come to a reliable verdict. As stated earlier, in a world where certain virtues or qualities are mere words and in a profession that has come under heavy public criticism for lapses perceived to border on corruption, it is only fair and proper that Justice Gyan’s high attributes are not left unheralded till his body is lowered into his grave before the trumpets begin to blow his spectacular qualities. This is the time to make his wife, children, relatives and friends proud of his achievements and to celebrate them while he is still in active service and could serve as an inspiration to others. There are many other Justice Gyans all over the place doing their best to make this country a better place for all. There are health professionals including doctors and nurses that are doing their best against all odds to save lives, even at the peril of their lives. There are teachers that are ready to serve in any part of the country and without any extra incentives or textbooks are trying hard to transform raw brains into top-class professionals for the future. There are cashiers and accountants who, with all the company money before them are prepared to suffer deprivation just to protect what belongs to all. The list is long and endless and all such people need to be identified and acknowledged. Society must begin to cherish value and merit and not the corrupt brigands who are loudest. To V-Mate Justice Gyan, I say congrats. Remember that once you have been mentioned publicly for honour , the temptations would be become more, but remain resolute and steadfast and be yourself. Remember, ‘Truth Stands’, which is the motto of Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana, of which you are a proud and revered member. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk

Beating unnecessary war drums

Last week, the police invited the media to brief them about their preparations towards Election 2012. On display for public view were some accoutrements of their business. These included armoured vehicles, water cannons and other riot control gear. These, the police have promised to deploy to counter those who would want to cause mischief during the elections. We cherish our peace as a nation at all times and not only during elections. It will, therefore, be the wish of every citizen that the police, being the guardians of internal order, were provided with all the resources, both human and material, to undertake that enterprise to the satisfaction of all. However, preparing for national elections is not the same as preparing for war and if the idea is to put the fear of the Lord into mischievous characters, then we may be sending the wrong signals and creating psychological wounds in their skulls which may take long to heal. What we need to do as a nation is to create all the necessary conditions for a free and fair election to avoid stirring emotions that could trigger discontent and probably violent behaviour. If we fail and that happens, no amount of armour will scare an aggrieved population and the consequences would be beyond the control of a few police vans spraying tear gas among a mob. Perhaps we need to take a few lessons from history. In 1974, what became known as the Ethiopian Revolution started as street protests by workers for better wages and economic reforms. Government reaction, as usual, was to use the police to quell the daily demonstrations which never stopped. Things took a different turn, the police also embarked on strike on the same grounds -- economic hardships – and refused to go to the streets to suppress the civilian demonstrations. The military, which was already at the battle front in Eritrea, joined the protests and not long, the empire of Emperor Haille Selassie came to an end. The Islamic Revolution of Iran started in 1978 as street protests against the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who vainly tried to use brute force at the disposal of the military to quell it. By January, 1979, the Shah himself had to flee into exile and the opposition, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, took over and prepared the ground for the Islamic Revolution. There was a photograph of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 which captured global attention and continue to be a symbol of people’s resistance up till today. That was a picture of a lone man standing before a column of military tanks prepared to be crushed. The man was not crushed but the protests which started in April of that year was brought to an end on June 4, 1989, with the declaration of martial law by the Chinese authorities after the death of hundreds of protesting civilians. All the above examples showed that once you set certain events in motion, the fear element is gone and people would be prepared to make the supreme sacrifice if that would be the only way they could register their point. The best bet, therefore, is to make sure that things do not get that far. We have been organising elections since 1992, but each time it seems to be the first, full of fear, suspicion and apprehension. Why should electing our lawmakers and a president for the republic generate so much heat so much so that the police, that are supposed to be peace officers, have to put on display battle hardware to frighten the population? There are those who will suffer personal losses when they lose the election and there are those who will make personal gains when they win the elections. These categories of people are behind the tension in our election. If we can isolate such people and selfish intentions, there will be no need to prepare for war when elections are due. The best way to ensure a peaceful election is to display maturity and civility in all the electoral processes. All those who have key roles to play in the process – from the Electoral Commission to the political parties and their candidates – must act with fairness and firmness and do what is expected of them according to law; and on voting day the police armoured vehicles and water cannons will remain redundant. It is a big shame that in Africa, elections are associated with fear and apprehension, sometimes ending in violence like what happened in Kenya in 2007 and Cote d’Ivoire in 2011 and part of this year. If the national good is the objective, then those war drums must remain silent so that we can reflect soberly and decide who among the candidates comes closest to what we want in a leader and choose accordingly. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com