Many more rivers to cross

Another gruelling, nerve-wracking election has come to an end, with the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, as the winner. Official results released by the Electoral Commission (EC), which were read to the public on Sunday night, indicated that Mr Mahama received 5,574,761 votes, being 50.7 per cent of the 10,995,262 valid votes cast nationwide. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) followed closely behind with 5,248,898 votes, representing 47.74 per cent of the national votes. The other presidential candidates cumulatively received a little over one per cent of the votes. The process was generally acknowledged by many, including the various observer missions, to be free and fair and without many nasty incidents. However, there were equipment challenges and delays in delivery of electoral materials which dragged the election into a second day in some places. The challenges posed by the electoral equipment had not been ruled out totally in the estimation of affairs, but the delays were purely human and should have been avoided. Otherwise, the voting process was faster than it had been in previous years, which means with time the voting time could be reduced considerably. Just as we were about patting one another on the back for a good job done, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) raised an issue with discrepancies they claim were recorded at some polling and collation centres. If there should be any element of truth in the allegations, then it means those appointed by the NPP to protect its interests dropped their guard somewhere along the line. That could not be blamed on the EC, which had always stressed the point that elections were won or lost at the polling centres and, therefore, urged party representatives to remain vigilant at all times. The reaction of the supporters of the party who stormed the offices of the EC brought back painful and distressful memories of what happened in 2008 when NDC supporters, acting on suspicion that the EC was in for some sinister acts, massed up at the offices of the EC, ready to do battle. Such a picture being beamed to a global audience, while our democracy continued to be touted as a beacon for the rest of Africa, is disgusting and, to some of us, even disgraceful and should be avoided at all cost in future events. It is unfortunate that more than 24 hours after the declaration of the official results, Nana Akufo-Addo is yet to concede defeat and congratulate the victorious Mahama. What that means is that we are embarking on another political administration already fragmented without any national cohesion. We are starting in an atmosphere of suspicion and acrimony, a situation which is damaging to our national health. Mr Mahama can now feel confident that he has moved from a caretaker leader to an elected one who has the full confidence of the people. I believe that during the campaign, his focus was not only on the crowd of party supporters who clamoured to listen to him but also on the condition of the roads in the country and the abject conditions under which the majority of our people live. He, therefore, does not need anyone to remind him that there is a big task ahead of him. We must begin to see the problems of this country beyond Accra and a few other towns and cities and face the real truth that the majority of our people are only existing and are still far away from the basic requirements of human survival. During the electioneering, almost all the presidential candidates pledged to distance themselves from factionalism and see themselves as leaders of this dear country of ours. This is a big challenge to the President as he fastens himself into the saddle to take up the mantle of leadership. He must try to break the winner-takes-all syndrome which is at the centre of the hostility, viciousness, mischief and intolerance that have characterised our politics. The fear of losing one’s livelihood and self-esteem when a group of people are in political power is, arguably, one of the reasons people are prepared to do anything to gain or retain power. If we will see governments as institutions that are to shepherd state affairs for the benefit of all, there will be very little motivation for people to adopt all sorts of cruel and crooked means to win political power. It is the hope of many that President Mahama will live up to his words to ensure that the national wealth flow in all directions, without distinction or discrimination, so that any person who is prepared to work will get his/her due reward. We have scraped through another election with some appreciable level of success. Ours may be far better than that of others and the international community is going to heap praises on us. That is good for our national psyche. We must, however, admit that so long as our national elections continue to be conducted in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, so long as we never conclude any election without one party or another complaining of discrepancies, and so long as our elections never bring us together as a united people who must share in the bounty of our national resources and, where it becomes necessary, we acknowledge our failures and resolve to correct them, we must gird our loins, for there are many more rivers to cross. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogpot.com

Fear, suspicion and desperation

Under normal circumstances, we would expect that periods of national elections would offer exciting moments when we look forward to electing a national leadership that will steer the affairs of state. Not only that; we would elect a leadership that would be able to harness the enormous resources God has given this country to move it from a state of under-development to a developed one. Unfortunately, elections in Ghana have become periods of fear, anxiety and apprehension. Whenever national elections approach, the whole country becomes a vast prayer camp where, with one voice, we pray for God’s abundant mercies and eternal forgiveness to see us through those elections with our bodies intact. It is strange and somehow sad that an opportunity to elect national leaders leaves everybody nervous and prepared for the worst. Strangely, those who are the key players in the exercise that has forced this country into a type of jungle where the fittest survives are the loudest calling for restraint and pledges of commitment to peace. Maybe the seeds of national discord and hostility were planted many years ago when we could not agree on a common ground for political independence. That disunity at independence continued to run through our political discourse and drew a battle line between the for and the against people. Somehow, that antagonism at independence which played a role in the declaration of a one-party state by Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his eventual overthrow faded a bit, as evidenced by the political campaigns of 1969 and 1979 when the country emerged from military dictatorships to civilian administrations. There was a return to the pre-independence and immediate post-independence days when the country was torn between powerful and rival political factions with the return to the Fourth Republic in 1992. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) both campaigned with strong tribal or ethnic undertones, a development which was not good for the psyche of the country. Our politics, for the larger part, is, therefore, not a contest of ideas and how to choose the best among the lot but a straight fight between those who can exert ethnic muscle and fan tribal hatred to win power. While there is the possibility of ethnocentricism, devastating though it is, crumbling with time or diminishing in influence as more and more people get enlightened and appreciate the beauty of unity in diversity, there is a more dangerous canker which poses a greater danger to the survival of our democracy and the stability of our country. This is the commercialisation of politics. Politics is gradually losing the objective of being an opportunity to serve and has rather become a means to instant wealth. If politicians are becoming desperate to win or retain power, it is not because their efforts to contribute to the development of this country are being thwarted but because, in the case of majority of them, their ambition to make it big without any sweat is being frustrated. It is obvious that many of those who have already established themselves in their chosen careers are not anxious to pursue political ambitions, even though they would prefer to have people they perceive to be more sympathetic to their cause in political authority. The only way to solve that problem is to make it more and more difficult for politicians in power and their collaborators in business to walk away with what they loot from state coffers. Once it becomes more unattractive to steal from state coffers, many people will not have the incentive to plunge head-long into politics. As a first step, anti-corruption laws and institutions should be strengthened and granted greater autonomy, with very little or no interference from the Executive, which spearheads the corruption deals in public service. Institutions such as the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Attorney-General’s Department, as presently constituted and operating directly or indirectly under the authority of the Executive, do not offer any hope in the fight against corruption. Until we make it difficult for men and women to turn millionaires overnight because of their political activities, we may chant peace but we should not expect a smooth terrain in our political discourse. We may not get the men and women with the call and the desire to serve this country, except the marauders who want to rape and plunder. Again, until we get an economy that can sustain credible employment for our young men and women, the hordes of our youth will fall prey to political vampires who would exploit their vulnerability. We are a few days away from Election 2012. We have said enough prayers to drown the ears of God. We have signed peace accords and made public declarations in favour of peace. Let’s wake up on Friday morning and cast our ballots peacefully and wait for the outcome. That is an obligation we owe to ourselves, not to any politician or political party. Let fear, panic and desperation evaporate into the skies and in their place, calm and order should reign. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

What the IEA debates didn't tell us

The presidential debates initiated by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) have been welcomed by many. They at least push us towards the more entrenched democracies where candidates appear before well-informed audiences to respond to serious national issues. We can do better by going beyond the debates and holding periodic encounters where whoever wins the election to form the government could be put before a similar audience to respond to his/her campaign promises and not necessarily wait until the end of his/her term. Whether the debates will influence the voting pattern or whether the candidates will live up to their words are different matters but the venture is worth taking and we hope next time, all the presidential candidates will be offered equal opportunity to make their voices heard on the same platform. This year’s two debates held in Tamale and Accra might have addressed some serious issues but ignored what some may think are trivial and need not bother presidential candidates. Some of us think on a daily basis, some issues have become such a part of us that they should be ignored. But these issues must equally be given serious attention as the other good things promised by the candidates. The first that readily comes to mind is the traffic situation in Accra, our national capital. Accra is a relatively small city compared to some of the world capitals and mega-cities. However, the traffic situation in Accra surpasses that of most of the bigger and more densely populated cities in other parts of the world. The situation has become so terrible that one could hardly predict his/her movement from one part of the city to another with any form of accuracy. Throughout t the day, all roads leading to the city centre are choked with heavy traffic which exert enormous pressure on commuters. Workers and students who want to beat the traffic are compelled to wake up very early to set off. This means one has to wake up very early and return home very late. Such a routine is not good for anybody’s health. Those who cannot make the regular dawn journey are trapped for long hours in traffic and get to the office already exhausted. This seriously undermines the productivity we are all yearning for. The traffic situation is serious and it acts as a huge disincentive to those who will want to do business in the country, taking into account our relatively stable political environment and the resources at our disposal. The relief brought to commuters with the opening of the George Bush Expressway is a clear indication that Accra is greatly handicapped in modern road network befitting a modern capital city. Most of the intersections and roundabouts have become bottlenecks in traffic distribution in the capital. Several of the roundabouts in the capital city, including the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle, the Danquah Circle, have outlived their usefulness and must give way to modern designs and constructions that will take care of the numerous vehicles plying the city roads. In addition to that, we need a more efficient traffic light system than what is existing now. The Accra-Tema Motorway which was the nation’s pride is now worn out and only a symbol of a past glory. After 50 years or so, the motorway has paid its dues and must be decommissioned to give way to something new. Another thing the debates failed to tell us is what our presidents are going to do to stem road accidents which have become part of our daily lives. Some of us believe that the sermons are not doing the trick and we need to address the fundamental issues right from the office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to road checks mounted by the officers and men of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service. If in the past we did not factor road safety as a major national issue, things have changed drastically and we need to give the matter a special attention if we are to restore sanity onto our roads. Perhaps it is time to redefine the mandate of the MTTU as a special wing of the Ghana Police Service with service head whose authority is national and not what pertains now when the MTTU boss has a big title but very little authority. Another national canker is the indiscipline that has permeated the building industry in the country. Two weeks ago, we were witnesses to a tragic event, when a five-storey building collapsed killing 14 innocent people and injuring many others. For those who survived, many will live with the psychological scar for the rest of their lives. Part of the traffic problem mentioned earlier could be attributed to the haphazard way many buildings have been constructed in the city with some taking land that was originally earmarked for roads. We cannot talk about good health without paying attention to the filth that is swallowing the capital city. Accra’s sanitation problems have become a major issue that must be addressed with all seriousness and we would want to hear the voices of our presidential candidates on such major issues. Others may not see it as a big problem but begging in the city especially at traffic intersections has become a menace. It can be scary when someone emerges from your blind side begging for alms. Sometimes it is not easy to tell who is a beggar and who is an armed robber. Both operate at traffic intersections. While focusing on the big issues of unemployment, education, energy and others let us not lose sight of the fact that these little things play significant roles in our daily lives and need to be tackled with equal zeal. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

The price for institutional indiscipline, corruption

The whole nation went into frenzy when the unexpected happened. The tragedy of Wednesday, November 14, 2012 triggered a flurry of rescue activities unprecedented in the country. The first individuals who got to scene soon after the collapse of the five-storey building housing the Melcom Shopping Mall at Achimota, a suburb of Accra, the national capital, applied whatever implements they could lay their hands on, including bare hands, before organised institutions like the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the National Ambulance Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, Zoomlion and many others joined forces in the rescue mission. While rescue efforts were underway, unexpectedly, there was a relentless verbal assault on parties considered to have played various roles to bring about the calamity. They include the owner of the building who was later identified as Nana Nkansah Boadi Ayeboafo, the management of the Melcom Group for not doing due diligence before occupying the building and of course the city authorities for not executing their mandate satisfactorily with regard to the construction of structures whether for domestic, commercial or industrial purposes in the city. Interestingly, one person who was very visible and vocal in the scheme of things was Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, the man who has full jurisdiction over Achimota where the incident happened and who, under normal circumstances should bear full responsibility for the tragedy. It was not strange that after such a monstrous calamity, which at the last count had cost 14 lives and many others injured, there should be a public inquest on the altar of public opinion, to look for scapegoats and possibly pass the buck. The most contentious issue was as to whether there was an approved building permit, and if there was one, whether the building inspectors matched the designed against the site plan and whether the contractor who executed the project, did a professional job. Members of the public were yet to know the truth. While the AMA boss, Dr Vanderpuije, who was quick to download the problem onto the shoulders of others, claimed that there was no permit, Nana Ayeboafo claims he had a permit and other documents that he could produce to prove his case. Dr Vanderpuije was the first to wash his hands off the disaster by telling Ghanaians that the construction of the building started long before he assumed office. He did not fail to point accusing fingers at others and was also instrumental in the arrest of the owner of building, Nana Ayeboafo, and two building inspectors – Karl Henry Clerke and Christian Ababio. Typical of us, there were torrents of advice from all corners as to what should have been done to prevent the Achimota catastrophe and what should be done to avoid similar tragedies in future. What we failed to acknowledge is that even going by existing building regulations, we still have enough legislation to ensure sanity and protect life and property if we apply the rules to the letter. What we lack is the will and determination to apply the rules and regulations we have set for ourselves. We have become a country notorious for making laws that we are not prepared to enforce because of institutional negligence or indiscipline and corruption. One area where we have been severely exposed as a nation is in the construction or better still, the building sector. In comparative terms, Accra our national capital is nothing to write home about because of the haphazard nature of its planning. Accra is about the only national capital where structures of all kinds could spring up anywhere, anytime without recourse to any layouts. Accra has become flood-prone because nobody cares about watercourses and you can drive on roads that end up in the garage of someone’s house. The Town and Country Planning Department and its counterpart departments in the various assemblies have shirked their responsibilities to the state to an extent that those who want to do the right thing become victims of a corrupt system. Because of unnecessary bureaucracy and red-tapeism, corrupt officials have exploited the system, making it extremely difficult for those who genuinely want to acquire building permits to do so without any hindrance. If what pertains in the construction sector could be described as lawlessness, the transportation sector is a huge jungle. This is perhaps about the only place where once you have two legs and two arms you can easily pass as a driver. We all know why our roads have become killing fields but lack the moral strength to enforce the motor traffic regulations to save the situation. Any time there is a major accident which claims innocent lives, we are bombarded with pious sermons on efforts to ensure road safety only to relax and wait for another tragedy. The Melcom tragedy and similar ones are a constant reminder that when we allow national institutions to decay in indiscipline and corruption, we only prepare the ground for such national tragedies, most of which are avoidable. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

The beauty of American democracy

One of the fiercest battles for the Oval Office in the White House in modern American history ended dramatically last Tuesday night when Obama added the Ohio electoral votes to his tally to earn his passage for a second term as President of the United States of America. Until then, it was too close to call. When all was over, the Americans exhibited a character which set them apart from the rest of us and which has made that nation the cynosure of the rest of the world. First was the speech delivered by Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate who gave incumbent Obama the scare of his life, to his supporters in Boston, Massachusetts, after he had called the President to concede defeat and to congratulate him on his re-election. Obviously, Romney came so close and was clearly disappointed that his message was rejected by the majority of American voters. However, he never sounded bitter, acrimonious nor antagonistic. He never looked for scapegoats for his defeat or saw the manipulations of unseen hands to thwart his ambition to occupy the most powerful office in the world. In a brief speech, Romney accepted the verdict of the American people and said he had no option than to respect the wish of the majority of Americans and lend his support to President Obama so that together they could work to attain the vision for America. That is well said and done. On the other side, President addressed thousands in Chicago without sounding pompous. At his oratorical best, he delivered one of his most powerful and emotional speeches to thank his supporters, especially those who did the field work to ensure his victory in the tight race. At no time did Obama try to rake old wounds by making reference to the campaign period, which is now history. He did not make any disparaging remarks about the man who was his opponent in the race to the White House. The battle was over and everything he said was about America and the way forward. He said once the elections were over, his administration would work with the Republicans to address the concerns of Americans. Any lessons there? President Obama noted that America had achieved its greatness not because of its status as the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation, nor for its culture and institutions of learning. America is great because of the greatness and unity of its people who come from diverse backgrounds. This is why others from other nations are clamouring to come and have a taste of the great America. Throughout the campaign period, the American flag was more visible than party flags or other paraphernalia as we see here. The message is simple. The people were pursuing an agenda to elect an American President and not a party president. Electoral contests are not duels between two combatants who are putting their physical strengths to test. They are contests of ideas and the electorate are the judges. Victory for one person means his ideas have triumphed and have been accepted by the majority of the people. This should not be seen as a personal victory to be flaunted and used to taunt others. Political campaigns in the US cannot be said to be smooth always. They could be rough at times, but the bottom line is they are dominated by issues. Once the elections are over, the elected person becomes the President of the US and not a party representative at the seat of government, in our case the Osu Castle who does as he/she pleases to either favour party members or isolate the rest of us. Both Obama and Romney emphasised the point that as individuals, they have their interests and diverse opinions, but what matters is their collective decision and effort to push their nation forward. Obama was elected not because his father came from Kenya in Africa, was born in Hawaii and has Chicago in the State of Illinois as his hometown. His support base cut across the colour spectrum and transcends racial barriers – Whites, Hispanics Latinos and Blacks. He was elected because the majority of Americans bought into his vision of bringing change to America. He won the hearts of the majority of the Americans again because they still share in his vision and believe that he deserves another four years to deliver. If we want this nation to move forward and come close to greatness, we should stop playing the tribal and ethnic cards. We must begin to assess candidates on their merits and what we think they are capable of. We must begin to purge our politics of fanaticism and blind loyalty. America is great because over the years, the people have been able to harness the strength of their diversity and multiple talents into a great cohesive union. We are a few weeks away from our presidential and parliamentary polls and we could do with a few lessons from the American experience. We must begin to dwell on the issues that continue to pin us down to the ground despite all the human and material resources God has generously given us. Our presidential candidates must convince the electorate that they are eager to occupy the Castle not because they want to fleece the country and satisfy their selfish interests but that of the nation. Our politicians must realise that they have no powers of their own and that what makes them powerful is the collective power of the people transferred to them to manage in trust. Let us also resolve that our electoral process will be an opportunity to offer alternatives towards the same ultimate goal. Let us also come to terms with the fact that when we lose, it may not be because the people do not like us or hate us but because other alternatives have prevailed. To those who may emerge victorious, let them not consider it a personal victory but a victory for superior ideas and an opportunity to transform these into practice that would bring drastic and qualitative change in the lives of the people. We must agree that when the contest is over, we are back together as one with one President who must embrace all of us as one big family. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com

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