By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Folks, out of happenings reported over the period, two have caught my attention for what they are: either plain political mischief on display or roguery at its best being enacted.

1. "MAHAMA, NDC “STEALING” FROM THE STATE—AGYEPONG"

Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyepong, has accused President John Mahama and members of his government of stealing from the state. According to him, the only agenda of the government is to plunder the state of every resource: “The situation in Ghana is so disgusting and appalling, you ask yourself if really there are leaders in the country.”
“President Mahama and the NDC, their idea of governance is stealing; everybody is stealing. They are embezzling state funds as if there is no tomorrow,” the outspoken MP told the US-based Sahara TV in an interview. (See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=335211).

MY COMMENTS

I know Kennedy Agyapong for what he is—a buffoon of an empty braggart who is no stranger to us because he is really STRANGE when it comes to decency in local and national politics. In other words, he is one of the high-ranking rogue politicians on whose shoulders the future of the NPP rests. Such a character will do only one thing, which is to continuously dim the NPP’s light for as long as he uses rabble-rousing and inanity as his main political weapon.

Where on earth can an MP make such serious allegations without providing evidence to support them? What has President Mahama led his government members to steal from the state? Where is the proof that there is a concerted agenda by this government to steal public funds and state assets? Can any of these people being maligned proceed to court against this zany NPP politician?

If I were one of those on his lips, I won’t hesitate at all to sue him and ensure that the matter is heard to its logical conclusion. For as long as such characters go to town and spew garbage without being taken to task, we shouldn’t expect any clean politics to be done in the country. I wonder what the electorate in Assin Central have seen in this lummox to elect him as their representative in Parliament. Is he really a reflection of what they are? Is that what will promote the interests of Assin Central? I wonder.
2. "GHANA’S ECONOMY HAS BECOME “BUY AND SELL”—CATHOLIC BISHOPS"
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is concerned about the “high cost of living [and] hyper-inflation” and has called on the John Mahama-led administration to swiftly address it since it is affecting “the family adversely.”
The Bishops noted in a communiqué after their meeting in Accra, Saturday, that high cost of goods and services coupled with a depreciating Cedi is making Ghana’s economy “fast becoming one of buying and selling.” (See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=335182).

MY COMMENTS

Here come the “Men-of-God” in long chains and cassocks who seem to have just woken up from a long hypocrisy-induced slumber. Where have these Bishops been all these years not to know that Ghana’s economy has always been a “buy-and-sell” one? It has been so ever since buying and selling became an attraction. Let these Bishops tell me where in the world buying and selling as a means to eke out one’s livelihood is not practised!!

The problem with these Bishops is that they are quick to turn around already-known issues and colour them with politically motivated sentiments in pursuance of the agenda that they alone have set and wish they could prosecute to the full. Unfortunately for them, their agenda is still-born.
Ghana’s economy is well known for what it is—producing primary commodities that aren’t processed in the country or consumed locally. Which of our main exports (cash crops and minerals or lumber) are processed locally to prevent the petty trading (buy-and-sell) from dominating the economic sphere? Do these Bishops not know why Ghana is still what it is as a producer of primary commodities? Or why industrialization hasn’t been preferred?
Any time these Bishops make comments of this sort, they bewilder some of us because they can’t tell me that they don’t know what the Great Osagyefo began in the country by way of industrialization—small-scale industries dominating—or agriculture (Workers Brigade, for instance), which his enemies torpedoed with the 1966 coup. Since then, Ghana has been lost on the path of development. So, it is despicable for them to turn round to conclude that the economy is a “buy-and-sell” one under the Mahama-led administration. It is so more especially because of the tension at the industrial front at the moment.

And when these “Men-of-God” come put to brazenly talk about such issues and claim that corruption is thriving under President Mahama, they force me to ask them a simple question: How are they observing their cardinal principle of celibacy? If they can answer me satisfactorily, I will bow to them.

WHAT, THEN?

Folks, we can see where all these agitations and the brains behind them are heading toward; but for as long as they becloud their minds with falsehood, the truth will always determine their fate at the polls.

And after running around like headless chickens in their rabid politicking to condemn President Mahama as incompetent, some of them are now recoiling as they come face-to-face with reality. None other but Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful reinforces it all to expose their stinking hypocrisy:

"The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula (a known and vitriolic critic of the President), praised government for the project admitting that “I cannot say that the President has not done anything.” (Read more at: http://www.citifmonline.com/2014/11/16/mahama-inaugurates-new-school-deprived-okpoti/#sthash.ai7yPXTv.bZZHQJFQ.dpuf").
Folks, you can see in the pictures how Ursula is beaming with smiles as she shakes hands with President Mahama and also interacts with the AMA Chief Executive (people that she and her NPP cabal members haven't ceased insulting at will to claim that they are incompetent).Take a good look at the images to see things for yourselves and wonder whether with such monumental accomplishments, the Mahama-led administration can be accused of "sleeping-on-the job" or stealing Ghana’s property as foolishly alleged by Kennedy Agyapong.

Only the “truth” should set us free in Ghana. Who is to tell it, especially when evidence about that “truth” exists and draws attention to itself but is side-stepped? Certainly, not the rogue politicians. Our bane!

I shall return…
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