ALL HAIL THE SUPREME COURT FOR RESTORING SANITY ON OUR AIRWAVES AND BRINGING BACK THE CULTURE OF DETERRENT

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN writes...

The fear of contempt is the beginning of wisdom and serenity in our body politic. I say kudos to our law lords on their handling of the infamous muntie 3. Some critics say the court was too harsh on them but I beg to differ. In fact, I strongly contend that the reprimand slapped on the trio is exactly what the nation needs at this critical moment in order to sanitize our airwaves ahead of the 2016 polls. The ugly noises in this country were just becoming too unbearable and the prevailing culture of impunity makes the narrative even more nauseatingly sickening. 

It is therefore gratifying that our apex court has finally intervened under the circumstances by cracking the whip on these political “galamseyors” and ventriloquists who think that they can take this country for granted because they are closer to the corridors of power. You can indeed play with your mother's breast but surely, not with your father's testicular organs. You can open your sharp teeth and spew gratuitous and acidic invectives on innocent Ghanaians without any provocation and get away with it; but you dare not attempt to desecrate the sanctity of our judiciary, which is the embodiment of our justice delivery system and the last resort for seeking redress.   

However, my only little disappointment is that, it had to take the nation's highest court to teach media owners and practitioners alike, how to effectively manage their stations and particularly, the microphone. Yet, we claim to be the citadel of democracy and media freedom in the sub-region. This obviously falls flat on the faces of our legendary citizens including the likes of Dr. Wereku Brobbey and Nana Akuffo Addo, who fought gallantly in the past two decades for the liberalization of the nation’s airwaves and the repeal of the notorious criminal libel law. Obviously, the likes of muntie fm and others have proven to be a negative fallout of this otherwise enviable democratic milestone. 

As for the BNI, the least said about them, the better. What at all were they seeking to achieve by suggesting that the convicted trio did not have the capacity to execute the threats? Did that really matter, even if that was the case? Were they seeking to rewrite the laws of this country, which say that THREAT TO KILL is A CRIMINAL OFFENCE without recourse to matters of capacity? But don’t be surprised because that is what happens when our professionals allow themselves to be used by politicians for political expediency. I wonder if any Ghanaian respects the BNI any longer. How sad!

Once again, I doff my hat for our justices for sending the strongest signals to all the players in our democratic experiment. Rule of law works in this country after all. Indeed, all must take responsible responsibility for their responsible irresponsibility. I hope and pray that we all learn the relevant lessons for the love of God and country. #GhanaMustWorkAgain. 

Assalamu Alaikum

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Social Commentator

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

Please, it is shareable……

JOHN DUMELO VERSUS ALHAJI DR. MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

 

Please, before you draw any conclusions based on the aforementioned caption, kindly go through the write-up because I do not want to subject my good self to public ridicule by seeking to compare the two gentlemen. Of course, you know that the apple and the orange cannot be compared with each other for obvious reasons. Instead, what I’m seeking to do is to point out the shared HYPOCRISY and DISHONESTY in some of us [Ghanaians] especially the ruling elite having observed the kind of treatment that is being meted out to the duo in their attempt to campaign on our campuses. But before I proceed, I wish to, first and foremost, remind you that per the GES Regulations, partisan politics and for that matter political campaign is PROHIBITED in our second cycle institutions/secondary schools. This is the very reason why political associations like TESCON, TEIN, TESCHAT el al are NOT ALLOWED to be formed in these schools, else that would make nonsense of the Regulation. However, same is ALLOWED in our tertiary institutions. And that is why our politicians go there every now and then to canvass for votes for their various political parties.

But it appears to me that some politicians in this country today, are more Ghanaians than others. For instance, our media landscape is replete with stories involving the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and how he is constantly being HARASSED and PREVENTED from addressing students on our TERTIARY CAMPUSES by so called “authorities from above” even after he is GRANTED PERMISSION by the relevant school authorities. How pathetic! Meanwhile, we all know that Dr. Bawumia is not just a Ghanaian, but one that has served his country diligently. Indubitably, his contribution towards the socioeconomic development of Ghana cannot be exaggerated. The internationally acclaimed celebrated Economist cum Chartered Banker, who also happens to be a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana is credited with several scholarly reforms and innovations in our fiscal and monetary space. 

As a matter of fact, it was during his reign at the Bank of Ghana that our cedi and economy in general experienced the greatest stabilization ever in our history. And in the final analysis, Ghana moved from the quagmire of a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to a Lower Middle Income Country, which meant that we had moved from the control of the IMF and the World Bank. It is however very sad to note that this Mahama government has taken us back to HIPC and now, the IMF has become our “de facto government” because they dictate to us how to administer our own country and live our lives. President Mahama, in his own words, says, he had to take Ghana back to the IMF so we could get POLICY CREDIBILITY. I do not want this article to focus much on Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his legendary accomplishments and track-record in public office for God and country but I guess, I’ve given you a little of how much he is worth. Yet, he is the gentleman that is being constantly harassed and prevented from addressing students on our tertiary campuses even though our Regulation/Convention allows same.

JOHN DUMELO 

Just like Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, John Dumelo is also a Ghanaian and a popular figure for that matter but in the Creative Arts Industry, otherwise known as Showbiz. Unfortunately, I can say very little about him because I am not an ardent follower of showbiz. But I have watched some of his movies and really enjoyed them. I’ve also observed that he is an expert in romantic movies. All in all, I can say that he is one of the finest movie stars we have in this country. From where I sit, John Dumelo suddenly popped up in the nation’s political milieu sometime last year when he took on critics of President Mahama over the seemingly intractable dumsor conundrum which has engulfed this country, collapsed several businesses and claimed innocent lives. 

This notwithstanding, John Dumelo did not understand why Ghanaians were being livid and overly critical of the Mahama government and sought to plead with us to exercise more patience and give the government the benefit of the doubt. As expected, he (John Dumelo) came under fierce criticism from some well-meaning Ghanaians including his colleagues in the movie industry especially Yvonne Nelson, Van Vicker and Lydia Forson among others, who later organized the famous #DumsorMustStop vigil in 2015. Fast forward to date, John Dumelo now decides to join the NDC campaign train ahead of the 2016 elections. His modus operandi is to essentially galvanize the youth and students of this country to support the NDC in the November polls. 

Now, the hypocrisy in this is that, not only is John Dumelo given unimpeded and unlimited access to our tertiary institutions to campaign for President Mahama but he is also able to “storm” our secondary schools, where politics is PROHIBITED per the GES Regulations to interact with first time voters. Yet, Dr. Bawumia, another fine Ghanaian cannot do same; not even in our tertiary institutions, where same is permissible. How unfair! So Dr. Bawumia, having served this country diligently, cannot have access to students but John Dumelo, who has never been a public officer but someone, who makes his money by kissing people’s wives and girlfriends in the name of acting ROMANTIC MOVIES can.  Well, I am not surprised because in Ghana, it appears some people are more Ghanaians than others. In effect, we have two sets of laws in this country; one for the politicians in the ruling class and the other, for the opposition including you and I, who are not close to the corridors of power. 

My brother John Dumelo, Inasmuch as I cannot begrudge you for engaging in partisan political campaign for President Mahama, I however think that the PLAYING FIELD MUST BE LEVELED for all. You should also come out boldly to admit that, that is what you are now doing and not the usual “hide and seek game”. My final words to you, John Dumelo are that, kindly tell president Mahama, who you now work for to honour his government’s promise of making some budgetary allocations to the Creative Arts Industry, where you religiously belong. Maybe I should remind you that the president made this promise when he met your colleagues in the Industry at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi ahead of the 2012 general elections. You can follow this link and refresh your memories:

http://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2014/09/19/ministry-finance-budget-creative-arts-industry-2014-budget-ministry-tourisms-budget-allocation-limbo/ .

I will be the first person to congratulate you if you are able to do that. Your colleagues, or should I say, your former colleagues in the Creative Arts Industry would forever be grateful to you. Our conscience will forever judge us. [END OF STORY]

Assalamu alaikum 

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Student Activist/Social Commentator

Former NUGS Secretary

(0245335197)

Please, it is shareable….

SAMIA NKRUMAH VINDICATED, AS IVOR GREENSTREET “SELLS” CPP TO THE GOVERNING NDC

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN’S FOLDER 

Many were the political pundits who chided Samia Nkrumah, the former CPP chairperson and daughter of Ghana’s first president when she alleged that the NDC government sponsored her number one contender in the CPP presidential primaries, Mr. Ivor Greenstreet. Ivor shocked the World when he surprisingly beat her [Samia] in the party’s primaries to become the CPP flagbearer for the 2016 general elections having run a flamboyant campaign in the run-up to the congress. Her accusation was deemed unfortunate and portrayed her as a bad looser. However, recent developments in the party and beyond appear to vindicate and legitimize Samia’s concerns. But before I delve into the issues, let me use this opportunity to give you a brief background or historical antecedence to what has become, the sad narrative of the Nkrumaist party.

It would be recalled that sometime in December 2014, when Ivor Greenstreet attended the NDC national delegates congress in his capacity as the CPP General Secretary at the time, he gave what has been described as the HARSHEST SOLIDARITY MESSAGE ever witnessed in the history of this country and indeed, anywhere in the World.  He defied all odds and gathered enough testicular muscles to call the bluff of the NDC government by attacking their mediocre performance in the harshest of terms using THEIR OWN PLATFORM. In fact, it was the biggest NDC platform one could ever get, in the presence of President John Mahama, former President Rawlings, several Ministers of State, party kingpins and indeed and all the people that matter in the NDC. 

These were some of the exact words of Ivor Greenstreet at the NDC event in his concluding remarks, “……We thought you will use a day like this to talk about policies to make lives better; but no, instead, you chose today to share your Christmas gifts to yourselves. Instead of you to fight CORRUPTION, you have assembled here to share some of the stolen money as Christmas gift. The most annoying thing is that you don’t care………”  (Ivor Greenstreet at NDC congress). He proceeded to generally reecho the sentiments of majority of Ghanaians where he said NOBODY was feeling their “better Ghana” accusing the government of superintending over a killer tariff regime which was suffocating the ordinary Ghanaian and that, corruption was so manifest in his words, “left, right, center, inside-out”. Obviously, no politician in this part of our World could be more daring than this.

Upon realizing that this man (Ivor) poses a great threat to their political popularity, the NDC government decided immediately, to bring him closer to the highest echelon of power (precisely, the presidency) so he could be tamed. For instance, he was made to join the president and his team to tour some parts of the country under the pretext of inspecting government projects. When he returned from the “presidential tour”, Mr. Ivor Greenstreet shockingly transmogrified into a different social and political being. He became arguably, the number one friend of government touting their so called impeccable achievements ‘left, right, centre, inside-out’ as if he wasn’t the same person that castigated them some two months or so earlier. Many Ghanaians were thrown into state of disbelief and bewilderment at his sudden u’turn, which he has maintained even as at date. Ivor now sees the NDC government as not only INCORRUPT but also, a government that is delivering the public good to optimal satisfaction. He sees no evil, hears no evil when it comes to the NDC government and is quick to jump to their defense when things become tough for the governing party. 

A classic case in point is his recent spirited but inept defense of the infamous MahamaFord saga, which is undoubtedly, the biggest corruption scandal to have hit a sitting president in our country’s history. Ivor Greenstreet still doesn’t think that President Mahama erred in accepting a brand new Ford Expedition, worth US$100,000 from a foreign contractor who has business interest in Ghana even when our laws clearly frown on same. How more incredulous and unprincipled could he be! Well, this is what bootlicking can do to an otherwise fine gentleman who I understand, is a lawyer of great repute. And when his party’s General Secretary and youth leader thought otherwise and decided to use due process by petitioning CHRAJ for the matter to be investigated, he (Ivor) became very outraged and had to overtly orchestrate the suspension of the two national executives. I have always thought all Nkrumaists abhor CORRUPTION until I met Ivor Greenstreet. How pathetic!

CPP PRIMARIES

Mr. Ivor Greenstreet surprised many political watchers when he suddenly resigned as CPP General Secretary and declared his intentions to contest the likes of Samia Nkrumah and two others for the party’s presidential ticket. Everybody thought this was going to be a “cool chop” for Samia, who had acquitted herself quite creditably in the CPP and beyond. Little did we know that Ivor was coming into the race as the ‘richest man on the globe’, who could even loan the World Bank. You only needed to be a CPP delegate at the time if you wanted to be rich. Vote buying be what! Where did he get such money from? Obviously, your guess can only be as good as mine if the principle of quid-pro-quo (give and take) holds. The symbiotic relationship between him and the NDC says it all. This is where I dare say that, SAMIA NKRUMAH has been VINDICATED with her allegations and no one can convince me otherwise. 

IEA PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AND WHAT TO EXPECT

I am sure many Ghanaians think that the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akuffo Addo would be spared with the provocative NUISANCE of AYARICOUGH in this year’s IEA presidential debate. Whilst I partially agree with them, I hold the view that Nana Addo would be faced with even more DISTRACTIONS and INEXORABLE OPPOSITION from the CPP presidential candidate, Mr. Ivor Greenstreet following his recent public pronouncements. He gave this signal when he took his turn at the IEA evening encounter where he mentioned more NPP and attacked their legacies than the governing NDC. 

CONCLUSION 

It is pretty obvious that the CPP has chosen the path of SELF-DISTRACTION and is heading for doom under the leadership of their unprincipled flagbearer, Ivor Greensteet. I do not need to remind Ghanaians that this is a party that has consistently been struggling to secure even 1% of valid votes in our general elections but to no avail. Instead of focusing on how to better their electoral fortunes ahead of the 2016 elections, the current leadership of the party has rather chosen to be bootlicking with the governing party and have vowed to axe any CPP official that tries to stop them as happened to the general secretary and youth leader, Ernesto Yeaboah, who I described as the MOST HARDWORKING executive of the party and undoubtedly, one of the finest national youth organizers in the country. This gentleman has drastically transformed the party’s Youth Wing and made it very ATTRACTIVE to many young persons in the country including me. Unfortunately, the CPP leadership deliberately construed his rising popularity as a threat to their Machiavellian agenda of delivering the CPP to the governing NDC, so he had to be FIRED together with the General Secretary who was also seen as an obstacle in the circumstance. At this juncture, only Almighty ALLAH can save Nkrumah’s party from imminent EXTINCTION from our body politic. 

Assalamu alaikum 

This piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian youth in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and MINDS for the love of God and country.

IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN

Youth Activist/Social Commentator

Former NUGS Secretary 

(0245335197)

Please, it is shareable…..