HERITAGE FUND: THE POLITICS OF IT AND THE ABSURDITY

HERITAGE FUND: THE POLITICS OF IT AND THE ABSURDITY

Iddi Muhayu-Deen writes...

People of Ghana, let's do this interesting exercise together and get to appreciate what our NDC friends are really made of. Now, let's go:

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The NDC, as a political party, strongly supported their general secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia when he suggested that the nation's “Heritage Fund” be used to help stabilize our currency during the period of acute exchange rate volatilities sometime in 2015. The party saw absolutely nothing wrong with this rather incongruous suggestion and in fact, they proceeded to hail their Chief Scribe [general mosquito] in the face of fierce repudiation and bashing by the Ghanaian people.

Many a Ghanaian were very much concerned because at that time, these people did not come across as having an inkling of knowledge regarding what was wrong with the cedi. We were concerned because they knew not what was causing the cedi to depreciate with the speed of light against its major "trading partners". Whereas some of them were blaming high rise buildings for the predicaments of our currency, others were blaming so called NPP business men.

And as if to complete the absurdity, some of them also told Ghanaians to blame juju men and dwarfs, whom they had accused of charming the dollars at the various banks and playing juju tricks at the interbank and forex market against the cedi. Funny, right? But that was how these guys approached an otherwise serious business of governance in our country when they were in power. We were fed with one funny story or another, almost on daily basis.

And to think that, having exhibited such "cluelessness" under the circumstances, this was the very time they wanted to tamper with the Heritage Fund on something they had absolutely no clue about; this was the time they wanted to chop the Heritage Fund (a fund meant for the use of future generation), should surely make you sick.

Again, the NDC claims to be the political party that loves the future generation, yet, when they had the opportunity to govern this country, they mismanaged the economy and took a lot of reckless decisions that provided a bleak future for the next generation. One of such, was their voracious appetite for loans at very outrageous interest rates, payment of which, would be done by the next generation and for that matter the future leaders of our country.

They essentially mortgaged or sold our future for loans which they chopped when they were in office. We are talking about record-level indebtedness they left behind for our children and children's children to come and pay. With this in mind, how can they convince us that they really love the future generation.

The most annoying part of this narrative is that, these same people are now vehemently kicking against a worthy proposal made to the NPP government to consider investing part of the Heritage Fund into supporting the education of our children, our children's children and the unborn so that they can have a dignified future; so that they can work and be able to pay back the humongous loans that the NDC had contracted; so that they can better manage our economy; so that they can effectively administer our currency in order to forestall future volatility.

The suggestion is not that, NPP should use the Heritage Fund to stabilize our currency and chase the US dollar, as the NDC wanted to do. The suggestion is that, NPP should consider investing part of the Heritage Fund into supporting the education of our children, which is consistent with the reasoning behind the establishment of the Fund anyway. Aren't you getting crazy with these revelations? I am tempted to agree with my auntie, who tells me that when legendary incompetence comes into contact with hypocrisy, it produces an amalgam called, WITCHCRAFT. How else can you explain this?

You see a snake coming to bite you (the education sector about to crash), you are fortunate to have a stick which you can use to kill the snake (the Heritage Fund), yet you tell me that, you are waiting for your son who is far away from your present location (the future generation) to come and use the stick in your possession to kill the snake for you. Obviously this can only happen in your afterlife because the snake will definitely kill you. With this kindergarten logic, my brother, you qualify to be the craziest person on earth.

As we speak, our education sector is in serious crisis. The son of the charcoal seller in Kete-Krachi is being compelled to drop out of school because his mother is unable to pay for his fees due to the rising cost of Basic and Senior High School education in the country. There are several of such children out there. Last year for instance, whilst doing my national service at the Bolgatanga SHS (my alma matter), I witnessed on countless occasions, instances where the headmaster of the school was compelled to sack students who had defaulted in the payment of their fees. That is how bad the situation has become.

You can imagine how many Kofi Annans or Akufo-Addos or Mahamudu Bawumias or Haruna Iddrisus or Shamima Muslims or Afenyo Markins are having to terminate their education at this premature level because their parents are unable to pay for their fees. Hmmm. Yet we have money sitting idle (Heritage Fund, with zero interest rate) which could be used to arrest the situation and support the education of these young ones so that they would have a dignified life and contribute meaningfully to national development, and you say we shouldn’t touch that money because it is reserved for a certain future generation, something must definitely be wrong with you.

Mr. President, respectfully, you cannot always appease your political opponents. Their standard should not be your standard. You have an overwhelming mandate of the Ghanaian people to administer this country in all departments including the area of education. Please go ahead and use part of the Heritage Fund to support the education of our younger siblings, children as well as children’s children and let posterity judge you.  The thoughts of a citizen NOT a spectator.

Assalamu alaikum

Iddi Muhayu-Deen

#ForGodAndCountry

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THE GHANAIAN WOMAN

 

THE GHANAIAN WOMAN

Iddi Muhayu-Deen writes...

Today, I understand, is International Women's Day and so much has been said about women, particularly, the Ghanaian woman. A woman of substance. A woman of valor. A woman of all virtues. The 21st century Ghanaian woman, I dare say, has come of age. She has been able to defy all the societal odds to make a strong case for herself. She doesn't only rub shoulders with her male counterpart in areas, hitherto, deemed, unchartered territories for women, but she is actually establishing a significant hegemony in such areas at the expense of men. 

Is it politics? is it academia? Is it industry or commerce? Just mention it, and you will surely find the Ghanaian woman perfectly exemplifying excellence in that terrain. Even though, so much has already been said about the autochthonous Ghanaian woman, especially on this day, there is still a lot to be said and I doubt, anybody, I mean anybody, can finish extolling the virtues of the Ghanaian woman. Like they say, the Ghanaian man is NOT and CANNOT be complete without a Ghanaian woman. What more is there to add!

On the occasion of International Women's Day, I wish to, on behalf of the women of this country, who form majority of the country's populace, make a passionate appeal to His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo to appoint and ensure at least 30% of women representation in his government, as he himself has pledged, time without number. I regret to say that, so far, the figures do not look good Mr. President. Let it not be said that the competent women are not there to fill the various strategic positions in government because they are there and in bountiful folds.

It cannot also be said that the few Women in "privilege positions" are not delivering to expectation and so, women should be overlooked. The enviable examples of my elegant sister, Hajia Samira Bawumia, Georgina Wood, Charlotte Osei and many others, make that argument untenable and self-defeating. We have paid more than enough lip service to women empowerment in this country. It is time to STOP the talk and ACT. It has to be NOW or never.

Surely, my piece would not be complete, if I fail to salute the most important woman on this planet as far as I'm concerned, my sweet mother, Mma Bilkis Shaibu. Mummy, abi you know dada. I've never been able to finish celebrating you. Anyway, I wish to tell you that I miss my favourite, "tuo zaafi and ayoyo" soup. Will come home soon to enjoy this delicacy. And please, do it the special way, because I am now a citizen not a spectator.

Long live the Ghanaian woman!

Long live women across the globe!

Assalamu alaikum

Iddi Muhayu-Deen

#ForGodAndCountry

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THE ABSURDITY OF THEIR CRITICISM OF GHANA @ 60 CELEBRATIONS

 

THE ABSURDITY OF THEIR CRITICISM OF GHANA @ 60 CELEBRATIONS

Iddi Muhayu-Deen writes...

It is pretty obvious that, contrary to the ill-wishes of some of our friends in the NDC, the Ghana @60 Independence Day Parade and the entire Anniversary, which was climaxed on Monday, March 6, recorded a MEGA SUCCESS. The whole enterprise turned out so successful and beyond the expectations of many. The Ghanaian pride was once again, impeccably reignited to the envy of the World. 

It was so flawless that it gave even the worst critics of the NPP government absolutely no reason to make a legitimate case. But typical of our NDC friends, they've been able to manufacture their own mischief about this successful event in order to use same as a trump card to discredit this landmark celebration. So President Akufo-Addo's offense is that, he chose to wear fugu, they tell us. 

He should have worn the Ghana@60 anniversary cloth to show that Ghana is indeed 60 and that, he patronises what is Ghanaian. Fugu is not a made in Ghana wear. It is an American wear. It doesn't depict the culture of Ghanaians, so, we should be angry. Shocked? Don't be. You are only seeing the legendary levels at which their absurdity has reached. That is the legendary level at which their absurdity has reached. And they are inviting all of us to play along. I guess you now believe that something must definitely be wrong with the gods. 

Well, we the people of northern Ghana are proud of our President for choosing such an auspicious occasion to showcase to the World, the rich culture of northern Ghana by wearing our traditional attire (fugu). When the President chose to wear "kente", which is associated with the people of southern Ghana at his inaugural ceremony, we, northerners did not complain. We saw nothing wrong with that. 

We didn't feel let down by the President. We were cool with that. Now, the President decides to wear our traditional fugu, and the NDC is uncomfortable with this? I thought they said they love northerners more than the NPP. Maybe, that's why they didn't chop the SADA money. That's why President John Mahama did so much to transform the lives of northerners. That's why northerners voted overwhelmingly for the NDC in the 2016 polls. Don't you love this country?

Beyond that, their claim that the President doesn't "cherish" the anniversary cloth is palpably misleading if juxtaposed with the facts on the ground. Indeed, the President had worn the cloth on several occasions in respect of activities earmarked for the Ghana @60 celebrations. Pictures, they say, don't lie and I'm sure you've seen a lot of that. I am happy the NDC hasn't been able to put forward any legitimate case against the Ghana @60 celebrations despite their countless attempts. 

I am happy that the whole celebration was successful and competence was at play. Last year by this time, we were wondering whether Uhuru Kenyatta was our President. We were wondering whether Ghana's position on the equator had changed. We were wondering if we could write good English. We were wondering whether our journalists deserved to be carried on a tetanus infecting Kia truck to cover such programmes. That is the shameful record of the NDC. Please, babies with sharp teeth, kindly leave me alone ooo, because I am only being a citizen NOT a spectator

Iddi Muhayu-Deen

#ForGodAndCountry  

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GHANA @60; THE STORY TO TELL...

 

GHANA @60; THE STORY TO TELL...

Iddi Muhayu-Deen writes...

On the 6th of March 1957, the World witnessed the birth of a beautiful woman, called Ghana, amidst widespread celebration and razzmatazz because of the significance of that occasion. It was an occasion of solemnity; it was an occasion of joy; it was an occasion that signified hope for the Ghanaian people. It was a culmination of decades of legendary sacrifices and monumental struggles against the ambience of oppression, suppression, depression, hopelessness, disrespect for the dignity of the Ghanaian, economic enslavement and political servitude, which were prevalent at the time.

You can therefore imagine what self governance and independence meant for the Ghanaian people at this period. Of course, the story of Ghana's independence cannot be told in full without the mention of our forebears, many of whom lost their precious lives in the struggle for this all important emancipation for love of country. I am talking about the likes of J. B. Danquah, Paa Grant, Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo, kwame Nkrumah and other leaders of the UGCC, who gave out their all in the circumstances leading to the momentous proclamation of Ghana's independence.

On this day and time, Ghana climaxes her 60th Anniversary and surely, there can't be a better time to pay glowing tribute to these gallant heroes and heroines, whose legacies remain indelible in the annals of history. The President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo did just that when he took turn to address the nation today at the Independence Parade ground in Accra. He virtually mentioned every name that played a role in our Independence struggle. Characteristic of our President, he delivered an international award winning address which revivifies the Ghanaian consciousness and spirit of nationhood in us.

If you ask me whether we have reasons to celebrate, my answer is in the affirmative. I am however quick to admit that we have absolutely no reason to be where we are as a country, considering how much God has blessed us. Ghana is undoubtedly, one of the luckiest and most blessed countries in the World. A country that has been blessed with so much gold, diamond, cocoa, manganese, oil and virtually every natural resource to turn around our fortunes and make us rub shoulders with the developed countries in the World. 

Not even almighty Malaysia or Britain or Germany or China or the United States has been that lucky. So I ask, why has Ghana remained the biblical hewer of wood and drawer of water in the comity of nations? Clearly, three things account for our "sorry state of affairs" and they are, LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP and LEADERSHIP. Our leaders, regrettably, are the very people that have failed us and there is absolutely no debate about that. There is therefore no need to argue beyond this point. Leadership or I should say, the lack of it, is the cause of our problems and every other thing is an effect. 

I don't know about you, but I see in President Nana Akufo-Addo and his indefatigable Veep, H E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the kind of visionary and trustworthy leadership that this country religiously needs in order to change her narrative for the better. In President Nana Addo, we have a very competent driver to drive the Ghanaian people to the promise land. Maybe I should end with this quote from his anniversary address, "I have confidence that we can and will achieve the dreams of our forebears. I am hopeful that we will continue to make ourselves worthy inheritors of this land. I know that we will wear the accolade of being a Ghanaian with pride.

Let us mobilize for the happy and prosperous Ghana of tomorrow, in which all of us, including our youth, our women and the vulnerable in our society, will have equal opportunities to realise their potential, and build lives of dignity. Then, our independence will be meaningful. Then, we will have a Ghana beyond aid. Two months ago at my inauguration on these grounds, I urged that we renew the sacred compact that comes with being able to call yourself a citizen. I am proud that I am able to say without equivocation, I am a Ghanaian citizen" (President Nana Addo). Surely, there is nothing more to add. The thoughts of a proud Ghanaian citizen NOT a spectator. 

Assalamu alaikum 

Iddi Muhayu-Deen
#ForGodAndCountry

 

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