I'm Building What Akufo-Addo Is Dreaming About - Mahama.

President John Mahama has urged Ghanaians not to experiment with NPP presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo when they can continue with his tried and tested leadership.

At a rally in Abisem, near Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo region, the President said he has already began an industrialisation agenda which his main opponent Akufo-Addo is promising to do.

With jobs and the economy taking center stage in the 2016 general elections, the main opposition NPP has promised to industrialise the country.

In one of his promises christened one-district, one factory, the NPP presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has vowed to cite factories across the country's 216 districts.

But president John Mahama has laughed this off. "You have never built a factory before", he said.

"A man who has built a factory and another who says he wants to build a factory, our elders say if a tattered man promises to give you clothes, examine him first", he quoted a Twi proverb.

As a testament to what he described as his proven leadership, the NDC presidential candidate mentioned the factories and plants he has rebuilt in his four-year tenure.

President John Mahama mentioned Komenda Sugar factory, the Elmina Fish Processing plant in the Central region.The Kumasi shoe factory is now producing boots for the military, he said.

He said the Tema harbour is undergoing expansion that would make it the largest in West Africa.

Under the NPP, existing rails were sold off as scrap but his government is also building a railway line in Sekondi-Takoradi, he claimed even though the Kufuor government built 80 percent of the Accra-Tema rail line.

These factories and infrastructural projects were built by Ghana's first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who on Independence Day vowed that "we are going to demonstrate to the world, to the other nations, young as we are, that we are prepared to lay our own foundation."

But after his overthrow in February 1969, the massive infrastructure suffered deterioration and later collapsed.

According to the president, Kwame Nkrumah was severely opposed until all his industries collapsed. The collapse of the factories is responsible for the worrying levels of unemployment in Ghana, he said.

More than four decades since Nkrumah's overthrow, President Mahama says his government is gradually reviving the vision of the Ghanaian leader who was named Africa's man of the century.

The President noted that once again, like Nkrumah, his government is facing the opposition NPP, an off-shoot of the UGCC, the formal opposition party during Kwame Nkrumah's leadership.

President Mahama said he is being lampooned for ballooning the public debt just as Nkrumah was criticised for his infrastructural projects, his comparisons continued.

He urged the people not to be swept away by his detractors who are "first class" when it comes to lies and deceit.

Mahama encouraged the people to support his vision by endorsing his re-election bid come December 7 general elections.

Ayariga’s Tomfoolery And CHRAJ’s Paradoxical Ruling!

My father is late. He never left me and my siblings any property but I still hold him in high esteem. I regard him as one of the best fathers anyone could ever have because he raised me well. The kind of upbringing I had wouldn’t make me stoop low to collect bribe, even if it was a Ford Expedition. Yes, I’m not a president; neither am I rich. But I’m not bothered about riches and prestige in society because my “old boy” taught me not to measure success by those standards. I would forever be grateful to the old boy for the morals he had instilled in me. I’m a very fulfilled person. My heart is gladdened anytime I see students who had passed through my hands making positive impact in the society. With my over fifteen years experience as a teacher, I’m proud to say I’ve helped shape the destinies of hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Do I sometimes envy those with fathers who gave them good upbringing and also left valuable properties for them when their fathers left for Samanfoland? Yes, I do but I do not allow it to degenerate into hatred. Perhaps, that is what Hassan Ayariga has failed to do. It is no secret that Nana Addo was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. It is also an open secret that many people, politicians inclusive, are envious of the man’s professional life and the family he was born into. But Hassan Ayariga is one of the few who have allowed that envy to degenerate into hatred. I therefore take this opportunity to appeal to those who feel hurt by Ayariga’s tomfoolery to let go. Ayariga is only exhibiting hatred for legal and political achievements he and many in his family could never even dream of. Clearly, his hatred for Nana Addo has clouded his sense of reasoning. It is very true that Nana Addo lives in his father’s house at age 72. Is that enough to conclude that the man is a failure? For sure, that can be a sign of failure only in the minds of people with mediocre minds. Did Nana Addo live a very fruitful and fulfilling professional life? Could he have built a hundred houses if he had so desired? Does he own a house built through his own sweat? Did he save the country huge cowries by staying in his own house during his tenure as Attorney-General and Minister of Foreign Affairs? If the answer to all these questions is a big YES, then why should we be bothered by the naughtiness of a political stooge? Ayariga thinks he is only doing the bidding of his political masters by throwing mud at Nana Addo. What he fails to realize is that he is also exposing his idiocy to the whole world. As the saying goes, “The goat may go round soiling the whole town. But it forgets that it is soiling its anus as well.” Abusuapanin, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has released the report on the Ford Expedition saga; and they did not disappoint me one bit. They did exactly as I expected. I’m very surprised some of my compatriots had expected otherwise. How could they expect a boot-licking CHRAJ boss to indict President Ogwanfunu in an election year? CHRAJ report or not, nothing can change the fact that the circumstances under which the Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe, met the then Vice-President smacks of corruption.  Per Djibril’s own account, he did not win a contract in Ghana the first time he submitted a proposal. After losing the bid, a friend called Mike Aidoo (Mikado), who knew  then Vice-President Ogwanfunu, now President, took him to salute (greet) the vice-president. Thus began the beautiful relationship between the two, which led to a USD100,000 gift exchanging hands. The motive for Mikado taking Djibril to see then Vice-President Ogwanfunu is clear, isn’t it? He had lost a contract, so he needed someone who could pull strings to make things happen the next time. And did the new relationship he established with Vice-President Ogwanfunu not help him get subsequent contracts? The paradoxical ruling by the CHRAJ makes interesting reading. In one breath the report says President Ogwanfunu breached the country’s gift policy. In another breath it says he has not broken any law. So, what is the punishment for breaching the country’s gift policy? Ours is indeed a land of jokers! CHRAJ has given me a better insight to the saying, “You cannot convince a monkey that honey is sweeter than banana.” And all I can do is weep for Mother Ghana!

PPP Cites EC For Contempt.

Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) for contempt after the latter accepted its filing fee last week. The PPP had filed a suit at the Accra High Court seeking an injunction to prevent the EC from receiving the reviewed filing fees for presidential and parliamentary aspirants. The fees have been increased by at least 500%. In this regard the party said the EC’s decision to accept its filing fee, despite the injunction application seeking to prohibit that action, amounted to disrespecting the court. The EC last week accepted the GH¢50,000 filing fee for the PPP presidential hopeful, Papa Kwesi Nduom, explaining that once the party brought the fee despite its own injunction, it had every right to collect and retain same. For the EC to have rejected the fees of other parties, but went on to take the PPP’s, own, the party argued that the EC is in contempt. In its affidavit, the PPP said if it is to satisfy the EC’s demand and qualify to participate in the December presidential and parliamentary elections, it has to “find and deposit with the EC, an amount of GHC2,800,000 which…would be confiscated to the state should [it] fail to secure at least 25 per cent of the presidential votes and 12.5 per cent votes in each constituency parliamentary votes in the general election.”

How Election 2012 Was Stolen By NDC,EC and STL.

 I am an NDC member and an ICT profession. The sad news is that I can’t disclose my identity because I will be killed. The NDC and the Electoral Commission engineered to rob Ghanaians of election 2012. The NPP were warned by me through a friend, but because of their bureaucracy they lost the elections. They thought the courts could change the verdict of how Mahama won the elections. I am indeed surprised that Ghanaians sat down for this to happen. Although I am a proud Ghanaian, I would want to state emphatically that the NPP are cowards. How the NDC robbed Ghanaians: The Ghanaian Journalist were the first to be blocked from any travel as they failed to file in 45 days before the election an application through their former president Ransford Tetteh. This was to allow journalist go ahead with their special voting so they can travel to various locations to report on the election result. Ransford was paid a huge amount for assisting the NDC. The second step was to dissolve the committees represented at the collation centres which they succeeded. The coalition centers were blocked from journalist if you could remember. The NDC/Electoral Commission contracted (STL) SUPERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (STL), an Israeli company in Ghana owned by Mr. Yaron Tal. This company has been in Ghana for the past 20 years and is reaping Ghanaians through very dubious business. Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) an Israeli company was awarded a contract for the renovation of three of Ghana’s missions abroad. The contract of US$16,746,682.00 was for the renovation of Ghana’s missions in New York, Washington DC and Ottawa.

Now, this was where the elections were stolen. All pink sheets where supposed to have been faxed directly from coalition centres to the strong room, but I am confessing strongly that all the pink sheets where faxed to STL) SUPERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (STL), GHANA and with a common software that detects handwriting and fonts, the results were quickly changed by us, printed on new pink sheets and faxed to the strong room of the Electoral Commission for declaration. It was a fact the EC Chairman, Aseidu Nketia and few others were always in meetings with Yaron In all about 400 fax machines were installed at STL) SUPERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (STL), GHANA for this purpose. As I could not stand the cheating, I called to a radio station to let Ghanaians know about what was happening. In all this the EC recruited NDC to manage the coalition centres. All of them were NDC members in EC uniforms. Afari Gyan, the EC head advised in one of the meetings, that once the information reaches the strong room, no one could change it except the court. Special Forces from the military were recruited from the Northern part of Ghana and were released before the election results were declared. Lessons for NPP and the way forward for all elections. Elections can only be won at polling stations. 1. Areas of voting must be transparent as many NDC voters have stamped voting papers in their pockets and wallets which they add in the ballot boxes. I repeat the area must not must be covered by those cardboard covering the ink pad areas. 2. Ballot boxes must remain transparent. 3. Very credible persons from the Christian council including pastors, bishops, imams, men of God must be trusted and registered to manage every polling station. 4. Every result must be declared from the polling station as it should be counted in the full glare of all voters. Information on pink sheets must be submitted by the clergy and accompanied by the press and police. NDC generally plans to rig the elections again 5. NPP should insist the results from each polling station are published before EC declares the final result. 6. There shouldn’t be any strong room. The results should be opened to the public. 7. Polling agents should follow the pink sheet to every stage till it is declared, sent and verified.

I Can't Think Far - Bishop Gideon Titi-Offei.

From Bole Bamboi to Kyebi: I can’t think far


Bishop Gideon Titi-Offei


From Bole Bamboi to Kyebi, from Kyebi to Bole Bamboi, it is far, yet I can’t think far

I can’t think far because they say your vote is your right but in actual fact your vote is their rise. The rise that takes them far away from you, too far to reach them.

I can’t think far because they say your vote is your voice but in actual fact your vote gives them a voice. A voice that speaks for them not for you.

I can’t think far because they say your vote is your power but in actual fact your vote gives them power. The power that gives them position and the position that gives them possessions leaving you penniless.

I can’t think far because they say your vote is your future but in actual fact your vote is their fortune. They get appointed and you get to pay their salaries, they get the houses and you get to pay their rent even through you are homeless, they get the cars and you get to buy the fuel. They get electricity and you get to pay the bill even though you live in ‘dumsor’.

I can’t think far because they have pot bellies and you have potholes. They have pot bellies because they borrowed in your name and chopped it in their name. Now you have to vomit your intestines out to pay for them.

I can’t think far because you are hungry but not angry. Their dustbins eat more that your stomach and their dogs more than your children.

I can’t think far because they can’t feel your pain yet you pay them with your vote. They schooled abroad, you schooled around. You walked to school they were chauffeured to school. You grew up in one world they grew up in other world so you can’t build a world together.

Who are you? You are me, I am you, we are us and they are they. You and I will trek from Bole Bamboi to Kyebi and from Kyebi to Bole Bamboi to attend their rallies whiles they come in their chauffeured driven V8s intoxicated by power to make powerful promises they do not have the power to keep. I just can’t think far.

Who are we? We are the ones who will go on the street to fight for their interests whiles their children watch us on TV with keen interest in the comfort of their comfortable homes. They will attend our funerals not as mourners but as politicians and play politics with our mothers’ lost. Our mothers will wail, their mothers will wheel them abroad. I just can’t think far.

Who are they? They are they and we are we. They have never been us and we have never been them. As far as Bole Bamboi is from Kyebi and Kyebi is from Bole Bamboi, that is how far away they are from us. Our world is not their world. We played with bamboo toys, the played with Lego, we played ‘gutter to gutter’, they played Snake and Ladder. We don’t understand them, they don’t understand us, yet they say we must stand with them. I just can’t think far.

Who are they? They are those who together ruled mother Ghana for 59 years and ruined our lives. When they compare themselves to themselves they say they ruled well but when we compare ourselves to ourselves we know the they have ruined our wells. I just can’t think far.

We die, they dine, we are the victims of their victories yet we are not angry. I just can’t think far.

We are hungry but not angry enough to agree to hold them accountable for not being accountable. I just can’t think far.

Yes I can’t think far but I can see far.
I can see the new you and the new me and the new us . When I walk on the streets I see the new us questioning their quest to lead us. I see the new us probing their promises and policing their policies.

This is our opinion, it burns like onions but flavours the discourse.

Exodus 18:21 NIV
But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain…

By: Bishop Gideon Titi-Ofei