NEWS COMMENTARY ON IEA DEBATE
BY GEORGE ASEKRE.
 If there is any truth in the saying that coming events cast their shadows, then the IEA's Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates must be critically examined again.
It is true that the IEA is a private institution and has the right to use any criteria it deems fit and best serves its interest based on its mission and vision in all its endeavors. It is also true that any institution that engages in any public event is under legal obligation to uphold the constitutional provision on similar treatment to avoid being tagged biased. Article 55 clause 3 of the Constitution states that subject to the provisions of this article a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programme of national character and sponsor candidate for election to any public office other than to District Assemblies or lower local government unit. The deliberate attempt by the IEA to  limit the debate to only parties with representation in Parliament raises eyebrow. It appears to be  an attempt to deny millions of Ghanaians  access to different views on how they want to be governed. Besides, the IEA is gradually trying to restrict the constitutional provision of widening participatory democracy which must not be allowed to continue. These were reinforced by the comments made by the executive director of the IEA, Jean Mensah and a Member of the IEA debate planning committee. In fact, they created the impression that the IEA debates are to provide Ghanaians the opportunity to examine the view points of the candidates and hence inform their decision in the polls. By this, is the IEA telling the electorate to make choices from only the four candidates who had access to its platform? Nothing can be more discriminatory than this. Why should the IEA think that no independent candidate is  worth winning the election, hence have his views articulated through the IEA platform if indeed that platform has the power to effect change? The argument that the Commission on presidential debates in the US restricts its debates to only two parties is neither here nor there. Ghana is a sovereign state and is not under any obligation be it legal or moral to emulate everything from the US. In any case, is Ghana  the US? The claim by the IEA that its decision is partly due to logistical constraint is untenable. Are we not constantly told that democracy is expensive? Should inadequate resources lead to unjustifiable, subjective and individually or selectively targeted decisions? Another serious constitutional issue that ought to be looked at critically is the provision in Clause 12 Article 55 which mandates the state-owned media to give the same amount of time and space to all presidential candidates to present their programmes to the people. By carrying the IEA selective programme live, it is incumbent on the state own-media to find alternative ways of giving equal time and possibly prominence to all other registered presidential candidates to also present their views  since such is their non-negotiable right. Ghana is for all of us,  hence any participatory competition that is transparent need to be embraced by all whist any move that is selective must not be encouraged . After all,  are thieves not dealt with when caught, but is it not true that some people steal purely to satisfy their hunger? If  the limited resources argument by the IEA is justified, others might make similar flimsy excuses to engage in unfair treatment. If the state wants such competitive debate, then the NCCE must be empowered to organize one. The IEA must come again.
 GIA 

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NEWS COMMENTARY ON ILLEGAL MINING

                                    
Twenty years since the legalisation of small-scale mining in Ghana, illegal mining has succeeded in positioning itself as one of the worst threats to the country. The passage of PNDC Law 218 to  check  illegal mining has not yielded any positive results making many wonder if we are serious as a country. Research indicates that less than 30 percent of miners operate legally. A visit to mining communities across the country particularly the Eastern, Western, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions reveal a picture that can sadly be described as hopeless. Open pits besieged by young men and women digging for gold without care of the dangers being created to the environment, posed to themselves, the larger community and worse of it all the health of the inhabitants. As if this is not enough, the Chinese are invading the mining communities with sophisticated equipment thereby destroying the environment even faster. The sad aspect of this is that some of these Chinese are heavily armed even with guns and ready to fiercely resist any attempt to prevent their activities. This is happening in the midst of laws coherently codified and well printed in our statute books indicating that small-scale mining is a preserve for Ghanaians alone. Today illegal mining has grown beyond a mining problem to become a national security and  environmental issue.  A dozen of  the Chinese openly use excavators, move into a community and before one realises it, wreck farmlands and turn local streams into mud puddles. The question is what is so special about illegal mining that Ghana as a sovereign nation cannot control? On the 30th of September this year the Chinese Embassy in Ghana posted on its website that 38 illegal Chinese miners have been deported a month earlier. What do we see today? Many more Chinese are on the ground mining illegally with impunity. In August this year, 20 Chinese were arrested for operating without residential and work permit following  the setting up of a committee by the IGP, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission. Ghanaians  were told that the suspects will be tried soon, but only God knows what has since happened. It is true that bilateral trade between Ghana and China has been of immense benefit to Ghana but that cannot and must not be a compensatory excuse for foreigners to destroy our lands and take away our natural resources. People  living in mining communities must rise and say no to illegal mining else they will be the first to suffer any calamity as a result. Whether traditional rulers, politicians or so called  big wigs are involved or not should not be an excuse. What is wrong is wrong and must be treated as such. As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember the love God showed us by bringing his only son Jesus to die for  us. This love must be extended by us to the environment. Let us be reminded that if we allow our environment to be destroyed through illegal mining, posterity will not forgive us. Merry Christmas to all Ghanaians.
BY GEORGE ASEKERE

COMMENTARY ON BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Bribery and Corruption together is a social problem that has come to stay with us. It is a negative phenomenon and impinges on the conscience of many because of its debilitating effects on development. Bribery and corruption have been cited as the major reason for the overthrow of governments both military and civilian since independence. The Anin Commission appointed by the Kutu Achaempong led National Liberation Council in 1975 defined bribery and corruption as the giving and receiving of a gift or attempts to extort a gift or a valuation consideration whether cash or kind with the object of influencing a person in a position of trust to act in a way favorable to the interest of the giver. Persons in positions of trust act according to set of rules either explicitly stated or understood, so if in the course of exercising such powers any person attempts to influence their conduct with gifts either in cash or kind such a person is indulging in bribery since the intent is to corrupt the official. The Anin Commission further revealed that if the person holding the position of trust demand a gift from possible beneficiaries in order to favor them before performing such functions, the trustee is clearly corrupt. Why should one know someone or have a link with a big man in order to get what one rightfully deserves. Sociologically, bribery and corruption are not synonymous terms. Bribery is narrower, more direct and less subtle.

In fact there cannot be bribe givers without bribe takers, hence the assertion that the giver is as guilty as the receiver. Corruption can and frequently does exist even when there are no personal tempers or guilty confederates. In the assertion of Nye (1967) the use of reward to pervert the judgment of a person in a position of trust also constitutes bribery. Empirically if someone in a high position agrees to help a friend or relative of another person in an equally high position with the hope of reciprocity, that person is corrupt. Whichever way one looks at the phenomenon, bribery is wrong whether it results in the bending of rules or outright violation. The issue of bribery and corruption is so serious that in most organizations the bureaucratic principle which requires the impersonality of inter-personal relation also known as ‘Sine Ire Et Studio’ in Latin meaning, an act without ill-will, is being violated. The principle of first come first serve has no prominence anymore in many places. It is common knowledge that in some organizations today promotions and selection are no longer the preserve of technical competence due to bribery and corruption. Sadly the canker has led to the situation where in some institutions less educated, low ranked in hierarchy sometimes get comparatively higher remuneration than more qualified and higher ranked seniors. The belief that one needs to pay huge sums of money or have a link before one can get a job has saturated the minds of many young graduates seeking for jobs and rightfully so. As for what some bosses do to our young ladies before offering them jobs, only God and the principal actors know. Admittedly many organizations have square pegs in round holes and the output is low productivity, mediocrity and waste of public resources. Why on earth should we have ghost names on our payrolls? Why should one lobby before getting an appointment? Or why should it take some officials over six months and sometimes years to process documents for payment of newly enrolled nurses or appointed teachers when people are being paid to do that as their job description. The fight against bribery and corruption must therefore be taken more seriously bearing in mind that until the root causes are identified and nipped in the bud, we may only be joking. The fight must tackle both the precipitating and perpetuating factors squarely.

The socialization of Ghanaians which make us feel and believe that we have a prescriptive or even a God-given right to depend on brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and other relatives for all kinds of help play a role in corruption and must be given a second look . Also supervisors of administrative controls and the suppression of moral courage in the name of preserving good social relations should be reconsidered. Religious leaders must intensify the crusade against the pervasive acquisition on the get rich quick syndrome by first discouraging expensive funerals and marriages. Bribery and corruption has the potential of making our nation unattractive to visitors. It kills many psychologically and widens the social class gap making the richer ever richer and the poor ever poorer. Bribe givers and takers as well as those who engage in all sorts of corrupt acts must the reminded that no condition is permanent. They may succeed today but judgment surely awaits us all. A word to the wise, we have long been told is enough.

BY GEORGE ASEKRE OF GBC, RADIO NEWSROOM.

PERSPECTIVES

PERSPECTIVES

I have long wondered the truth or otherwise of the statement-The voice of the people is the voice of God. In any case man was created-at least from the Christian perspective-in the nature of God so may be the voice of the people when equated to the voice of God or even resemblance of His voice may not be out of place. Yes we were created in His image and tasked to act according to his principles, but do our voices truly reflect that of God? I reflect with shock, the incident recorded in the book of Daniel chapter six where some people wrongfully but deliberately accused Daniel to King Darius and succeeded in getting Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. Make no mistake; the God of Daniel rescued him. What will have been your own comment if you lived in the town where Portipha’s wife accused Joseph with convincing evidence of attempted rape on her? Surely the fact is not always the truth. Better still have you ever been falsefully accused before?Whatever your experience,never disregard the adage that the person who wears the shoes feels how it pinches.Nevger act in the name of pleasing the masses at the expense of your senses.Let me share a divine experience Ihad on the 28^th of August this year.But first waite a minute.I have been picking trotro from the Labadi to the University of Ghana-legon. I noticed that most of the vehicles take more than the required number of passengers.The first time I tried to tell the driver to do the right thing, I had a shock of my life with the response that followed.From the drivers mounth,if you cant bear with us get down.Inoticed other passengers were prepared to juntr into the car if I dared got down.,.I insisted oin my right,the ladies in the car as if an arranged thing collective said ah you too,be a gentleman.Gentleman,may be I have to look up the dictionary for that word again as a good student. I was ythe lone voice that day and only God knows what they said in Ga throught the journey..On the 28^th,I decided to bord another trortro to legon from the same station.This time I was poised to be a man and act as such line with how my peers trained me in the village- hit back and do it harder anytime you are hit.Before I left the house, I prayed-Lord give the courage to insult back if they insult me for saying the right thing. What if they are older people?my culture will not permit me to say anything for the child is to be seen and not head.I thought of another strategy-many of killing a cat.I decided to go for a lawyer so I could be bold.I took enough glasses fo red wine and toped it up with whisky and palmwine.Boy I feel I was  rulling the world. I joined the trotro and sat right infront of the driver  with a gum as if I was over fixated at the oral stage as postulate by the neurologist turned psychologist-Sidmund Freud. Lucky on my part the mate add additional two passengers.I said wow, no financial loss for buying the drinlk.Bold as I wads I told the driver masa, the car is full and you adding two people,what happens in the event of an accident. There I noticed the insurance on the wind screen had expired. I said,dear passengers the driver is putting our lives at risk.To my astonishment –I heard beyifo-wizard,nothing will happen, one pointed at  the big cross on my neck and said some you Christians are devils. Aye ka, I said with a broad smile.Two said,leave that guy alone, we dought if he is not touching. As if that was not enough the driverwas over speeding but I was under the influence of alcohol so to be sure other force did not make it seem to me the car was over speededing, I turned and said don’t you thing the driver is speeding too much.That one did not go down well with them so I had no option than to shut up.Within the wtinkle of an eye the brakes failed and the vehicle run into two elctrity poll broke them run into a gutter sausaulted until it hit a nearby  building.All of us remended Jesus. Only God saved me as the driver tried to give myside to the pool.My side damaged more than any other part of the vehicle yet I was the only one who was not rushed to the 37 military hospital-For me it was the Grace not my deeds. On the serious note I could have died-just like that.Im going to legon and come . It could happen to you.Soi let us insist on doing the right thing for right is right even if all are against it.We should also remember to be humble since we can just leave this place anytime it pleases God.Vanity of vanity  is all vanity ans the book of Excllessiats states.For perspectives Im George Asekere reporting.

COMMENTARY ON CONDEMNING ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK.

If lots were cast today for the most admired journalist in Ghana, it will surely fall on Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. This is because Anas succeeded in carrying out his duties without any physical attack. It is possible that the very people who praise Anas today would have been the very first to condemn and call for his head if he had been arrested, attacked or harmed in the course of his duties. Like the Biblical Pharisees, the truth about Ghanaians is that, they will praise you if you win and betray you if you are handicapped. Thank God Anas is safe.

Article 162 Clause 4 of the 1992 constitution states that editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the Mass Media shall not be subject to control or interference by government nor shall they be penalized or harassed for their editorial opinions and views for the content of their publication.

Whilst Ghanaian journalists can freely work without fear of governmental interference and harassments, the same cannot be said of individuals and security agencies. Attacks on journalists in the course of their work are not new at least, to people in the inky fraternity. It is not true that attacks on journalists prevailed only in the era of military rule. Journalists have been attacked even under democratically elected Presidents in Ghana.

Not too long ago, some journalists were attacked, vilified and abused by security men of former President Kufour at his Private residence in Accra. After that incident, a camera man of the state television, GTV, was assaulted in Accra in the course of duty. Before condemnations of that attack could end, another journalist with the State Radio, Radio Ghana, was attacked by uniformed Policemen in Tamale during the district level elections. As if there was a perpetual attempt to frustrate journalists, another group of Policemen on February 8, 2011 attacked and assaulted a reporter and a cameraman of TV3 at Ofankor in Accra when they were lawfully carrying out their duties.

The list is endless. Nobody doubts the crucial role journalists have played in bringing Ghana this far. The sad aspect of the story is that these journalists were attacked whilst trying to expose some wrongs in society in accordance with the laws of Ghana. The GBC and TV3 journalists in particular acted in line with Article 12 section one of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics which states that, a journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. Besides, section two of Article 12 of the same GJA Code of Ethics says that, the use of other means can be justified only by overriding considerations of the public interest.

The attacks on these journalists are therefore unjustified, barbaric and must be condemned in no certain terms. In fact they must not be allowed to continue in Ghana where the doors of justice are open. It is high time the Ghana Journalists Association started biting after years of barking. If lawyers jumped in to defend Amina accused of causing fear & panic over the mass sex allegation why can’t the same be extended to journalists? What is our priority as a nation? Has the National Media Commission forgotten that it has a mandate under Article 167(a) of the 1992 constitution to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication? How long will the Police Administration continue to allow a few irresponsible policemen to continue to frustrate journalists?

Maybe the time has come for media owners to start taking legal action against people who attack their workers after all, it is not wrong for the mountain to go to Mohamed if Mohammed fails to go to the mountain. Enemies of journalists should bear in mind that a war against media practitioners is tantamount to fetching water with a basket. In fact no weapon fashioned against journalists shall prosper here in Ghana.

Yesterday it was GBC, today it is TV3, tomorrow it could be another, so let us all help protect our journalists.

BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC RADIO NEWS, ACCRA.

Comments

witches camps in Ghana

01-06-11                        NEWS COMMENTARY                PLEASE STOP THIS

ANN: News Commentary today makes a case for the abolition of all witch camps in the

          Country and the need desist from muting all forms inhuman treatment to the

          Perceived witches. The script is written by George Asekere of GBC Radio

          Newsroom in Accra. His script is read by…….

        LIB.FILE: PLEASE STOP THIS                                                      DUR(       )

       CUE IN: In his letter…

       CUE OUT…those they accuse

ANN: Commentary stressed the need to end all forms of inhuman treatment against

          Perceived witches. The writer was George Asekere of GBC Radio Newsroom

          In Accra. His script was read by….

   

         

REPORT

In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, the apostle Paul is quoted by the Holy Bible as saying; we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Bible scholars, traditionalists, anthropologists and the religious all admit that these forces, jointly called rulers of the darkness of this world, include witchcraft. Indeed, witchcraft comes into mind when a name like Jezebel mentioned in the Bible is recalled. Quaranically scholars have talked about the Jew, Labeed ibn-A’sam, who directed witcraft against the Prophet Mohammed, a saheed hadeeth which was narrated by al-Bukhaari. Writing about witches and wizards, the popular occult grandmaster who is now an apostle of Jesus, Iyke Nathan Uzorma, describes witchcraft as human agent of darkness. Any human being of the metaphysical, psychic, ocultic or esoteric recognition, who in one way or the other, directly or indirectly harm, ruin, control, dominate, manipulate or hypnotize another human being is a witch. Many Ghanaians believe witchcraft is real and can be destructive. This non-empirical, intuitive and stone age-like mentality, which have no justification in the today’s scientific world, are unfortunately the bane behind the inhuman and barbaric treatment that are meted out to people perceived to be witches. It is embarrassing, that in the midst of Christianity and Islam, and the claim that rule of law is supreme in Ghana, as many as over 966 women and six hundred and seven children are detained in three out of the six witch camps in the northern region of Ghana. These are Ngani witches camp in Yendi, the Kukuo witches camp at Bimbila and the famous Gambaga witches camp at Gambaga.  Unfortunately the Ghanaian media have only highlighted the plight of witches in the northern part of the country as though it were a deliberate attempt to paint a dark picture of virtually everything in the north. In a shocking investigative report, titled killing the witches, Manase Azure Awuni, exposed the pathetic story of how some witches were beaten, vilified and locked at homes in the national capital, Accra. The story of the 72-year old woman, who was burnt by fire by five adults in for allegedly being a witch in the industrial city of Tema, also in the national capital, is still fresh in our memories. Beside, the police in Takoradi made public the story of the couple Kwaku Badu and Elizabeth Coomson who kept their nine year old son indoors until his death on the orders of a spiritualist that the boy was possessed by witchcraft. The list is endless with prayer camps seemingly playing a domineering role. Without attempting to endorse the purported acts or operations of witchcraft, it is only fair that in the absence of any authentic proofs all human beings be treated fairly. In many instances perpetrators of these demonic acts against the perceived witches’ claim that the victims confessed to having committed typically witchcraft related acts including killing. In virtually all cases, alleged witches, apart from being beaten mercilessly, are forced to drink unhealthy herbal concoctions to prove their innocence most of which are injurious to their health. In any case there is scientific evidence that some people who profess to be speaking with the devil or hearing voices of others including voices of the dead are simply hallucinating. Science has proved that there are many psychological disorders that manifest on people especially at the menopausal or old age that make sufferers to sometimes  behave in ways that the typically uneducated African may attribute to witchcraft yet there is no correlation between the two. Our elders who are the custodians of culture and wisdom have argued that before the birth of kings there were elders. Yes, but the question is for how long will we continue to walk on the fundamental human rights of these so called witches most of whom are either from very poor homes or are very old in the name of culture? The 1992 constitution makes it clear that no one is guilty unless otherwise proved guilty by a competent court. Article one clause two state that this constitution shall be the supreme law of Ghana and any other law found to be inconsistent with any provision of the constitution shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. It is therefore criminal for anyone to hide behind culture and religion to infringe on the right of another under the pretext of witchcraft. Article 41(d) which falls under the directive principles of state policy enjoins every citizen to respect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of others and generally to refrain from doing acts detrimental to the welfare of other persons. Certainly the rights of some people have been grossly abused, in the name of witchcraft, and the time to end it is now. One is therefore making a passionate appeal to president John Atta Mills personally intervene and ensure the immediate closure of all witch camps in the country. We all own it a duty to pray for the souls of all the innocent people who have died sorrowfully through accusation of witchcraft but can not allow the rest to follow suit. It is true that many of the accused may have committed demonic acts with witchcraft. It is also true that many have been falsefully accused and are suffering for accusations they have no knowledge of. Again under the laws of Ghana, It is advisable to set many suspects free than to convict one innocent person. Unfortunately the pain muted out to the deceased  cannot be reversed and this makes the plight of these so called witches very disturbing. Let us jointly fight for the release of these accused witches bearing in mind that the people who appoint accusing fingers sometimes turnout to be guiltier than those they accuse.

GBC/GIA                                                END