RAWLINGSES: A Split Family And A Blissful Future

Jerry John

By Ekow Mensah

When former President Rawlings publicly admits that he did not campaign for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its candidates in the 2012 elections, he tells the story of a future for himself and his family.

Mr Rawlings continues to wear the crown of the founder of the NDC while his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings leads another political Party the National Democratic Party (NDP) and supports every move of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

More interestingly, his daughter Dr Ezanator Agyemang Rawlings is battling for the right or honour to represent the Korle Klottey constituency.

The point is that although the Rawlingses appear to be split politically, their family bonds are unbreakable.

 Mr Rawlings was on hand at the launching of the NDP in Kumasi and he declared unflinching support for the efforts of his wife to deny the Presidency to late Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

Ezanator Rawlings

He did not give a hoot about the fact that the defeat of President Mills at the time would have meant defeat for his new found friend, John Dramani Mahama.

For Rawlings at the time, most important was for his wife to become President of the Republic of Ghana and fears of the emergence of a Rawlings dynasty were ignored.

The result of the political gymnastics of the Rawlingses would be that heads they win and tails they win.

 If Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP should win power with the help of Nana Konadu, that would guarantee the peace of the Rawlingses.

 On the other hand if the NDC with Mr Rawlings as founder and Ezanator as a Member of Parliament should win the election, the Rawlingses can still enjoy the protection of government.

The game of the Rawlingses appear to be proceeding according to plan and for now it can be predicted that the Rawlingses would not be touched by any political witch hunting no matter who wins the next election.    

Cobyn Gets More Support

Jeremy Corbyn

By Kwesi Pratt,Jnr

Britain left wing opposition leader Jeremy Cobyn is still getting support from inside the establishment and all corners of the globe.

Amongst those declaring support for his policies are American Nobel prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Kingman who sent messages of support.

Many lecturers and researchers in British Universities are also declaring their support for the clearly left- wing policies announced by Corbyn.

 Amongst the university dons who are declaring support are Victoria Chick of the University College of London, Susan Himmelweit of the Open University and James Meadway, City University.

Others include Malcolm Sawyers, Annina Kalten brunner, Gary Dymski, Ruth Pearson and Hugo Radice of the University of Leads.

 Ann Pettifor and Jeremy Smith of Prime Economics have also declared their support.

 Corbyn’s policies include the re-nationalisation of British Rail and the funding of public investment by the sale of bonds to the Bank of England.

 Corbyn says that austerity is  a policy choice and not an economic necessity.

Editorial

HEAR THE FARMERS

Many farmers across the country are crying out about the fact that the rains have failed them this year.

The farmers are worried about the grim prospect of their economic ruin as well as the prediction that hunger lurks in the corner.

Indeed what has happened is no fault of the hard working farmers of Ghana and the State cannot sit idly by and allow them to suffer.

In our view it is important for the government to design a scheme to support farmers when the rains fail.

The farmers also need assistance to stay in business for the next season. Please hear the cries of the farmers.

AN AFRICAN HERO IS GONE

Commander Risquet

By Kwesi Pratt, Jnr

Commander Jorge Risquet Valdes, is by all standards an African hero who has contributed most significantly to the struggle for national liberation and against apartheid and racism on the African continent.

Risquet as he was popularly known commanded an internationalist force including Ghana’s captain Kojo Tsikata which defeated the apartheid army in the battle of Quito Conavale in Angola.

 It was this victory of the internationalist forces which paved the way for negotiations leading to the freedom of South Africa, the independence for Namibia and the consolidation of the independence of Angola.

Reports from the Cuban Capital Havana say that Commander Risquet died in the morning of last Monday.

 He was the member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and was formally designated as Commander of the Cuban Revolution.

  Risquet fought alongside comrades Fidel and Raul Castro, Che Guvera and many other revolutionaries to topple the British dictatorship in 1959.

Two years ago, he visited Ghana as a guest of the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) and delivered the key note address at the annual Founder’s Day lecture.

On that visit he had discussions with President John Dramani Mahama, Captain Kojo Tsikata and former President Jerry John Rawlings.

 In that lecture, Commander Risquet revealed important secrets about the collaboration between Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Commandant Fidel Castro in the liberation struggle in Africa.

 He revealed that under an agreement with the Government of Ghana, Cuban Internationalist fighters were allowed to use the Accra International Airport as a transit point without being searched.

Commander Risquet also disclosed that 2,400 Cuban fighters lost their lives in the national liberation struggle in Africa.

He described Nkrumah’s struggle for African independence as “singular, intelligent and passionate”.

The full text of commander Risquet’s lecture on Nkrumah would be published in subsequent issues of “The Insight”

Editorial

A SALUTE FOR RISQUET

News of the death of Commander Jorge Risquet Valdes has reached “The Insight” with shock in spite of his advanced age.

Commader Risquet is a distinguished African hero by all standards given his role in the decolonization process in Africa.

It was the internationalist force under his command which defeated the apartheid armed forces in the famous battle of Quito Conavale in Angola, paving the way for an end to apartheid, the independence of Namibia and the consolidation of the independence of Angola.

Commander Risquet has paid his dues to the world wide movement for the liberation of all peoples under the yoke of imperialism.

We salute Commander Risquet for his bold contribution to the global anti-imperialist struggle.

 May his ideas and ideals continue to live on long after his death.

Gov’t Salutes Nkrumah

Dr Omane Boamah

By Ekow Mensah

Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communication has paid glowing tribute to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, First President and founder of the Republic of Ghana.

In a statement to mark the 106th birthday of the Osagyefo, Dr Omane Boamah described Nkrumah as “the unique man of valour who led Ghana to independence on a path of socio-economic transformation and worked tirelessly to ensure freedom for the oppressed.

Dr Omane Boamah urged all Ghanaians to reflect on the contribution of Dr Nkrumah to the growth and development of Ghana.

September 21, the official birthday of Nkrumah is observed each year as Founders Day.

 Dr Omane Boamah wrote about Nkrumah’s “unparalleled selfless dedication to the liberation of Ghana and Africa and his unending spirit of no-compromise in so far as Ghana’s interest was at stake”.

He noted that President John Dramani Mahama has through hard work, perseverance, tolerance and patriotic zeal, recaptured the vision to transform the structure of the Ghanaian economy.

Editorial

Holier Than Thou Attitude

What the people of Ghana ought to be asking themselves is how come their society has produced judges who are allegedly perverting the course of justice for just GHC250 (Two Hundred And Fifty Ghana Cedis)?

What did we do wrong to produce such judges?

In any case why do we think that in a society in which everybody and anybody abuse power and influence, we can have judges who are upright?

As far as we are concerned, what Anas Aremeyaw Anas has done is to hold a mirror in front of the Ghanaian society for all of us to see our true reflection.

 It is time for all of us as Ghanaians to reflect deeply on the moral standards of our society.

This is not about a few judges receiving or demanding favours to pervert justice, it is about a truly rotten society and the earlier we dropped the “holier than thou attitude” the better it will be for us all.

DELLE’s SECOND COMING: What It Means For The Convention Peoples Party

Prof Edmond Delle

By Ekow Mensah

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the just ended congress of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) is the second coming of Professor Edmund Delle, as National Chairman and leader.

He was elected unopposed and this would suggest very strongly that all the factions within the party see the dangers of factionalism and want to rally around a unifier.

 Prof. Delle himself has said his most important task is to unite the party and bring on board the best resources available.

For somebody who was hounded out of office simply because some factions wanted to take absolute control of the party, his reconciliation tone is remarkable.

Indeed in his first term as leader of the party, the CPP was riddled with numerous court cases over procedural matters.

In one instance the entire Central Committee of the party, including the General Secretary, Nii Noi Dowouna was cited for contempt and some party members pushed for their imprisonment.

Interestingly, the performance of the CPP has dwindled since Prof. Delle left office.

The party got less than one percent of the total votes in last election and the immediate past National chairperson, Samia Nkrumah lost her Parliamentary seat.

 It is strongly believed that under the leadership of Professor Delle, the party would do much better in the upcoming elections because he will unite the forces.

 Already, three persons have indicated their interest in running for the presidential candidature of the party.

They are; Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the immediate past National Chairperson, Comrade Bright Akwetey, a distinguished lawyer and Dr Abu Sakara, an academic and politician.

Party sources say that it is too early to make any prediction of the chances of the three personalities.

 There are also indications that a few more presidential aspirants might throw their hats into the ring.

 Insiders also hint at the possibility of a merger of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) and the CPP.    

Editorial

WELCOME FOR DELLE

The election of Professor Delle, as the National Chairmanship and leader of the Conventon Peoples Party (CPP) must be good news for all those who want to see the party grow and develop.

This is because of the commitment of Professor Delle to the unity of the party and serious political work. 

Professor Delle, more than anybody else in the party ought to understand that petty bickering and superior posturing can do irreparable damage to the party.

During his first term as leader, not much could be achieved because of the deliberate sabotage of his administration by elements whose sole objective was to dominate the party at any cost.

The Insight welcome Dr Edmund Delle back as party leader and urge him to pursue his objective of uniting the party for the task ahead.

 We assure him that he can always count on our support if he focuses on the fight to banish poverty and under development in Ghana and Africa.

CORRUPTION: Top Officials Will Be Stricken By Blindness, Epilepsy And Stroke

Apostle Kofi Nkansah

By Ekow Mensah

It is hard to believe but that is what a person who claims to be the direct representative of God on earth is saying.

He says all top officials who will continue to be corrupt will be stricken by blindness, epilepsy and stroke.

He said he will curse all top officials who will not heed to his advise to stop corruption.

 “I hereby sound a word of caution to all government appointees heads of institutions members of Parliament, the judiciary, security forces and the House of Chiefs to take note of this and stop asking for favours or be cursed”

Apostle Kofi Nkansah- Sarkodie  General Overseer of the Open Arms Ministries, Jesus ChapeL of Kumasi who has embarked upon this cursing crusade wants to be taken seriously.

 In a five page-page document entitled “How To Increase Productivity and End Unemployment in Ghana” Apostle Nkansah –Sarkodie writes “Those who have ears let them hear…..”

He claims that all the politicians from all the political parties are corrupt and that he gets annoyed when he hears the politicians accusing themselves of corruption.

Editorial

FOUNDERS DAY

September 21 has come and gone and the NDC administration has still not been able to keep its promise of making its statutory public holiday.

It may appear that the Government is listerning to some sections of the Danquah –Busia frateninty which still insists that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkurmah is not the founder of the modern Republic of Ghana.

If this is the case, then what is really the difference between the NDC and NPP?

 The Insight is convinced that there cannot be any doubt about who the founder of the modern Republic of Ghana is –it is Osagyefo Dr  kwame Nkrumah.

Indeed when we celebrate Nkrumah , we celebrate his ideas and ideals for social justice deeper democracy and national unity.

We also celebrate his total commitment to the total unification of the African continent.

The Insight urges the Mahama administration to take immediate steps to institute September 21 as the national founder’s day.