I aggry with you totally. When a few people stole a lot of money and share among themselves, we sit without an action to retrieve the money from them. Do we have to wory God for more resources ? God has even given Ghana more ... read full comment
I aggry with you totally. When a few people stole a lot of money and share among themselves, we sit without an action to retrieve the money from them. Do we have to wory God for more resources ? God has even given Ghana more than we need. Greed and inaction on the part of our leaders is the problem we have.
BOY KOFI 9 years ago
There are institutions in the country that are very weak and you don't expect the President to become a judge or a dictator.You cannot go and arrest anybody because you are the president,it does not work that way.It is the Ju ... read full comment
There are institutions in the country that are very weak and you don't expect the President to become a judge or a dictator.You cannot go and arrest anybody because you are the president,it does not work that way.It is the Judiciary and the law enforcement agencies that go after fraudsters,criminals and crooks but not the job of president.On the other hand,the president can fire less performing appointees but cannot give orders to the judiciary.There is a distinction between a military rule and rule of law.It is for this very reason Obama said "Africa does not need a strong man but strong institutions".Now coming to the question of prayers and actions the equation is the same.Your actions must be backed by democratic principles within the law.You cannot just get up and do anything because you are president.When somebody says we should pray for the president it does not mean the president should go to bed and let God do everything for him.No sir.What it means is that God should give the president the necessary wisdom and strength to stand up against the challenges facing the country.There is no country in the world that has no serious challenges so that is the essential logic of prayers.Thank you.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 9 years ago
BOY KOFI, I never suggested that the government should use undemocratic or dictatorial means to recover stolen public funds. Are you seriously suggesting that the Woyome, Isofoton and Waterville illegal judgement debts paymen ... read full comment
BOY KOFI, I never suggested that the government should use undemocratic or dictatorial means to recover stolen public funds. Are you seriously suggesting that the Woyome, Isofoton and Waterville illegal judgement debts payments could not be recovered immediately, when the highest court of the land has ruled that the money should be refunded to the state? Has any of the three asked a review of that judgement? Are you suggesting that some or all of the money illegally paid to individuals and companies in the GYEEDA and SADA corruption could not be recovered immediately?
Such reasons of rule of law are mere excuses and unacceptable. What Ghana needs is action and not time wasting in recovering all these huge sums of money. In fact, the money stolen by those involved in the National Service Secretariat ghost names could be recovered immediately, whilst plans are being made to put those involved on trial. The authorities should not wait till the end of the trials because the money will disappear and nothing will be recovered. For example, the state should identify the bank accounts and assets of all those involved and secure a court order to freeze them until the court case. That is what I am talking about and not suggesting any "Rambo" style action in a democratic society.
BOY KOFI 9 years ago
Don't tell me that you don't understand the rule of law.The president has no power to go after fraudsters and corrupt individual or group.The judges,policemen and anti fraud agencies have the mandate to do that job say recove ... read full comment
Don't tell me that you don't understand the rule of law.The president has no power to go after fraudsters and corrupt individual or group.The judges,policemen and anti fraud agencies have the mandate to do that job say recovering of funds for the state.Let me make it clear here,it was the court who ordered that these fraudsters must refund the money stolen from state coffers.Therefore,it's their duty and responsibility to make sure that their orders are executed.Now tell me,if you know that Mahama has asked any court to set any fraudster free?THE JUDGES WHO RULED SUCH CASES MUST USE THE SAME LAW TO RETREIVE EVERY PESEWA BELONGING TO THE STATE.I am sorry,the president has no business in the judiciary.Thank you.
Says Who 9 years ago
You are totally wrong. The case was brought to the the Supreme court for interpretation and adjudication by the state. When a ruling is given in court it falls on the executive as mentioned by Mr Ata to execute and effect the ... read full comment
You are totally wrong. The case was brought to the the Supreme court for interpretation and adjudication by the state. When a ruling is given in court it falls on the executive as mentioned by Mr Ata to execute and effect the ruling. The failure by the president by being given access to a superhighway to retrieve these loot has not shifted from the first gear and the looters are getting away.
Me-no-HaVe_Phd 9 years ago
Hmmmmmmmm!
Hmmmmmmmm!
KKO 9 years ago
Kofi,
The problem with us so-called Ghanaian Christians (and Muslims too) is that we don't even believe in the God (Allah) we are supposed to be worshipping. While claiming that God was the ruler of Ghana, Ata Mills was sup ... read full comment
Kofi,
The problem with us so-called Ghanaian Christians (and Muslims too) is that we don't even believe in the God (Allah) we are supposed to be worshipping. While claiming that God was the ruler of Ghana, Ata Mills was superintending all the dishonesty that was going on around him.
His vice president had indulged in thievery with respect to the purchase of aircraft in Brazil. What did he do about the committee that investigated that graft? What did he do about the STX stinker? Didn't he appoint the felons Sipa Yankey, Kwame Peprah and others in his government?
Mahama is supposed to be a born-again Christian but he has led the most dishonest and corrupt government in the history of Ghana!
Kufuor is a practising Catholic but he looked on as Wereko Brobby, Anane and others stole the people to blind.
I know the God I serve can never be deceived. All those who are using the Lord's name in vain in Ghana will surely have their recompense. Where are those phoney churches, Amen Amen, Eden Revival, Elim, and their so-called "men of God?"
All those rogue politicians who use the name of God in vain will reap the harvest of what they have sown in deceit!
mojingles 9 years ago
I am stunned by your parroting of the rather simplistic assertions by Bawumia and Cudjoe that the President really needs prayers to lead the nation to prosperity. Both men are partisan hacks bent on maligning the President... ... read full comment
I am stunned by your parroting of the rather simplistic assertions by Bawumia and Cudjoe that the President really needs prayers to lead the nation to prosperity. Both men are partisan hacks bent on maligning the President....their statements should be taken with a grain of salt...
Kofi, you have jettisoned realism for absurdity...what are the parallels between prayers and development and economic salvation? What effect will prayers have on a leader if the odds are stacked against him? Prayers don't move mountains, so the adage goes; it takes ingenuity, effort and determination to bring about fundamental changes in society. Society is not served well by those who are enamored with the spiritual values of the 13th century.....if the leaders of Europe had relied on prayers, the industrial revolution would have eluded them...Similarly, the tech wizards who have brought the modern world remarkable inventions relied least on prayers than on their brain power...So, Kofi, dissociate yourself from the statements of the two NPP blabbermouths.
No, amount of prayers, or genuflecting to a deity would instantly provide a panacea to our economic problems that have been in the making for half a century...until Ghanaians eschew laziness and embrace hard work instead of overly relying on government to do everything, prayers would just that, prayers and nothing more..
Jojo Hammond, New Jersey 9 years ago
Mojingles you just made Kofi Atah's point. You have completely misread the essence of this brilliant piece. Kofi is taking the two individuals he quoted to task instead of supporting them, which is what you are insinuating. ... read full comment
Mojingles you just made Kofi Atah's point. You have completely misread the essence of this brilliant piece. Kofi is taking the two individuals he quoted to task instead of supporting them, which is what you are insinuating.
Let's pray by all means for whatever purposes prayers serve (mostly in our individual private lives) and leave prayers, by and large, out of our policy sphere.
Sadly enough we hide behind religion to perpetuate our diabolical agendas and that MUST stop.
In 2010 when I visited Ghana, a former co-worker told me point blank "Jojo, if you want to be rich here, establish a church or set up a school" I got the school part (NOT) but could not fathom what church had got to do with being rich !!!
It is this mindset that makes people think that prayers play a crucial role in our policy debates and implementation.
Well done, Kofi Atah for another brilliant piece.
Jojo Hammond, New Jersey 9 years ago
Pardon the typo. The heading should have read "...... Kofi's Point, Sir".
Pardon the typo. The heading should have read "...... Kofi's Point, Sir".
VINCEY,NJ 9 years ago
Hi Mr Kofi Ata (Cambridge)those two were just playing politics in favour of their party npp.It's not Pres, Mahama alone that needs prayers.The entire Ghanaian populace need that. This IMANI silly man I don't know where he ge ... read full comment
Hi Mr Kofi Ata (Cambridge)those two were just playing politics in favour of their party npp.It's not Pres, Mahama alone that needs prayers.The entire Ghanaian populace need that. This IMANI silly man I don't know where he gets his funding from. But it's stupid just to use that funding to attack Govt. policies and not not having some braches like Imani farms or Imani industries to help the country in terms of job creation. The western world did not go to the Almighty for their development, but use what he has already bequeath to all mankind. WISDOM. Imani and all those so many plolitical or pressure groups should deploy their energy in profitable ventures and not mainly on Mahama attacks. Kufours 8yrs.did not put Ghana anywhere comparable to seoul or Pretoria or ny. They should also channel attacks on witch and useless prayer camps to help our gullible in society.
Nii 9 years ago
It seems like we are throwing our hands into the air in the face of current challenges. Are we short of ideas? The think tanks,expects,professors,doctors etc are all around? Lord have mercy.
It seems like we are throwing our hands into the air in the face of current challenges. Are we short of ideas? The think tanks,expects,professors,doctors etc are all around? Lord have mercy.
I aggry with you totally. When a few people stole a lot of money and share among themselves, we sit without an action to retrieve the money from them. Do we have to wory God for more resources ? God has even given Ghana more ...
read full comment
There are institutions in the country that are very weak and you don't expect the President to become a judge or a dictator.You cannot go and arrest anybody because you are the president,it does not work that way.It is the Ju ...
read full comment
BOY KOFI, I never suggested that the government should use undemocratic or dictatorial means to recover stolen public funds. Are you seriously suggesting that the Woyome, Isofoton and Waterville illegal judgement debts paymen ...
read full comment
Don't tell me that you don't understand the rule of law.The president has no power to go after fraudsters and corrupt individual or group.The judges,policemen and anti fraud agencies have the mandate to do that job say recove ...
read full comment
You are totally wrong. The case was brought to the the Supreme court for interpretation and adjudication by the state. When a ruling is given in court it falls on the executive as mentioned by Mr Ata to execute and effect the ...
read full comment
Hmmmmmmmm!
Kofi,
The problem with us so-called Ghanaian Christians (and Muslims too) is that we don't even believe in the God (Allah) we are supposed to be worshipping. While claiming that God was the ruler of Ghana, Ata Mills was sup ...
read full comment
I am stunned by your parroting of the rather simplistic assertions by Bawumia and Cudjoe that the President really needs prayers to lead the nation to prosperity. Both men are partisan hacks bent on maligning the President... ...
read full comment
Mojingles you just made Kofi Atah's point. You have completely misread the essence of this brilliant piece. Kofi is taking the two individuals he quoted to task instead of supporting them, which is what you are insinuating. ...
read full comment
Pardon the typo. The heading should have read "...... Kofi's Point, Sir".
Hi Mr Kofi Ata (Cambridge)those two were just playing politics in favour of their party npp.It's not Pres, Mahama alone that needs prayers.The entire Ghanaian populace need that. This IMANI silly man I don't know where he ge ...
read full comment
It seems like we are throwing our hands into the air in the face of current challenges. Are we short of ideas? The think tanks,expects,professors,doctors etc are all around? Lord have mercy.