JUSSAG strike to scuttle SC ruling on election petition?

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insight to the bone 12 years ago

Fake leaders claim thrones without building kingdoms as pepeni has done by murdering mills . today there is another divide and that is the north south whereby these Muslims think its their god given right to plunder and oppre ...
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Fake leaders claim thrones without building kingdoms as pepeni has done by murdering mills . today there is another divide and that is the north south whereby these Muslims think its their god given right to plunder and oppress the Akans. Just as pharaoh had pestilence after pestilence , no water , no electricity , no infrastructure , no development, chinese locusts poisoning our lands and waters ,corruption and death everywhere and the people suffer. they are blind to see the will of God and in their selfish fantasies think its a right or their turn to pillage the coffers . they send their chariots or special police and army to try in put fear in the children of God the Akans . we are told their plan is to start shooting first and again blame the Akans so we must now prepare and make sure when they do not a single one leaves alive . we number millions and can never be defeated by your mischievous fools . THe lord has promised us freedom and nobody with their trickery and biased toilet carrying pepeni judges can stop it.It is time to take the children to the villages and prepare to defend ourselves against this evil pepeni , long live the republic of Akan
Kafui Ama 12 years ago

Author: Kafui Ama

Please be patient and read this to the end.

By Craig Murray, former Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana

In 2004, Craig Murray was famously removed as British Ambassador in Uzbekistan a ...
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Author: Kafui Ama

Please be patient and read this to the end.

By Craig Murray, former Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana

In 2004, Craig Murray was famously removed as British Ambassador in Uzbekistan after accusing the Uzbek government of human rights abuses. But from 1998 to 2002, Murray served as Deputy High Commissioner in Ghana. Here he tells how, against all odds, he helped leave a legacy of free and fair elections in the African country... It was November 1999 and I'd been Deputy High Commissioner in Ghana for almost a year - the culmination of 15 years' Foreign Office service in Nigeria, Warsaw and the equatorial Africa department in London.

I'd always been passionate about Africa and had immersed myself in its minutiae. Nevertheless, my father, who had a timber yard in Ghana in the Sixties, offered a little extra counsel before I departed, aged 40. 'If you see any good-looking girl, aged about 30, light skinned, whatever you do, don't touch her - she could be your sister!'

Not that this was a big concern for me. My most pressing duty was the 1999 State Visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Enhanced Coverage Linking the Duke of Edinburgh, -Search using: Biographies Plus News, Most Recent 60 Days, accompanied by Robin Cook, the then Foreign Secretary. It was a three-day blur of activity, the teeming crowds displaying an uncomplicated and old-fashioned reverence.

A warning that the Duke was averse to looking at things without useful purpose proved absolutely right. As we stood looking at the strip of brass laid in a churchyard that marked the line of the Greenwich Meridian, he said to me: 'A line in the ground, eh? Very nice.'

Ghana epitomises much of the best of Africa, but also throws into relief the tragedy of the continent. It has maintained its higher education and has fewer extremes of wealth than elsewhere. But at independence in 1957, Ghana was richer than Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia or Singapore. Today, those countries are at least ten times as wealthy.

Corruption, cronyism, economic mismanagement, irresponsible lending by the West and the dumping of cheap food all did for Ghana. When I arrived with my wife Fiona, and children Jamie and Emily, Ghana had been ruled for 20 years by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings.

The son of a Stirlingshire pharmacist and a local woman, he seized power in a coup in 1979, but claimed to have won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, despite allegations of vote-rigging.
In his early years, Rawlings unleashed a political terror on Ghana. His campaign against the middle classes resembled Mao's Cultural Revolution. People were persecuted for having savings or two indoor lavatories. Market women were sometimes killed for 'profiteering'.

The Queen's visit delighted Rawlings, who craved international respectability. I, too, was determined to make the most of the trip, by helping ensure Rawlings gave up power by the start of 2001, as the constitution required because he had served two four-year terms.

The Queen's speech to the parliament in the capital, Accra, was to be the focus of the visit and I had contributed to its drafting. It contained the usual guff about a future based upon partnership, but there was a sting in the tail. 'Next, year, Mr President,' the Queen intoned, 'you will step down after two terms in office in accordance with your constitution.' The opposition benches went wild and the Queen stopped, looking in bewilderment at the hullabaloo.

Afterwards, Robin Cook was furious. 'It's a disaster. Who the hell drafted that?'

'Er, I did, Secretary of State,' I said. 'I might have guessed! Who the hell approved it?' 'You did.' Cook's Private Secretary had to dig out the draft he had signed. After the State banquet, I retired to a hotel bar with the Royal Household. The senior staff had withdrawn to allow the butlers, footmen and hairdressers to let off steam.

The party appeared, to a man, to be gay. Not just gay, but outrageously camp. We'd taken the hotel for the Royal party, but allowed the British Airways crew to stay. Now three cabin stewards, two Royal footmen and a Royal hairdresser were grouped around the piano singing hits from Cabaret. I was seated on a sofa and across from me in an armchair was a member of the Household who seemed out of place. The valet looked to be in his 60s, a grizzled NCO with tufts of hair either side of a bald pate, a boxer's nose and tattoos on his arms.

He was smoking roll-ups. I turned to the old warrior and said: 'Don't you find all this a bit strange sometimes?' He lent forward, put his hand on my bare knee below the kilt I wore on ceremonial occasions and said: 'Listen, ducks. I was in the Navy for 30 years.' I think he was joking, but some things are too weird even for me. The lower reaches of the Royal Household are one of them.

One enjoyable aspect of our time in Ghana was the constant stream of visitors. Among them was Peter Hain, the Minister for Africa. Hain, a good footballer, agreed to play in a charity match between children from a community football scheme and the High Commission.

Unfortunately, the ground was hard and the opposition turned out to be super-fit professionals. After a heavy tackle, I went down. Result: a dislocated shoulder. I couldn't move my arm for eight weeks. Other visitors included Clare Short, at the time Secretary of State for International Development.

She was in Ghana to try to persuade it to join a debt relief scheme. At a dinner for her, a Minister had made a speech about how much Ghana had learnt from the British Empire. Short stood up and expostulated: 'The British Empire! Don't tell me about the British Empire. I know about British colonialism. My father was Irish and we know about British colonialism. I'll tell you what the British did to your country. They exploited it, that's what they did. They exploited it.' After a few moments of stunned silence, the dinner continued.

On another occasion we were joined by Bobby Charlton, who came to Ghana seeking support for England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. He was still an astounding player at 60 and it was good of him to get on the pitch for a local community football programme. Nevertheless, I found Charlton disappointing. He was self-centred and ratty - one of those heroes you wish you hadn't met.

Conversely, Roger Moore, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, was charming and suave, just as you would expect, with a fund of brilliant stories beginning with lines such as: 'One day, Frank, Dean, Tony and I decided to play a trick on Marilyn ... ' He was also well briefed about children's issues in Ghana and was prepared not just to do PR, but to get his hands dirty helping in refugee camps without a camera in sight.

I was less taken with Jamie Theakston.

The BBC were filming a wildlife programme in Ghana, looking at the endangered green turtle population near Ada. A group of young volunteers had accompanied the BBC team to help the newly-born turtles to reach the ocean. But one girl, in her mid-20s, had streams of mascara running down her cheeks. She claimed Theakston had just broken up with her - yet here he was, surrounded by young women, enjoying the adulation.

I had bigger concerns, however. Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections were due in December 2000 and there were signs that its 11 million voters might be preparing for a change of government. Enthusiasm for politics was everywhere. Even in the meanest village, people gathered under the banyan tree listening to FM stations on a battered transistor and arguing about the coming change.

In the West, tired of our politicians' deceit, we no longer much value democracy. It is wonderful to see a people exercising for the first time their power over those who would govern them. Our job was to see the elections were free and fair, with Britain funding a £10 million programme for photo-ID cards to reduce electoral fraud. The exercise eradicated one million fake names.

Another practical new weapon was indelible ink: when somebody voted, their thumb was painted to stop them casting more than one vote. India was the only source of a truly permanent ink that could not be washed or rubbed off. I had also persuaded the Foreign Office to provide experts from the Electoral Reform Society. Further valuable additions were two British MPs, Roger Gale and Nigel Jones.

Rawlings's party, the National Democratic Congress ( NDC), put up the vice President, John Atta Mills, as its presidential candidate. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) fielded John Kufuor. There is a tribal element in Ghanaian politics: the Ewe people vote overwhelmingly NDC; the Ashanti overwhelmingly NPP.

It was clear the governing party would not abandon power easily. Alarmed that it would lose, it had the high court declare the ID cards illegal because they disenfranchised legitimate voters. But the ruling was to no avail - the people took over. Polling station officers decided they were going to use ID cards anyway.

When first- round votes on December 7 were tallied, Kufuor had 48.4 per cent against Atta Mills's 44.8 per cent. The opposition was heading for a small majority but, with no candidate exceeding 50 per cent, a run- off was required. Ghana's 30 or so FM stations were vital in bringing democracy, so it was no surprise that the NDC moved against them.

On the evening before the poll, I took Roger Gale and Nigel Jones to visit Joy FM, possibly Ghana's most influential station. We were sitting in the office when an armed posse of Rawlings's security men arrived, saying they were closing the station on the President's instructions.

‘Good evening,' I said. ‘I am Craig Murray, Deputy British High Commissioner, and these gentlemen are Mr Roger Gale MP and Mr Nigel Jones MP, members of the British Parliament.' Gale added: ' Obviously there has been some mistake.

I thought I heard you say that you were closing down the station, but we are here to visit our fellow democracy, Ghana, and democracies don't close down radio stations.' The goons left. Joy FM never was closed. However, the NDC started to think I was a part of their problem and they assigned a secret service team to follow me around.

As the second round on December 28 approached, we discovered a problem: not enough Indian ink. We had paid for more, but it had to be specially made and would not be ready until December 24. This was cutting it tight and action was needed. Chartering a private plane to set off from India on Christmas Eve was easier said than done. Whitehall was in festive mode and unlikely to sanction spending quickly, so I used the Embassy's budget to pay for it.

Ghana's government did not want the Indian ink to get in and I was concerned it would be delayed by customs officials. So on Christmas Day 2000, instead of eating turkey, I stood baking on the airport tarmac. When our plane taxied in, we unloaded the boxes of little ink bottles on to two trucks. I escorted these out of the VIP gateway, helped by a substantial tip to the guards.

The truck drivers then delivered the ink to regional centres for distribution to constituencies. This was a game being played for high stakes, with real danger of civil war.

Hotheads in the ruling party might claim electoral fraud and mount a military takeover. The Ashanti could also react violently to losing. Every embassy was updating evacuation plans. Around 1am, the results started to come in. There was a more or less consistent swing to the opposition candidate, John Kufuor. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.

The coolest man in Ghana that night was the wry, chain-smoking Electoral Commissioner, Kwadwo Afari- Gyan, who received constant threatening phone calls instructing him to fix the result. Each time, the Electoral Commissioner replied: ' The result will be what the result will be. I am just making sure it is fairly counted.' Then, taking his umpteenth call, he stiffened. He summoned me to listen: it was his wife. Soldiers had come to their bungalow, taking her and his children hostage and threatening to kill them if he did not deliver the ' right' result.

Kwadwo barked down the phone: ' Put their leader on.' ‘Listen you little *****,' he snarled. 'How dare you come to my house and threaten my wife and children. I am sitting here with the British Deputy High Commissioner and he knows what is happening. Now get out of my home before we have you thrown into jail!' The soldier said: ' Yes, sir; sorry, sir.' Kwadwo then told his wife not to worry and calmly returned to his work.

By 3am on the second night only two constituencies were still to declare. Even if every voter there went for Atta Mills, Kufuor could still not be beaten.

The opposition had won - an African country ... had shown that democratic change could be achieved peacefully. Kufuor's eight years as President saw economic growth of more than 70 per cent - the first prolonged period since independence when Ghana was not getting poorer. But Ghanaians chose to exercise their democratic right to change and earlier this month narrowly elected Atta Mills.

Ghana is the only country in Africa to achieve the democratic norm of power alternating peacefully between parties at successive uninterrupted elections.

As I look back on my involvement with Africa over 30 years, I remain most proud of helping Ghanaians to attain democracy. It is an example that sadly, the rest of the continent has so far done little to follow.

But Ghana remains there - a glimmer of hope, an example to others and a rebuke to cynics who claim democracy is not possible in Africa.
GTV-TV3 on WWW.OFMTV.COM 12 years ago

Watch every show or NEWS LIVE FROM GHANA ON TV3, TV AFRICA, GTV, ADOM TV AND
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Watch every show or NEWS LIVE FROM GHANA ON TV3, TV AFRICA, GTV, ADOM TV AND
OVER 7500 TV - RADIO CHANNELS FREE ONLINE AT WWW.OFMTV.COM
GTV-TV3 on WWW.OFMTV.COM 12 years ago

every show or NEWS LIVE FROM GHANA ON TV3, TV AFRICA, GTV, ADOM TV AND
OVER 7500 TV - RADIO CHANNELS FREE ONLINE AT WWW.OFMTV.COM

every show or NEWS LIVE FROM GHANA ON TV3, TV AFRICA, GTV, ADOM TV AND
OVER 7500 TV - RADIO CHANNELS FREE ONLINE AT WWW.OFMTV.COM
Hopatra 12 years ago

Strike becos of clothing allowance after confirming that all other allowances have been paid!!! Ghanians are true animals eg. JUSSAG members

Strike becos of clothing allowance after confirming that all other allowances have been paid!!! Ghanians are true animals eg. JUSSAG members
www.ghanatv.weebly.com 12 years ago

Watch TV3, GTV live, Adom, Joy and Many more. Go to www.ghanatv.weebly.com

Watch TV3, GTV live, Adom, Joy and Many more. Go to www.ghanatv.weebly.com
william 12 years ago

Kafui, just share the title of the book-'THE CATHOLIC ORANGEMEN OF TOGOLAND AND OTHER STORIES I HAVE KNOWN' BY CRAIG MURRAY. VERY INSTRUCTIVE BOOK!!!!

Kafui, just share the title of the book-'THE CATHOLIC ORANGEMEN OF TOGOLAND AND OTHER STORIES I HAVE KNOWN' BY CRAIG MURRAY. VERY INSTRUCTIVE BOOK!!!!
Telahanio 12 years ago

I think when government begins to act swiftly by denying workers pay for the number of days they strike, that could mark then end of unnecessary strike actions of workers in Ghana. You have the right to go on strike but you ...
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I think when government begins to act swiftly by denying workers pay for the number of days they strike, that could mark then end of unnecessary strike actions of workers in Ghana. You have the right to go on strike but you would not be paid for the number of days you have been on strike. This should be fair compromise. I get sick over this serial strikes!
KOJO U.K 12 years ago

My Brother,it seems u r sick in ur brain,i want u to know that Ghana is not for the Akans per say and I am telling u piont blank thyat there wil be no change of government, for GOD have already given the MANTLE TO HIS EXCELLE ...
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My Brother,it seems u r sick in ur brain,i want u to know that Ghana is not for the Akans per say and I am telling u piont blank thyat there wil be no change of government, for GOD have already given the MANTLE TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN MAHAMA. ALSO I WANT U TO KNOW THAT ITS GOD WHO CREATED THE AKAN AND THE NORTHNER AND ITS THE TIME FOR GOD TO PROVE THE THE WHOLE WORLD THAT HE ORDAINS KINGS........
HolyGhost 12 years ago

This guy is sick bushiatic nutter.

This guy is sick bushiatic nutter.
Combine 12 years ago

What else can a frustrated KOOKOASE KURASENI got to do besides spending his precious time sleeping and hallucinating about PEPEFUO and ewes who are progressing fast and stoping at nothing? My bro men, get a life instead of yo ...
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What else can a frustrated KOOKOASE KURASENI got to do besides spending his precious time sleeping and hallucinating about PEPEFUO and ewes who are progressing fast and stoping at nothing? My bro men, get a life instead of your insight the to the bone and Akan nonsense. No sensible Akan wants to be part of your nonsense!
wayo. 12 years ago

I will always call you ashawoni ba.do You think akans are more better than pepeni?without pepeni blood, akans will not have someone who is more than 5ft and fair coloured in their söciety.

I will always call you ashawoni ba.do You think akans are more better than pepeni?without pepeni blood, akans will not have someone who is more than 5ft and fair coloured in their söciety.
Evans Ologo USA 12 years ago

why strike in Ghana

why strike in Ghana
Zoobie-Zoobie 12 years ago

for cloths allowance

for cloths allowance
Justman 12 years ago

WHO POSTED THIS GOOD FOR NOTHING ARTICLE.PEOPLE MAKING TROUBLE BECAUSE OF CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.THEN THIS COUNTRY HAS CLIMBED SO MANY HEIGHTS.

WHO POSTED THIS GOOD FOR NOTHING ARTICLE.PEOPLE MAKING TROUBLE BECAUSE OF CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.THEN THIS COUNTRY HAS CLIMBED SO MANY HEIGHTS.
HolyGhost 12 years ago

These people are really bend on sabotaging the government, it is a lesson for us all

These people are really bend on sabotaging the government, it is a lesson for us all
Zoobie-Zoobie 12 years ago

selfish and self seeking

selfish and self seeking
Kwabena Twum 12 years ago

clothing allowance? I think the system need some changes.

clothing allowance? I think the system need some changes.
Truth 12 years ago

Why should these people go on strike over clothing allowance when there are people suffering without jobs and dying in the hospitals with no medicine to treat them. All these unnecessary payments must stop and use the money t ...
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Why should these people go on strike over clothing allowance when there are people suffering without jobs and dying in the hospitals with no medicine to treat them. All these unnecessary payments must stop and use the money to improve our living conditions. Food for Thought.
Salam UG 12 years ago

JUSSAG cannot allow this opportunity to escape them. Lets bear with them; its not easy to get government meet ur demands amidst numerous demands. SMART JUSSAG

JUSSAG cannot allow this opportunity to escape them. Lets bear with them; its not easy to get government meet ur demands amidst numerous demands. SMART JUSSAG
Sam O 12 years ago

Please. Government needs to stop all the allowances and pay the workers decent pay. Where from all these demands on government, for food, fuel, clothing, housing, walking etc.
enough is enough.

Please. Government needs to stop all the allowances and pay the workers decent pay. Where from all these demands on government, for food, fuel, clothing, housing, walking etc.
enough is enough.
Di Nokware & Di Asempa 12 years ago

Gracious God; folks are not serious! Don't the staff of JUSSAG get paid? Can't they plan and make room within their wages and salaries to buy their own clothes? May be it about time the UNIFORM style of workers' clothes be ab ...
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Gracious God; folks are not serious! Don't the staff of JUSSAG get paid? Can't they plan and make room within their wages and salaries to buy their own clothes? May be it about time the UNIFORM style of workers' clothes be abolished.

I can understand maintaining a uniform code for our armed forces: Army, CEPS, Police, Fire Service and others (e.g., nurses), but not for JUSSAG, Bank Staff, Ministries' staff, etc, etc. What a shame for JUSSAG - to warrant what the Francis Brakwa is SHAMEFULLY saying.
Zoobie-Zoobie 12 years ago

holding Ghana hostage!!!

holding Ghana hostage!!!
nana kontor 12 years ago

nurses takes risks allowance, the takes cloth allowance. they ar all official, so what is ur prblem

nurses takes risks allowance, the takes cloth allowance. they ar all official, so what is ur prblem
Alhassan 12 years ago

What do you use your pay for? should teachers who appear in front children everyday ask for clothing allowance? What of messengers at Ministries who receive visitors everyday?

What do you use your pay for? should teachers who appear in front children everyday ask for clothing allowance? What of messengers at Ministries who receive visitors everyday?
Lawanger, canada 12 years ago

Well done Jussag, keep it up. This so called womanizer president thinks about women and more.

Well done Jussag, keep it up. This so called womanizer president thinks about women and more.
Lawanger, canada 12 years ago

Well done JUSSAG, keep it up. This so called womanizer president thinks about women and nothing more.

Well done JUSSAG, keep it up. This so called womanizer president thinks about women and nothing more.
Julor Agyekum Kwakwe (JAK) 12 years ago

Nation wreckers, ugly backward idiots!

Nation wreckers, ugly backward idiots!
Naana 12 years ago

Does this mean the nine justices can't enter the supreme court building on Thursday and deliver judgment ... these guys know something we do not know ... and a quick guess is this is the only way to delay the inevitable comin ...
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Does this mean the nine justices can't enter the supreme court building on Thursday and deliver judgment ... these guys know something we do not know ... and a quick guess is this is the only way to delay the inevitable coming the way of 'some partners-in-bed' ... read my lips!
Zoobie-Zoobie 12 years ago

holding Ghana hostage for clothing allowance

holding Ghana hostage for clothing allowance
In Jesus Mighty Name Amen 12 years ago

Please every body must start to read the lines and understand the meaning of ()JUSSAG which is from the lower Courts in GHANA to the Supreme Courts in GHANA including the Nine(9)Judges form the so-called (JUSSAG)in GHANA Plea ...
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Please every body must start to read the lines and understand the meaning of ()JUSSAG which is from the lower Courts in GHANA to the Supreme Courts in GHANA including the Nine(9)Judges form the so-called (JUSSAG)in GHANA Please GOD help GHANA because GHANA needs you in the Mighty Name of JESUS CHRIST Amen.
Marquis 12 years ago

Clothing allowance? And this leads to judicial shut down? Something is wrong with this country, definitely.

Clothing allowance? And this leads to judicial shut down? Something is wrong with this country, definitely.
Kwaku Addo 12 years ago

Who cares, you can set the whole premises ablaze. How do you get paid if one person is given alot of money as judgement debt. Who signed the final judgement debt case for the money to be paid? "Attoney General"

Who cares, you can set the whole premises ablaze. How do you get paid if one person is given alot of money as judgement debt. Who signed the final judgement debt case for the money to be paid? "Attoney General"
ANTHONY 12 years ago

IT'S SIMPLE. STOPTHIS CLOTHING ALLOWANCE AND SUPPLY THEM THE PRISON TYPE JUMPER WITH PINK STARS STAMPED IN THEM. AFTERALL THE SUIT SOME OF THEM WEAR SMELLS TOO MUCH IN THE COURT ROOM.

IT'S SIMPLE. STOPTHIS CLOTHING ALLOWANCE AND SUPPLY THEM THE PRISON TYPE JUMPER WITH PINK STARS STAMPED IN THEM. AFTERALL THE SUIT SOME OF THEM WEAR SMELLS TOO MUCH IN THE COURT ROOM.
DZIGBODI, CT 12 years ago

Anthony I think you have to decent in your comment. It is you who rather have smelly suit. BS to you

Anthony I think you have to decent in your comment. It is you who rather have smelly suit. BS to you
Dzigbodi 12 years ago

I strongly urge members of JUSSAG to go on the strike as planned because the only language the government understand is strike. I don't understand those who are saying that they shouldn't. Assume your allowance is in arrears ...
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I strongly urge members of JUSSAG to go on the strike as planned because the only language the government understand is strike. I don't understand those who are saying that they shouldn't. Assume your allowance is in arrears for over one year and those responsible to pay the money understand only one thing, what will you do?
honesty 12 years ago

BRAKWA, you are rubbish idiot.

BRAKWA, you are rubbish idiot.
kpongas 12 years ago

why now?

why now?

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JUSSAG strike to scuttle SC ruling on election petition?

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