When I read some of these endless essays from these so called intellectuals singing this idiot of a president as been kind, humble and all that nonsense amazes me. Since when did kind, humble, soft-spoken and layback nature b ... read full comment
When I read some of these endless essays from these so called intellectuals singing this idiot of a president as been kind, humble and all that nonsense amazes me. Since when did kind, humble, soft-spoken and layback nature became epitome of intelligence or effective leadership that this country so badly need a this particular juncture? The argument that some people within his administration are bent on sabotaging his government to deny him a second term is nothing but stupid argument. First of all if this idiot has any intelligence he would have surrounded himself with minds that will compliment his efforts in achieving his vision or agenda. The first test of a leader's intelligence or for that matter wisdom is the people he surround himself with. Every single appointment this man has made gave him away as somebody who with low intelligence, self esteem and lack confidence in himself hence he appoints people with lower acumen to sing his praise rather than provide real constructive and practical suggestions and criticism to poor and impoverished at birth ideas. So come again mister. Your very kind president you spoke highly about is just STUPID. There is nothing kind in the book of effective leadership my friend.
Kwadwo 7 years ago
How can base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to prepared pay much more ... read full comment
How can base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to prepared pay much more for utilities if dumso were to end. Following his statement, PURC increased electricity bills astronomically and Ghanaians seem to be paying more than what I pay here in the US. Additionally, petrol prices are over the roof though crude oil is at an all time low globally. Gas prices are higher in Ghana than in the US. Are you going to blame ECG sabotage for that as well?
Mahama's thievery has dissipated the country's balance sheet and he is over taxing the citizens to make up for the short fall thru high utility bills. I am appalled you don't see this, but rather blaming the ECG for sabotaging Mahama. This is absolute nonsense and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
I did not base my analyses on speculation but facts. For example, I even used a higher approved rate of tariff increment of 100% to prove that what ECG is charging its customers is robbery. Is that speculation? The example I ... read full comment
I did not base my analyses on speculation but facts. For example, I even used a higher approved rate of tariff increment of 100% to prove that what ECG is charging its customers is robbery. Is that speculation? The example I used from Citi Fm was a bill sent to the radio station and was discussed by the morning show crew last week. Customers of ECG called into the programme with similar experiences. These were not speculation or hear say but realities.
You probably do not understand my arguments because you may not know how government and institutions operate in Ghana. The Board members and the operational head are appointed by Mahama. That is true but they are often not technical people and rely on the second tier of management who are experts (not appointed by government). These have different interests and could see their positions at risk with PPP or privatisation. My argument is that the technical and non governmental appointees are deceiving the Board and the government including the president. They are being economical with the truth as to what are the real problems and how to resolve them because they do not have the answers.
Even those appointed by government do sometimes disagree with government policies, especially on privatisation and could work against such policies. That also happens in the developed democracies. I know that from my own experience in the UK working with Boards and management of some non governmental public bodies commonly known as QUANGOS.In other words, it is plausible for some ECG government appointees to unwittingly sabotage government policy because they have been lied to by the technical people who are not government appointees.
I do not doubt President Mahama has said that Ghanaians should be prepared to pay realist or higher charges for electricity. However, that should not be used by ECG to rob customers unless it is your case that President Mahama approves of the robbery by ECG.
Gas prices are higher in the UK than in the US because of abundance of gas in the US market due to the US relying on fracking to produce cheaper gas.
Yo have not advanced a single point to prove me wrong that ECG is sabotaging the government or robbing its customers yet, you insult me for expressing my views. I am not ashamed for raising valid points though you can disagree with me. Have a nice day.
Kwadwo 7 years ago
How can you base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has it not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are you not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to be prepared ... read full comment
How can you base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has it not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are you not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to be prepared pay much more for utilities if dumso were to end. Following his statement, PURC increased electricity bills astronomically and Ghanaians seem to be paying more than what I pay here in the US. Additionally, petrol prices are over the roof though crude oil is at an all time low globally. Gas prices are higher in Ghana than in the US. Are you going to blame ECG sabotage for that as well?
Mahama's thievery has dissipated the country's balance sheet and he is over taxing the citizens to make up for the short fall thru high utility bills. I am appalled you don't see this, but rather blaming the ECG for sabotaging Mahama. This is absolute nonsense and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
Kwabena, I believe you must have misunderstood my description of President Mahama as "too kind". The words are not positive but negative because I have a problem with a president who does not crack the whip when his appointee ... read full comment
Kwabena, I believe you must have misunderstood my description of President Mahama as "too kind". The words are not positive but negative because I have a problem with a president who does not crack the whip when his appointees are not delivering or are corrupt. That is the context in which I used those two words but not to praise him. I agree with you that kindness is not one of the qualities of a good leader. I am not one of those who shout praises on leaders. That sentence is a criticism of Mahama inability or unwillingness to sack and discipline is appointees.Where in the article did I speak highly of President Mahama?
I also did not say that Mahama's appointees are sabotaging him. I said staff of ECG are sabotaging him. These are public servants and not the same as Mahama's appointees.
Often some of you are too quick to insult instead of putting forward counter argument to what has been advanced.
Kwabena 7 years ago
I perfectly understood the context in which you used the phrase "too kind" for the president. What I despise is the pretense in using passive-aggresive phrase to create the misleading impression as though the president has no ... read full comment
I perfectly understood the context in which you used the phrase "too kind" for the president. What I despise is the pretense in using passive-aggresive phrase to create the misleading impression as though the president has no fault in the whole train wreck of a leadership thing we are experiencing. Your recommendation of "cracking the whip" is a reactionary knee-jerk approach to leadership which is often a bad leadership option. But it appears profoundly that this is the kind of leadership that this president often opts for.
Now to your argument about the relationship of the board appointees of the president who are devoid from the work of the so-called technical staffs or line managers is also very disingenuous. This is why Kofi, be it corporate of public board, all have singular responsibility which is to offer an oversight responsibility - often they are to uphold the interest of the stakeholders of a particular establishment, this case the citizenry then becomes the stakeholders to should be looking out for. Now in order to effectively deliver on their responsibility of overseeing and monitoring they ought to have a good understanding of the workings of the particular establishment. Now if a president appoints individuals on a board with little or no such vital knowledge or overarching experience to enable them carry out their responsibility effectively then of cause it is solely the president's lack of leadership there off that caused that monitoring failure... So what I would have preferred that you do if it is a constructive criticism is to be point blank rather that propaganda, using passive -aggressive language to create the impression as though the president is in fact very knowledgable and that it is some external force there off that is to be faulted for all the issues that are befalling our dear country is a face saving and dishonest tactics that people like me would not entertain. The subject matter of your article is a very important subject matter that needs serious and objective discussion that addresses the actual problem from the source. If you are serious about addressing an issue of this national importance you want to be very candid and make an effort to be objective. To assume that leadership is not to be blame for all this is an indictment on people's intelligence. I heard one professor Allottey who I heard about growing up to be this gem of an intellectual made a stupid statement about solar energy being expensive source of energy option for Ghana to pursue. What an embarrassment to scientists...even if in the short term solar appears to be expensive don't we want to even make an effort to figure out why it is expensive. I love your solar energy suggestion as oppose to coal. But I believe a lot more intellectual background work needs to be done and it will take targeted and sharp leadership, that which knows exactly what it takes and how to get it done to accomplish that fate. Solar energy without doubt is probably the only long term energy solution option that we need to seriously pursue.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
Kwabena, you are now debating some of the issues I raised, unlike your first comment. I can assure you that not all Board members are experts but they come with different experience and expertise. When I was appointed a Non-E ... read full comment
Kwabena, you are now debating some of the issues I raised, unlike your first comment. I can assure you that not all Board members are experts but they come with different experience and expertise. When I was appointed a Non-Executive Director member of a County Probation Board in England by a Home Secretary in 2001, I had no experience in probation work but my knowledge and experience in equality, human rights and management (including human resources and finance) was sufficient to be appointed after interview. In fact, the Board Chairman was a retired senior Air force officer with no background in the penal system. Some were politicians and others were from private sector such as a retired Chief Executive, a Chief Accounting Officer, etc. However, we learnt quickly and depended on the Chief Executive and his Senior Management Team to provide us with the technical knowledge to enable us make policy decisions. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Ghana because people have different interests.
Yes, ultimately President Mahama takes the responsibility for the actions and omissions of his appointees but we cannot always blame him.I wish he will be bold enough to crack the whip when his appointees failed him but sadly it appears he does not want to offend others. I am not making excuses for him but sometimes I feel it's due to how he became president. He did not contest the NDC primary but made a candidate by those who matter in NDC after the sudden death of the late president. Perhaps, he owes a favour to some within the NDC.
If you have been following my articles, it's not my nature to use harsh language as it can be a turn off. I also hoped that someone within government might read this and say this guy may be making some sense and take on board some of the suggestions, though I am very annoyed with this coal power station that I could not avoid calling those behind it as lunatics. China is very polluted because of coal power stations and other industrial pollution. The air quality in most parts of China is not fit for humans. Now China wants to exports coal that no one wants and they using Ghana as a dumping ground. It's sad.
Mike frm Ho. 7 years ago
The NDC is a serious party and that is why JJ is sometimes annoyed about the way they issues. To some of us, it looks like some of them have made enough money and quickly want to exit power to enjoy their loots. Even if pushe ... read full comment
The NDC is a serious party and that is why JJ is sometimes annoyed about the way they issues. To some of us, it looks like some of them have made enough money and quickly want to exit power to enjoy their loots. Even if pushed to act, they won't. How do you allow people to do things any how and never get punished? What is this?
Nii AKwei 7 years ago
Electrical current will always take the path of least resistance. Mahama is electrocuting himself if you ask me. The man is a complete light weight.
Electrical current will always take the path of least resistance. Mahama is electrocuting himself if you ask me. The man is a complete light weight.
aikins 7 years ago
Come again.
Come again.
Paul 7 years ago
Hmmm Muhammas problem / Ghana's problem is not only electricity. The whole economy has been mismanaged by this government right from 2008...... Industries, joblessness, corruption, energy, education, health, taxes, banking, f ... read full comment
Hmmm Muhammas problem / Ghana's problem is not only electricity. The whole economy has been mismanaged by this government right from 2008...... Industries, joblessness, corruption, energy, education, health, taxes, banking, forex , interest rate, contracts, name it. People are chopping money big time and they all believe they are on their way out so they make the best to fill the pocket before they leave. If you talk to them privately, they all believe that they are on their way out. It is an opportunity for his appointees to line their pockets at the last minute. Forget about sabotage of ECG. You should as well say the whole economy is sabotaging him
Koach 7 years ago
If the high price of electricity leads to the collapse of business how can ECG achieve its political target of increased revenue?
I guess your basis is faulty for thinking inefficiency is political.
If the high price of electricity leads to the collapse of business how can ECG achieve its political target of increased revenue?
I guess your basis is faulty for thinking inefficiency is political.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
Koach, you may have a good point that if ECG is deliberately charging astronomical prices to collapse businesses then ECG cannot achieve its objective of breaking even or making profit. To some extent this argument is valid a ... read full comment
Koach, you may have a good point that if ECG is deliberately charging astronomical prices to collapse businesses then ECG cannot achieve its objective of breaking even or making profit. To some extent this argument is valid and could make my example contradictory. However, it is not contradictory because ECG is only thinking of the short-term objective of customers blaming Mahama for the exorbitant prices and ensuring that Mahama is not re-elected in the hope of avoiding privatisation through PPP. Moreover, you should not forget that ECG is a state monopoly and therefore whether businesses collapse or not there is ready market for whatever it produces. As a monopoly it will not suffer a fall in demand for its produce (electricity) to affect its balance sheet in the long term. Finally, in addition to ECG's produce or service (electricity) being in short supply, demand is also inelastic. Because of the above reasons ECG could still cut its nose to spite it face, so my argument is not contradictory and strongly valid.
Ataa Akwei 7 years ago
With every pasing day, people like Dr. Bokor and Kofi Ata, supposed intellectuals, baffle mw with their sheer dishonesty. Kofi Atta, please read the lucid comments posted above. Its such a shame
With every pasing day, people like Dr. Bokor and Kofi Ata, supposed intellectuals, baffle mw with their sheer dishonesty. Kofi Atta, please read the lucid comments posted above. Its such a shame
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
Ataa Akwei, what lucid comments are you referring to? Most of the earlier comments you referred to did not address the arguments I advance, except abuse me. Tell me if you still think those comments are lucid after my respons ... read full comment
Ataa Akwei, what lucid comments are you referring to? Most of the earlier comments you referred to did not address the arguments I advance, except abuse me. Tell me if you still think those comments are lucid after my responses to them? In any case, the fact that they disagree with my analyses do not mean they are right and I am wrong.
samson 7 years ago
Well said Kofi Atta. Mahama has made some very fundamental mistakes in his presidency. One of them is his failure to see the obvious and deal with it. The signs have been evident for a long time about the ECG sabotage of govt ... read full comment
Well said Kofi Atta. Mahama has made some very fundamental mistakes in his presidency. One of them is his failure to see the obvious and deal with it. The signs have been evident for a long time about the ECG sabotage of govt. You have very explicitly linked it with the Millenium Facility. It is now entirely up to Mahama to save his presidency, by taking immediate action to get heads rolling and cleaning up the ECG.
Mr Bond 7 years ago
Ata Kofi,It is too late or advice president John Dramani Mahama to Cralk the whip.More over you did not tell the president how to Clark to whip since he is intellectual deficit.Recently he is busy ordering both Seth Terkper a ... read full comment
Ata Kofi,It is too late or advice president John Dramani Mahama to Cralk the whip.More over you did not tell the president how to Clark to whip since he is intellectual deficit.Recently he is busy ordering both Seth Terkper and the governor of bank of Ghana to steal $250 million tax payers money from $1 billion bond to his secret bank in Nigeria at UBA bank and he turn around to tell us that he is not corrupt.
Lansah 7 years ago
My friend, why do you write like an educated illiterate? Where was the government when the public started complaining way back in January about the unreasonable hikes in the electricity tariffs. The President had opportunity ... read full comment
My friend, why do you write like an educated illiterate? Where was the government when the public started complaining way back in January about the unreasonable hikes in the electricity tariffs. The President had opportunity to speak to the state of nation in his address to parliament a few months ago and what did he say if indeed he suspected that the ECG was up to something with regards to his tenure as president? Above all, who appointed the board of ECG who oversee the management of the company? If indeed ECG management and staff are perceived to be working against the president why couldn't they fire the MD?
The truth is that all that we are hearing is as a result of the realities of election 2016 dawning on pro-NDC folks. The fly fails to heed advice, they say, follows the corpse to the grave. The die has been cast and a miracle is needed to change the minds of most Ghanaians.
Nii 7 years ago
Massa kofi
I read your opinions in fact all of them. In fact the major problem people like you who are supposed descend heavily on him are touchy feels and appologist for him truth said we have spared the rod on him and now ... read full comment
Massa kofi
I read your opinions in fact all of them. In fact the major problem people like you who are supposed descend heavily on him are touchy feels and appologist for him truth said we have spared the rod on him and now we have a spoiled president who is out of his depth and bereft of ideas to move Ghana forward. So Massa kofi for what price is Ghana to pay for your fear of nana addo presidency your article at best was an emotional one
Kwapps 7 years ago
Kofi, you can make excuses for Mahama as much as you like, we will still vote your damn fool of a hero out. Do you honestly think these increases have suddenly dawned on him? Didn't the then minister of power warn Ghanaians s ... read full comment
Kofi, you can make excuses for Mahama as much as you like, we will still vote your damn fool of a hero out. Do you honestly think these increases have suddenly dawned on him? Didn't the then minister of power warn Ghanaians several times not to expect cheap electricity? Isn't that what is currently unfolding before our very eyes? Stop adding Cambridge to your name, it gives the false impression you are intelligent!
When I read some of these endless essays from these so called intellectuals singing this idiot of a president as been kind, humble and all that nonsense amazes me. Since when did kind, humble, soft-spoken and layback nature b ...
read full comment
How can base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to prepared pay much more ...
read full comment
I did not base my analyses on speculation but facts. For example, I even used a higher approved rate of tariff increment of 100% to prove that what ECG is charging its customers is robbery. Is that speculation? The example I ...
read full comment
How can you base your poor analysis on pure speculation and hearsay. Has it not occurred to you Mahama appointed the ECG boss and all the board members? Are you not also aware that Ghanaians were told by Mahama to be prepared ...
read full comment
Kwabena, I believe you must have misunderstood my description of President Mahama as "too kind". The words are not positive but negative because I have a problem with a president who does not crack the whip when his appointee ...
read full comment
I perfectly understood the context in which you used the phrase "too kind" for the president. What I despise is the pretense in using passive-aggresive phrase to create the misleading impression as though the president has no ...
read full comment
Kwabena, you are now debating some of the issues I raised, unlike your first comment. I can assure you that not all Board members are experts but they come with different experience and expertise. When I was appointed a Non-E ...
read full comment
The NDC is a serious party and that is why JJ is sometimes annoyed about the way they issues. To some of us, it looks like some of them have made enough money and quickly want to exit power to enjoy their loots. Even if pushe ...
read full comment
Electrical current will always take the path of least resistance. Mahama is electrocuting himself if you ask me. The man is a complete light weight.
Come again.
Hmmm Muhammas problem / Ghana's problem is not only electricity. The whole economy has been mismanaged by this government right from 2008...... Industries, joblessness, corruption, energy, education, health, taxes, banking, f ...
read full comment
If the high price of electricity leads to the collapse of business how can ECG achieve its political target of increased revenue?
I guess your basis is faulty for thinking inefficiency is political.
Koach, you may have a good point that if ECG is deliberately charging astronomical prices to collapse businesses then ECG cannot achieve its objective of breaking even or making profit. To some extent this argument is valid a ...
read full comment
With every pasing day, people like Dr. Bokor and Kofi Ata, supposed intellectuals, baffle mw with their sheer dishonesty. Kofi Atta, please read the lucid comments posted above. Its such a shame
Ataa Akwei, what lucid comments are you referring to? Most of the earlier comments you referred to did not address the arguments I advance, except abuse me. Tell me if you still think those comments are lucid after my respons ...
read full comment
Well said Kofi Atta. Mahama has made some very fundamental mistakes in his presidency. One of them is his failure to see the obvious and deal with it. The signs have been evident for a long time about the ECG sabotage of govt ...
read full comment
Ata Kofi,It is too late or advice president John Dramani Mahama to Cralk the whip.More over you did not tell the president how to Clark to whip since he is intellectual deficit.Recently he is busy ordering both Seth Terkper a ...
read full comment
My friend, why do you write like an educated illiterate? Where was the government when the public started complaining way back in January about the unreasonable hikes in the electricity tariffs. The President had opportunity ...
read full comment
Massa kofi
I read your opinions in fact all of them. In fact the major problem people like you who are supposed descend heavily on him are touchy feels and appologist for him truth said we have spared the rod on him and now ...
read full comment
Kofi, you can make excuses for Mahama as much as you like, we will still vote your damn fool of a hero out. Do you honestly think these increases have suddenly dawned on him? Didn't the then minister of power warn Ghanaians s ...
read full comment