Politics
Mahama’s Momentous Comeback, a Chance to Rewrite Ghana’s Destiny – Barker-Vormawor
Former President and President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama stands at a historic juncture, armed with an extraordinary mandate that might never be replicated in Ghana’s political landscape.
His resounding and overwhelming endorsement by the Ghanaian people in the December 7, 2024 general elections speaks volumes and underscores the significance of his return to power after exiting in 2016 and failing on his return in the 2020 disputed general elections.
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Constitutional Activist and Lead Convener for the Democracy Accountability Hub, in a compelling analysis, made an impassioned case for what he described as an extraordinary mandate given to President-elect John Dramani Mahama.
“Mahama got 56 percent of the popular vote. 14 out of 16 regions. 68 percent of the military vote. And 80 percent of the police vote. Over 2/3rds majority in Parliament.”
For Barker-Vormawor, this is not just a victory; it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. He pointed out that Mahama’s unique positioning, as one-term president without the pressure of re-election and with prior presidential experience, gives him the unprecedented ability to hit the ground running.
More importantly, Barker-Vormawor asserted that this mandate is a call for transformational change, a chance to rewrite Ghana’s destiny and move the country closer to achieving the vision of its founding fathers.
The activist, who was a Constitutional Researcher and the Access to Justice Advisor to the late Prof. Mills 2010/1’s Constitution Review Commission, emphatically called for constitutional reform, which he described as the “mandate of mandates.”
He strongly posited that Ghana’s political system, established under the 1992 Constitution, has shown its limitations over the years, stressing that Mahama’s win is a golden opportunity to address systemic inefficiencies, enhance accountability, and strengthen institutions.
“Our political journey has taken 32 years, 8 regular election cycles, and 2 runoff elections to bring us to this moment,” he declared, cautioning that such an opportunity may never come again.
For him, this moment requires courage and a vision to achieve reforms that can rival those of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Moreover, Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s message underscored the need for urgency and reverence for the public trust bestowed upon President-Elect John Dramani Mahama.
He likened this moment to the wave of optimism and change ever seen during the late former President Jerry John Rawlings’ revolutionary era in 1979.
The Ghanaian voter, he said, has given all they can, entrusting President-Elect John Dramani Mahama with the responsibility to deliver probity and accountability.
“This is a mandate to build a legacy no one has ever been able to build, apart from Nkrumah,” he stated, underscoring the weight of the expectation on the NDC leader. He urged him to demonstrate a level of transparency and governance that sets a new benchmark for Ghana.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s remarks also contain a stark warning. He strongly pointed out that only the National Democratic Congress can sabotage itself. The stakes, he insisted, are too high for internal party politics, mismanagement, or unfulfilled promises to derail this historic opportunity.
“There can be no excuses this time. Wallahi!” he exclaimed, underscoring the imperative for the NDC to remain focused and united in delivering on its mandate.
Barker-Vormawor’s rhetoric goes beyond the ballot box, hinting at the role of citizen engagement and activism in holding the new administration accountable.
“We are prepared to give the new President a mandate from the streets too—bigger than Jerry got in ’79,” he said, signaling that the Democracy Accountability Hub and other civic groups will not hesitate to demand action if the government falls short.
The cost of failure, Barker-Vormawor argued, is immeasurable. If this mandate is squandered, he fears Ghana may never again reach such a pivotal moment.
“If the trust of the Ghanaian voter is wasted, I am not sure we can ever, ever again get Ghana anywhere close to its vision,” he admonished. Barker-Vormawor’s impassioned plea are a rallying call for bold leadership, systemic reform, and unwavering accountability.
While it celebrates Mahama’s historic victory, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of his failure. “All the Ghanaian has to give, we have given!” Oliver Barker-Vormawor rightly put it, implying the ball is firmly in the court of the President-elect and his party.
Politics
MOF’s GHC16.3M Approval Causes Stir
In a recent development at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), a controversial decision has come to light regarding the approval of nearly Ghc16.3 million in taxpayer funds by the Ministry of Finance.
The approval, granted on 12th December, 2024, has raised eyebrows due to its dubious nature and the lack of a direct request for such a payment by the CAGD.
The Chief Director of the Finance Ministry, Eva Esselba Mends, greenlit the allocation of the Ghc16.3 million purportedly for upgrading the public financial management system.
This allocation, however, was not in response to the CAGD’s initial request made on August 14, 2024, for Ghc30 million to address the deteriorating working conditions of its staff.
Despite the CAGD’s explicit request for funds to improve staff conditions, the Finance Ministry’s approval focused on allocating funds for a system upgrade.
The discrepancy between the requested amount and the approved sum has raised concerns about possible mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
The letter of approval from the Finance Ministry referenced the CAGD’s earlier request but diverted the funds towards the upgrade of the financial management system.
This decision has prompted speculation and criticism from various quarters regarding the transparency and accountability of the process.
Acting Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Agyei, emphasized the urgent need for support to address the challenging working conditions faced by CAGD staff.
The mismatch between the requested amount and the approved sum has cast a shadow of doubt over the motives behind the allocation.
The controversial approval of Ghc16.3 million amidst the backdrop of a different funding request has sparked concerns among stakeholders and observers.
The need for clarity and accountability in the allocation and utilization of public funds remains a pressing issue in light of this recent development.
Politics
NPA Boss in Dubious Last Minute Mass Shake Up
The outgoing Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul Hamid, has given approval for a series of mass recruitments within the Authority despite being on the verge of leaving his position.
On the 11th of December, 2024, Abdul Hamid circulated a confidential memo labeled “Transfers, Movements, Appointments, and Upgrades” to both Management and staff, detailing the controversial recruitments and redeployments.
“As a follow-up to the memorandum dated 20th November, 2024, outlining measures to enhance the Authority’s efficiency in addressing the needs of internal and external stakeholders, the following transfers, movements, appointments, and upgrades will come into effect on the specified dates,” stated the memo.
The confidential memo contained a list of 49 names earmarked for recruitment, transfers, and appointments.
These individuals are purportedly affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), raising concerns that Mustapha Hamid is filling the NPA with political allies.
Noteworthy is the trend of widespread recruitments occurring across various Ministries, departments, and agencies at the behest and coordination of outgoing officials from the Akufo-Addo administration.
Accompanying these actions are substantial payments being processed by the government, indicating what seems to be a final phase of plunder and subversion following the NPP’s defeat in the December 7, 2024, elections.
The incoming Mahama administration has pledged to reverse these appointments and financial transactions.
A statement released by the transition team and signed by spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu made it clear that the eleventh-hour appointments will be invalidated.
“To be clear, all public officials are strongly advised to resist any attempts by outgoing political figures to participate in these activities as there may be serious repercussions once the new government assumes office,” read part of the statement.
However, it has come to light that the last-minute appointments are being retroactively dated in a bid to circumvent the incoming administration set to assume power on January 7, 2025
Politics
Cyber Capo’s Torture ‘Chamber’ Uncovered
The Shocking Story of Kidnapping and Human Rights Abuse
The New Republic Newspaper has discovered a secretive dungeon hidden within the Osu suburb of Accra has been unearthed. Operatives of the clandestine National Signal Bureau are the masterminds behind this covert facility, utilising it to unlawfully detain their victims.
The Bureau, helmed by Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahen, stands accused of orchestrating a labyrinthine web of illegal activities, including the abduction of unsuspecting individuals under the cloak of darkness.
Adu-Boahene, recently embroiled in the suspected kidnapping of Sylvia, a manager at Emirates Airlines in Ghana, is described as a ruthless figure known to act with impunity.
Under the veil of secrecy, the Bureau’s rogue cabal, answerable solely to Director-General Adu Boahene himself, has brazenly flouted legal protocols by conducting unauthorized arrests and detentions.
Effort made by TNR to ascertain official position of the Signal Bureau on the shocking revelation has proven futile.
Journalists, political dissidents, and those deemed as adversaries to the Akufo-Addo government have reportedly fallen victim to the Bureau’s shadowy operations.
Within the confines of this clandestine dungeon, shuttered away from public scrutiny, detainees face unspeakable conditions at the hands of a formidable trio of rogue operatives.
Beset by state-of-the-art surveillance equipment procured from abroad, this cabal led by Ben Ansah, a notorious figure within the Bureau, operates with an air of superiority and divine authority.
The menacing presence of Henry Osei Tutu and Simon Kansonk further solidifies this rogue faction as a fearsome force within the Bureau.
The Bureau’s actions stand in stark contrast to its official mandate, which expressly prohibits the arrest and detention of individuals.
The brazen abuse of power by these rogue elements, operating stealthily within the National Signal Bureau, paints a troubling picture of unchecked authority and flagrant disregard for due process.
Allegations of past abuses by rogue National Security personnel underscore a pattern of misconduct and abuse which has fueled concerns over the wanton misuse of power within the security apparatus.
Security analysts have linked these troubling events to a renegade faction spearheaded by Henry Osei-Tutu and Benjamin Ansah, both key figures implicated in various illicit schemes, including abductions and staged robberies.
In the shadows of this covert operation lay disturbing accounts of prominent figures falling prey to these unlawful practices.
The unlawful detention of social media personality Albert Nat Hyde, known as Bongo Ideas, and the harrowing ordeal faced by Sylvia Patience Baah, the Emirates Manager, paint a grim portrait of state-sponsored intimidation and coercion.
As the sordid details of these illicit activities come to light, questions loom over the complicity of higher authorities within the National Security apparatus.
The spectre of abuse of power and the erosion of civil liberties cast a long shadow over the operations of the National Signal Bureau, shrouded in secrecy and intrigue.
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