New Year's Eve:the Cry And Beacon For Resolutions Not Revolutions

New Year's Eve:the Cry And Beacon For Resolutions Not Revolutions

Here cries the beacon of a New Year
And nay, here comes a new day
A new day and God's will to bid thee good bye 2016

On the Eve at mass,as the candles glow, the glory of the Lord blows
And here beacons the flow and cry of a New Year
A cry that awakens the call for resolutions not revolutions
A cry that decree thee holy heavens to crossover with a "build over" to build bridges
To build bridges in our marriage life and family life
To build bridges in our relationship,friendship and political life
To build bridges in our financial, economic, social,racial and work life
To build bridges in our national and community reconstruction and struggle

For it's grace for our race and we are in a raise in the face of 2017
A grace and raise that blossoms and is wholesome above average

Oh cry thee,it's a dying year and the regrets are the sins and things that stole the happiness from another man
It's the coming and going of seasons and 365 reasons to turn things around this time around
We are good to set new goals and be bold to work on the past blows of life
Staying down after those blows is an error of grace that will erase our raise

OO thy holy glory, see your children not in gory but deliver us from the sorrows and "sorry's" of life
Keep us awashed when our minds go astray in sinful compromise for the vanities of the world.FORGIVE!
Cry and pray thee for divine grace for the loved one's and lost one's in 2016, for thy gave and took but 2017 will see us through
Not by our might for His grace abounds in leaps and bounds

We are champions, so let's pop champagne not in pain but in God's gain we rain
Let's stress out the stress and dress up the mind off distress for God's greatness again!
Let's look forward, revitalised and break cowards!
The year is long gone, so let the logic reign and let go along with it the pain of unforgiveness
For the kingdom of God must be established and all men must be at peace with ease
Where toes were stepped on, I step out and blow the trumpet...For a new year dawns!

Cry thee with cheers,I say my dear, not a tear or fear of the unknown is here to weigh us down in 2017
Our minds will blend with the best
As we resolve to dissolve the past and evolve divinely into the present
And I will be here always as your humble servant to say cheers in 2018
CHEERS to a New Year!

The writer of this poem is a TEACHER by profession,a PASSIONATE BLOGGER,a COMMUNITY RADIO YOUTH ADVOCATE and a STUDENT.
He represent a VOICE TO THE MARGINALISED. Read more of his works on his blog. (ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com).

Share but don't edit.

By:ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM(AB)
(Voice of the marginalised)
0241129910/0200704844
Email:aananapansah@yahoo.com/aananapansah@gmail.com
Facebook:1.Ananpansah B Abraham/2.Critical Political Thinker
Twitter:@AnanpansahA

2016 Elections:My Final Verdict

2016 Elections:My Final Verdict
Finally finally,the die is cast. We have  in effect barely Twenty-Four hours to complete the marathon.The final gear is turned on, and the whistle of the referee is blown on! 
The servants of the land are home begging the peasant(we the wielders of real power-the Ghanain) for our power to decide our destiny and future for the next four years.
This is the point of critical consideration, evaluation and decision making. And it's important to note that we are not just voting.We deciding our own development.We are deciding our own future and the future of our generation at will.
We are talking about the quality of our education, health care, livelihood, economy ad infinitum.
We have that power and we are relevant at this hour . Today,our power is greater than the people seeking power.But when we decide to surrender our power on emotions, gifts, deception,tribalism, we surrender that power and sovereignty willingly and become powerless before the very people.
Infact,such people will allow power to corrupt their hearts and harden their minds. You remember Lord Acton ever said, "Power corrupt and absolute power corrupt absolutely".
Thus why my choice, your choice and our choice matters now and must be made at best and with critical consideration of our situation.
Yes, I've made that choice already. I'm a special voter. I voted critically on 1st of December,2016, to decide the leader of Ghana and Damongo constituency for the next four years.
I'm a typical party man (a social democrat).But in order not to fall into the trap of what Dr.Mensah Otabil described as "putting your vote on AUTOPILOT", I read keenly the manifestoes of all the political parties, especially, the two major political parties(NDC and NPP).
I interrogated the issues critically and reviewed the past records and history of these parties.I compared, contrasted and retracted emotions/deceptions/propaganda from facts and issues.
Indeed, in all these I had no choice than to continue being a social democrat in my decision of chosing one of two lesser evils.I took wise counsel from the biblical connotation that, "the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know but has experienced before".
Even though,I realised from my nonpartisan analysis and consideration that these two lesser evils are virtually the same when it comes to handling certain issues about power-thus,they only know we exist and value us at the end of every four years of voting cycle.
Naked truth be told,Ghana is yet to reach its full potentials under any of these people. Since 1992, they have not done enough in salvaging the plight of the people. They dishonestly exploit the ordinary at our own weakness and enrich their "useless selves and family"-applicable to dishonest and corrupt politicians.But don't worry,God will judge such bad nuts among the lot and their own sins will soon catch up with them.
In comparing and contrasting,however,I realised that the other lesser evil (the one in the elephant) is worse off! They are driven by desperation and pretence, and hence will promise everything and anything-from descending heavens onto mother earth, to factories, to one million dollars.You just name them.
They are being more of politicians than statesmen.
When they shout change and make heaven-breaking promises, don't just swallow them hook, line and sinker.Just go back to their past, and forget about the change of name. They may still be the same people. Help them tell their own story when they talk about corruption, mismanagement and bad governance.The fact is they are not any different. Infact, they are worse off!
The lesser evil in the incumbent umbrella family is fast rising up to the game. Comparatively, they can provide hope for the future of Ghana.They have furthered the development of Ghana, though not satisfactory.Atleast, some lives has been changed and Ghana has transformed.They have consolidated the visible infrastructure fabric of our country. I agree that every government does that as the then vice president now president affirmed years ago. But it's not about what every government does. It's about how different each government does it.And I think this government has it all.But this government should beware that they owe Ghanaians an opology. Where are all the 200-day community senior high schools?Don't let the elephant infest you next time with their spree of promise and fail.We have forgiven you though.Atleast, we have seen something.
Back to my verdict:I encourage you at this critical moment not to settle for anything less or desperation . Let's in the interest of Ghana and the future vote for continuity.My verdict is,retain the status quo!Those shouting for change will not bring anything different.
Indeed, they have started their machiavelian tactics of claiming everything from missing ballots, to deceptive bribery of one chairman, to thumprinted ballots.
These are all deceptions and orchestratrated stories, and can only depict signs of a losing team and party. I've been into this before, and I know exactly how it feels like when a man wants power.
I know this for a fact also because they have succeeded in polluting the student wings of their party to tow that same line.I jointly worked on a rejoinder to dispel such wild claims against the Legon Branch of TEIN. Such machinations were also fashioned against the UCC branch of TEIN.
So it's a grand scheme to distract the victory of the umbrella and to sway the genuine voices of the people.
Reject their desperation with contempt, and guide your decision by a genuine conscious.
May God bless our country with victory and peace before,during and after the December 7 polls.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(CRITICAL POLITICAL THINKER AND ACTIVIST)
0241129910/0200704844

Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP), taking inspiration from the constitution of Ghana and other legislations which recognises the role of the media and Civil Society Organisations/Community groupings as key stakeholders in our decentralisation and governance system organised a parliamentary debate Sunday evening, November 19,2016, at the Damongo Lorry Station.

The debate which was scheduled to feature four(4) parliamentary candidates had two of the candidates honouring and battling it out in the ideas of youth development.They are the incumbent MP and parliamentary candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) hon . Adam Mutawakilu and the candidate of the convention peoples party (CPP) Mr.Hamdal.

The two parliamentary candidates took their turn to address the youth on questions centred around youth empowerment and employment, youth-in-agriculture,education & health,youth-in-skills training and entrepreneurship and youth-in-local security and sustained peace promotion.

The incumbent MP and candidate of the NDC in responding to questions from the thematic areas reiterated the fact that if reelected,he was going to establish a Youth Development Fund with an annual Gh30,000.00 seed capital for youth development, entrepreneurship and skills training. The fund according to him will be fully owned and managed by the youth under strict auditing and oversight monitoring conditions.He equally pledged his continues support for the youth-interms of education, health, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, and that he was going to expand his Vegetables Farmers Association to cover as many youth as possible.
He challenged Damongo Youth Parliament to submit a working proposal to him for adoption and further action.

His contender from the CPP indicated that he was going to lead a youth revolution if elected.He will make sure the youth with support from DYP police the natural resources of the district,and that he was going to adopt Damongo Youth Parliament and introduce members through mentorship to the full structures of the parliament of Ghana. He also promised to acquire a plot of land and establish an office for Damongo Youth Parliament to operate from.

In a keynote address, the guest speaker, Most Rev . Dr . Clement Aapegnuo challenged the youth to rise up and pursue their dreams. He cautioned the youth against election related violence and called on our leaders to have confidence in and invest in the youth.

The candidate for the NPP gave a rather later response to our invitation through his party secretary after several follow-ups of his inability to honour the debate because he had an emergency meeting to attend.The PPP candidate had indicated that he was away in Accra for other important schedules.

Damongo Youth Parliament was highly commended by all and sundry for the good initiative and works. The parliament was encouraged to sustain such efforts into the future.

The about three (3) hours debate was carried live on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(Secretary-DYP/PAD FM NEWS DESK)
0241129910/0200704844

The Youth Are Future Leaders And Hope Of Our Country-Most Rev . Clement

YOUTH ARE FUTURE LEADERS AND HOPE OF OUR COUNTRY-MOST REV . CLEMENT

The Director of Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies(CECOTAPS),Most Rev . Dr. Clement Aapegnua has reiterated the fact that the youth of today are the future leaders and hope of our community and country.
He said this while delivering a key note address during a parliamentary debate session organised by Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) Sunday evening,November 19,2016,at the Damongo Lorry Station.

"The youth constitute 70% of Africa's population but are usually not consulted in decision making,'Our leaders should have confidence in the youth and invest in them because they are creative, innovative and energetic', they are the future leaders and hope of our country"-averred the peace expert.  (Slightly modified).

According to him, the youth are most of the time perceived as trouble makers, and hence are used to forment trouble.This in his view was not the case,as was seen in the significant role the youth played in resolving the Dagbon Conflict.
He emphasized that all efforts to resolve the conflict had proven futile until they were refered to use the youth chiefs.

He cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to foment trouble, violence and mayhem during this season of elections.And that we should engage in politics of ideas, and avoid insults, vulgar and fowl language.

The youth were encouraged to rise up and pursue their dreams.

He lauded Damongo Youth Parliament for the initiative and good works it has been doing for Damongo and beyond.

The about three (3)  hours debate was carried live on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)
(Secretary-DYP/PAD FM NEWS DESK)
0241129910/020004844

US HAS SPOKEN;WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

US HAS SPOKEN!WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

Okay, let's say the United States of America (USA) has spoken .The controversial Republican candidate,Donald John Trump has been dully elected the 45th president.He takes over from Barack Hussein Obama's  led Democratic government.

The world they say is a global village, and whatever happens in America (a superpower) of the world impacts Ghana. (You remember the credit crunch in USA and the effects it had on our country).One can easily make mention of foreign policy, access to grant-in-aid,Ghana's relationship with US, security, trade, international protocols and conventions,and the propaganda-recycled as trend analysis and electoral fortunes.

The trends(refined propaganda):Americans have faith in two- party system-the Democrats who ideologically are more to the left and the Republicans who are more to the right.Those in the middle are the independents.The Republicans are liberal(economically left).The Democrats are in favour of governments intervention for the poor and needy.
The Democrats just like the NDC believe in the bottom-up approach(shifting the allocation of wealth from the haves to the have-nots) to development.The Republicans on the other hand believe in the Top-down approach, thus, the trickling down effect to development.

These parties in response to the needs of the people also flirt around these ideologies-the Democrats for instance have since moved from left-center towards the center.These ideological stance mostly reflect the economic and social policies of various governments.

Interesting enough, Ghana and USA have always voted along a particular line since 1992 based on their ideologies.In 1992 for instance,as USA voted for Bill Clinton(a Democrat),Ghana voted Jerry John Rawlings (a social democrat) and founder of NDC. Both candidates were retained in 1996.
In 2000,USA elected George Walker Bush (a Republican) and Ghana voted for John Agyekum Kuffour of NPP (a liberal democrat).Both candidates were retained in 2004.
Fast - forward,in 2008,USA voted for Barack Hussein Obama(a democrat) and Ghana voted for my late beloved prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills of blessed memory of NDC (a social democrat).The historic visit of president Obama to Ghana as his first Africa country after his election just says it all.
Obama was retained in America in 2012.But following the death of prof.Atta Mills, his vice president John Dramani Mahama succeeded him and won the elections of 2012 on the ticket of NDC(Democrats).
In the just ended elections in USA, Donald Trump(a Republican) won against Hillary Clinton(a democrat), and Ghana is yet to decide.
Are we likely to see a change coming or change is happening already?

Let's probe the issues further:
You have been following the debate on social media.The NPP sees the turn of events in America as a hope for a change in Ghana.So I ask:is trend analysis really anything to go by?
But have you realised the trend was truncated somewhat in 2008 following the death of prof. Mills? At least, a candidate has changed.Have you also noticed that there is a "JOHN" in the name of Donald Trump?

Most of the opinion polls in the run - up to the elections in USA predicted victory for Hillary Clinton. Such predictions where overturned.
In Ghana, most of the opinion polls are predicting victory for Akuffo-Addo. If trend analysis is anything to go by,is change coming or change is happening?Are these also trends that could "play out"?Interesting, I guess!
Such trends I think could be propaganda-recycled or turn out to be the realities.You can also be your own judge in such propaganda instances.
The trends may be similar but the conditions and situations in both countries may differ.So discard the "trends propaganda" and concentrate on selling your messages to the people. 

Implications: Donald Trump from his campaign and public auterances seem anti - African .Our leaders must therefore brace themselves for the times ahead.The man has made his point clear:I'm going to hand America back to Americans.He emphasised this in his victory speech:after expressing a desire to rebuild infrastructure, making it "second to none". Trump went on to say, "We will get along with all countries that are willing to get along with us. We must reclaim our country's destiny.

We(Ghana) should anticipate a drastic cut in grant-in-aid from USA,hard-line immigration laws(mass deportation of illegal immigrants-thus,putting an end to "birthright citizenship"),his stance on trade(he has blamed China for the economic woes of USA -Who knows:he might blame Ghana next), his perception on global warming(how does he intend to tackle the canker after describing it as a hoax, and intends cutting funds away from EPA?).What about his racial profiling, especially against Muslims?
These are all issues we should be on a look out for.

The fact is,the man is likely to be tough on third world countries.And we must be prepared to take our destiny into our own hands(after all, Ghana is capable of managing its own affairs).

With barely twenty - seven (27) days to go to the polls in Ghana, one can only cross his/her fingers, pray for peace and accept whatever the outcome of the election might be.
The watchword is "PEACE".
May God bless.
Read more on ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School (UGBS)/Radio Presenter
0241129910/0200704844

CANTEEN YAARA UNITED FOR ALBERT EMBARKS ON A CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN

CANTEEN YAARA UNITED FOR ALBERT EMBARKS ON A CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN

A group calling itself Canteen Yaara United for Albert this morning embarked on a clean up and keep fit campaign across Canteen Electoral Area in the West Gonja District of Damongo Constituency.

The group which saw the activities as a civic responsibility and claimed neutrality,expressed utmost trust in the potentials and ability of the parliamentary candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) hon . Albert Diwura Kassim, and has therfore decided to embark on these activities as a show of love and support for him.

They believe a clean society is just next to a godly and a wealthy society,the credence of which is found in the age long adage that a healthy nation and people is a  wealth nation and people. And that they were trusting God to deliver victory to hon. Albert and the NPP come December 7.

The parliamentary candidate who joined the exercise together with his youth organiser hon.Nana Kwame was full of appreciation for the group, and prayed for unity and peace ahead of the elections.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(PAD FM news desk)

Farmers Day Celebration:Focus On Local Government Development And Export Promotion In Ghana

Farmers Day Celebration:My Focus On Local Government Development And Export Promotion In Ghana

It's an undeniable fact that the behavior of government institutions affects business performance on the international arena.
Such behavior which creates an enabling environment can impact positively on the performance of firms on the global scene.

Over the years, however, the focus has always been on the role of public sector at the national level in promoting export in Ghana obviously due to the international nature of export promotion issues such as international negotiation and diplomacy  which are within the remit of central government.
Somehow, the place of local government in the development and promotion of export business has been overlooked in academic and its related discourses.

Is it right therefore to conclude that local government does nothing to promote export in Ghana?
If so, where lies the faith of the fact that most of the non-traditional export commodities of Ghana (agriculture, manufacturing and handicrafts) come from the rural areas of the country!Yes, most of the non-traditional export commodities(the main export commodities of Ghana) come from the rural areas.And one would have expected local government to take the lead in export promotion activities in Ghana.It's either local governments are ignorant of this potential source of development or they are in simple terms non-proactive in that regard!

It's or should be stated with emphasis that local governments that are aware of their responsibilities, have a positive orientation towards their goals, and which have the capacity, are better positioned to champion the course of export promotion and development activities in Ghana, if for nothing at all, for employment creation and revenue mobilisation.

Local governments in Ghana have the potential and can be positioned well to promote export business, especially so when there is a reduction in financial grants from external sources and there is pressure on local governments to generate revenue internally to improve the standard of living of the local people.
In Denmark for instance, owing to the high degree of administrative decentralisation with clarity of roles and responsibilities as well as guaranteed financial resources and human resource system,export promotional services are provided by both the central government and local government with direct and active involvement of business communities and associations. The state shares with local government the responsibility for determining the broad policies on export promotion.(See export promotion in Logoster Commune and Aalborg Commune in Denmark).Local government is truly decentralised and financially independent in that country.

Our own assemblies can be empowered to chalk such a milestone through public policy and advocacy that will make them face squarely their obligation towards export promotion. National government should be willing to share the responsibilities of export development and promotion with local government.

Learning from the experience of Denmark, local government in Ghana can contribute meaningfully towards export promotion by networking and disseminating trade information and sales leads, organizing international trade shows/trade missions sponsored locally,organizing workshops on export topics, facilitating land acquisition processes,permits which provide the legal basis for doing business should be granted with dispatch,promoting tourism,prudent environmental management, marketing facilities and marketing of localities, liason with business, export marketing consulting services, promotion of export trading companies ad infinitum.

In this way, local government can support their businesses to export or to expand their operations, where they already exist and accrue the benefits therefrom...

May I use this opportunity to wish all the industrious farmers of our dear country, especially those at the local level whose efforts are least recognised and rewarded a happy celebration.
May the good lord continue to bless us all.

(A write-up culled from Richardson Azunu,Export Administration ,published by ICDE-University of Ghana, Legon, February, 2010.)

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(University of Ghana Business School and a passionate Community Radio Youth Advocate)
0241129910/0200704844

Decentralisation Concept:Key actors of the Assembly and their functions

Decentralisation Concept:Key actors of the Assembly and their functions
The decentralisation concept has since its inception brought much meaning to democracy by formerly devolving powers, functions,responsibilities and resources from the central government to actors at the lower levels.It creates a framework for citizens participation in decision making and the administration of their own affairs.

The District Assembly(the mainstay of decentralisation) is the highest political,decision making, legislative, planning and budgeting authority at the lower level.
There are certain primary actors within the Assembly whose role is critical for the smooth operations of the Assemblies and the realisation of the true essence of the decentralisation process.
These key actors comprise the following:
(a) The Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief Executive (MMDCE)
(b) The Presiding Member (PM)
(c) The Member of Parliament (MP)
(d) The Metropolitan, Municipal or District Coordinating Director (DCD)
(f) Assembly Members (both elected and appointed)

The  functions and duties of these key actors are clearly spelt out under chapter twenty of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana as well as other legislations.

The District Chief Executive (DCE):
Article 243 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the president with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting.
The DCE who is the chief representative of the president in the district perform the following functions:
-Presides at meetings of the Executive Committee of the Assembly;and in his absence,a member of the executive committee is elected by members present to preside at same;
-Be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the District Assembly;
-Be the Chief representative of the Central Government in the district;
-Chairs the Entity Tender Committee.
The DCE holds office holds office for not more than two terms (each consisting of a four year duration); and shall be removed from office through a vote of no confidence, supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of members voting.
He can also be removed from office by the president.The office of a DCE equally becomes vacant if he resigns of dies.

The Presiding Member (PM):
Article 244 stipulates clearly that the District Assembly shall have a Presiding Member who shall be elected by the Assembly from among its members. The PM must be approved by at least two-thirds of all members of the Assembly and holds office for a term of two years and may be eligible for re-election after the end of his/her term of office.He/she is not a member of the Executive Committee.
The Presiding Member is responsible for the following functions:
-Presides over meetings of the General Assembly;
-Control deliberations of the house and ensure good conduct and behaviour of members;
-Chairs the Public Relations and Complaints Committee,Audit Report Implementation Committee and the Credit Approval Committee of the Assembly.
The Presiding Member shall cease to hold office whenever the Assembly by a majority of at least two-thirds of all members of the Assembly vote to remove him from office.

The Member of Parliament(MP):
The member of parliament is a representative of the people of the Constituency within the district in parliament and serves an important link between parliament and the Assembly.He is a member of the District Entity Tender Committee.
An MP perform the following functions:
-Guide the Assembly on laws passed by parliament to ensure that the byelaws of the assembly are not in conflict with national legislation;
-Advocate for the people in parliament with a focus on solving their identified needs;
-Attends Assembly meetings and brief the Assembly about proceedings in parliament;
-Provide useful feedback on programmes and projects of interest to the Assembly.
A member of parliament holds office for a fixed term of four years and may be eligible for re-election.

The District Coordinating Director(DCD):
The DCD is the Secretary to the Assembly and the head of the District Coordinating Directorate. He is also a member of the Local Government Service.They Coordinate, monitor,harmonise and evaluate plans, programmes and performance of the Assembly.
The District Coordinating Director is responsible for the following functions:
-Supersee the day-to-day administration of the Coordinating Directorate;
-Responsible for the implementation of decisions and plans of the Assembly;
-Responsible for effective budgeting and planning;
-Secretary to the District Assembly,Entity Tender Committee and the Executive Committee;
-Initiate, execute, monitor and evaluate development plans and programmes of the Assembly.
The DCD is not appointed but gets into office through qualifications and technical competence.

The Assembly Member:
The Assembly Member serves as a liaison between the Community and the Assembly. He is a community developer and participates in the activities of the Assembly such as attending meetings and contribute to decision making at the Assembly.
He basically discharge the following functions as prescribed by Act 462:
-Serves on at least a committee of the Assembly and participates in Committee Meetings;
-Educate the electorate on Assembly projects as well as government policies;
-Maintain Close contact with the electorates and consult them on regular basis;
-consult electorates before each Assembly Meeting on issues to be discussed in the Assembly;
-Collate the views, opinions, proposals and other matters affecting the electorates and present same to the Assembly.

Subsequent editions of this write-up will feature other important aspects of the District Assembly under the decentralisation concept.
The writer is a teacher and a student at the University Of Ghana Business School pursuing BSC in Administration with a major in Public Administration.
Read more of his works on his personal blog:ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com
May the good lord bless us all.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School (UGBS)
0241129910/0200704844
Connect with me on Facebook at Critical Political Thinker

My Radio;My Voice And Right To Development

Take Away My Radio And You Take Away My Voice And Right To Development

The plea for an egalitarian society remains a mirage so long as the people have no voice and an opportunity to voice out issues that affect them directly.The voice of the people indeed is the voice of God and is sine qua non for the development of any meaningful society.

In all wisdom and ensuing from the above, the introduction of the district assembly concept was not born out of emotions but in careful furtherance and realisation of the need to give the people a voice in the administration of their own affairs . It's to consolidate our democracy and emphasize the participatory approach to development.After all, democracy and power belongs to the people.

Arguably,the various assemblies agonized with several shortcomings have not over the years adequately represented the real and felt needs and voices of the people as much as patented parochialism.

It's therfore natural to have other pronounced avenues of representing the voices of the people in the governance of local affairs as a means of expanding participatory democracy sprung up in communities.
One of such weighty avenues has being COMMUNITY RADIO.

Community radio is a third model of radio limited by guarantee that serve geographic communities and communities of interest.
They are owned, operated and influenced by the communities of interest they serve.And by nature and legal limitations are nonprofit, nonsectarian and focus on providing individuals,groups and communities a unique community space to tell their own stories, share experiences and collaborate to further community development.It's also a major avenue for preserving our rich cultural heritage.

My inflated and buoyant spirited communism was wherefore deflated and turned into a sentimental melancholy when I learned with regret that the only community radio station (Radio For Peace and Development-95.1mhz) serving as a voice to the marginalised in Damongo has suspended its operations out of a necessary evil "We've being put on prepaid metering system".And the question remains, are we taking the real development avenue of the people away from them?

It's insightful to note that as per the revenue generation code of the station, the little revenue that the station can generate is just little enough and can only be adequate for sustenance of the station with communal support.As stated, the station is the property of the community.
Is it conclusive thereupon that as a people (community) we have not been able to sustain our own? Could the station be exempted from such a metering system in the interim on consensus?Should this be a concern to every well meaning member of the community?What can we as a people do to keep the station running so our voices can be alive?

Well, I'm just a concerned member of my community who is highly convinced that the fall of the radio station is the fall of the community at large.
It's an onslaught on participatory democracy, and a crucifixion of the voices of those that matter most in development, "the people".And it's a way of taking the development of the people away from them.

I'm worried though alone, I don't have the power.But together I know we've the power to get the station working again for the larger interest.
May God bless us all.

NB.I stand with the people (community) and the views above represent my personal views and not the that of the radio station.
Read more on ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM
A Community Radio Youth Advocate
0241129910/0200704844

Damongo Youth Parliament Decries Child Inimical Game of Jackpot

Press Release
19/08/2016

Damongo Youth Parliament Decries Child Inimical Game of Jackpot

As children of society, our forbearers brought us to the know that, "it takes a whole community to raise a child".We also hold the strong conviction that there is hardly a bad child. We can only have bad elders, leaders, teachers, stakeholders inter alios that let children down...

It's against this backdrop that we write with a heavyheart to matriculate our consummate disapprobation of the rather approbiously infamous game called "Jackpot" which is coined colloquially as "Kolom" in Damongo township.

It's well to note that this game which has gained notoriety to the level of a blasphemy is developed by Chinese and introduced in unsuspecting communities such as ours to further break down the moral fiber of society.
Kolom as the children affectionately call it is a game of chance not mind in which children curiously deep coins into a slot machine, and only pray for the machine to roll out some or more of the coins as a win for them. Those coins remaining in the machine belongs to the owner.And tricky enough, the machine is preset to allow the unsuspecting children to win but not beyond a certain amount.It's a well rehearsed synonym for gamble or "Chacha".

Ad nauseam,It's or should be established that this uneducational game exclusive of the fact that it teaches children nothing in real sense, push them to steal from their parents and other available sources just to play the game.Our source has also revealed that most children forsake their household chores and academic work and make all the available time for this game.Not to overstate,by this game,children are being taught to sacrifice the value of hard work for easy cut to success in life and money. And we believe this is how future armed robbers and societal liabilities and nuisance are natured. 

It,however,flies in the face of reason that despite all the glaring odds associated with this game, stakeholders and authorities appear unaware or should we say unconcerned about the inroads it's making into our society.
It's equally crestfallen and we need not remind whoever sanctioned the operation of this game in the district that s/he is doing a great disservice not only to the future of the district but to these innocent kids.

We have also made our checks and are altogether aware that this game didn't start from West Gonja District. It's important to note that it has received wide societal disapproval and ban in some towns in gonjaland such as Buipe, Salaga and Busunu...So,is it the case that the the west (West Gonja) always deserve the bad and rejected?

We must state here and now that we're not oblivious of the fact that children at a certain age learn at best through games among others.But there can be more educational oriented games that this children can be introduced to.And we, as a youth can be of great help in that regard. Indeed, most of us have tried introducing such games in the past before and are still willing to do so if deemed necessary.

We wish on a very humble note to appeal to the appropriate authorities to act and redeem the image of our dear community for the seek of posterity.
We can't promise anything for now, but we can promise that if nothing is done to arrest this situation,we will not pause but apprehend all available medias to drum home a justified cause for community and country.

Long live the people of Damongo; long live gonjaland; long live Damongo Youth Parliament and may the good Lord continue to shower His blessings on us all.

Signed:Executive Board, Damomgo Youth Parliament (DYP)
Issued:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
0241129910/0200704844

2016 Elections Yet Indication Of The Beginning Of The End

2016 Elections yet indication of the beginning of the end
In his poem "Lochie Warning," Thomas Campbell alluded to the fact that "...coming events cast their shadows before".

Yes, coming events,indeed,cast their shadows before....
I've always wondered as much I've  pondered the faith of society taking into cognizance the kind of system we have running when I came to fully appreciate what Karl Max and Friedrich Eagles meant by fierce class struggle between the mercilessly oppressive "bourgeoisie's(the property owing class) and the peasant cum oppressed "proletariat's(the industrial working class) in their literature  "The Manifesto of the communist".
The factual realities of this literature will establish itself in the concluding part of this write-up!

Meantime,I'm sure it's not lost on you that the 2016 voter exhibition exercise which lasted for three weeks and afforded citizens the opportunity to verify their names and help clean the register ended last Sunday with reports of low turnout and amazing apathy in many polling stations across the country.This was despite the fact that the 2016 edition of the exhibition exercise took three weeks to complete as compared to the past where it lasted for two weeks...
Indeed, I made some time to visit one or two of the exhibition centers in my constituency and can also report that the situation is either worse or same as the media is reporting for other centers.

Thinking I'm surprised, right? No,'surprise' has never been contemplated as a word in this turn of events.As a matter of fact and in all conscience, I felt this coming. I sensed it. I prophesized it and philosophers even philosophised it...!

Don't you think it's hard to imagine and even arresting if only you don't shut your critical distance and margin that with barely four months to the general elections,the many political parties we have in the country are yet to unveil their campaign promises(Manifestoes) to the owners of power (the voter's) and give us reason(s) to entrust our legitimate power into their hands as mere trustees?
Even at that,the major political parties that are likely to gain the mandate of the people to exercise power have all exhibited to us their campaign teams but are uncompromisingly silent about exhibiting their Manifestoes;and at their usual best are accusing each other of what they described as 'fear of copy work."Flabberwhelming" and amazing,I guess?
What does this tell you? Well, for me,I think they are just interested in our votes and feel they owe us no responsibility to give reasons in return for same.After all,"some people can't think far and the Ghanaian voter can't think far some! Really!

Democratically cankerous enough,in all these, the media is abased as it's quiet, civil society is debased as it's hired and the ordinary man is at gazed as we are fired!It's amid such gloom,the EC out of no fault of theirs exhibited the voter's register when the People have not been shown an exhibit of any campaign message.Now, tell me what you would have expected if not apathy with no sympathy!

The hard truth in all these is that, we are likely to record a low turnout in the 2016 general elections.And the situation has never been different from the previous elections(Subject to your own assessment).
Infact, I have tangled myself in grassroot politics before and I continue to do so,howbeit,with limitations considering the fact that I've to reconcile such engagements with my role as a media person.And note-worthy without mincing words, I can tell you unequivocally that the Ghanaian voter is increasingly awakened and mad at the politician over his/her unjustified situation.
I tell you,when you hear rancorous expressions like, "I won't vote again! Politicians are liars! They are all the same!'Politrickcians' are corrupt..."Just know that they are simple expressions of the reality yet unborn...

And I will at this point implore you to take it or feel free to burn the sea,the days when the owner's of the land (proletarians) labour and plead unheeded before their exploiters and supposed masters/trustees(bourgeoisie's) is near collision...
It will mark "the beginning of what I christened the end";Where if you permit me to refer back to the literature I introduced earlier on;Karl Max (1818-1883) a revolutionary German economist and philosopher, and founder of the communist movement saw history as the story of class struggles, in which the oppressed fight against the oppressors. According to him, as history unfolded, the victory of one class would pave the way for the future freedom of the rest of society(see Karl Max and Friedrich Eagles(1886).The Manifesto of the communist:International Publishing Co.).

In such a society, the masses(underclass) will resent and rise against the nonsense in the system,and the days when the corrupt politicians and abusers of power oppressed and exploited the slaves and poor labourers(masses) will come to a perpetual end.
In such days, the bourgeoisification of society will ipso factor pave the way for the proletarians to establish a new classless society where the land, industry, labour, and wealth will be shared between all people pari passu. All people will have the right to education,access to health care and the basic necessities of life, and the class structures will disappear...No more first class citizens, second class..., third class... ad infinitum!
In such a society,corrupt chiefs and traditional authorities who have vouched to continually divide and cause anarchy(chieftaincy crises) in society will run leaving their sandals behind, and harmony will reign.Did I just say that? You know I can't possible say that alone. Blame Kwame Nkrumah for saying that first!

Today,the politician and wielders of the people's power can afford to misbehave and manipulate the fortunes of the people and wilfully refuse to awaken to the simple fact that:power is not attained for its own seek but is to be exercised for the common good of all....
They can continue to harden their hearts,corrupt their minds, bleed the public purse, stoss away in flashy cars and wasteful convoys at the tax payers expense whiles the masses wallow in abject poverty and struggle to catch expensive but nonexisting public transport (reference to the stampede I've ever been involved in struggling to board a public transport from Circle to Legon).

When those days come,maybe just maybe we will know where power actually lies and who power ideally belongs to. As the old colloquial adage will have it, "a word is enough for the wise; or do they usually say, 'a word to the wise is in the North?"
Until then, let's continue to pray for our dear country(Ghana), especially so,as we prepare to go to the polls in December that the almighty God will grant us victory of peace over war....
May God bless our homeland Ghana.
The writer is just a concerned Ghanaian youth who is entitled to his opinion just like any other meaningful Ghanaian.You may agree or disagree with my writeup.But don't do same for my person.
READ MORE ON MY BLOG:ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM(AB)
YOUTH ACTIVIST/RADIO PRESENTER
0241129910/0200704844 /aananapansah@gmail.com

We are the future and hope of our community

We are  the future and hope of our community

"The world's biggest power is the youth and the beauty of a woman"-Chanakya

Today,12th of August,2016, marks International Youth Day....And if you can vividly remember, sometime this same day(three years back), we launched for the first time in Damongo the International Youth Day Celebration and the Youth Manifesto with proud support from Denmark Civil society organisation, GCRN and Radio for Peace and Development.
That was the beginning of the journey that brought us this far...

But the interesting question remains:Have we really been able to do anything meaningful with the opportunity offered us, and our collaboration with relevant stakeholders for the benefit of the youth and our community? I say an emphatic yes, though with little challenges.

Three years down the memory lane, has the community benefited from our exuberance, and how does the future looks like if we hold onto the spirit of youth?

The future appears promising from where I stand as a youth,but only if we re-focus our sense of purpose and direction.
Let's ask ourselves, where we came from;what we stand for and where we want our community to be placed in the not too distant future!
We hold the power and the strength! Thankfully, we have listening and willing leaders to partner, edge us on and give us the needed push.
Hence, for most of the time, my heart bleed with pain, when I see us  trying to abuse this golden opportunity.

Instead of being actors of change, we turn ourselves into enemies of our community by the sort of things we do (Divisive politics and lack of respect for elders stemming from difference in political ideologies).
We turn ourselves into enemies of our community when we engage in unnecessary banter and throw salvos at each other.
We turn ourselves into enemies of our community when we try to reduce the integrity of this au-gust house, and refuse to measure the content of our messages...

This is the moment of sober reflection and deep introspection. We have achieved a lot, and we have fallen apart a lot.
But in all these, there is hope for the future, if we can pick and patch the pieces together.
Let's keep this in mind, "youth is not a time of life; it's a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple needs;it's a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotion; it's the freshness of the deep sprint of life"-Samuel Ullman

We are the hope of our community and country, and we are the flame that will spark the change and needed transformation in our dear community.

Long live the youth of Damongo!Long live Damongo and gonjaland as a whole, long live Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP); and may the good lord bless us all and fasten us together in unity of purpose for community and country.

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM(AB)
Radio Presenter/Youth activist
0241129910

6 things Mensah Otabil Said that shocked Ghanaians

6 things Mensa Otabil said that shocked Ghanaians

Posted by ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)

Ghana’s most influential personality and head of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil is not just revered for his prolific sermons on African liberation and but also basing Christian teachings on the upliftment of Ghana from a dependent economy to a strong and independent one.
Here is a careful selection of top quotes by the famous preacher which have always been the topic of discussion in Ghana’s political landscape .

1. I believe one of the biggest challenges we have as a people especially in this country is lack of creativity. We solve problems in the same old way. You put people together to think about a program and they will give you the same ideas that came up in 1957 and say this is how it was done, but that was back then. We don’t challenge our minds to invent – Mensa Otabil (sermon on Generational Curses).

2. The challenge for nations like Ghana is not the challenge of talented citizens. It is the challenge of poisonous environment. An environment that has been poisoned by ordinariness, by mediocrity and sometimes by a clear agenda to destroy talents – Mensa Otabil ( Speech at Grand finale of the 2016 Springboard road show).

3. I have been a Ghanaian all my life… it seems as if we are on a permanent trajectory of deterioration, when things go bad, they don’t revert to normal, so I find it difficult to see things getting back to normal based on my experience as a Ghanaian – Mensa Otabil ( Speech at Festival of Ideas 2014)

4. Ghana is hard and that is not a political statement – Mensa Otabil

5. What would make a man who is 60 years old with a lot of degrees in his life: be it BA, MA, PHD, become bald head, big time known, great, married, children, 60, at the twilight of his life when he should really contributing positively to life, at the height of his life goes to take a girlfriend who is 22 and the girlfriend tells him: ‘You are my sweetheart, I love you’, and the man can’t think! Who will love this pot belly? – Mensa Otabil (Sermon on Wisdom in 2014)

6. In Ghana, it is easy to see a foreigner prosper than to see a fellow Ghanaian prosper. – Mensa Otabil (Sermon on Wisdom in 2014)

7. It’s an insult for Mark Zuckerberg to be richer than Ghana – Mensa Otabil (Keynote address at Albert Ocran’s 2016 springboard convocation programme)
Source:YEN

A Class Five Pupil Threaten To Kill Colleague With Knife

A Class Five Pupil Threaten To Kill Colleague With Knife
A class five pupil of Nabori D/A Primary School in Damongo in the West Gonja District has threatened to kill his colleague with a knife.

The incident which took place on Wednesday afternoon at the school premises is reported to have been fuelled after the student,Inusah Dauda a class five pupil in his late thirteens picked up a quarrel with the victim,Soori Victor a class four pupils of the same School during a P.E session.
The two after quarreling and physically exchanging blows in the field were reported to and punished by the P.E teacher...

Inusah Dauda who felt aggrieved with the whole situation returned to school with a knife after the second break session and picked up a second quarrel with the victim where he pulled out a knife and threatened to kill him.

pupils who were around the scene quickly reported the incident to the school authorities who intervened by seizing the knife from the pupil and subsequently referred the matter to the disciplinary committee for appropriate sanction and action.

Further information sourced by the school authority has revealed that Dauda Inusah is among a group of other three students all at a sister Junior High School who are fond of sending knifes to school for God knows what reason.
The school is,however, putting adequate measures in place to track down the gang and to involve the P.T.A in addressing the issue and similar one's.

Story Filed by ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM
(PAD FM news Desk)

0241129910/0200704844

Visit ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com for more updates

LETTER OF APPRECIATION

LETTER OF APPRECIATION!
DAMONGO YOUTH PARLIAMENT(DYP) expresses heartfelt appreciation to hon.Galus

According to Thornton Wilder, “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”
It's so gratifying to have someone who cares for the development of his people and at the same time very accessible and down to earth as our MP in the person of Hon Adam Mutawakilu Garlus.
Your person,  inspirational leadership style and rare qualities sum up to make you a treasure we very much cherish and uphold.
Honorable Sir,We write on behalf of  Damongo Youth Parliament to say a big thank you to you for your unflinching support and unquestionably resolve to ensure that the youth within your jurisdiction develop and prosper in their God given potentials.There is ample and visible evidence attesting to this fact and as young people under this youth parliament,we are inspired and very  much challenged to chase our dreams, question the status quo and rise up far above the ordinary and rub shoulders with our peers elsewhere.
As a youth parliament,we require mentors such as your kind who have proven in their fields of endeavors that they are a force to reckon with to motivate, guide and groom us into “stars on earth“.
You have been on our platform serving as a reference point and a covering which has added an unquantifiable value and importance to the group.
The legend and astute actor Sam Loco Ife of Nolliwood fame and of blessed memory once said, “many words do not fill a basket and so lest we bore you with a long speech; we seize this singular opportunity to on behalf of the house render our heartfelt gratitude to you for the following:
1. A cash donation of five hundred Ghana Cedis you made to DYP to enhance our activities
2. Your resolve and in fact promise to assist us in which ever way we may deem fit as a group particularly in such areas as logistics, means of transport to enhance our outreach programs to the communities
3. Your willingness and promise to serve as one of our mentors and your readiness to collaborate and to inspire us to greater heights by promoting our interaction beyond the shores of Damongo-Youth Dialogue.
We very much anticipate your presence in one of our sittings in the not too distant future.

Damongo Youth Parliament, we are a non partisan and non religious group of young people with the sole purpose of uniting and affording ourselves the opportunity to development through dialogue and a coordinated efforts.
We are resolved and opened to partner with like minded individuals or organizations who are Willing to work with us without sacrificing our ideologies for any contrary reason.
Sir, It is a sign of mediocrity to demonstrate gratitude with moderation and so we say ASANKUSHUN, Yenawura Hon Garlus!

Signed:Executive Board-
Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP)
(We are creating a space for dialogue and development)
Powered by Radio For Peace and Development

I started serving my people before I became MP-Hon.Galus

I started serving my people before I became MP-Hon.Galus
Described as someone who is rising rather so fast through the ranks, the member of parliament of Damongo Constituency and the Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee of Ghana's parliament hon.Adam Mutawakilu(Galus) has disclosed that he started serving his people even before he thought of going into politics.
He made this disclosure during an interview session on a local radio programme dubbed "Youth Parliament On-Air" under the auspices of Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) on Radio For Peace and Development in Damongo in the West Gonja District Sunday Everning.
"Before I even thought of becoming a politician, the youth have been a priority of my development agenda and I relate it back to 1997 when I was in Damongo Secondary;I organised classes for the youth after teaching; and when they had difficulties in Science, I personally wrote and printed out a book called 'Galus Series' to aid their learning.When I gained admission into the University of Ghana, I still came back on vacations to teach at Dass and Jakpa JHS as well free of charge..., and when I started working in UDS, the youth still remained very critical to me such that any 'Gonjalander' not only from Damongo who applied to UDS and is qualified irrespective of the competition, I ensured that the person gained admission, and when you gain the admission and I identified it, half of your fees will be paid by me, and I have done that over that period till I became the DCE and continued with that and became an MP"-Stated the legislature of Damongo Constituency.

In responding to a question on youth and employment including empowerment as spelt out under policy area 6.1.5 of the National Youth Policy,he admitted to the fact that there were challenges.But albeit those challenges, he was making frantic efforts to better the lives of the youth of his Constituency and to arrest the problem of youth unemployment head-on!
This he said was visible in his efforts at improving the quality of the youth through education by expanding and improving access to the Common Fund, admissions into Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions,lobbying for formal sector jobs for the youth, MP end of year gala matches and competition in the area of sports and developing potentials and relief items to tailors and hair dressers in the non-formal sector and skill development through to cash donation to the Damongo Musicians Union among others.
He further disclosed that intentions were far advanced to establish a 'Youth Development Fund'.A localised fund that will be owned and managed by the youth for the purpose of entrepreneurship and skill development.
"The youth development fund is owned by the youth. So, there will be consultation with the youth.They will have their leadership, and anybody involved in setting up a business is qualified to benefit from the fund.I will do what is called 'oversight responsibility' to ensure that they use it in the manner they request for it"-he asserted.
He however,admonished the youth not to limit the issue of employment to only the formal sector, as opportunities in the informal sector abounds and that the youth should learn to network, identify opportunities and get them involved.
"Networking is very very critical in modern Ghana and we have a lot of platforms:Facebook,WhatsApp, viber and a lot more! Please,as youth,networking,making friends is very very important.Because,in most of the job vacancies they don't even advertise; Network and get us involved".
The World Bank recently identified that 48% of the youth in Ghana are unemployed.

Story filed by ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)
PAD FM news desk
0241129910/0200704844

We know the body responsible for declaring election results in Ghana but....

We know the body responsible for declaring election results in Ghana but....
It's once again here; the season of elections, the quest for power and the cover of cowards to incite violence.But the silent majority says 'Peace'.And so,let's get the issues;
"NPP will declare 2016 election results"-Peter Mac Manu, a former chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party and the Director of Elections of same is reported to have declared(See Myjoyonline.com publication of Tuesday,7th June, 2016).To add acid to base, the NPP Director of Elections further stated in the same publication...,"We cannot sit down and repeat the same (mistake we did in the 2012) in 2016".
Really? You cannot sit down and repeat the same mistake you committed in 2012 in 2016? What mistake did you commit in 2012? Is it the mistake of accusing almost anything and everything for your defeat?Is it the mistake of not training your polling agents to be vigilant enough in protecting the votes of the party at the polls? Or its the mistake of a regret for wasting the precious time of Ghanaians at the supreme court?
Well,what ever the mistake so conceived might be is none of my business. But my peace is my concern and my business.
As a matter of fact,I don't usually feel comfortable doing write - ups on partisan politics, especially,when it has anything to do with either the NPP or NDC for fear of mudslinging,columnation and unjustified vilifications.But as I said,my peace is my business and compelling concern in this matter.
Indeed, the peace of Ghana is the peace of any individual and 'free citizen' of our dear country.For this reason and to the extent that the statement of Peter Mac Manu has security implications,I deem it necessary to add my voice to the issue at stake as many well meaning Ghanaians have done already.
Infact,I'm cocksure and the facts suggest that Political Parties have always declared their own results in national elections in Ghana(You remember the declaration made by the late chairman of the NPP Jake Obetsebi Lamptey; He even went ahead to instruct the EC to hold on any declaration of results).But thankfully, the discerning and peace loving Ghanaian has always disregarded such self imposed declarations by political parties.Why? Because our political parties are fast losing integrity and the public has little trust in them when it comes to power and elections.No wonder,most people will often than not say, "we are waiting on the EC to officially declare the results".
This is a clear indication of the fact that as a people, we all know the body mandated by law to conduct and declare results of elections in our country, thus the Electoral Commission....
And so it's a bit thick and disappointing for Peter Mac Manu to make such a statement at this critical point in time....
With barely five months to go to the polls,this statement seem to suggest a clear declaration of intention by the NPP not to accept any results that does not favour them in the 2016 elections.Yes, the NPP has declared its intention to 'win the elections at all cost'... And this is a bit unsettling and worrying as it reflect a mark of "undemocratic thinking".What are they afraid of? A possible defeat!
In the nick of time, the NPP must come clear on this issue and disassociate itself from this highly irresponsible statement.
The National Peace Council and all well meaning Ghanaians must also decry in no uncertain terms this reckless statement.Let's get Mac Manu to back down and 'eat his words'.The elections of 2016 must be fought on issues not violence or threats....
Ghana is bigger than any individual or political party.We will not sit down aloof and watch any person or group of persons take this country to a ransom.Our peace is our development and freedom and we will not(With emphasis) condone any self-seeking person or group of persons who will try to gamble with and jeopardise this peace.This is the reality that all must wake - up to....
May God bless our homeland Ghana and strengthen us in unity and the national struggle.Amen.

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School/Teacher/Community Radio youth Advocate And Presenter
024129910/0200704844

SHUT DOWN SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPARK UP A REVOLUTION

SHUT DOWN SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPARK UP A REVOLUTION
The Internet with its numerous beneficial services has become the most powerful tool in the 21st century the world over.
Social media is just but one of the popular and well appreciated services the Internet has provided humanity.It has come to broaden the fronties of digital democracy making access to information quite easier and convenient.
Social media has become so powerful to the extent that the concern of Lord Acton on the possible abuse of enormous power is most dangerous to overlook,especially, in this era of democracy and freedom of speach.
There is no gainsaying the impact of social media extend to political circles.An indication of the political impact as well as the power of the social media was made clear to leaders across the continent during the "Arab Spring" in 2010 and in the "African Spring" of October 2014, when long time president Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso was toppled by a popular uprising . Indeed,"Social media did not cause the "Arab Spring" but helped to Cordinate it"-Arthur Goldstuck from technical market research company world wide worx, told the BBC.
A research by Portland communicators equally indicates that African twitters tend to be more political than twitters in other countries.
As a result, people in authority particularly in African countries have always raised concerns about Social media and activities therein when elections brew with most of them resorting to disconnecting popular social media platforms during elections.Most recently are the cases of Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and Uganda.Congolesse officials said the blackout was to prevent "illegal publication of results".
In the case of Uganda, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsAp were all blocked in the name of silencing conversations on the elections over such medias. 
The Inspector General of Ghana Police Service John Kudalor in trying to learn from what he 'babtized' as "best practices" from these countries was heard saying at a media interaction in Accra on May 26,2016,that "At one stage, I said that if it becomes critical on the eve and also on the Election Day,we shall block all social media sites as other countries have done. We're thinking about it".According to the IGP, the move was to counter the actions of potential 'trouble makers'.
He has since being subjected to intense public criticisms in the court of public opinion with many describing his comments as repressive ,unjust and against the right to freedom of expression....
Mr.IGP,I beg to add my voice to the raging debate you have started .Yes, it's very easy to shut down social media in a country like Ghana where most of us depend on telecommunication companies as our Internet service providers.You simply ask them to restrict access to specific social media IP (Internet protocol) addresses and with the click of a mouse it's done!But lets look at the issues;
Mr.IGP,I pray you not to blame Ghanaians,citizenship education has brought us to the know about what our Fourth Republican Constitution means when it says in Chapter Five Article 21 (1) that all persons shall have the right to-
(a) freedom of speach and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media;emphasis on "other media".
(f) information,subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.
The extent of the restrictions to these rights as imposed under the criminal code of 1960 (act 29) among others has not also escaped our attention.
We are not also blind to the fact that freedom of speach as a concept is an inherent and inalienable human right to voice one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment.
As a member state with binding obligations, we're even more vindicated by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948,which provides in article 19 that, "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impact information and ideas through any media and regardless of the frontiers".
This is the crust of the matter and the IGP must be told to wake up to the realities!He says, "We're learning from other countries".This postion and thinking is 'over the bar'.Does he know that what the Ugandan government did by placing a 4-day ban on social media during their general elections was an abuse of fundamental human rights? Indeed, Citizens of Uganda circumvented this abuse of a ban via Firechat, an App (peer - to - Peer connectivity) that works without the Internet and has been used by activists and demonstrators in places like Iraq and Hong Kong.
In the quest to access social media, many Ugandans turned to Virtual Private Networks (VPN), which reroute one's Internet connections through computers in other countries where the ban does not apply.Indeed, nearly 1.5 million people of Internet using populace downloaded VPN software to reroute thier Internet connection and return on social media, where discussions over the elections continued to rage.
Infact, I was on a platform(type and name withheld) where updates on the elections in Uganda were shared despite the ban.The location of strikes and roadblocks, location and brutal behaviour of police forces towards opposition supporters, the "preventive house arrest" of the Kizza Basigye, a close contender to the 30-years rulling president Gen.Y.K Museveni of National Resistance Movement Party who was re-elected for another five - year term were not news to me at all.
Akateng Isabella, an activist with Uganda Youth Network, said, "This is a lesson to the government that it's population is young and creative and very unwilling to be held to ransom".
When the communications commission learned that people were accessing Social media via encrypted apps, they send a statement to WBS TV.Uganda, which it posted on its facebook page, "We are going to track all those who are using them, and they are going to be arrested for treason".I guess this is the best practice the IGP is talking about?
Mr. IGP,find out what the throw back was when twitter was banned in Turkey....! The ban was circumvented and subsequently lifted after two weeks when the constitutional court ruled that the ban was a breach of the right to freedom of expression.
Before the IGP even think of this untold abuse of the 1992 constitution which is anchored on rule of law,he must know that,Ghana today is relatively peaceful because of our freedom of speach. Any attempt to take this away from the people can and will spark a revolution.  
If he insist on his decision, I can only reason with my prof.of communications Andrew Gadzekpo at the School of Communications studies, University of Ghana that,"we have a strong social media-loving public and social movement that will protest, and I will be one of those included in the protests".
I believe Ghanaians are out for peace and there are numerous workable alternatives to peace we can all explore.We did it before in 2012 and we will do it again in 2016. The IGP must be cautioned not to take Ghana back to the days of 'Coup d'etats'.He must be cautioned not to spark any unwarranted revolution in out dear country.
May God bless our homeland Ghana and make us bold and strong in the struggle to make our country a better place to live.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM ( AB)
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA BUSINESS SCHOOL(UGBS )
0241129910 / 0200704844
aananapansah@yahoo.com / aananapansah@gmail.com