CHRAJ chides gov’t for pampering military

Emile Short The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has lambasted government over its failure to condemn in no uncertain terms alleged human rights abuses by the military. Commissioner Emile Short told Joy News the government must be bold enough to whip the military in line when they go overboard. His concerns come amidst reports of grievous human rights abuses by the military which led to the manhandling and stripping of two men naked in Bawku for allegedly shooting indiscriminately into the air. Not long after the Bawku encounter, the military and some police men were said to have gang raped two women in Nalerigu in Tamale, where they were detailed to maintain law and order after some residents went on rampage over the murder of one of a colleague. The incidents, especially the second, provoked a huge public outcry against the military. Upper East Regional Minister Mark Wayongo believes the continued vilification of the military could demoralize them which might engender ‘blood bath’ in the region. The vice president John Mahama in his goodwill message to the Moslems on the occasion of the Eid-ul Ad-har said the two incidents though regrettable must not be used to tarnish the hard won reputation of the military. He opined the behavior of some of the military must be borne out of frustration after what appears to be an endless effort to bring peace to Bawku. “The soldiers too have families and they have come to stay there interminably for years trying to resolve the conflict. Sometimes the frustration gets to them and they occasionally might behave out of context,” he said. He said investigations have begun, but warned the perpetrators of that crime to desist from acts that will defame the military. But CHRAJ appears not impressed with government’s reaction. Emile Short said government may appear to be condoning the embarrassing acts if it fails to condemn out rightly the reported cases of human rights abuses. “I think they need to be encouraged. They need to be given all the support, both logistics as well and moral encouragement that they need. But at the same time when they go overboard, it is incumbent on all of us in the public office to be able to draw their attention to those excesses and to ensure that they don’t happen. Otherwise it may appear to be condoning them. And I think that is wrong.” Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Bishop Obinim allegedly in human parts deals

Bishop Daniel Obinim is the General Overseer of the International God’s Way Church The Suame Divisional Police Command has given the General Overseer of the International God’s Way Church up to Monday to produce three individuals to assist in investigations into a case of conspiracy. Bishop Daniel Obinim is alleged to be the brain behind a plot to bury snakes and bones suspected to be human parts at the church premises of a rival pastor, Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwa Yiadom, at Ahenema Kokoben, a suburb of Kumasi. Bishop Daniel Obinim was at the police station Saturday morning after the police issued an arrest warrant for him. Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey who was at the police station reported that Bishop Obinim was given up to Monday November 30, 2009 to produce three person, two of whom are junior pastors of his church. Narrating the incident to the police, Frank Annor, the complainant, alleged that he was contracted by Bishop Obinim last month to bury the bones and some candles at the worship centre for a fee of GH¢4,000. But according to Annor, Bishop Obinim failed to honour his part of the contract. Annor, who was persistent in his attempt to get his money, rather suffered attacks on his life which, he said, made him report the matter to the police. Police investigators led Annor to the worship grounds of Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwa Yiadom to exhume the items. The bishop is said to have denied ever meeting Frank Annor and described the allegations as unfounded. Fake miracles Annor is said to have been infuriated by the posture of the “man of God,” and alleged that all the supposed miracles Bishop Obinim performs were stage-managed. According to Annor, the people who are paraded as healed of certain ailments by Bishop Obinim are persons the bishop goes to contract from the Volta Region. Annor alleged that the bishop could pay as much GH¢500 to a victim who would only act as lame, dead or unconscious to be revived by the bishop. Story by Elton John Brobbey, Yaa Asamoah and Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Segbefia: Mills will contest in 2012 elections

President Mills will contest 2012 elections The President John Evans Atta Mills will contest the 2012 General elections when his first term in office officially ends. This was revealed by the Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia on Saturday during Joy FM’s current affairs programme Newsfile hosted by Kofi Ansah. “Professor Mills will stand for 2012 as a presidential candidate for the NDC. I have been asked this question before and I am repeating it now,” he emphasised. His confirmation puts to rest debate over whether the current president will seek another term in office. Concerns have been raised about the health of the president, and with him not getting any younger, there are doubts he would submit himself to the rigorous campaign schedule in 2012. Recent pronouncements by the Majority Leader Alban Bagbin which sought to project the vice-president John Mahama as a fine president in the making, increased perceptions that John Mills will hand over the baton to his second in command. President Mills also appear to be losing favour with ex-president Rawlings, whose Swedru declaration ushered Mills into pole position as the party’s flagbearer in the run up to the 2000 election, a position he held on to until he won power in 2008. But Alex Segbefia said the 65 year old President is the party’s best bet if the NDC will retain power. He admits there are various contenders for the position of the flagbearer for the party, but believes the president still stands tall. He said the president’s desire for re-election in 2012 is non-negotiable. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyline.com/Ghana

Asiedu-Nketia: Konadu's "Position" Doesn't Exist

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, may be on a ‘wild goose chase’ in her campaign to become the First Vice-Chairperson of her husband’s party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Even though Nana Konadu has stepped up her campaign to win the position, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia popularly called General Mosquito, has dropped a bombshell saying that the former First Lady is campaigning for an ‘alien’ position; one that does not exist in the party. This announcement comes after Mrs. Rawlings and other party top gurus who publicly declared that they would contest various executive positions within the party were accused of flouting the NDC’s regulations by commencing their campaigns ahead of December 1- the date officially allowed for campaign to commence. Mrs Rawlings, who is also the President of 31st December Women’s Movement, was in the Eastern region this week, canvassing for votes while meeting party people. Asiedu-Nketia had told journalists on Tuesday in Accra that the NDC does not rank the vice-chairmanship position into 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Rather, what pertains, according to him, is that all vice chairpersons in the party are considered as having equal status and they are subordinates of the chairman who assigns any of them duties as and when necessary. He said the same arrangement pertains in all other deputy positions within the party, including that of Deputy General Secretaries. The General Secretary indicated that all incumbent Ministers of State, MPs, District Chief Executives and Council of State Members who wish to contest for posts within the party must first resign their current positions. Meanwhile, the former First Lady is continuing with her lively campaign which seems to have gained the endorsement of many party members. The comments from Asiedu-Nketia comes at a time his party is perceived as going through a power struggle between party-founder, Jerry Rawlings, and President Atta Mills, who rode to power on the wings of the NDC. Though the President is running around the country telling Ghanaians he is ‘in charge’, he is certainly not in control of his party and DAILY GUIDE has information that the little influence with which he cuddles himself in the NDC is even being pulled from under his feet. Jerry John Rawlings is said to have sworn to ensure that the President becomes immaterial in the party and that no ‘Atta-Mills loyalist’ takes up any executive position at the national, regional or constituency level of the party. Even the NDC foreign branches have not been left out in the power struggle that is obviously going well for Rawlings and his group. The tango has been extended even to current Ministers in government and a number of them still pledge their allegiance to Jerry Rawlings. The ultimate agenda, reports say, is to ensure Prof. Mills does not win the next NDC presidential primaries, as his style of Presidency and selection of government appointees has not pleased the powers that be within the party. The good old Prof. may end up being a one-term President as a more ‘favored child’ from the founder’s stable may be pegged against him. To make matters worse, his own Vice President, John Mahama, is said to have an eye for the Presidency and is alleged to be sponsoring a few of his loyalists to take up executive positions in the party, such as his spokesperson, John Jinapor, who is nursing the ambition to succeed Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South and Minister of Communications, as the NDC Youth Organiser. Reports say the ‘Operation Cut Mills off’ is believed to be a brainchild of Jerry Rawlings and was conceived after President Mills decided to ‘be his own man’ so as to probably purge himself of the belief that he is Rawlings’ ‘poodle’; an otherwise well-intended agenda that has made him bite the very fingers that fed him and a step towards committing political suicide. DAILY GUIDE can report that it is for this reason that no other person than Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has started campaigning for the first vice-chairmanship position of the party. Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, perceived as a dye-in-the-wool Rawlings loyalist, has also made his intentions clear to contest for the position of 2nd vice chairman and interestingly, Nana Konadu has been quick to jump to his defence after the party gave hints that he may be penalized for starting his campaign and passing ‘unpleasant comments’ about persons in the current administration. She had explained that what Spio was reported to have done or said was in tandem with the pulse of the rank and file of party members, thus he has committed no crime. The NDC goes to congress in January 2010 to elect new party officers or renew their tenure of office and reports say the founder would file a candidate against any candidate whose loyalty to him is in doubt. Though current National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, has not really stepped on the toes of the founder, he is said to be a little too liberal for Rawlings’ taste and therefore, the search for a replacement is on course. General Secretary Asiedu-Nketia himself may have candidates competing against him from the Rawlings camp if he attempts to seek a renewal of his mandate. Source: Daily Guide

NDC bars government officials, others from contesting party positions

NDC The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has barred Government Officials, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, District Chief Executives and Members of the Council of State from contesting for any National Executive position in the party. The positions are National Chairman, National Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organizer, Propaganda Secretary, National Treasurer, National Youth Organizer, National Women's Organizer and any other slot on the executive. In the NDC's Guidelines for 2010 National Delegates Congress, made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Saturday, the party has also expanded its Electoral College for the Youth and Women's Congress from 33 to about 500 to include all constituency youth and women organizers and their deputies. The guidelines also prohibit regional and constituency executives from contesting for national executive slot unless the contestant resigns to vie for the elevated post. The guidelines state that 2010 Congress Vetting Committee includes a representative each of the Parliamentary Caucus; Council of Elders; and the Chairman of the National Disciplinary Committee. Explaining the rationale for barring government functionaries from contesting for executive positions, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketsiah, the NDC's General Secretary, said the directive was to eliminate the danger of conflict of interest. He said both positions - a government functionary and a national executive -were very crucial for their quest to retain power in Elections 2012. "We want all our officers to give of their best hence the need to decouple the responsibilities." Reacting to this development, Mr Mohammed Mubarak Abdulai, an NDC Youth Activist, advised aspirants to be circumspect and conduct their campaign with decorum, devoid of antagonism and personality attacks. In an interview with the GNA, Mr Abdulai advised party barons and godfathers to be interested in persons with popularity and the ability to manage an elected office but not focus on controlling the party machinery with backing people they could manipulate. Mr Abdulai also cautioned against using money to influence people during the campaign, stressing that: "We must avoid fuelling the public perception that a few anonymous people with money, irrespective of how it is acquired, can buy positions in elections." The party activist reminded aspirants that the nation's electoral laws frowned on monetary influence in elections "as a candidate commits the offence of bribery if he or she gives or receives, or causes to be given or to receive money, a gift, a loan or something of value as a means of inducing a voter to vote or not to vote in a certain way. He said, "as a party in government we must avoid exhibiting opulence in the conduct of our internal elections as such behaviours have the potential of denting our image for Elections 2012. He, therefore, called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to live up to its mandate through the enforcement of all the electoral laws to uphold the sanctity of the elections. Mr Abdulai also called on delegates to look beyond monetary considerations when it comes to deciding who should occupy executive positions, stressing, "our focus should be choosing capable men and women of integrity and acumen to lead us to another electoral victory. "The 2010 Congress must provide NDC with effective, capable leaders with the ability to marshal the party to win Election 2012, not those with money to spread around." Source: GNA

GHANA: Veep Breaks Silence

• 
  
  

Veep John Mahama

WHAT CREDIBILITY DOES THE ARMY HAVE?

'You never know what you have until you lose it" - By: GbogboStone More Quotes | Submit a Quote

NEW: Ghana Tourist Villas offers an unforgettable holiday and business experience in Accra.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday described the military brutality meted out to some civilians in conflict- stricken Bawku as unfortunate and regrettable.

He stressed that it was an act that needed to be condemned.

Mr Mahama made the observation when he joined Muslims at the Independence Square in Accra to mark this year's Eid-Ul- Adha festival.

He however cautioned that the isolated case of human right abuse should not be used as a general measure to mar the reputation of the highly disciplined Ghana Armed Forces.

“We all know we have a much disciplined military. They have received awards on peacekeeping and the isolated incidence should not be used to characterise Ghana's army,” he said.

Mr Mahama gave the assurance that perpetrators of the conflict would be brought to justice whilst those who smuggled ammunitions to the area would be apprehended.

Speaking on the insecurity situation in Bawku and surrounding areas, Mr Mahama called on Muslims in the area to use the festival to reflect on how they could co-exist in peace and security.

He expressed worry that the town, which was once noted for its economic activity in the North, is now unable to contribute towards national development owing to the conflict.

“Bawku is strategically located in the North-Eastern corner of the country, which once served as a commercial centre. However because of the insecurity, teachers, nurses, doctors and others are leaving the place,” he said.

Mr Mahama called on the Muslim community to take drastic steps to improve the literacy level among them.

He said education was one of the effective tools the country could use to reduce poverty and attain its socio-economic development agenda.

Mr Mahama noted that most developed countries attained higher economic status because they prioritised education.

He expressed dissatisfaction that Ghana was still struggling with “some 70 per cent literacy rate, with the Muslim communities and especially the Northern part of the country recording as low as 50 per cent”.

“Illiteracy is what is preventing us from achieving the quality of life we want,” he said.

He advised the Muslim youths to carry on the merrymaking activities in a more disciplined and relaxed manner to promote peace and security.

Mr Mahama lauded the peaceful co-existence among the various religious groups and stressed that it should not be taken for granted.

Mr Mahama said religion must unite the people and not separate them.

In a sermon, Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Shaributu, said Eid-Ul-Adha was a day of sacrifice for Muslims and urged the worshippers to submit to the will of their creator, Allah.

He called on adherents to sacrifice for the poor and needy in order to please Allah.

Sheikh Shaributu said there was the need to empower the youth in moral uprightness to discourage them from engaging in the cyber crime, popularly known as 'Sakawa.'

He called on the worshippers to live with each other in peace and security in order for the country to attain its socio-economic agenda.

Eid al-Adha is the second of the two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims across the world and usually takes place a day after the pilgrims conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat.

GNA

Our soldiers must not be perceived as brutish – Veep

Vice President John Dramani Mahama (behind) lectern addressing Muslims at the Independence Square Vice President John Dramani Mahama says recent reports of civilian humiliation in Bawku and Nalerigu must not stoke the perception that the military is brutish. Mr Mahama’s comments follows the huge public outcry that greeted the alleged stripping naked of two suspected gunmen in Bawku and the gang-raping of a 19-year-old apprentice in Nalerigu by soldiers deployed there to maintain peace. Mr Mahama described the two incidents as regrettable but insisted they were “isolated” and must not be used to soil the reputation of the military the country has built for itself. The vice president said this when he addressed an assembly of Muslims at this year’s Eid ul Adha special prayers at the Independence Square in Accra. He explained that sometimes “the frustration [of the soldiers] gets to them” resulting in such incidents, but hinted that the government would investigate the reports and bring to book those found culpable of the offenses. The vice president also used the occasion to urge the people of Bawku to use the occasion of the celebration of the Eid ul Adha festival to reflect on the sporadic mayhem that has characterized the town over the years. He said that violence in the northern Ghana town has stalled efforts to develop the area and has deprived the people of essential services – health, educational among others. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community in the area “must ask themselves” if indeed “the Bawku they want” is what they have now, suggesting that although government would always try to restore peace, the people themselves must see external help as a mere adjunct to their own efforts. Vice President John Mahama also bemoaned the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the area and urged the smugglers to desist from such acts which he said threaten peace and security in the area. He also urged more focus, in the Muslim community, on education, stressing, education is the key to growth and success as a country. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community must “prioritise education” as government works to secure sustainable growth and development for the country. The Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuru Sharubutu used the occasion to thank the government for ensuring that this year’s Hajj was a success. The Eid-ul Adha celebration is a major festival in the Islamic calendar and remembers the prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to do so. Three white rams and a bull were slaughtered to symbolise prophet Ibraham’s special sacrifice. Several hundreds of Muslims swarmed the Independence Square to mark the occasion. Perhaps the most conspicuous personality there was former vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama who was there to grace the occasion. Alhaji Mahama exchanged pleasantries with other officials there. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Mosquito Bites Konadu

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Johnson Asiedu-Nketia

Is there any hope in the NDC?

IF you want to stand out, don't be different, be outstanding. - By:MEREDITH WEST More Quotes | Submit a Quote

NEW: Ghana Tourist Villas offers an unforgettable holiday and business experience in Accra.

Ghana's former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, may be on a 'wild goose chase' in her campaign to become the First Vice-Chairperson of her husband's party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Even though Nana Konadu has stepped up her campaign to win the position, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia popularly called General Mosquito, has dropped a bombshell saying that the former First Lady is campaigning for an 'alien' position; one that does not exist in the party.

This announcement comes after Mrs. Rawlings and other party top gurus who publicly declared that they would contest various executive positions within the party were accused of flouting the NDC's regulations by commencing their campaigns ahead of December 1- the date officially allowed for campaign to commence.

Mrs Rawlings, who is also the President of 31st December Women's Movement, was in the Eastern region this week, canvassing for votes while meeting party people.

Asiedu-Nketia had told journalists on Tuesday in Accra that the NDC does not have anything like the rank of vice chairpersons into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, et cetera positions, but what pertains, according to him, is that all vice chairpersons in the party are considered as having equal status and they are subordinates of the chairman who assigns any of them duties as and when necessary.

He said the same arrangement pertains in all other deputy positions within the party, including that of Deputy General Secretaries.

The General Secretary indicated that all incumbent Ministers of State, MPs, District Chief Executives and Council of State Members who wish to contest for posts within the party must first resign their current positions.

Meanwhile, the former First Lady is continuing with her lively campaign which seems to have gained the endorsement of many party members.

The comments from Asiedu-Nketia comes at a time his party is perceived as going through a power struggle between party-founder, Jerry Rawlings, and President Atta Mills, who rode to power on the wings of the NDC.

Though the President is running around the country telling Ghanaians he is 'in charge', he is certainly not in control of his party and DAILY GUIDE has information that the little influence with which he cuddles himself in the NDC is even being pulled from under his feet.

Jerry John Rawlings is said to have sworn to ensure that the President becomes immaterial in the party and that no 'Atta-Mills loyalist' takes up any executive position at the national, regional or constituency level of the party. Even the NDC foreign branches have not been left out in the power struggle that is obviously going well for Rawlings and his group.

The tango has been extended even to current Ministers in government and a number of them still pledge their allegiance to Jerry Rawlings.

The ultimate agenda, reports say, is to ensure Prof. Mills does not win the next NDC presidential primaries, as his style of Presidency and selection of government appointees has not pleased the powers that be within the party.

The good old Prof. may end up being a one-term President as a more 'favored child' from the founder's stable may be pegged against him.

To make matters worse, his own Vice President, John Mahama, is said to have an eye for the Presidency and is alleged to be sponsoring a few of his loyalists to take up executive positions in the party, such as his spokesperson, John Jinapor, who is nursing the ambition to succeed Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South and Minister of Communications, as the NDC Youth Organiser.

Reports say the 'Operation Cut Mills off' is believed to be a brainchild of Jerry Rawlings and was conceived after President Mills decided to 'be his own man' so as to probably purge himself of the belief that he is Rawlings' 'poodle'; an otherwise well-intended agenda that has made him bite the very fingers that fed him and a step towards committing political suicide.

DAILY GUIDE can report that it is for this reason that no other person than Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has started campaigning for the first vice-chairmanship position of the party.

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, perceived as a dye-in-the-wool Rawlings loyalist, has also made his intentions clear to contest for the position of 2nd vice chairman and interestingly, Nana Konadu has been quick to jump to his defence after the party gave hints that he may be penalized for starting his campaign and passing 'unpleasant comments' about persons in the current administration.

She had explained that what Spio was reported to have done or said was in tandem with the pulse of the rank and file of party members, thus he has committed no crime.

The NDC goes to congress in January 2010 to elect new party officers or renew their tenure of office and reports say the founder would file a candidate against any candidate whose loyalty to him is in doubt.

Though current National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, has not really stepped on the toes of the founder, he is said to be a little too liberal for Rawlings' taste and therefore, the search for a replacement is on course.

General Secretary Asiedu-Nketia himself may have candidates competing against him from the Rawlings camp if he attempts to seek a renewal of his mandate.

By Halifax Ansah-Addo

Source: Daily Guide - Daily Guide

Alban Bagbin: Government officials even want to polish Mills' shoes

The bitter internal wrangling in the ruling National Democratic Congress is not showing any signs of abeyance as the Majority Leader Alban Sumana Bagbin hacks the president and his men.

In an uncharacteristic fashion, the usually diplomatic Bagbin describes some close confidants of the president as “sycophants, bootlickers and fair weather friends,” who are reaping where they did not sow, claiming that some senior officials of the government sometimes even attempt to polish the president’s shoes.

Confirming comments he made in a Daily Guide publication to Peace FM, Mr. Bagbin said it was unfortunate and regrettable that some members of the party who had lost faith in it and had either flirted with the New Patriotic Party or declared their intention to retire from active politics, were now calling the shots at The Castle while those who remained resolute even at their own peril were now consigned to the austere fringes after their efforts delivered victory to the NDC in the 2008 elections.

“Some sycophants, some bootlickers, some old boys, some old friends who timidly were hiding somewhere suddenly decided to feel the appetite for political office and [have] taken over” the government, he regretted.

Mr Bagbin said President Mills was surrounded by what he called ‘fair weather friends’ who cannot help him to achieve his aim of building a better Ghana because they lack the courage to speak the truth but “I am not a diplomat, I am calling a spade a spade, it is better to tell the truth.”

Stopping short of mentioning names, the Majority Leader did not understand why a gulf had been created between the party and the government, arguing that suggestions that he and other dissatisfied members of the ruling party could channel their grievances to the presidency instead of making them public are misplaced.

“Governance is not about a few people hopping to the presidency.”An obviously frustrated Bagbin said he was faced with the daily tantrums of the opposition NPP who contend that the government was not implementing the manifesto on which the NDC was voted into power.

Such complaints, the Nadowli West Member of Parliament believes were difficult for him to countenance and explain because the government was not creating the opportunity for the leadership of the NDC to understand why the manifesto was not being implemented.

He said members of the party who had been complaining about the performance of the government simply wanted “to see that things are moving in the right direction” as the people of Ghana were promised during the elections.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Security men accused of rape in Nalerigu

Residents of Nalerigu in the Northern Region have accused soldiers of raping at least three women in the town.

They say security men also brutalized people and destroyed property during a raid, which happened on Tuesday.

The security officers are said to have embarked on an operation to restore calm after some people went on the rampage to demand justice over the murder of former People’s National Congress parliamentary candidate, Moses Alando Banaba.

Mr Banaba was shot dead whilst returning from work earlier this month. Residents say the security agencies manhandled residents in the name of peacekeeping. A victim of the alleged harassment told Joy News on Wednesday the security officials have for some days now been blaring sirens to urge them to “rush into [their] rooms,” a situation he claims residents have become used to.

“They come, even if your house is locked, they’ll knock [and] when you open they’ll come in and beat you” the victim said.“They raped about three girls in our house,” another resident told Joy News’ Sammy Darko.The Northern Regional operational commander has however denied the allegations.ASP Bismark Achaab tells Joy News the security forces have had to take drastic measures to stamp out lawlessness in Nalerigu.

The military officials however indicated that some persons who allegedly burned a house in the town have been arrested.

Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Editorial: The Truth Is Out!

A victim with a rifle muzzle in his mouth The growing phenomenon of denials and rubbishing of stories by mostly officialdom is worrying in a country which seeks to record growth for her institutions and therefore governance. Monday, we managed to lay hands on a video footage of two persons stripped naked by soldiers on internal security operations in troubled Bawku in the Upper East Region. When we carried the story without pictures to, as it were, support the aberration, many in officialdom rubbished it. Fortunately for us, we managed to lay hands on the tell-tale pictures of the anomaly and this put paid to the attempts by people in authority to rubbish the story and cast us in bad light. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), unfortunately without adequate information, jumped into the fray when he delivered a speech to close an inter-service shooting competition. The function had in attendance the crème la crème of the military and so the delivery of the CDS, the equivalent of the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff of US Forces, was special and went far. But the pictures have deflated his delivery and cast a shadow on the quality of the periodic briefings he gets from his subordinates. In this particular instance, we are referring to an investigation which the CDS said was undertaken to ascertain the authenticity of the story as carried by the Daily Guide and subsequently, some FM stations across the country. It has turned out that the result of the so-called investigation was flawed and must definitely be discountenanced in the face of the compelling evidence in the form of the video footage which has already gone round the world. It would be in their interest and the nation at large when top officials like the CDS ensure that the right things are done before they come out with categorical statements like the one delivered by the military chief. The tendency for our security agents to be violent when circumstances do not warrant the unseemly conduct is deplorable. Soldiers in this country have the unenviable record of meting out atrocities on poor civilians and even death. This has not helped civilian/military relationship over the years. It is worthwhile to recall that in the previous regime, productive efforts were embarked upon to reverse the unacceptable and primordial behaviour. Given the critical role of our Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions across the world, the stigma of trampling upon the human rights of citizens by soldiers should be the last thing we should countenance in the country. As officers/gentlemen, commanders should be able to ensure that their men behave in accordance with military procedures, humanely and without trampling upon the rights of others outside the colours. Nowhere in military training are soldiers taught to be unruly to the extent of mis-conducting themselves the way the footage showed. Even policemen, to a lesser extent, have also showed the tendency to be brutish to suspects in their custody. Empirical evidence abounds to this effect and as we grow as a nation, such developments must be confined to the dustbin of history. As for the spate of denials, we advise that officialdom shuns it because of its proclivity to reduce the esteem and respectability of governance. Politicians often rubbish stories when we put them out as though these are manufactured in our news rooms. Yes, we are humans and therefore like others, fallible. We could make genuine mistakes and when we do, would be quick to apologise and make amends but manufacture or distort facts, we would not do. In Buipe, we reported that there were gunshots when the Vice President was there on official assignment. Officialdom denied it contrary to reality. In other jurisdictions, the ultimate action of resignation would have been invoked by those who are exposed for trying to hide the truth. Not so with ours where such a feature is alien. We would continue to present the news as we deem fit in accordance with the principles of truth, devoid of tendentiousness and above all in accordance with the ethics of our enterprise. God help us all as we work towards a better Ghana. Credit: Daily Guide/Ghana