Ablakwa: Why we say Mills’ achievements are unprecedented

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Information Minister Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Saturday enumerated achievements he said the President Mills-led administration has achieved in the space of three years. He was speaking on Alhaji and Alhajion Radio Gold. The achievements, he said, include; 1) GDP growth rate of 13.6% (highest in Ghana’s entire history) 2) Longest sustained single digit inflation (more than 20 months and now at 8.6%) 3) Highest ever Gross International Reserves and Foreign Direct Investment 4) 1 million metric tonnes of cocoa production 5) President signing up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the Open Government Partnership 6) Establishing the Public Interest Committee to oversee the Oil Sector and its independent membership like Mr. Kwame Pianim and Prof. Addae Mensah 7) 2 new public universities being established at the same time in the Volta and the Brong Ahafo Regions 8) $3 billion dollar CDB loan: biggest ever loan to Ghana and any African country from China. This is a loud attestation of the level of confidence in the Ghanaian economy 9) Founder’s Day declaration 10) Constitution Review Process successfully underway 11) Over 60,000 computers and laptops distributed freely 12) 4 Navy Ships (After more than 32 years of appeals), over 150 Fire Tenders and Fire Fighting Equipments to the Fire Service, First ever ultramodern forensic laboratory for the Ghana Police Service together with hundreds of vehicles and other equipments and massive retooling and aircrafts for the Army 13) Electricity Expansion: From 54% nationwide coverage to 72% nationwide coverage under 3 years. (Represents 18% addition in 3 years compared with NPP’s 11% in 8 years). 1,700 communities have therefore been connected to the national grid 14) Street lights in all regional capitals including Tema Motorway 15) Meeting all 4 convergence criteria of the West Africa Monetary Zone 16) Mobile Number Portability (First time in West Africa) 17) Anti-Corruption: - Right to Information Bill moves from the Executive to the Legislature for the first time - SFO strengthened with additional powers and logistics as it becomes EOCO - Handling of Woyome Case – No cover up like we saw in the case of Harona Esseku, Dr. Richard Anane and what President Kufuor said in Cape Coast that he would not allow his government to be embarrassed in fighting corruption. In sharp contrast, President Mills says when it comes to fighting corruption, “it doesn’t matter whose ox is gored” 18) 97% approval rating within President Mills’ party the NDC and within the international community as attested by UN Secretary General, US President, Ivorian President, Chinese President etc. 19) Fastest packaged social interventions in a first term: in President Mills' first year; Free uniforms, Free exercise books, 50% increase in capitation grant, Elimination of Schools under trees and the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) had been rolled out as compared to the NPP’s school feeding which was started in 2005, Capitation Grant in 2005/2006 academic year, Metro Mass in 2003, NYEP in 2006, Metro Mass Pilot in 2003, Health Insurance in 2004 and LEAP in 2008 20) Wage Bill more than doubles under 3 years (From about 2 billion Cedis to over 5 billion Cedis) President Mills has therefore put more money in the pocket of Ghanaian workers who are better off today than they were. 21) Life Expectancy has shot up by 11 years from 53 years to 64.2 years according to the latest United Nations Human Development Index 22) Special Funds: - Media Development Fund – 1 million Cedis - Creative Industry Fund – 2 million Cedis - Science, Technology and Innovation Fund – 2 million Cedis 23) Industry receiving phenomenal boost: - Resuscitated the former Akwatia Diamonds which had collapsed. Now the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Company Ltd. - Revamping of Ayensu Starch Factory - Revamping Pwalugu Tomato Factory - Revamping the Cotton Industry - Establishing a Sheanut Processing Factory at Buipe - Aviation industry booming with over 20 international and domestic flights introduced coupled with expansion projects at the Kotoka Airport and similar plans for domestic airports 24) Establishment of the National Buffer Stock Company Limited: It has guaranteed ready market for farmers, ensured stable prices and contributed tremendously to food security. In 2010 the World Food Programme relied on the National Buffer Stock Company for its purchases to address Famine in Niger. 25) Upgrading of the Tamale Regional Hospital which is helping improve health delivery in the Northern Sector and ensure that UDS Medical Students go through their education without truncations and relocations to KATH or KBTH as used to happen in the past. This is in addition to several polyclinics which have been constructed in all three Northern Regions.

Woyome, Waterville conspiracy uncovered

Alfred Agbesi Woyome Joy News has intercepted a document suggesting Waterville Holdings joined forces with businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome to sue the state for damages over alleged abrogation of contract. The 26 November, 2010 document stated unequivocally the two parties will jointly pursue government for the damages and share the proceeds. The document is a palpable contradiction to a press conference held last week by the Managing Director of Waterville, Andreas Orlandi, in which he stated that Woyome independently pursued government for the damages paid him. “Mr. Alfred Woyome separately and independently of Waterville, made his claim against the government. Waterville is not interested in Woyome’s claim,” Orlandi told newsmen. But the intercepted document from Waterville and subsequent developments on the issue pointed to the opposite. Waterville and Woyome agreed to jointly pursue government and were successful in their pursuit. They went into mediation with government and per a 13th October, 2010 document agreed an amount of €25 million which was to be paid in five month installments of €5 million each. Woyome and Waterville again agreed that the former would be entitled to €940,000 of every €5million paid every month. It is not clear if Woyome was paid his share of the amount. Alfred Woyome was awarded some ¢51 million in judgement debt in relation to the same disputed abrogation of contract for the construction of stadia for the CAN 2008. The payment provoked huge public outcry which led to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of Woyome on charges of fraud. A state Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye Tetteh and his wife are facing prosecution on matters relating to the payments to Woyome. Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah

Mills: The next four years are going to be better

President John Mills President John Mills has assured of better times to come in the next four years if his government is retained in office. In those years, the cries of many will turn into laughter, he said to thousands of teeming National Democratic Congress supporters who had converged at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra, Saturday, for the party’s mammoth rally. The rally was to outdoor the party’s Greater Accra Region parliamentary candidates and to kick-start campaign for what promises to be a knife edge election in December. One after another the candidates were introduced; men, women some with baritone, others with shrill voices chanting the rhythmic NDC ‘jama’ classics which kept an already charged atmosphere sprawling to a crescendo. Not even the threat of a heavy pour could douse the electric atmosphere. The messages, promises and assurances all came in thick and fast with the supporters waving, clapping, dancing in absolute frenzy. Deputy Finance Minister, Fifi Kwetey armed with his set of facts chronicled what he said were the unprecedented achievements under the Mills administration and dared the opposition New Patriotic Party to a contest of comparison on the achievements by the two parties in the health and education sectors. Then came Johnson Asiedu Nketia who defended the necessity of Special Forces in the Ghana Army, asking the opposition NPP to fear not if their thoughts are clean and have no ill motives ahead of the elections. The crowd was charged, adrenalin high as President Mills made his way onto the podium. In his soft voice, the president said loudly that sacrifices have been made in the last three years of his administration but was convinced a lot has been achieved. He said with the “impediments removed” the next four years will be even more exciting if retained in power. He charged followers of the party to eschew politics of insults, stating, “those who have nothing to show for their existence will resort to insults and lies." The rally was well attended by the rank and file as well party bigwigs and ministers of state including Alhaji Hudu Yahya, Hannah Tetteh, ET Mensah, Sherry Aryittey. Ex-president John Rawlings and his wife were however absent. Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah  Follow the link for photos of NDC’s Greater Accra regional rally at the Mantse Agbona

NPP calls for investigation into cost of classroom blocks

NPP Communications Director, Nana Akomea The opposition New Patriotic Party is calling for investigations into the cost of six-unit classroom blocks arguing the sharp rise in the cost the facility was alarmingly questionable. The NPP in a statement issued in Accra Wednesday and signed by its Communications Director, Nana Akomea, said astronomical increases in the cost of classroom blocks under the Mills administration gave rise to serious questions. Read below the entire statement as issued by the NPP In President Mills’ last “State of the Nation Address, Thursday February 16, 2012, he mentioned that “Contracts for the construction of over 1,700 classroom blocks for schools under trees have been awarded throughout the country.” We wish to bring to the Presidents attention, the gargantuan spiral in the cost of building 6 unit classroom blocks over the last two years. In November 2009, a six unit classroom block for JHS, with an office, store, staffroom, toilet and urinal was awarded at cost of GH¢72,812.00 at Awutu Senya District, Central Region. (Copy attached). In January 2012, just over two years later, the same 6 unit classroom block for JHS is costed at GH¢325,000 (or from ¢728 million to ¢3.25 billion) an increase of more than 450% in just two years. This is highly suspicious, given the declarations of achievements of low inflation and currency stability. We call on President Mills to have these costs investigated, as they fuel the public’s anxieties regarding rampant corruption within government. We also call for investigation into the award of contracts to the tune of $43,996,000.00 for the printing of Atlas Workbooks for basic schools in Ghana. The printing of these books have not been the priorities of either the Ghana Education Service nor the GetFund; hence these two institutions did not have them in their 2011 budgets. Yet the contracts have been awarded by the Ministry of Education despite the non provision for them in the 2011 budgets of both GetFund and GES. The decision could not even wait for the cost to be factored in the 2012 budgets of GetFund and GES. Bank loans have been contracted at high interest rates, to be paid by the Ghanaian taxpayer. An investigation into these is needed to ensure the public interest is protected. Signed: Hon. Nana Akomea NPP Communications Director

Don't use Rawlings' name to publicise NDC events - Rawlings

The office of former President Jerry Rawlings says neither he nor his wife, Nana Konadu, has been invited to a planned rally of the Greater Accra National Democratic Congress. The office is therefore cautioning organizers of the rally and other events to desist from using their names to publicize those events. A statement issued Thursday afternoon by the office said it has “noted with concern a creeping culture of using the name of the former President to publicize events, particularly NDC related even when he has not been invited or confirmed attendance.” “We have taken particular note of extensive publicity on the forthcoming rally of the Greater Accra Regional NDC at Mantse Agboena in which the media has been erroneously informed that President and Mrs. Rawlings have been invited to the attend. “This office wishes to inform the general public that it has received no invitation on behalf on President Rawlings. The only communication we have received from the Greater Accra NDC in the past few weeks is a letter dated February 21 and received on February 24 which requests the former President to grant audience to the Regional Secretariat to introduce parliamentary candidates for the 2012 elections. No mention is made of any rally in the said letter. “We wish to state that there are clear procedures for inviting President and Mrs. Rawlings to events. Individuals or organisations are required to send formal invitations in writing or seek audience to present their requests. None of the above has been brought to the attention of this office as far as the rally at Mantse Agbona on March 17 is concerned. “Once an invitation is received President and Mrs. Rawlings reserve the right to accept or turn down the invitation and it is only then, can the organisers choose to publicize their attendance.”

The Emerging Security Threats and Ghana Special Forces (Part 2)

Does Ghana Need Special Forces? West Africa where Ghana is situated occupies a strategically important position as a major energy supplier to the global energy market. Unfortunately the region is fast gaining notoriety and as a hub of militancy, terrorism, piracy, arm smuggling and drug trafficking. The growing threat from these sources demands a clear cut response to deal with them so as to redeem the region from its impacts. Ghana as ECOWAS state is not immune from such threats. There is enough evidence to suggest that drug cartels in Latin America have taken advantage of the poorly patrolled shorelines of West Africa using large mother ships to carry tonnes of cocaine and then station them on high seas. Afterwards they would use smaller boats to break them up for distribution to West African countries for onward shipment to Europe and America. Part of the evidence indicates that the cartels are moving major components of their operations to Ghana and other West African countries. This increasingly use of Ghana and West Africa by South American drug cartels poses serious existential threat to the security, peace and stability of the country and also to the entire sub region. Observers of the West African criminal networks have noted that the drug cartels are becoming bolder and sophisticated in their operations emboldened by large the profits they are making from the drug trade part of which has been used to acquire sophisticated weapons to protect their illegal activities.  In 2007 the UN published a report titled “Cocaine trafficking in West Africa: The threat to stability and development”. The report reiterated the need for serious human and material resources to be mobilised to confront the cartels and their operations and free Ghana and West Africa from the menace of the drug problem. Writing in the African Security journal in 2009 on the threat narco-trafficking poses to Ghana and the West African subregion, Kwesi Aning, security expert at Kofi Annan Peace Keeping Centre in Ghana noted that: “This [narco-trafficking] is the new frontier of war and an attack on West Africa’s fragile states. A threat that is more insidious and dangerous than the conflicts that engulfed West Africa in the 1990s and early twenty-first century. This is because the increasing flow of drugs through West African States is beginning to undermine the state, through weakening its institutions, its local communities, and its social fabric. Narco-incomes are replacing the legitimate incomes, and in some instances are providing services previously the responsibility of the states. Incomes from narcotics are basically distorting and undermining economies. The drug trade now forms a major part of transnational criminal activities taking place in West Africa. A whole sub-region now serves as a major transit point for illicit drugs coming mainly from South and Central America and Southeast and Southwest Asia to final destinations in South Africa, Europe, and North America. Critical transit points in Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, and Niger are witnessing an onslaught of drugs passing through their airports, harbors, and porous borders”.  Dr. Aning emphasised that the “narcotics poses a serious and veritable threat to West African states and threatens to undo all of the hesitant but positive steps that have occurred in the past decade”.  Examples worldwide including Mexico and Columbia indicate that regular armies are not capable of defeating the often sophisticated, well-funded and heavily armed drug cartels. The critical question is whether Ghana’s regular armed forces can defeat the cartels who are using Ghana as a base for their operations. The evidence is that it is unlikely. The sophisticated manner in which the cartels are operating demands that a specialised unit within the Ghana Navy, Army and Air Force be established and equipped with the capabilities and assets to confront them. Terrorism is a global problem and many armed forces are reforming themselves to respond to its challenge. West Africa and the Sahel region are also increasingly becoming a hot bed for terrorism. There are reports that AQIM or Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has plans to export terrorism to Sub Sahara Africa. Nigeria has become the latest casualty.  Already the governments of Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria have met to address the threat posed by terrorists. In January 2012 a similar meeting was held in Nouakchott by Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria. In Nigeria Boko Haram caught the Nigeria security forces unaware and it is fair to say that the armed forces and other security services struggled to mount a proper response to the Boko Haram challenge. The Federal government headed by Goodluck Jonathan came under serious criticism both home and abroad for not being able to deal with the Boko Haram threat. Part of the reason is that Nigeria armed forces appear not to have the specialised elite forces needed to deal with terrorism.  Documents we have seen indicate that Al Qaeda and its affiliates have big plans for the entire Sub Sahara Africa region including Ghana. Given the fact that no country is immune from terrorism a wait and see approach to the terror threat may not help Ghana in the long run. It will therefore be in order if Ghana gets itself prepared now to establish Special Forces within the Ghana Armed Forces for the purpose of confronting the global problem of terrorism. Militancy in West Africa especially in oil producing countries is a major problem. Almost all the countries in Africa where oil is being produced have seen some kind of instabilities and warfare; from Angola, to Congo, to Ivory Coast to Libya, to Nigeria and Sudan the examples are many. Ghana being an emerging oil producing country, the threats of few disgruntled individuals taking up arms and causing upset in the country cannot be ruled out in the long term. Already there is clear indication that weapon proliferation in Ghana (which could make instability in the oil producing part of Ghana possible) is growing and will give the country enormous challenge if it is not dealt with. Writing in the Journal of Contemporary African Studies Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan Centre noted in 2008 that: “While Ghana is generally perceived as a stable state, there are enough small arms in circulation to be worrying. In addition, there is increasing anxiety that the instability that has engulfed the West African region can impact negatively on Ghana if concerted endeavours are not undertaken to understand and map its proliferation of small arms. Critical indicators of the proliferation of small arms in Ghana are the daily reports of firearms-related criminal activities in all parts of the country, and the widespread availability and misuse of small arms, particularly pump action guns, shotguns, pistols and AK47s.”  Now take these weapons and send it to Takoradi, give it to few disgruntled people in the region and we will have major problems similar to the petrodollar-insurgency in Nigeria. In short the availability of these weapons coupled with other factors has the potential to affect the security of oil and gas production, transportation and supply effort of the country.  Research conducted in Takoradi and its environs indicate that the ingredients that have fueled the petro-insurgency in the Niger Delta also exist in Western Region. In Nigeria the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and other ethnic militias has been behind many of the attacks on oil and gas pipelines and other installations in the country. These attacks have sometimes affected gas supply from Nigeria to Ghana. The problem is that Nigeria’s regular forces have not been able to defeat the militants, a problem that forced the government to finally declare amnesty for the militants which reduced attacks on oil and gas facilities. But signs have appeared that the militants have resumed their activities. As Ghana’s oil production surges the threat of attacks on oil and gas installations must be taken serious. The threats by the youth in Jomoro that they will cause mayhem if the gas plant is not established in their district should not be taken lightly.  Hostage taking of oil and gas workers is a major appetite for criminal syndicates seeking to profit illegally from the oil and gas sectors. In many parts of the world it has been the duty of Special Forces to eliminate the threats posed by hostage takers and kidnappers. Unlike Nigeria, Ghana today has not gotten to the situation where oil and gas workers are kidnapped on the daily bases, but to prepare for that day will not be a wrong thing to do. From what is known in Nigeria about the failures to deal decisively with the militants the best team that can adequately response to threats against oil and gas infrastructures may be a specially trained elite force.  Another potential threat to Ghana’s oil and gas production ambitions comes from Ivory Coast which has declared its intention to contest oil and gas resources at the Ghana-Ivorian border. While the Ivorian claims can be settled peacefully through negotiation, arbitration or cooperation, confrontation cannot be ruled out when dialogue fails. The role of Special Forces in any modern war is of so strategic value that it cannot be reduced to party politics. In other words oil and gas production and supply come with it security challenges that cannot be ignored by any serious energy producing country. Another threat Ghana must prepare to deal with is the activities of pirates. The number of pirates’ activities off the coast of the Gulf of Guinea including Ghana and West Africa is growing. Major oil tankers and cargo ships carrying oil and raw materials from the Gulf of Guinea to U.S. and Europe have come under serious attacks from pirates. According to reports the pirates usually come with fast speed boats with sophisticated weapons, hijack ships, demand money and cart away its goods. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Live Piracy map and Live Piracy Report indicate that Gulf of Guinea in West Africa is one of the key zones where ships are increasingly under threat of being hijacked by pirates. The activities of pirates are increasingly threatening shipping routes, and trade in West Africa including Ghana. The pirates’ activities not only threaten the lives of crew but also put business and trade (the lifeblood of the resource export economies in West Africa including Ghana) under threat. On February 9th, 2012 at 04am local time four robbers armed with long knives boarded an offshore tug berthing at the Takoradi Port, in Ghana stole goods from the ship’s stores. The robbers threatened the watchmen who were on duty with long knives and escaped in a canoe with their stolen goods. Although the crew was safe and no casualties were reported the attack itself speaks volume of the threat that oil and cargo ships operating in Ghana ports and coastal waters face. What worries many experts and industry leaders is that the pirates are attacking ships further and further away from the coast leaving ships, their cargo and their crews very much vulnerable.  There are reports that shipping insurers in London are beginning to increase premium for ships operating in West African coastal waters including Ghana. Other reports also speak of oil and shipping companies asking NATO and Western governments to provide them with security to eliminate the pirates’ threat in West Africa and the Horn of Africa. If the pirates’ activities is allowed unchecked it will endanger business and trade activities not only in Ghana but also in the entire subregion. What is important so far as Ghana is concerned is its national security, economic security, political stability, international trade, and protection of human life. The growing threat from drug cartels, arms traffickers pirates, militants, and terrorists to the security of Ghana and its neighbours shows that it will be difficult for Ghana to confront these threats without adequately developing its own special forces to deal decisively with them. The key problem in Ghana is for the ruling government not to politicise the establishment of such elite forces and issuing threats to the effect that such forces will be used to deal with the opposition parties. For as soon as such threats are issued it degrades the importance of such a strategic national asset and weakens its standing in the eyes of the public.  Therefore it is crucial that the generals and admirals in the Ghana Armed Forces adhere to the concept of military honour which stipulates that the professional soldier must be above politics meaning that, in domestic politics, generals and admirals should do well not to attach themselves to political parties or overtly display partisanship. Therefore as noted by Sam C. Sarkesian the doctrine of an impartial, nonpartisan, objective career service, loyally serving whatever administration or party that is in power must be religiously respected by the Armed Forces to avert a situation where one political party will be inclined to dissolve the Special Forces when they come to power. Written by Lord Aikins Adusei Email: politicalthinker1@yahoo.com 10/03/2012 Reference Kwesi Aning (2008) “From ‘voluntary’ to a ‘binding’ process: towards the securitisation of small arms” Journal of Contemporary African Studies 26:2, pp.169-181 Kwesi Aning (2009) “Perspectives on President Barack Obama's Africa Foreign Policy” African Security, 2:1, pp. 66-67

The Emerging Security Threats and Ghana Special Forces (Part 1)

A section of the Special Forces as they marched at the anniversary parade

This is Part One of two articles. It seeks to achieve two objectives: first it looks at what Special Forces are; and second to look at the role Special Forces play and some of their accomplishments. Part Two of the article addresses the question as to whether or not Ghana needs Special Forces.

The participation of Ghana’s Special Forces in the country’s 55th Independence anniversary has ignited debate as first whether it is necessary for Special Forces to be created and second whether it was necessary for the force to be showcased the way it was. It is the belief of this author that per the traditional and non-traditional threats posed to the country and the West Africa sub region it is indeed prudent for such a force to be created. As to whether it was necessary for the force to be showcased the belief is that it depends on the function and role the special force is supposed to play.

What are Special Forces?

The development of Special Forces has a long history. Great Empires of history were built with armies that had Special Forces established in them. In the old Testament of the Holy Bible we are told in 1 Chronicle 11:10-15 and 1 Samuel 25:13; 27:2 that within King David’s regular soldiers of 400 to 600 men there were 30 elite men who helped him to establish and consolidate his monarchy. These 30 elite warriors which included Joab, Yashobeam, Eleazar, Shammah and Abishai are known in military vocabulary as David Heroes (or haggibborim in Hebrew). Colonel Yasotay, an officer in the army of Genghis Khan, the great Mongolian Emperor, is reported to have told General Khan that “when the hour of crisis comes, remember that 40 selected men can shake the world”. Colonel Yasotay was referring to how during missions of national strategic importance or during military campaign, a small but specially trained elite force could change the dynamics and outcome of a complex and difficult situation far beyond any physical measure of their capability.

Special Forces (SF) are smaller secret military units within a country’s armed forces which perform specific assignments in furtherance of the objectives of the state. According to Alastair Finlan, an expert in Strategic Studies at Aberystwyth University UK, Special Forces represent a different kind of soldier who can operate overtly and covertly, not only on the battlefield and behind enemy lines, but also – when necessary – undercover within civil society. Anna Simons and David Tucker both defence experts at the Department of Defense Analysis of the US Naval Postgraduate School, write that Special Forces comprise of specific units with a range of different, but sometimes overlapping capabilities. Sergio Miller, a BBC researcher, adds that Special Forces are silent warriors who combine minimum manpower demands with maximum possibilities of surprise to achieve the impossibilities. They are strategic assets to their militaries helping regular and irregular forces to achieve overwhelming advantage over the enemy.

Many modern armed forces have Special Forces that carry out special and daring missions on behalf of the nation. However, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in U.S. and the successes of Special Forces during the Afghan and Iraq wars, there have been renewed interest and substantial growth in the number of Special Forces worldwide. It is estimated that there are now more than 70 countries worldwide with their own Special Forces. Since 1948 the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has relied on three well known Special Forces including Sayeret, Shayetet 13, and Shaldag. 


In the British Armed Forces, Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) are very popular units which carry covert and special operations around the world on behalf of the British government. In the United States Special Forces units fall under the command of U.S. Special Operational Command (USSOCOM) and include US Navy SEALs; US Army Special Forces units (popularly called the Green Berets), US Army Rangers, Special Mission Units, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Civil Affairs (CA), Psychological Operation forces (PSYOP); US Air Force special tactics teams and fixed wing and rotary wing air assets.

In the U.S. for example Special Forces have transitioned from a marginalised force structure to a prominent and vital part of the strategy of the U.S. military. Jennifer D. Kibbe, Olin Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, notes that Special Forces have become an increasingly important weapon not only in the U.S. military but also in the broader U.S. national security arsenal. 


Matthew Johnson of Missouri State University, points out that the growing importance of Special Forces has made them the force of choice to confront a broad spectrum of irregular threats that dominate the current security environment. According to Steven Lambakis, an analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy in Fairfax, U.S.A., Special Forces have become the force of choice worldwide because they have the ability to perform at different levels of conflict, independently and in conjunction with larger operations. Sergio Miller points out that Special Forces “succeed because they do the undoable. . . Special forces, quite simply, are an army's joker hand”.

Why are Special Forces established?

Special Forces are established for specific reasons. Alastair Finlan quoted above has observed that the imbalance between the British and German Air Forces during World War II forced Britain to establish the Special Air Service (SAS) which went ahead to use unconventional methods and techniques to alter the strategic situation in favour of the British forces. He adds that the SAS was formed “because it appeared to offer a cost- effective means of redressing the balance using men armed with high explosives dropped off near their targets by lorry or jeep”.

Special Forces are also established to respond to unexpected situations such as unexpected attacks by enemy forces, kidnapping and hostage taking by terrorists, pirates and militant groups. Anna Simons and David Tucker quoted above observe that the US Army Rangers for example specialises in seizing airfields while Special Mission Units train specifically for hostage rescue and anti terrorism missions.

Stanislaw Kulczynski, a Lieutenant Colonel at the Polish National Defense Academy, notes that the functions and roles play by Special Forces around the world include but not limited to the following: 1 Conducting intelligence and reconnaissance missions including obtaining the enemy's latest equipment, armaments, military plans, and taking prisoners, and conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, patrol and other similar operations. 2 Engaging in missions to assist the combat operations of conventional forces; 3 Developing and conducting guerrilla warfare (training of a guerrilla force; organization, command, control and supervision of a guerrilla force); 4 Developing and conducting counter guerrilla operations; 5 Conducting diversion and sabotage including disruption of the enemy's chain of command and of their supply lines; destruction of communication systems and impeding transport of enemy troops and materiel; 6 Conducting psychological operations including misinformation; creating an atmosphere of defeat, spreading chaos, panic and terror; 7 Conducting rescue operations including organizing escapes from captivity, rescuing hostages and prisoners of war; 8 Conducting anti-terrorist actions; 9 Training allied units.

From the various functions and roles performed by Special Forces it is relatively fair to say that Special Forces engage in two distinctively different but complementary kinds of combat mission: those involving direct action, and those in support of unconventional warfare including sabotage, penetrating into the enemy territories to gather intelligence and working behind the enemy lines and securing strategic infrastructures on behalf of the country during hostilities.

Some of the operations that Special Forces are known to have been involved in include anti-terrorist operations, rescue operations, intelligence and reconnaissance, diversion and sabotage, counter guerrilla operations, training allied units, interdictions operations and psychological operations.


Exploits of Special Forces

The following accounts give the achievements of Special Forces and explain why they are valued around the world. People who have been following the news in Nigeria from Thursday (08/03/2012) would notice that the UK Special Boat Service (SBS) was involved in the failed bid to free two men (Chris McManus 28 and Franco Lamolinara) who had been taken hostage by members of the Boko Haram in Nigeria. 


In May 2011 the US Navy SEALs successfully killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan and removed the threat posed by the Al Qaeda leader. In January 2012 members of the Navy SEALs, with support from regular armed forces, freed two hostages (Jessica Buchanan, 32, an American and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, a Dane) in Somalia after killing about nine of the hostage takers. 


During World War II German Special Forces were credited for the surprise taking of the impregnable Belgian fortress at Eben Emael. 


In Operation Thunderball which took place on July 4, 1976, a 7 member team drawn from the Israeli Special Forces flew 2500 miles from Israel to Uganda and successfully rescued 105 hostages, killing 7 terrorists and 120 Ugandan soldiers in what has become known as the Entebbe raid.

Timothy Garden author of “Iraq: The Military Campaign” notes that during the Iraq war “Special Forces were deployed to secure key targets, provide intelligence and reconnaissance to optimize air strikes, and for traditional disruption tasks”. He adds that Western Iraq was secured mainly by Special Forces. 


In the same Iraq war, Prof. Garden notes that the Australian military had 500 Special Forces operating in western and north-western Iraq. Their work helped to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction which Saddam was launching towards Israel. They also helped to secure Al Isad, the second largest airfield in Iraq. The British Special Air Service (SAS) also helped to secure Basra and the oil fields in the south of Iraq. In Afghanistan Special Forces played strategic role not only in toppling the Taliban but also in disorganizing the Al Qaeda terrorist network which saw its leaders fleeing to Pakistan for cover.

Alastair Finlan quoted above notes that the UK SAS played a key role in the Falklands war between Argentina and Britain in 1982. He adds that within fifteen months of its formation in 1941 the SAS destroyed between 250–400 enemy aircrafts on the ground in addition to other targets of opportunity. 


The Special Forces demonstrated the viability of conducting operations behind enemy lines through parachute deployments which by 1944 included the means to drop all-important vehicles such as jeeps to preserve the vital mobility element that had proved so successful in North Africa and Italy. One SAS officer is reported to have said that “It was not our numbers but our ideas which made a big difference”. 


Sayeret, Shayetet 13, and Shaldag of Israel played key role in helping Israel win the three wars she fought with her Arab neighbours including the independence war in 1948, the Six Day war in1967 and the Yom Kupur War in1973.

By whatever margin Special Forces have indeed become the weapon of choice, an indispensable arsenal not only to wrought havoc within the camp of the enemy but also to remove any threat such enemies might pose. Ohad Leslau of Israel’s Haifa University argues that Special Forces have the potential to play a distinct role, but can also complement the primary military effort. Leslau adds that Special Forces can be a decisive force, and “should therefore be considered a central element in strategic planning”.


Written by Lord Aikins Adusei
Email: politicalthinker1@yahoo.com
10/03/2012

Reference
Alastair Finlan (2009) ‘The (Arrested) Development of UK Special Forces and the Global War on Terror’ Review of International Studies vol 35 pp.971–982

Anna Simons and David Tucker (2010) “United States special operations forces and the war on terrorism” Small Wars & Insurgencies, 14:1, pp.77-91

Jennifer D. Kibbe, (2007) “Covert Action and the Pentagon,” Intelligence and National Security, 22/1 pp. 57-74

Timothy Garden (2003) “Iraq: The Military Campaign” International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944- ), Vol. 79, No. 4 pp. 701-718

Ghana at 55, why haven't we developed or when shall we develop?

Ghana is 55 years old and as usual there are celebrations on the streets: school kids, workers, and the security forces are marching and singing. It is a great joy to be involved in such occasions but there is one very critical question that everyone is celebrating: what are we celebrating? If the answer is independence from the tyranny of the British who dominated Ghana's political, economic, social and cultural scene for decades and yet failed to industrialise the country then it is fair enough to say that the celebrations are worth it but if the it is about our economic development and social progress then we must ask ourselves have we really done much. 

Some will say yes we have others will say no. But I think if we compare ourselves with our neighbours (Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Namibia, Gabon, Sudan) then it will be wrong to say that Ghana has not achieved anything however if we compare ourselves with countries in Asia that achieved independence within the same period as Ghana then it will be very difficult to say that Ghana has developed. South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore are our contemporaries but if we look at their level of development, their standard of living and their GDP, the things they produce and export, it becomes obvious that Ghana is no where near them. We simply have not developed; we have been sleeping despite the fact that we have natural resources more than even Korea. 

Of course natural resources alone do not bring development. And that is our major problem. We have a lot of natural resources including strategic ones such as oil, gold, diamond, timber, bauxite and yet we seem to be wallowing in poverty. The problem is that Ghana has not build up the stock of other capital that could enable her good use of its natural resources: education, infrastructure, savings and technology.

There is appallingly poor leadership in the country. The nationalist instincts that pushed Nkrumah to build Akosombo Dam, Tema Harbour, Kwame Nkrumah University, Cape Coast University, and all the strategic national assets seem to have been lost. The leadership who came after Nkrumah failed to think ahead. They failed to build on the foundation laid down by him. They ignored education particularly technology, science, engineering, mathematics the very areas driving development in Malaysia, Korea and Singapore.  The frequency with which the politicians in the country change policies on education (3 years NDC, 4 years NPP) has been a major problem.

We did not encourage and promote local entrepreneurs and destroyed factories that could be better managed to bring in revenue to develop the country.

We failed to save money during good times which could be used to develop and build infrastructure during bad times. The ministers and directors who work in ministries and departments have become selfish: no more interested in the well being of the country.

And most importantly the country and its leaders failed to work closely with the West to benefit from technology, financial assets and human capacity building. The few occasions where we did work with them we were not smart enough to seek the interest of Ghana and so did not benefit from our relationship with them.

Ghana must go back to the drawing board and look at how we have failed and develop a proper and comprehensive response to it.

L.A. Adusei

Ghana at 55, Payments to Woyome and Construction Pioneers,

It is on record that the government of Ghana paid 51.2 million cedis to Mr. Woyome and another 94 million cedis to Construction Pioneers. I do not fault Woyome and CP for going to court to claim what they thought were rightfully theirs. I am glad that the state has gone to court to reclaim the money from Woyome however, following the story and papers that are in the public it seems to me that ministers and directors representing the people of Ghana failed to protect the interest of the state by strongly defending her. Mr. Martin Amidu has strongly suggested Ghana could have defended the payments made to Woyome but legal director refused to do so seeking his own interest rather than the collective interest of the people of Ghana. With regards to Construction Pionneer it also appears that directors and public officials at the various ministries once again failed to protect the interest of the state. It is on record that as at the time when Construction Pioneer was being paid the 94 million cedis it was owing Ghana several million cedis in taxes which could have been deducted yet the finance ministry did not do their work and allowed the money to be paid in full.

These payments to Woyome and CP give me the reason why at 55 years Ghana cannot produce goods of durable quality and higher value except the usual raw materials we export. We want to call on President Mills to put some seriousness to the work he is doing and look for the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians. If he cannot represent the interest of the people of Ghana then he should humbly step down for his Vice to continue till the next elections are help in December 2012. At this point of hour history Ghana needs people who love her and will do everything to protect its interest not the money grabbing ministers and directors who have made Europe and America their first home and Ghana their second home. President Mills should do all that he can to save Ghana the agony of having to lose so much money when we are always virtually begging IMF, World Bank and China to give us loans. We must protect the little we have and not just waste it on judgement debts.

I think there is too much rot in the Ministries of Finance and Justice involving the civil servants and public officials working there and the rot must be soughted out at all cost. The only person who can sought that rot out is the President.

God Bless Ghana.

LAA

Election 2012 to be tough challenge for NDC - Economist Intelligent Unit Report

President John Evans Atta Mills

UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit is predicting adverse for the ruling NDC in the upcoming elections.

In its latest release on the political outlook for Ghana, it says the party is set to suffer because of the financial scandal that has rocked the Mills administration.

The March 2012 report projects that the outcome of the December presidential polls could be just as close as that in 2008 and could well hinge on how the public perceives the ongoing woyome scandal.

"Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) released its first investigation report into the scandal involving unjustified payments to a man
with links to the NDC. A number of arrests stemmed from EOCO’s findings. Although the swiftness of the EOCO report and the decisiveness of the arrests that followed demonstrated that Mr Mills was taking the matter seriously, his reputation has been badly damaged by the scandal."  

Here is the full release

Betty Mould never authorized Woyome payment –lawyer

Betty Mould Iddrisu Counsel for the former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu is adamant his client never authorized the payment of GHS 51 million to business man Alfred Woyome. Nana Ato Dadzie told Joy News a December 9, 2010 letter signed by his client and forwarded to the Finance Ministry cannot by any stretch of the imagination constitute an instruction to pay the judgment debt to Alfred Woyome. The Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye Tetteh who is facing prosecution had cited the controversial letter averring that the letter directed the finance ministry to pay the entire GHS 51 million, contrary to the court directive that GHS 17 million be paid. Mr Nerquaye Tetteh also stated that Mrs Iddrisu had told him that the letter was brought to her attention by the Chief of Staff. But in a reaction, Nana Ato Dadzie who is lawyer for Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu said that letter is clear and cannot form the basis on which any payment will be made. According to him, the letter was only a proposal sent to the Finance Ministry “as part of a whole discussion.” Asked what proposal that was, Mr Dadzie said it was a proposal offered by Woyome and his counsel after a pre-trial attempt at settlement had been entered into with the state. He said the letter which read "proposal pursuant to the pre-trial directive" cannot in anyway indict Betty Mould Iddrisu in the controversial saga. According to him, the former AG was almost nailed over that letter but critics have since revised their notes after having had the full details of the letter.  Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah

Woyome lawyer confesses; I was wrong

Rockson Dafeamerkpor Lawyer for the beleaguered business man Alfred Woyome has admitted making factual inaccuracies in his bid to clear what he said were negative stories about his client. Rockson Nelson Dafeamerkpor only last week told Joy FM his client-Alfred Woyome- had made payment to the tune of GHS 400,000 in respect of a land his client had bought from Mrs Nerquaye, wife of the State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye Tetteh who is facing charges of willfully causing financial loss to the state in what has become the controversial Woyomegate scandal. He swore that the land documents and payment schedule were available to vindicate his client. But the State Attorney who is pleading innocence and convinced he is being used as a scape goat, issued a contradictory statement in which he stated that his only sin in the Woyomegate scandal was that his wife received a loan from Alfred Woyome. Not convinced with the palpable contradictions from key officials in the scandal, Joy FM decided to explore and to find out who was telling the truth. Rockson Nelson Dafeamerkpor told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh on Monday his earlier comments were ill informed and inaccurate. “…Subsequent to my interview with Joy FM, I have been further apprised on this matter. The fact truly that the GHS 400,000 payment made… was actually in respect of a loan advanced to assist the business of Mrs. Nerquaye.” “…My further instructions on this particular issue have established that my earlier submission on Joy FM was inaccurate,” he confessed. He said there are documentations to substantiate the contract for the advancement of the loan. He stated further that as part of repayment of the loan, Mrs Nerquaye arranged to use six plots of land as collateral. According to him, in the event that the land is not sufficient, further arrangements have been made for Woyome to own an equity in the business Mrs. Woyome was running. He did not however state the nature of the business. Mr. Dafeamerkpor however stated categorically that at the time the payment was made, Mr Nerquaye was never in charge of Woyome’s case. He however did not find it curious at all that his client was engaging in business with the wife of a State Attorney who had a role to play in the pursuit of his client’s case in court, saying, Woyome entered into the transaction with a “clear conscience.” On the payment made to former deputy Sports Minister and MP for Aburi Nsawam, OB Amoah, Mr Dafeamerkpor said two payments-GHS 70,000 and GHS 5,000 were made to him. The first being payment for his consultation and role he played in securing acres of land for Woyome and second was a gift. Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah

Ignore politics; consider competence in constituting Boards - Arthur Kennedy

Dr. Arthur Kennedy A hospital administrator and a member of the New Patriotic Party says appointing authorities must consider competence rather than party affiliation in constituting Boards of institutions. Dr. Arthur Kennedy believes when that is done people with the technical know-how will be able to raise resources to help the institutions they have been appointed to oversee. His comments follow agitations by workers of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital who are demanding the dissolution of the board. They accuse the board of mismanagement. Sector Minister Alban Bagbin had hinted of the re-constitution of the Board after the resignation of its chairman. Dr. Kennedy was surprised the Board is being accused by the workers of mismanaging the hospital saying, “Elsewhere, the boards are not supposed to manage institutions. They govern and then there is a management team that actually manages the institution.” “…When we are naming these board members we should ignore politics and look at competence. Politics plays too much of a role in how we do these things,” he said. He conceded the problem at Korle-bu may not necessarily be the fault of the managers or board members but inadequate infrastructure to work with and advised successive governments to make available the needed infrastructure and logistics for managers and board members to succeed.

Woyome Scandal: Prosecution Not Ready For Trial...Begs For More Time

Related Stories     The state on Monday asked for further adjournment to enable the Police to unravel the complexities in the case involving Alfred Agbesi Woyome and three others for their role in the controversial GH¢51.2 million judgment debt payment. Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Chief State Attorney has therefore prayed for a month adjournment. Ms Lamptey told the Financial Division of an Accra Fast Track High Court that currently the office had an incomplete docket on which the accused persons were arraigned, as such the Police would need a month to complete investigations into the complexities in the matter. Meanwhile the court asked the public to desist from trying the matter on the airwaves and urged all who have evidence to channel them to the court. It further tasked the prosecution, especially the investigation team, to expedite investigations into the matter as it was not happy with the turn of events. Mr Osafo Buabeng, one of Woyome’s lawyers noted that it appeared prosecution was not ready, pointing out that it could not bring someone to court without charges. Woyome is standing trial alongside Samuel Neequaye-Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney; Paul Asimenu, the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, and Mrs Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh, Nerquaye-Tetteh’s wife. Mrs Neequaye-Tetteh has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties and also ordered to report herself to the police twice a week. Woyome has pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretence and corrupting a public officer and has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢20 million with three sureties to be justified. Neequaye-Tetteh has been charged with two counts of conspiracy and corruption of a public officer and has pleaded not guilty to the offence, while his wife faces one count of abetment of crime. Asimenu, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to one count of abetment of crime. Neequaye-Tetteh and Asimenu have also been granted bail in the sum of GH¢6,000 each, with two sureties each, one each to be justified. The facts of the case are that in 2009, Woyome made a false representation to the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, stating that he had a contract with the Government of Ghana regarding the construction of sports stadia for CAN 2008 but that the contract had unlawfully been abrogated. According to the prosecution, Woyome subsequently filed a writ at the High Court, claiming he was owed GH¢41 million and interest of GH¢10.2 million, bringing the total to GH¢51.2 million. The prosecution said moneys paid were GH¢17.9 million in February 2010, GH¢10 million on January 27, 2011, GH¢10 million on April 18, 2011 and GH¢14.1 million on September 12, 2011. It said investigations showed that the government did not owe Woyome any money, while Neequaye-Tetteh failed to go to court to defend the action Woyome had instituted against the state. The prosecution further pointed out that Woyome had transferred GH¢400,000 into Mrs Neequaye-Tetteh’s account. Investigations also revealed that as the director of Legal Services, Asimenu had written opinions and quoted wrong figures, as well as given information, which created conditions for Woyome to be paid money which was not due him (Woyome). The matter has been adjourned to March 26.

Source: GNA