Features
A dilemma called Ghana (Final Part)
The Independence Arch
So, in the evening of July 24, 2012, John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as President of Ghana to complete the term of Prof. Atta Mills according to constitutional provisions. This was barely five months until Election 2012.
John Mahama was declared elected president by the Electoral Commission in that election, but Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP would have none of it and marched to the Supreme Court to contest the results. Governance almost stalled for the next eight months till the Supreme Court ruled John Mahama as duly elected.
In my estimation, Akufo-Addo lost the election and, I believe, he and his party knew it. The recourse to the Court was a needless waste of time even if some of us got educated on some legal jargon and expressions.
To me, these were just ego trips to court public sympathy for the bruises inflicted by their electoral loss, nothing more.
After his victory in 2012, John Mahama embarked on a massive infrastructure development in health facilities, the energy sector, schools, roads, the airport, housing, markets and others as if to compensate for the eight lost months of litigation at the Supreme Court. But the opposition did not let up. Mahama’s administration was accused of corruption by the opposition.
Issues like the purchase of an aircraft from Brazil, GYEDA and a gift of a Ford vehicle to the President were played in the media space as acts of corruption. There was this laughable one of a flock of Guinea fowls flying from farms in the North across our frontier into Burkina Faso. One thing I know from people close to Mahama was that he caused rumours of corruption against his appointees investigated. Indeed, an appointee was imprisoned as a result.
One positive act of Mahama’s administration was the setting up of the Heritage Fund in which millions of dollars from a percentage of the oil sector was deposited for the future. Teacher education was increased with the withdrawal of trainee allowances and replaced with a students loan regime to enable more teachers to be trained. This was met with opposition from the NPP which promised to reverse it if they regained power.
Our Presidents come to office with certain personal traits. Unlike President Atta Mills, who was a stickler for punctuality, John Mahama hardly is on time for any public event. Nana Addo is also noted for being very punctual with his time. Noted for his reliance on his fan base, President Rawlings would rather be late so as to receive adulation from his fans. President Kufuor was respected in this regard.
Election 2016 was quite as toxic as the previous ones before it. Accusations and counter accusations of corruption were thrown into the fray from every angle imaginable. Nana Addo had mouthwatering promises the electorate were hardput to ignore. He would reduce the cost of buying fuel. One village, one dam. A million dollars for each constituency each year. Free Senior High School education and many more.
Any dispassionate observer of the political scene was clear in their minds that it would take more than his massive development agenda to retain John Mahama as President. Of course, Mahama campaigned on this record of achievement.Truth be told, Mahama did everything but appeal to the grassroots. He seemed to keep a distance from the ordinary people.
As it turned out, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was elected president and was sworn in on January 7, 2017. Almost every project initiated by the Mahama administration that was yet to be completed was abandoned. What came to be known as E-Block Senior High School buildings were left to rot. An affordable housing project at Saglemi was left to deteriorate.
In order to be seen to fulfill his campaign promises, Akufo-Addo began to implement the Free SHS programme, very much against advice from stakeholders and professionals to go gradually with its implementation.
Dugouts were presented as dams, many existing businesses were touted as his one district one factory project, but not even one constituency saw the million dollars. Fuel prices rather kept rising at the pumps to the chagrin of his own supporters. Comparisons started as to whether Mahama was a better leader.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia became the poster boy of the government, touting the administration’s economic management. The very statements he made about government economic policy while he was in opposition stared him in the face at every turn.
Teacher trainee allowances were restored, but admissions were drastically curtailed as were nursing trainees. SHS and basic school timetables were so jumbled up that guardians did not know when their wards would be in or out of school.
Nana Addo appointed the highest number of Ministers in the country’s political history. Issues of massive corrupt practices surfaced against his administration as well. Family, friends and cronies became beneficiaries of political patronage.
Then COVID 19 was upon the world. Purported to have originated in China, the virus took the world by storm, infecting millions on a killing spree. As at the beginning of this week, Ghana has recorded only 1,462 deaths with only 34 active cases. It must be admitted that Ghana under Akufo-Addo managed the pandemic better than many other nations of the world. However, COVID and the war in Ukraine have become the excuses government spokespersons give for the economic dilemma the country is in today.
Ghanaians went to the polls on December 7, 2020, to elect a new government. John Mahama was once again the flagbearer of the NDC. His record was pitted against Nana Addo’s. For the first time since 1992 Ghana’s Electoral Commission could not make up their minds on the true figures to announce for the presidential poll. Eventually, they announced Nana Addo as winner though the NDC almost won more seats in Parliament.
Methinks this was why John Mahama also headed for the Supreme Court. My information has been that there were people close to Mahama who worked against him. Their beef was that John had lost touch with the base of the Party. He was running the campaign like a celebrity superstar, they said. So they botched the setting up of a credible collation centre. My astrological predictions for Election 2020 was published in this column on December 4, 2020. Another concern for these people, which has been expressed by many media friends is what they describe as Mahama’s rabid desire to keep Mr. Stan Dogbe as his closest confidant. My information is that Mahama is aware of this concern but seems unwilling to do anything about it.
Many journalists feel that Stan denied them access to Mahama. Many big shots in the Party are worried about this and fear the Stan Dogbe factor could affect the electoral fortunes of the former President.
Now, my take: Ghana is not in a dilemma; Ghana is the dilemma.
Nothing seems to be working in the land. Food prices have hit the roof. The dollar is difficult for our currency to match. Government refused to heed advice to go to the IMF. It refused to even review the Free SHS programme. A tin of mackerel is fed a soup for a dozen students.
Today, Ghana is with the IMF. We are ready to review the Free SHS programme. If this country were not a dilemma, why do we elect people who are impervious to sound advice? Why do we elect people who listen only to themselves? Over 80 members of Parliament demand the President should expel the Minister of Finance, but get ignored.
By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia
Writer’s email address: akofa45@yahoo.com
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
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