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Ghana Army: Is it ‘useless’?
Wikipedia defines “useful” as able to be used for practical purpose in several ways.
Synonyms for “useful” include beneficial, rewarding, productive, valuable, helpful and utilitarian.
It defines “useless” also as not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome.
Synonyms for “useless” include purposeless, hopeless, fruitless, broken, unusable, impotent, junky, unprofitable and ineffectual.
Readers, Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor is reported to have described the Ghana Army as “useless” in his social media post, even though he has not been provoked in any way, by the disciplined Ghana Army.
And who is Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor? He is said to be the ring leader of the FixtheCountry Movement.
Reportedly, the FixtheCountry Movement is a youthful Ghanaian group that claims to be non-partisan and non-political, which aims at mobilising thousands of Ghanaians for series of demonstrations, for a so-called new Ghana.
But many Ghanaians strongly believe that “the FixtheCountry Movement is a creation of the opposition National Democratic Congress and clothed with the orchestration to destabilise the Akufo-Addo led government”, thus, with the intent to making it unpopular, so that the NDC could ride on its back to power, come 2024.
Others also say:”The cat is now out of the bag because the ring leader of the movement, Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was a legal and policy adviser to President John Mahama’s administration.
“And that it was under President Mahama’s led government that Ghana’s economy got rotten.”
The ring leader of the moment, was last Monday, (February 14, 2022), put before the Ashaiman District Court and ‘slapped’ with treason felony in accordance with Section 182(b) of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He was arrested last Friday at the Kotoka International Airport on his arrival from London and was detained by the Tema Regional Police Command.
Barker-Vormawor’s arrest and prosecution is in relation to a social media post in which he threatened to stage a coup if the Electronic Transaction Levy Bill (E-levy), which is currently under consideration in Parliament, is passed into law.
The police insist that Barker-Vormawor’s social media post “contained a clear statement of intent, with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”
Without any provocation from the Ghana Army, he described the Ghana Army as “useless”.
An army within the military set-up, is a ground force or land force. It is a fighting force that fights primarily on land.
In some countries, such as France and China, the term “army”, especially in its plural form, “armies”, has the broader meaning of armed forces as a whole, while retaining the colloquial sense of land forces.
To differentiate the colloquial army from the formal concept of military force, the term is qualified. For instance, in France, the land force is known as Land Army while the land and space force, is also referred to as Air and Space Army.
The naval force, although not using the term “army”, is also included in the broad sense of the term, armies,thus, the French Navy is an integral component of the collective French Armies (French Armed Forces) under the Ministry of the Armies.
Readers, a similar pattern is seen in China and other countries. So, in effect, one cannot tell whether Barker-Vormawor was referring to the colloquial Ghana Army or the Ghana Armed Forces.
A standing army is a permanent, often professional institution. It is composed of full-time soldiers who may be either career soldiers or conscripts.
Standing armies tend to be better equipped, better trained and better prepared for emergencies, defensive deterrence and particularly wars.
Mr. Kwame Jantuah, Chief Executive Officer of Accra-based African Energy Consortium Limited, says:”Barker-Vormawor, being a Constitutional Lawyer should know that the right to free speech comes with responsibilities.
“You don’t just get up and say things and just walk free because free speech comes with limitations.”
Mr. Kwame Jantuah charges:”Nobody should even think about a coup in Ghana because it won’t help us. The situation we are in today, will be 10 times worse if there is a coup in Ghana.”
Readers, I am rather concerned about Barker-Vormawor’s description of the Ghana Army as “useless”. Is it because they have “refused” to assist him to organise his coup?
Is it also the case that the Ghana Army has threatened to deal ruthlessly with Barker-Vormawor and his FixtheCountry Movement, should they make any attempt to derail the democratic and economic progress made so far by our country?
Really, what at all incensed and “raptured” the “bile” of Barker-Vormawor to describe the Ghana Army as “useless”?
Readers, can anyone contemplate what was raking the conscience of Barker-Vormawor to have described the Ghana Army as “useless”, besides his coup making hallucinations?
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asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
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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