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Parliament: Bagbin needs long ‘health break’
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There is no doubt in the minds of many responsible Ghanaians that our Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is now more than ‘a national human property’, belonging to the entire Republic of Ghana.
Though, indisputably, he is a top-notch breed of the Opposition National Democratic Congress, his arch critics, even concede that he is a very hard ‘political nut’ to crack by both sides of the ‘mainstream’ political divide in the country.
Some analysts also claim that most often, Rt. Honourable Bagbin’s own political party finds it ‘extremely difficult’ ‘lobbying him’ to turn towards a certain direction in the august House.
Indeed, some tag him as an enigma and liken him to NPP’s Rt. Honourable Peter Ala Adjetey (of blessed memory), the 2nd Speaker of Parliament of the 4th Republic.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines enigma as a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
Viewed as more than ‘a national human property’, many concerned admirers and critics of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are now turning their attention to his recent ‘looks’, having undergone about three medical reviews in the United Arab Emirates.
As a matter of fact, the actual nature of his sickness is unknown to the Ghanaian public.
It is, however, public Knowledge that from critical physical observation, he has lost weight considerably and looks emaciated, with apparent tiredness ‘hanging’ on his face; compared with his ‘very handsome’ physical looks in January 2021, when he was elected Speaker of Parliament.
The health of our Speaker of Parliament was highlighted by the media when he first left Ghana on November 27, 2021, for Dubai to undergo a medical review.
After two weeks in Dubai for medical review, he returned to the country in December 2021. And on January 7, 2022, he went back to Dubai for a second medical review and returned to Ghana on 23rd January, 2022.
In March 2022, he reportedly went back to Dubai for a third review,thus, raising ‘national eyebrows’.
Readers, from the foregoing, some admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are of the view that he needs to take ‘a long health break’ to cure himself, so as to recover properly before returning to preside over business of Parliament.
They argue that the SPEAKERSHIP POSITION of Parliament is an onerous national duty that constantly saps the intellect and the physical energy of the occupant and urge Rt. Honourable Bagbin to take a long break to heal himself.
Some of his admirers claim that even though he has a very ‘tough skin’ for criticisms, incessant media reports about his travels abroad for medical reviews, might psychologically affect his recovery ‘processes’ and call for his ‘hibernation’ until his full recovery.
Media reports indicate that his medical reviews in Dubai have been a source of worry to many Ghanaians, including the Majority in Parliament, especially during the consideration of the Electronic Levy Bill on the floor of Parliament.
Some media reports claim that the expenses involved in the Speaker’s medical trips are a drain on the public purse; involving airfares, per diems, medical and hotel bills.
Some of the reports alleged that Rt. Honourable Bagbin was on his medical trips with his wife and some of his children and collected allowance of $1,000 per diem while his wife took $800 per diem.
A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on March 7, 2022, however, said “the constant focus of the media on the Speaker’s medical trips to Dubai, while there is silence on the travels of other members of government is unfair and puts the Speaker up for ridicule.”
According to the statement, “what is intriguing is the focus on Mr Speaker’s travels and the efforts at exaggerating the costs.”
Responding to some of the media reports, the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, through his counsel, Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, said in a statement dated November 29, 2021, that “the Speaker being mindful of the times in which the country finds itself, travelled with a comparatively skeletal staff, taking into consideration the economic situation in the country and bearing in mind, the need for frugal and prudent spending.
“His Office, therefore, is not happy about reports on the trip, particularly on why he is accessing health care abroad, rather than at home.”
Wikipedia defines ‘need’ as, requiring something, because it is essential or very important, rather than just desirable.
This column, therefore, aligns with the admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin, to the effect that he NEEDS ‘a health break’ to fully recover; to revert to his handsomeness before returning to preside over the business of Parliament.
So, over to you, the handlers of Rt. Honourable A.S.K Bagbin.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
There is a culture that permeates all aspects of leadership in the advanced countries which I believe has contributed to the success in all aspects of their national lives. Citizens strive to excel so that they will not find themselves in a situation where they would have failed, to necessitate a decision to resign.
Countries where failure is frowned upon, it pushes the citizens to strive for success. In our part of the world, failure and mediocrity has become an accepted norm and therefore, there is no shame in failing in a particular position of leadership.
A head of an organisation mismanages the place and he does not see the need for him to resign. The appointing authority does not also see the need to sack him and so the merry go round continues.
It becomes friends and family as usual and if care is not taken, the rest of the world will leave us far, far behind.
The practice of resignation in parts of the world for failure in some parts of the world has to be institutionalised in our country too. It encourages the principle of accountability which is good for any organisation, sector of an economy or a country.
It promotes good governance, a necessary ingredient in the growth of the economy of any country.
When this practice becomes a culture, every individual, privileged to hold a position of trust, gives his or her full attention to the job assigned him or her, to ensure that objectives are achieved.
This trickles down to every individual down the chain of command and there are no rooms for errors.
That is how efficient systems are built over time and this is the difference between advanced nations and third world countries.
Where systems are designed such that people take responsibility for things that go wrong under their supervision or ultimate responsibility, there is evidence of development.
There are a few people that I admire in Ghana as far as this culture of resignation based on principled stance. One of them is the late Mrs Emma Mitchell. She was a cabinet member but chose to resign after the confrontation between late President Jerry Rawlings and late Vice President Kow Akaah.
She was not prepared to be part of a cabinet which was lying to the general public that Rawlings did not assault Akaah.
She was of the conviction that telling the truth is more honourable than telling lies and that if she was bound by confidentiality oaths to tell a lie, then she would resign and she did exactly that.
That is how we build a culture of truth and accountability. We have people in positions who have not lived up to expectation but are still holding on to their positions not prepared to let go of it.
This is a clear case of display of selfishness, trying to be a Boss instead of a Servant to serve the people, which leadership is all about.
The ineffectiveness of some leaders, often result in waste of resources which could have been channeled to other sectors of the economy which could have been more productive. A culture of voluntary resignation must be advocated for by all stakeholders, especially the CSOs, traditional leaders and the clergy.
This is the only way the needed growth in every sector of our national life would manifest.
Presidents, Prime Ministers, heads of reputable organisations have voluntarily resigned by taking ultimate responsibility and it is about time, we started seeing it manifest in our country.
The people in charge of our sports especially our soccer, can initiate this long desired culture and resign in view of the embarrassment witnessed from the defeat of the Black Stars by Gambia. God bless.
BY LAUD KISS-MENSAH
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THE QUR’AN FORBIDS RELIGIOUS PROVOCATION
There is a remarkable verse in the Qur’an which every Muslim preacher should memorise.
Allah says:
“And do not insult those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility without knowledge.” (Qur’an 6:108).
Think about this carefully.
Allah knows that the unbelievers worship false gods.
Yet Allah tells Muslims: Do not insult their objects of worship.
Why?
Because your speech may provoke an even greater offence.
This establishes a profound principle:
A Muslim must not fight religious provocation with religious provocation.
If someone insults what we hold sacred, we do not respond by insulting what they hold sacred.
If someone attacks Islam, we defend Islam with knowledge.
If someone misrepresents Muhammad (pbuh), we explain who is Muhammad to him.
If someone lies about Islam, we answer with truth and knowledge.
We do not allow another person’s bad behaviour to dictate our own morality.
LOOK AT MUHAMMAD (PBUH) — HE WAS INSULTED BEFORE WE WERE
Servant of Allah,
Sometimes we speak as though the Prophet (pbuh) lived in a world where everyone respected him.
No.
He was mocked and insulted. Quran 37:36, Quran 15:6
He was called a liar, magician, and a mad man. Quran 51:52, Quran 17:47
He was ridiculed. Quran 6:10
His followers were tortured, and some were killed. Quran 85:8-10
He himself was persecuted, leading to his migration to Madina.
Yet he remained the Messenger of Allah.
Allah said:
“Indeed, we know that your heart is distressed by what they say.” (Qur’an 15:97)
Allah acknowledged the Prophet’s pain.
Islam does not say that insults do not hurt. They hurt.
But the question is: What do you do with the pain?
THE DAY OF TA’IF: WHEN THE PROPHET (PBUH) COULD HAVE CHOSEN
REVENGE
One of the most powerful examples is the journey of the Prophet (pbuh) to Ta’if.
He went seeking support for his message.
Instead, the people rejected him and incited their children and others against him.
He was chased.
He was insulted.
He was struck with stones until his feet bled.
He was physically and emotionally exhausted.
Then the Angel of the Mountains came to him.
The two angels offered to crush the people of Ta’if between the mountains.
The Prophet (pbuh) could have said: “Do it.”
But he did not.
Instead, he hoped that Allah would bring from their descendants people who would worship Him.
This account is recorded in the authentic hadith literature, including Sahih Muslim (Muslim, 1795).
What a lesson!
The Prophet (pbuh) had suffered injustice.
But he did not turn his pain into indiscriminate revenge.
He saw beyond the offender.
He saw the possibility of tomorrow.
And this is one of the greatest characteristics of prophetic leadership:
The Prophet (pbuh) did not merely ask, “What punishment does this person deserve?”
He also asked, in effect: “What can this person become?”
THE PROPHET IN MADINAH: LEADER OF A DIVERSE SOCIETY
When Muhammad (pbuh) migrated to Madinah, he did not enter an empty city.
Madinah contained different communities, including Muslims and Jews, and there were also Christians who interacted with the Muslim community.
The Prophet became the political and communal leader of Madinah.
The Sahifah (A Covenant) of Madinah, preserved in the early sīrah (Prophet’s biography) tradition, established arrangements concerning mutual obligations, security, justice and relations among the communities of the city.
This is important:
The Prophet did not build Madinah by teaching Muslims to hate everyone who was not Muslim.
He built a society governed by covenant, responsibility and justice.
Allah says:
“Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who have neither fought you because of your religion nor driven you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Qur’an 60:8)
This is not weakness.
This is Islam.
THE PROPHET DEALT WITH JEWS IN MADINAH
‘A’ishah (Wife of the Prophet) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) bought food from a Jewish man on credit and gave him his iron armour as collateral.
“The Prophet purchased food from a Jew on credit and mortgaged his iron armour to him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2068)
Think about it.
This was Muhammad.
The Messenger of Allah.
Yet he conducted lawful commercial dealings with a Jewish citizen.
He did not say: “He is not a Muslim, therefore I cannot deal with him.”
No.
Islam gave him a relationship governed by justice and trust.
Jabir رضيهللاعنه narrated:
“A funeral procession passed before us and the Prophet (pbuh) stood up, and we stood with him. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is the funeral of a Jew.’ He said: ‘When you see a funeral procession, stand.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1311)
Another narration records his response: “Is it not a soul?” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1312–1313)
What kind of heart did Muhammad (pbuh) possess?
A heart that recognised human dignity even in death.
THE PROPHET AND THE CHRISTIANS OF NAJRAN
The Prophet also received the Christian delegation of Najran.
They disagreed with him theologically.
Yet when they requested a trustworthy person, he did not choose someone because of hatred.
He selected Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.
The Prophet said:
“I shall send with you a man who is truly trustworthy.”
He then appointed Abu ‘Ubaydah.
This is authentically reported in Sahih al-Bukhari 4380–4381.
Notice something profound:
The Prophet could disagree with people without becoming dishonest toward them.
That is the standard we need today.
The author is the chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert.
