It would be unfair not to grant the IGP an audience; he must be given a fair hearing - Saani - video Dailymotion

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Transcript

00:00:00 And it's a new month.

00:00:01 Hello and welcome to the AM show with me, Blessed Suga.

00:00:04 It is worth waking up for, and that's

00:00:06 why we're here to bring you all of the updates and the stories

00:00:09 plus analysis on the best breakfast show

00:00:13 that you can find on television.

00:00:16 We're starting this morning off with the newspaper review.

00:00:20 Guess what?

00:00:21 My colleague with the political desk, Samuel Mbura,

00:00:24 will be joining us very shortly to tell us

00:00:26 what's happening in the dailies already.

00:00:28 And we've got prime take on sports for you,

00:00:31 because Mufti Abdullahi will be having

00:00:34 a very special conversation with Dr. Njaho Tamaglut.

00:00:38 He speaks about sports, about life, and more

00:00:41 that you need to know about this very month

00:00:44 that we're talking about.

00:00:45 But then, over the last 24 hours,

00:00:48 a lot of talk about the Ghana police service

00:00:50 and some of the issues happening there.

00:00:52 The parliamentary committee has been hearing matters relating

00:00:56 to the alleged plot to remove the inspector general of police.

00:01:00 We're having more insight into the circumstances surrounding

00:01:04 that leak tape, and COP Alex Pintz has also been appearing

00:01:08 before the committee.

00:01:09 So what's the implication and all

00:01:11 that we need to know about the service?

00:01:12 We'll tell you about it in a few hours from now.

00:01:16 Also on the show as well, we have Ruverman Productions.

00:01:20 We have our friends from there, Anka-Leboe Weint,

00:01:22 who will be joining us on the AM show to talk about this.

00:01:26 And there's a new play that you need to know about.

00:01:28 It's called Naked in Bed.

00:01:31 You have to wait for that conversation just

00:01:33 to find out more about that.

00:01:35 And then we'll be giving you the opportunity as well to just

00:01:37 phone in, give us your feedback, give us a call,

00:01:40 share your thoughts with us as to the stories that we'll

00:01:43 be bringing to you and the very exciting conversations

00:01:45 that are set to come your way here on the AM show.

00:01:49 But we start all of that with some stories for you

00:01:52 in a very, very short while.

00:01:55 So take a break now.

00:01:56 When we return, we'll give you some of these stories.

00:01:58 Please stay.

00:01:59 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:02:25 And you're welcome back.

00:02:26 A new study by the Department of Geography Education

00:02:28 at the University of Education Winnipeg

00:02:30 has reviewed the impact of mining

00:02:32 on children's access to education

00:02:35 within mining communities.

00:02:36 The study, which focuses on the Ashanti--

00:02:39 that's the Sotifi North district in the Afua region--

00:02:43 unveiled alarming consequences of mining practices

00:02:47 on the activity of children to access education.

00:02:49 The report underscores the pressing need

00:02:53 for a closer examination of the socioeconomic implications

00:02:57 of mining on affected communities.

00:03:01 Mining plays a crucial role in Ghana's

00:03:04 socioeconomic development.

00:03:06 But irresponsible mining practices

00:03:09 have had more detrimental impacts than positive outcomes.

00:03:13 In light of the Newmont-Ghana's limited takeover

00:03:16 of the Sotifi North district, Dr. Yawa Samwa

00:03:19 from the University of Education Winnipeg

00:03:22 conducted a study which revealed that the local school attended

00:03:26 by the children in the area was demolished and relocated

00:03:30 to Kenya's number two.

00:03:32 Consequently, children in neighboring communities

00:03:35 now have had to endure long journeys to reach their school.

00:03:39 He indicated that this situation significantly

00:03:42 hampers the academic performance of students

00:03:45 in these communities.

00:03:47 It was mainly about how children within the fence line

00:03:49 communities within the district access formal education

00:03:53 and the means by which they do access the formal education

00:03:57 and as to whether those means would affect their performance

00:04:03 as pupils or performance as students.

00:04:06 And it was so clear that they wouldn't have school just

00:04:10 within their immediate environment.

00:04:12 That means that pupils will have to travel on average of, say,

00:04:17 seven kilometers to move from Damso,

00:04:21 and that is a fence line community, to go to either Kenya

00:04:24 number two, to either go to Duchi Chrome, which is also

00:04:27 called Tutuka, and also Yaosu Chrome to access education.

00:04:31 Normally, they will have to miss their first morning class,

00:04:35 which starts at 7.30.

00:04:38 You understand?

00:04:39 And the bus may go there even after 8.

00:04:42 So they miss their early morning class, which is 7.30,

00:04:46 miss assembly, and then sometimes

00:04:48 miss their first lesson.

00:04:51 And if continuously a pupil, a child,

00:04:54 is missing these number of lectures or a number of classes,

00:04:59 it definitely will not go well with them

00:05:00 when it comes to their performance.

00:05:03 And so you realize that the performance

00:05:04 will be deteriorating because of these irregularities

00:05:08 when it comes to the bus coming to pick them.

00:05:12 He recommended that the individuals in this fence line

00:05:15 communities be relocated to another settlement.

00:05:18 About, I should say, over 90% were calling for that,

00:05:24 that they want to be resettled.

00:05:25 That is a clarion call, that they

00:05:27 want to be resettled, to join their kinsmen

00:05:31 or their relatives, as most of them said in the interviews.

00:05:35 The school feeding program, I think,

00:05:37 should be extended to especially the school at Kodiuhia DA,

00:05:43 which is at Kenyansi number two.

00:05:45 Scholarship opportunities for these kids would not be bad.

00:05:47 Speaking on the regulation of mining in forest reserves,

00:05:51 Deputy Director of Arocha Ghana, Darrell

00:05:54 is calling for the repeal of the new LI-2462.

00:05:59 In recent times, the last 10 years,

00:06:00 we've seen some pressure.

00:06:02 All our forests come under siege from illegal mining activities.

00:06:06 So now we want to ensure that all the laws and regulations

00:06:10 coming in are rather going to support their protection.

00:06:13 But we have been surprised that this LI actually

00:06:16 has been passed, even though it is titled

00:06:18 environmental protection.

00:06:20 It's rather environmental destruction,

00:06:22 because it opens up almost all forest reserves now

00:06:25 for mining, which is contrary to existing policy on reducing

00:06:30 mining in our forest reserves.

00:06:31 And this is one of the main reasons

00:06:33 why we think that this forest is not

00:06:35 going to support our Green Ghana agenda, our climate action,

00:06:39 all the commitments we have at an international level,

00:06:41 both for biodiversity conservation

00:06:43 and also for our own sustainable livelihood.

00:06:45 So we believe that repealing this LI

00:06:48 will be a good step to really staying committed

00:06:51 to sustainable forest management in this country.

00:06:54 The report is titled, "Mining Induced Placements Impact

00:06:59 on Children's Education."

00:07:01 Esther Nkrumah's report read to you.

00:07:05 And the limited supply of vaccines in Africa,

00:07:08 the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,

00:07:10 has suggested new ways to enable the continent to become

00:07:14 self-sufficient in vaccine production.

00:07:16 The International Vaccine Institute

00:07:18 is proposing the establishment of an African Vaccines Alliance

00:07:22 to realize this goal.

00:07:24 That's more.

00:07:24 According to Dr. Kim, the IVI resolved

00:07:32 that Africa should be independent in vaccine

00:07:35 manufacturing.

00:07:36 So AVA is the African Vaccines Alliance.

00:07:40 And it's not a new idea.

00:07:42 But I think that one of the things

00:07:43 that we saw during the COVID pandemic

00:07:46 is that Africa should no longer be dependent on other countries,

00:07:50 on the goodwill of others for vaccine technology that

00:07:54 will prevent death, save lives on the continent.

00:07:58 The only way we can do that is to develop sustainable vaccine

00:08:01 manufacturing in Africa.

00:08:04 And that will be a rather difficult task

00:08:06 because right now, Africa manufactures

00:08:08 less than 1% of its own vaccines.

00:08:10 So there's clearly a great need.

00:08:12 We think that one of the lessons from the pandemic

00:08:14 was that we need to have it.

00:08:16 And the question is, how do we do it?

00:08:19 IVI believes that it isn't just manufacturing.

00:08:23 Manufacturing by itself will make a shell, a factory.

00:08:26 And it may or may not be making vaccines the next time

00:08:29 a pandemic comes around.

00:08:30 So what we really need to do is develop the end-to-end research

00:08:34 and development infrastructure that

00:08:36 will support that sustainable vaccine manufacturing

00:08:40 in the end.

00:08:40 And this means it starts in a laboratory in Africa.

00:08:43 It goes to the manufacturer of those vaccines

00:08:46 and the testing of those vaccines in subjects

00:08:48 and in volunteers in Africa, proving the vaccine

00:08:51 is safe and efficacious.

00:08:53 That is, it works to prevent disease in Africa.

00:08:55 And then working with the manufacturer

00:08:58 to ensure that the vaccines will be approved

00:09:00 by regulatory authorities, for instance, here in Ghana,

00:09:03 and then by the WHO, which will allow the vaccine

00:09:06 then to be used throughout the continent

00:09:07 and actually throughout the world.

00:09:09 So the goal here is to not only innovate for Africa,

00:09:13 but to innovate within Africa for global health.

00:09:18 The delegation visited the KNUS-CIVI Collaborative

00:09:21 Center at Asanteach, Magogu, which

00:09:23 was established through a partnership

00:09:25 with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science

00:09:27 and Technology.

00:09:29 The team also paid a courtesy call

00:09:31 at the Noguchi Memorial Institute, PATH, National

00:09:35 Vaccine Institute, National Immunization Technical

00:09:38 Advisory Group, Government Advice on Health, Dr. Anthony

00:09:42 Nsiasare, KNUS-TV Chancellor, Professor Mezes,

00:09:45 Waiter Kousia Dixon, and Management of Agogu

00:09:48 Presbyterian Hospital.

00:09:50 Managing Director of D.E.K. Ltd., Dr. Kofi Nsiapoku

00:09:54 also accompanied the team.

00:09:56 We will start with the liquid vaccine.

00:09:57 So we are going to do malaria.

00:10:00 We are going to do OCV, PCV, rotavirus, and also HPV.

00:10:10 So there are about six vaccines we are going to start.

00:10:13 At the next phase, we are going to do also

00:10:16 the freeze-dried vaccines.

00:10:21 So we'll move into MR.

00:10:25 We'll move into BCG, yellow fever, and meningitis also.

00:10:31 Reporter for Joe Hughes, Kwesi Debra.

00:10:33 And the Central Regional Minister,

00:10:39 Johnston Omayori-Gonasan, has underscored her commitment

00:10:43 to stimulating economic activities,

00:10:45 and harnessing its economic potential,

00:10:47 as well as prioritizing the development of agribusinesses.

00:10:51 Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Central Regional Trade

00:10:55 and Investment Expo 2023, she emphasized

00:10:58 a multifaceted approach to bolster the local economy.

00:11:04 The Expo, which serves as a platform for trade and investment

00:11:09 opportunities within the Central Region,

00:11:11 has drawn attention to the region's determination

00:11:15 to fuel economic growth and prosperity.

00:11:18 These initiatives are geared toward transforming

00:11:21 the local economy, fostering job creation,

00:11:25 and improving the standard of living for its residents.

00:11:28 The Central Regional Minister, Justina Omayori-Gonasan,

00:11:32 underscored the region's recognition

00:11:34 of the pivotal role the private sector plays

00:11:37 in driving economic growth.

00:11:39 She says by creating a conducive environment for investment,

00:11:43 the region aims to leverage the expertise and resources

00:11:47 of the private sector to achieve its development goals.

00:11:51 Our dream for this fair is to stimulate economic activities

00:11:55 in different parts of the region and beyond,

00:11:59 harness economic potentials, and to focus on the development

00:12:03 of agribusiness.

00:12:05 We are also highly committed to the promotion

00:12:08 of domestic tourism, and above all,

00:12:11 attract private sector investments into the region

00:12:15 to transform our local economy.

00:12:19 This event is a homegrown initiative

00:12:21 designed by the Council in line with our regional development

00:12:24 strategy and transformation agenda

00:12:27 to create visibility for the Central Region in areas

00:12:32 of trade, tourism, and investment.

00:12:35 This year's theme, "Sustaining Business Opportunities,

00:12:40 Nurturing Small-Scale Enterprises in Central Region,"

00:12:44 is a follow-up of the successes of Central Expo 2022 held

00:12:50 last year, which gave opportunity

00:12:52 to over 300 exhibitors from large, medium,

00:12:56 and small-scale enterprises, especially the private sector,

00:13:01 to get the exposure they needed to market their products

00:13:05 and services.

00:13:06 President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs,

00:13:09 Odefu Amoakobuedu, says the House of Chiefs

00:13:12 stands ready to support investors with land

00:13:15 to support investment and growth of the region.

00:13:18 It is the duty of chiefs to make lands available to investors,

00:13:24 and Central Regional House of Chiefs

00:13:25 is doing just that, trying to have land banks for investors.

00:13:29 And so we do expect similar commitments

00:13:32 from other stakeholders, like the government

00:13:34 in the provision of an enabling environment

00:13:37 through the right policies, incentives, and infrastructure

00:13:41 to attract investors and ensure that businesses thrive.

00:13:46 Deputy CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority,

00:13:50 Samuel Kofi Dintu, says industrialization

00:13:53 is the main driving force to accelerate development

00:13:56 and call for private sector support.

00:13:57 And now, human activities are said to be a major factor,

00:14:06 accounting for the reason why so many animals are

00:14:08 losing their natural habitat, and at the current rate

00:14:12 of habitat loss and other activities,

00:14:13 such as poaching, species such as the African lions

00:14:17 are projected to go completely extinct by 2050.

00:14:20 However, in a bid to conserve nature,

00:14:22 the Kapama Game Reserve in South Africa

00:14:25 is dedicating over 16 hectares of land

00:14:27 to protecting these endangered species.

00:14:30 Well, I've been to this biodiversity spot,

00:14:33 and here's what we found out.

00:14:35 Sunrise in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

00:14:40 In this area near the town of Hootspring,

00:14:43 Tikani and her group of conservationists

00:14:46 are taking us on a tour to discover

00:14:49 what is left of the wild.

00:14:51 We're taking an early morning drive in a 16,000 hectare

00:14:55 space called the Kapama Game Reserve.

00:14:58 The top biodiversity spot hosting the big five species

00:15:03 that are about going extinct.

00:15:05 We're about finding out why this area is

00:15:07 so important to conservation and to saving our planet.

00:15:11 A turn on the right brings an impala in sight.

00:15:17 According to the International Union

00:15:19 for Conservation of Nature, this medium-sized antelope

00:15:23 found in eastern and southern Africa

00:15:25 is on the red list of threatened species

00:15:28 on the verge of going extinct.

00:15:31 But Tikani and her eco-conscious team

00:15:33 at the Kapama Game Reserve are fighting

00:15:36 hard to conserve nature.

00:15:38 We're in a big place, and we have a big five reserve.

00:15:41 And mostly, when we say big five,

00:15:43 it's not 100% guaranteed that each and every game drive

00:15:47 you're going to see the big five.

00:15:49 But we try by all means, guides and trekkers,

00:15:52 to show you what we have.

00:15:53 We have different kinds of animals, not only the big five.

00:15:56 We have other general animals.

00:15:57 We can find giraffes.

00:15:58 We can find zebras.

00:15:59 We can find other small animals.

00:16:01 We have animals as little as the little five,

00:16:04 from the big five to the little five,

00:16:06 and all different birds live.

00:16:08 The big five species reserved here

00:16:13 include this lioness, which has given birth to two cubs,

00:16:17 a sign of hope for the future.

00:16:19 But Tikani tells us that a major factor which

00:16:22 could undermine their efforts at protecting these species

00:16:25 include poaching.

00:16:27 [INAUDIBLE]

00:16:30 To us, it's more important, and to all the tourists

00:16:34 that come here, because we're still trying to save nature.

00:16:38 And even our kids, the next generation,

00:16:40 will still find this place still standing,

00:16:42 as long as we're doing our part in taking care of it.

00:16:45 So if we keep doing what we're doing,

00:16:48 especially when it comes to rhino,

00:16:49 if the poaching still exists, there

00:16:52 might be a time, let's say 10 years to 20 years from now,

00:16:54 that we'll see less of rhinos.

00:16:57 But if we do our part about poaching and things like that,

00:17:01 the next generation will be able to know what is a rhino.

00:17:04 How bad?

00:17:05 There's also the challenge of climate change, which

00:17:07 is adversely impacting wildlife.

00:17:10 Climate does change animal behavior.

00:17:12 We see that a certain time of the month,

00:17:15 we find animals more in a certain area

00:17:18 than in a certain area.

00:17:19 Actually, now we are in our dry season.

00:17:21 You will see other animals in certain area of the reserve,

00:17:24 and then other animals in certain area of the reserve,

00:17:26 depending what the--

00:17:28 In spite of adversity, management of the Kapama Game

00:17:31 Reserve is making a solemn pledge to save the planet

00:17:36 and to protect biodiversity.

00:17:38 This is a report for JOY News, Limpopo, South Africa.

00:17:42 And now the Apple West Regional Director of Health Services,

00:17:50 Dr. Damien, is worried about the increasing

00:17:54 cases of opioid addiction among some health

00:17:58 workers in the country.

00:17:59 He's asking these health workers to desist from the practice.

00:18:03 The doctor made the disclosure at the 14th Annual General

00:18:07 Conference of Pharmacy Technicians Association

00:18:10 of Ghana.

00:18:10 Rafik Salam reports.

00:18:13 The 14th Annual General Conference

00:18:15 of the Pharmacy Technician Association of Ghana,

00:18:18 Pacey Center Pharmaceutical Care,

00:18:21 a tool for sustainable pharmacy practice.

00:18:24 The four-day conference brought together

00:18:27 members of their situation from all 16 regions in the country.

00:18:31 Apple West Regional Director of Health Services,

00:18:34 Dr. Damien Pugiri, expressed worry

00:18:37 over the increasing cases of opium addiction among the youth

00:18:41 with particular emphasis on health workers.

00:18:44 Though he has not given out statistics to back his claim,

00:18:47 he disclosed that some have lost their lives,

00:18:50 whilst others are what he described

00:18:53 as working vegetables, spending all their earnings

00:18:56 on petrogen, tramol, and others.

00:18:59 Of late, there has been an increasing prevalence

00:19:03 of opium addiction among the youth,

00:19:06 particularly among health workers.

00:19:10 Some have lost their lives through this addiction,

00:19:16 while others have largely remained working vegetables,

00:19:22 spend all their earnings trying to buy petrogen and tramol

00:19:28 and many others.

00:19:31 Some of our actions and inactions

00:19:33 may be contributing to this development.

00:19:37 When we facilitate access to these otherwise restricted

00:19:42 medications, we are promoting their use

00:19:46 among the general public.

00:19:49 As such, there is a need for you to do your part

00:19:54 in helping limit access to unauthorized use

00:19:58 of these harmful drugs.

00:20:01 You could also embark on public sensitization

00:20:03 to create awareness of the negative effects

00:20:06 of unauthorized use of such medications.

00:20:09 National President of the Pharmacy Technician

00:20:12 Association of Ghana, Pharmtech Richard Ophusso-Adai,

00:20:15 lauded the Pharmacy Council for giving approval

00:20:19 for over 11 schools nationwide to gain accreditation

00:20:22 to run H&D dispensing technology programs.

00:20:25 Though he agreed it would give opportunity to many

00:20:29 to join the profession and to set the example,

00:20:32 he has some doubts about the efficacy of the monitoring

00:20:36 of the institutions.

00:20:37 The big question is, how effective

00:20:40 is the monitoring of these academic institutions

00:20:44 in ensuring that the graduates who pass out

00:20:47 are at the required education and skill?

00:20:52 We have observed over the years that some schools are not

00:20:55 admitting students with the required grades

00:20:58 and also not following the required educational curriculum.

00:21:02 And this has led to some graduates

00:21:05 passing out with shallow knowledge

00:21:07 in their field of study.

00:21:09 We believe that we don't want our managers

00:21:11 to be that shallow.

00:21:16 And so therefore, we call on all stakeholders

00:21:20 to come to a roundtable discussion

00:21:22 to find a lasting solution to this situation.

00:21:26 Let's take you up North now because the Upper West Region,

00:21:31 our Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih,

00:21:33 has opined that Northern Region Social Cohesion Project

00:21:37 has the potential of changing the economy.

00:21:40 Speaking at the handing over ceremony of Sam Muto-Banks

00:21:42 and of his equipment to six municipal and district

00:21:45 assemblies in the region, he stated that the project will

00:21:49 better the lives of the people and asked officials

00:21:52 at the helm of affairs to work to ensure

00:21:55 the success of the project.

00:21:58 The goal of Northern Region Social Cohesion Project,

00:22:02 so-called, is a $150 million five-year funding.

00:22:07 [INAUDIBLE]

00:22:09 and development of the World Bank Group Project.

00:22:12 The project implementation is being

00:22:15 led by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralization,

00:22:19 and Rural Development with 48 metropolitan, municipal,

00:22:23 and district assemblies located in six regions

00:22:26 in the northern Gulf of the country and the OT region.

00:22:30 The project is expected to deliver resilient community

00:22:33 infrastructure and assets through a common driven

00:22:36 development project, CDD.

00:22:38 The objective is to improve regional collaboration

00:22:42 in socioeconomic and climate resilience of [INAUDIBLE]

00:22:45 communities in the targeted northern regions of the Gulf

00:22:49 of Guinea countries exposed to conflict and climate risks.

00:22:53 Our Power Solution Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih,

00:22:57 at a ceremony to hand over 16 motorbikes and office

00:23:00 equipment to six municipal and district assemblies

00:23:04 in the region for monitoring and supervision of the project,

00:23:08 opined that the SOCO project has the potential of changing

00:23:12 the economy of the region.

00:23:14 He urged the people at the helm of affairs

00:23:17 to work diligently to ensure that the right thing is done.

00:23:22 The SOCO project has the potential

00:23:25 of changing the economy of the Upper West Region.

00:23:31 Let's all of us be minded.

00:23:34 It should not be business as usual.

00:23:40 Some infrastructure facilities shall be constructed.

00:23:51 We shall ensure that we get value for money.

00:23:58 And the Director General of the Geological Service Authority

00:24:02 has raised concerns over the poor funding

00:24:05 to the authority, which he says is impeding

00:24:08 the work of the organization.

00:24:10 Citing the seismic observatory in Accra,

00:24:14 he says that it is an important asset which

00:24:17 helps with seismic information.

00:24:19 But actually, a location has not been forthcoming.

00:24:23 Martha Bugri now reports.

00:24:25 Geological Survey Authority's media engagement in Tamale

00:24:30 was to help the journalists understand

00:24:32 the scope of the authority's work

00:24:34 and how to help educate the masses on their activities.

00:24:39 Mr. Wembeli also raised concerns about the way

00:24:42 man-made structures are springing up

00:24:44 [INAUDIBLE] seismic investigation

00:24:50 when constructing structures.

00:24:51 [INAUDIBLE]

00:24:53 [INAUDIBLE]

00:24:54 As a country, we have not [INAUDIBLE]

00:25:01 We are engaging all kinds of construction

00:25:04 that might not be sustainable.

00:25:06 Because if you look at the current trend of this [INAUDIBLE]

00:25:13 is increasing.

00:25:14 And we need to do these studies to be able to tell,

00:25:19 or for you to be advised as to what

00:25:21 structure you put up in some parts of the area

00:25:24 that you want to develop.

00:25:26 [INAUDIBLE]

00:25:28 And in case of a problem, your structure

00:25:30 may not be able to withstand the ground vibration that

00:25:40 has to be imposed on it.

00:25:43 He said the authority will continue

00:25:44 to advise Ghanaians on issues of seismic events.

00:25:49 We also continue to monitor the seismicity of the country

00:25:54 and advise the people of Ghana as and when necessary

00:25:58 and what to do in case there are seismic events

00:26:02 or in case there are earthquake issues.

00:26:04 This is planned to mitigate the impact of seismic activities

00:26:12 should they occur.

00:26:14 At least people should be aware of what to do

00:26:16 when such events do occur.

00:26:19 Mr. Wembele said they will continue

00:26:22 to seek support to study to discover

00:26:25 new minerals for the country.

00:26:27 We say that the authority continues

00:26:32 to deploy for additional blocks so that we can diversify

00:26:37 the mineral base of the country.

00:26:41 In case of the traditional diamond and bauxite,

00:26:46 I will know, currently what we are looking at

00:26:49 is looking at additional minerals

00:26:51 like the iron ore, the limestone, the clay,

00:26:55 what to look at copper, limes, cobalt, lithium,

00:26:59 columbite, and tarhar.

00:27:01 So these are the new minerals that we

00:27:04 want to discover for sustainable mining in the country

00:27:09 for a sustainable mining.

00:27:12 Country Director of the International Justice Mission

00:27:15 Anita Abudu has bemoaned the absence of shelters

00:27:18 to accommodate children who have been rescued from some child

00:27:22 trafficking incidents.

00:27:23 She's been speaking with Joy News at the fellowship program.

00:27:26 There's more in this report.

00:27:28 What I would say to that is that the Department of Social

00:27:30 Welfare, it is their role to provide support

00:27:34 to any child who has been seen to be in need of care

00:27:37 and protection.

00:27:39 And so when that happens and a child needs to be protected,

00:27:42 a shelter or a protective shelter

00:27:45 is somewhere where a child is placed

00:27:47 for the period of their rehabilitation

00:27:49 while their family is being located

00:27:51 and for them to be assessed and returned to them

00:27:54 where it's safe.

00:27:56 And so a shelter is one of the places

00:27:58 where a child can be put while those processes are going on.

00:28:03 And we also have mechanisms such as foster care placements,

00:28:06 first person placements.

00:28:08 So my belief is that we need to be looking at all this range

00:28:11 of support services through social services

00:28:14 for our young children who are vulnerable and deemed

00:28:16 to be in need of care protection to be well supported

00:28:19 along the whole journey.

00:28:21 And so my plea really is that social services are supported

00:28:24 and the resources needed are put in place for them

00:28:27 to be able to have this full spectrum of placements

00:28:30 available to support those really in need.

00:28:32 [AUDIO OUT]

00:28:37 Some of the stories for this morning, but guess what?

00:28:39 We're looking at the newspapers next.

00:28:41 Please stay on the AM show.

00:28:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:28:47 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:29:10 And you're welcome back.

00:29:11 It's time now to look at the newspapers and some

00:29:13 of the headlines for you.

00:29:15 We start off with the Daily Guide newspaper this morning.

00:29:19 And it has the big story of the embattled or former water

00:29:23 and sanitation minister, Cecilia Abunadapa.

00:29:27 And it says, "Return Cecilia Dapa's cash, court orders,

00:29:33 office of the special prosecutor."

00:29:35 Details of that story on page three of the Daily Guide

00:29:38 newspaper.

00:29:39 And my voice is on the tape.

00:29:43 It's also captured here talking about COP George Alex Mensah

00:29:49 who was flunked by some superintendents of the Ghana

00:29:51 police service.

00:29:52 As the speaker's committee continues

00:29:54 the hearing on the alleged martyrs

00:29:56 relating to the leaked tape.

00:29:58 And this is the Daily Guide newspaper

00:30:02 talking about that very sitting which we saw yesterday.

00:30:07 Very charged atmosphere there when, of course,

00:30:10 COP Alex Mensah appeared before.

00:30:12 The committee still on the Daily Guide newspaper.

00:30:17 It talks about the November 4 race of the governing

00:30:22 new patriotic party.

00:30:23 There's a story about a runoff on Adainimo.

00:30:27 But it appears that that runoff is no longer happening.

00:30:30 So the Daily Guide is simply reaffirming the fact

00:30:33 that Adainimo is joining the November 4

00:30:35 race without a tiebreaker election which

00:30:38 was scheduled for this weekend.

00:30:41 Because the other contender, the Honorable Wacheja

00:30:44 Ko is pulling out of the race citing some legal issues

00:30:47 and the decision of the council to reform the rules ahead

00:30:53 of that contest.

00:30:55 So now we have a full set of five.

00:30:58 Dr. Mahmoud Obamya, Kennedy Ejepong,

00:31:00 and the former Trade and Industry Minister,

00:31:04 Alan Koji Tremanting will be in the race.

00:31:06 Former Greek Minister, Dr. Koutou Afriye

00:31:08 is also in the race as well as Adainimo

00:31:11 who is now sailing through to be making up that complete five

00:31:15 that will contest come November 4.

00:31:18 Still on the Daily Guide newspaper,

00:31:20 let's strengthen ties to combat terrorism.

00:31:26 The Daily Guide appears to have some stories

00:31:30 on violent extremism which is confronting the nation

00:31:34 and some dialogue which has been taking place

00:31:37 throughout the week regarding Ghana's security

00:31:40 and making sure that things are on track.

00:31:43 So it's not just the Daily Guide newspaper

00:31:46 that's talking about that big story about Cecilia Abunadapa.

00:31:49 There's also the Finder newspaper

00:31:51 because the Finder newspaper captures this way,

00:31:54 return Dapa's monies in seven days.

00:31:57 That's the additional information that we also

00:31:59 need to tell you about because the Finder has captured that

00:32:02 for us, talking about the court ordering

00:32:04 the Office of the Special Prosecutor

00:32:06 to return the monies of Cecilia Abunadapa,

00:32:10 some unspecified amounts of money that the OSP retrieved

00:32:15 as part of investigations into the one million cash saga.

00:32:20 And the Finder newspaper is also talking about that.

00:32:26 So the Finder newspaper talks about the fact

00:32:28 that the OSP disagrees with the findings of the court as well,

00:32:33 says that he will be fighting that decision of the court.

00:32:40 So the Finder newspaper is also talking

00:32:42 about the cylinder recirculation model.

00:32:44 That model is starting today.

00:32:46 And we will see how that policy will go because obviously,

00:32:51 it means that technically, you would not

00:32:53 be using the same cylinder that you procured yourself,

00:32:58 except to say that all that's going to happen now

00:33:02 is that you would find it in circulation.

00:33:05 And probably, we'll see how that model will run.

00:33:07 But it comes to the picture of the NPA boss, Dr. Mustafa

00:33:11 Abdelhamid, who is on the front page of the Finder newspaper.

00:33:17 Leak tape on IGP edited.

00:33:19 That's according to COPLX Mensa.

00:33:22 Also, it's captured here on the Finder newspaper.

00:33:25 And Access Bank Ghana and Deloitte's partner

00:33:27 to strengthen SMEs.

00:33:29 The Daily Statesman, whose offer falls hope.

00:33:34 That's according to the legal luminary, Kofi Abochi,

00:33:40 who has some take on the recent developments

00:33:43 on the African continent, the latest being Gabon.

00:33:47 Many are scared that there may be an influx

00:33:52 into other African countries, and particularly

00:33:54 that the West African countries are troubled now.

00:33:58 There is a feeling that relatively stable democracies

00:34:01 may be affected out of the exercise.

00:34:03 Committee tasked over Article 71 officeholders, a mulliment.

00:34:08 It comes to the picture of the president,

00:34:10 the president asking the committee

00:34:11 to also be mindful of the times in which we find ourselves.

00:34:15 But when you have the labor law, which says you cannot vary down,

00:34:19 let's see how that will go.

00:34:20 Othumfo repulses confidence in the chief justice

00:34:25 and the domestic debt exchange.

00:34:26 Over 90% participation recorded.

00:34:28 Comes to the picture of the finance minister.

00:34:32 The Daily Graphic, ex-Gracia demands debate.

00:34:38 That's according to President Akufo-Addo.

00:34:40 So there you find President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries

00:34:43 with members of the committee, including Professor Isaac

00:34:48 Osayakoto of the Institute of Social and Economic Research

00:34:52 at the University of Ghana.

00:34:54 Leak tape doctored, COP Alex Mensah alleges or is arguing,

00:34:59 and then court orders OSP to return Sicilia the past assets.

00:35:03 These are some of the stories we have making the rounds

00:35:07 this morning on the various newspapers that we have for you.

00:35:12 Dr. Michael Agud at Dongo is an economist

00:35:14 joining our conversation this morning.

00:35:15 Doc, such a pleasure to be speaking to you.

00:35:18 It's been a while, actually.

00:35:19 - Hey, blessed, yeah. It's been a while.

00:35:22 - Okay, good to be connecting with you.

00:35:23 Let's start off with Article 71 office holders.

00:35:28 They are preparing already to have some recommendations

00:35:31 made on their emoluments when this comes up.

00:35:33 It's a big debate very often.

00:35:35 The president is saying, well, he's welcoming that debate.

00:35:38 The committee obviously will be commencing their work,

00:35:42 but looking at the times in which we find ourselves,

00:35:45 that conversation has come up again.

00:35:47 Do we sustain it, scrap it, reform it,

00:35:50 or try and amend the laws around it?

00:35:52 What's your take on that?

00:35:55 - Yeah, it's very unsettling if you are president

00:35:58 of the country at this time and this issue is coming.

00:36:02 Because if you follow the historical trend,

00:36:05 any time this issue of Article 71 workers come out,

00:36:11 their emoluments, and they make the decision,

00:36:13 it triggers some industrial actions.

00:36:16 And then you have people who had settled

00:36:20 for lower conditions of service have decided

00:36:24 to see reason with government in terms of the challenges

00:36:30 we are in and taking some cuts here and there.

00:36:34 And then Article 71 comes and is almost immoral,

00:36:40 largely unacceptable that the same government

00:36:44 that trumpeted hard times,

00:36:46 the difficulties with the economy and so forth,

00:36:49 cannot bring the same argument to bear

00:36:53 on its agencies and its actors.

00:36:58 So yes, the president ought not to be looking forward

00:37:01 to this debate.

00:37:02 He has to know that what happens in this country

00:37:07 going forward, the peace and tranquility

00:37:11 in the labor front is going to depend

00:37:13 on how he's able to prevail on Article 71 workers

00:37:18 to take the times into consideration.

00:37:22 - Do you, I don't know, but do you ever see this happening,

00:37:25 that the committee will just recommend

00:37:27 probably the same rates of ex-gratia

00:37:30 for Article 71 office holders?

00:37:32 Or possibly, maybe just lowering it down?

00:37:36 Some say there's a legal impediment there.

00:37:38 You cannot bring down the salaries from the next base.

00:37:43 So it's always going to go up, by the way.

00:37:46 - Yes, definitely.

00:37:47 That is the legal law.

00:37:49 You cannot make somebody worse off

00:37:50 in terms of his emoluments.

00:37:53 I think what the option that remains for the president

00:37:57 or any other actor is to prevail on these office holders

00:38:02 using backdoor channels to try to tell them

00:38:06 that these are difficult times.

00:38:08 And we want you to lead by setting an example

00:38:13 and then telling Ghanaians

00:38:15 that we cannot do business as usual

00:38:19 and then take some cuts.

00:38:20 But I don't see that happening

00:38:22 because if you look at the true realities

00:38:25 that are currently prevailing in the country,

00:38:28 and while some are struggling to keep their monies

00:38:31 in the bank to get just a penny or two a year to spend,

00:38:34 others have it stuck under their beds.

00:38:36 So how are you going to convince others

00:38:40 in the at a consumption category

00:38:42 that are currently not in government

00:38:44 that yes, it is still in the interest of Ghana

00:38:47 to go in for a cut?

00:38:49 So the gesturing and the posturing of the president

00:38:54 doesn't-- - I see.

00:38:56 And here's the thing.

00:38:59 Fortunately to be having you

00:39:00 because you are a development economist,

00:39:02 so you kind of appreciate the toll,

00:39:05 the impact of excretion on developing economies

00:39:08 such as Ghana.

00:39:10 Really, and let's have a dispassionate argument.

00:39:13 Are we saying that we can't pay these MPs,

00:39:17 we can't pay these politicians?

00:39:18 - Yes, as you rightly mentioned,

00:39:22 one of the key principles in development economics

00:39:25 is normally to look at three things.

00:39:28 What is happening to poverty?

00:39:31 What is happening to inequality?

00:39:34 Those are key things.

00:39:35 And if you look at the aid to racial issue now,

00:39:38 it is a, it underpins the level of inequality in Ghana,

00:39:43 where a huge proportion of the labor force

00:39:46 is paid payments and those in government

00:39:49 are actually rewarded with bounty,

00:39:53 emoluments and allowances here and there.

00:39:55 And there is no way to say that this does not underscore

00:39:59 the disproportionate arrangements

00:40:02 within our incentive structure in the country.

00:40:05 Therefore, yes, from the angle of development economics,

00:40:10 I say yes, it underscores our inequality,

00:40:13 but it also tends to bring to bear the,

00:40:18 what you normally would say is the wage burden of government

00:40:23 that a government that spends a significant

00:40:26 chunk of resources paying emoluments

00:40:29 also have to deal with a huge proportion of it

00:40:33 coming from politicians who have campaigned

00:40:37 to serve the people.

00:40:39 And you realize that what they take home,

00:40:42 to me, it's not moral.

00:40:43 It's not an issue of you are in office, you control.

00:40:47 Sometimes government is blackmailed,

00:40:50 if I may put it that way,

00:40:51 that when it comes to negotiations,

00:40:53 parliamentarians grandstand with government

00:40:56 and in order for government to get these programs going,

00:41:00 it has to agree.

00:41:01 So most of the time it's difficult.

00:41:03 Even so now that the differences in parliament

00:41:07 is now resulting, you cannot expect that government

00:41:11 will go and say, okay, I want to look good

00:41:12 in the eyes of Ghanaians, so let's take a cut.

00:41:15 So either way you look at it,

00:41:17 whether it's from a government economic perspective,

00:41:19 from the moral perspective,

00:41:21 or even from the ability of the government to engage,

00:41:25 it's not going to happen.

00:41:26 And one of the challenges we have now

00:41:28 is that when we have a very,

00:41:30 a high parliament level,

00:41:33 let me put it that way,

00:41:34 and you need to have some consensus building,

00:41:37 some brisk management going on,

00:41:39 you have leaders in majority in parliament being cavalier

00:41:44 and always trying to go on a showdown,

00:41:48 if I'm allowed to use that word,

00:41:50 with the minority side.

00:41:52 So you don't have--

00:41:52 - And this will indeed be--

00:41:54 - You might just have to know that.

00:41:56 - Yeah, and this indeed will be a great test

00:41:59 for these NDC MPs.

00:42:01 At the flag bearer of the NDC, John Mahama,

00:42:03 indicating that, well,

00:42:05 he's not going to work with that plan.

00:42:06 Looking at the arrangements,

00:42:08 where the committee's work might end,

00:42:10 we will definitely at some point

00:42:12 require parliamentary approval for the executive.

00:42:15 But looking at the arrangements actually,

00:42:20 it's a hand go, hand come situation,

00:42:23 if we can use that cliche.

00:42:24 The president will sort out parliament.

00:42:27 The parliament would also be expected

00:42:31 to just sort out the president.

00:42:32 So that's where the challenge is going to be.

00:42:35 - Yeah, I think that one of the few instances

00:42:43 in this country where we have consensus in parliament

00:42:47 is when it comes to this,

00:42:48 and I expect history to repeat itself,

00:42:52 is going to be a show of democracy,

00:42:55 a show of national interest,

00:42:58 a show of cordiality and collegiality

00:43:01 when it comes to this issue.

00:43:02 President Mahama, yes,

00:43:06 made some very interesting proposals,

00:43:09 but as it stands now,

00:43:10 the law is the law,

00:43:13 and to implement that,

00:43:15 you need a lot of goodwill

00:43:17 and willingness of the MPs and other actors to come on board.

00:43:22 Unfortunately, President Akufo-Addo

00:43:24 is not that kind of person.

00:43:25 I think that he hasn't got that chemistry

00:43:30 with his own members of parliament,

00:43:32 let alone the minority.

00:43:34 And then, hey, look at it.

00:43:35 You have a government that has been practicing,

00:43:37 more or less, I say it's one of the most nepotistic

00:43:43 ranks of family governments we have had

00:43:45 in the history of this country.

00:43:47 So what is left for the minority MPs,

00:43:50 what they can get through this,

00:43:51 is good, I think,

00:43:52 because the sharing of the cake has been left

00:43:54 to those working on the corridors of power

00:43:56 and those who have connections.

00:43:58 And the NDC MPs have constituents to go back to.

00:44:01 If the government was an all-inclusive side,

00:44:04 that whether you are in it or not,

00:44:05 you have access to some resources

00:44:07 and some opportunities to serve your constituents.

00:44:11 Yes, you can expect the NDC MPs

00:44:14 to play game and come on board.

00:44:16 But here is the case, what they largely get now

00:44:18 is their salary plus what they can get

00:44:21 from this government by force.

00:44:23 I don't expect them to budge when it comes to this,

00:44:26 and I will blame them if they do so.

00:44:28 - Okay, the Daily Guide,

00:44:30 talking about the return of Cicilla Dapa's cash,

00:44:33 that's the order from the court,

00:44:35 do that within seven days.

00:44:36 The OSB is promising a fight back.

00:44:39 He doesn't seem to be conceding, after all.

00:44:42 And after the findings were that

00:44:45 the retrieval or the seizure of assets

00:44:49 were driven by emotions.

00:44:52 (laughing)

00:44:57 - I don't want to go the way I normally go privately

00:45:02 when I'm dealing with the DBC,

00:45:03 but I'm not a fan of the special prosecutor

00:45:07 because I think that he has only been successful

00:45:11 in going after the small players

00:45:13 and those who matter.

00:45:15 And on issues like this,

00:45:16 he tends to play the role of a cleaner

00:45:20 rather than a prosecutor.

00:45:22 I caught, in my friendly circles,

00:45:24 I call him Mr. Kaplan, you know, in the blacklist.

00:45:28 When Mr. Reddington commits all his sins,

00:45:30 it's Kaplan that helps him clean the scene.

00:45:34 And if you look at the DOD issue,

00:45:36 following up after the procurement saga thing

00:45:41 with your network profoundly articulated and distributed,

00:45:45 and this same person being able to go and file

00:45:48 an ex parte injunction in court

00:45:51 and wipe his accounts clean,

00:45:53 it was disturbing.

00:45:55 This thing has followed a similar trend

00:45:57 where you have a CC led appearance

00:46:00 cast being returned on a flimsy technicality.

00:46:04 I think it's the office of the special prosecutor

00:46:08 we are talking about here.

00:46:10 And it ought to have been aware

00:46:12 of all the legal nuances

00:46:15 as far as requesting custody of this cash is concerned.

00:46:20 To have this case being dismissed

00:46:23 on the grounds of technicality

00:46:25 and given all the legal resources available

00:46:29 to the office of the special prosecutor

00:46:31 and his experience,

00:46:32 I tend to think that this wasn't an oversight.

00:46:36 Yes, I have to be careful what I'm saying,

00:46:40 but I really am very disappointed in that issue.

00:46:45 That one of the biggest sticking points,

00:46:48 something that embarrasses this nation across the globe,

00:46:52 you have even bigger embarrassment

00:46:53 in the sense that the office of the special prosecutor

00:46:57 misfiled the case on an issue of timing.

00:47:01 I'm particularly worried.

00:47:02 I think that what the office of the special prosecutor

00:47:05 is saying now and doing is just trying to save some face.

00:47:09 I don't believe that the court is lying

00:47:12 that it didn't file the case on time.

00:47:15 We are in here.

00:47:16 I hope to be wrong.

00:47:17 I pray I am wrong.

00:47:19 - Three newspapers talking about

00:47:21 the same committee appearance

00:47:23 regarding the alleged plot to take out the NHUP.

00:47:27 I mean, get him out of office.

00:47:29 COP allegations are appearing before the committee

00:47:31 indicating that, yes, that's his voice on the tape.

00:47:35 Except to say that he was having a private conversation

00:47:37 with Bouguere N'Nambo.

00:47:38 And I mean, so many shocking revelations there.

00:47:41 The fact that from his run, COP,

00:47:45 it's obvious that you'd have to lobby for the job

00:47:48 or the position of an IGP.

00:47:50 Based on some of these revelations coming through,

00:47:54 that suggests that we need some reforms

00:47:56 in the police service.

00:47:57 - Yes, definitely.

00:48:01 It's not only in the police service,

00:48:03 but it has to do with even our management of institutions

00:48:07 in the country that the presidency is extremely powerful.

00:48:12 And this power is now being leveraged

00:48:16 and used to influence our very democracy.

00:48:21 It's something that is disturbing.

00:48:25 If you were an actor and someone who is in public space,

00:48:30 interested in our democracy,

00:48:32 and you have the police in backstage discussion,

00:48:37 planning to have a system that circumvents these processes,

00:48:42 people's engagement in their democratic duties,

00:48:48 and thinking that the current justice,

00:48:51 and the current commissioner of police

00:48:55 is not strong enough or forthright enough

00:48:59 in working in favor of the government,

00:49:01 you should be worried.

00:49:03 Those in the media, those in the public service,

00:49:07 and also politicians have to be worried.

00:49:11 I think that it's not just an issue of Abu Dhabi

00:49:14 and these three,

00:49:15 but we ought to go down to these institutions

00:49:19 and begin to ensure that we have systems

00:49:22 that can engender confidence in our political landscape.

00:49:27 Otherwise, we are headed for very, very difficult

00:49:32 times.

00:49:33 Now that this knowledge is on the background,

00:49:35 the police is always going to be under scrutiny.

00:49:38 Of course, we have realized over time

00:49:40 that the police service has been acting

00:49:43 as the private security of the executive branch.

00:49:47 And this discussion just underscores it.

00:49:49 I am not going to go into the intricacies

00:49:53 of whether Buhidna Abu was recording it

00:49:57 for evidence or whether the policemen

00:50:00 said what they didn't say.

00:50:01 If you look at the elements and snipers of the sound,

00:50:05 you realize that there was some clandestine intentions

00:50:09 involved, however difficult it is to prove them.

00:50:12 And it tells us that we cannot rely on our police service

00:50:16 to provide objective service to the people of this country.

00:50:21 That is the fear going forward.

00:50:23 - The daily statement.

00:50:24 - I would be thinking that,

00:50:26 at least like the Peace Council,

00:50:28 the National House of Peace and other things

00:50:31 must intervene so that we put in temporary measures

00:50:34 that will allow people to have some trust in the police.

00:50:39 Otherwise, we are going to see some resistance

00:50:41 to police protocols and maneuvers,

00:50:45 given the fact that the hierarchy of the police

00:50:49 appears to think that occupying the office of the IGP

00:50:55 is an opportunity to serve government

00:50:58 or is a responsibility and a call

00:51:01 to work for the ruling party.

00:51:04 It's not about serving Ghanaians.

00:51:05 That thinking alone is very unsettling.

00:51:08 And I would want Ghanaians to be more concerned about this,

00:51:13 especially we are having movements now

00:51:15 trying to picket at the Bank of Ghana

00:51:17 and so on and so forth.

00:51:19 And the police is going to court to injunct the processes.

00:51:22 It's very difficult to convince people

00:51:24 that this is out of security and out for national interest

00:51:29 and not trying to be on the good books of government.

00:51:31 So yes, going forward, the police has some serious work to do

00:51:36 and also our institutions.

00:51:40 - Kofi Abujay is talking about the coups

00:51:42 that we have spreading across the African continent.

00:51:45 The Daily Statement is capturing that on the front page.

00:51:48 Coups offer false hope.

00:51:53 We all know that except to say that it's suggesting

00:51:56 that the threats are coming closer and closer

00:51:59 to relatively stable democracies such as Ghana.

00:52:02 - Yes, if you were a democratically elected president

00:52:10 in West Africa or for that matter, any part of Africa now,

00:52:13 you'll be sleeping with one eye open.

00:52:15 Yes, I like it.

00:52:17 Just that I don't like the coups,

00:52:18 but I like the president being scared

00:52:20 because they were becoming well-known military regimes

00:52:24 and being very autocratic, not listening and high-handed.

00:52:29 So these coups are a response to our various democracies

00:52:36 acting like military men in private clothes.

00:52:43 That has been the case here.

00:52:44 And many of our actors, especially our governments

00:52:49 have largely failed to deliver the process of democracy.

00:52:53 So these coups, yes, I think that they kind of

00:52:56 disrupt the situation, but they should cause us to think

00:53:02 and settle down and look for a path to restore

00:53:06 our continents to a democracy.

00:53:09 I can tell you for sure that you don't expect

00:53:12 Sweden to be benevolent for a very long time.

00:53:15 And I agree with Kofi that this is not going to end well.

00:53:20 Very soon we'll be on the streets

00:53:24 if we are able to demonstrate for an end to the atrocities

00:53:29 and injustices that military regimes

00:53:33 are going to visit on us.

00:53:34 So yes, on that score, I agree with Kofi Aboike

00:53:38 that we cannot rely on them.

00:53:40 If we, ECOWAS and other regional bodies

00:53:43 do not adopt a middle ground where they drop this mantra

00:53:48 of intervening militarily and working with these soldiers

00:53:53 to know that, okay, you have just a limited time

00:53:57 to restore constitutional order.

00:54:00 Otherwise, when the whole of West Africa

00:54:03 is taken over by soldiers, we are going to have--

00:54:07 - And I was just having this conversation, yes.

00:54:10 I was just having this conversation the other time

00:54:12 talking about how we have a unique trend

00:54:16 in all of these military takeovers.

00:54:18 You find the citizenry jubilating

00:54:21 and coming out on the streets to celebrate the military

00:54:24 each time there's a takeover.

00:54:26 That's unheard of, actually.

00:54:28 - Yes, I think just a couple of weeks ago,

00:54:32 I participated in a West African conference on Niger.

00:54:37 And the consensus was that it follows hopelessness

00:54:41 after the independence wave that swept across the country.

00:54:46 And people were expecting that we would have

00:54:49 both political freedom and economic freedom,

00:54:53 access to manage our economy the way we deemed fit.

00:54:57 But we have realized that, and I even think

00:55:00 that Krumah realized that when he made his statement

00:55:02 that CKU first political kingdom

00:55:04 and everything will be added to it.

00:55:06 We have gotten the political freedom,

00:55:08 but everything has not been added.

00:55:10 And it has always been getting worse.

00:55:13 You realize that the West, who has largely supported

00:55:18 and bolstered a government that worked for their interest

00:55:22 rather than for their citizenry.

00:55:24 So across the West African countries,

00:55:26 when you have Democrats changing the constitution

00:55:29 and running for third terms, they did nothing.

00:55:34 When you had a government that were extremely corrupt

00:55:38 and mismanaging the nation's resource,

00:55:41 the West did nothing.

00:55:42 And the hopelessness that grew out of this

00:55:45 democratic arrangement has increased pressure.

00:55:48 I frequent Niger a lot.

00:55:49 I'm a visiting scholar to Abdul Mumin University.

00:55:52 So I go there two, three times a year

00:55:55 and I teach our students there currently, I'm supervising.

00:55:58 And when you walk on the streets of Niger,

00:56:01 you realize that this was just a matter of time.

00:56:05 The West was highly unwelcome there.

00:56:08 The soldiers were unwelcome there.

00:56:11 And when you see the general population

00:56:14 perceiving the military there as someone,

00:56:16 some people who were there killing

00:56:17 their brothers and sisters, the anger was up there.

00:56:21 Inequality in Niger is unbelievable.

00:56:24 You just cannot believe.

00:56:26 The city of Niamey was just booming

00:56:32 with business, high-end hotels and business centers

00:56:35 that you can put anywhere in the world and it will fail.

00:56:39 Yet when you just go a few kilometers outside the capital,

00:56:42 you have abject poverty.

00:56:44 I mean, can you imagine that we traveled

00:56:46 about 20, 30 kilometers under heavy military guard

00:56:49 just to go and commission a few solar panels

00:56:54 so that people could gather in the community

00:56:57 and charge phones.

00:56:58 - Really?

00:56:59 - It's called a (indistinct)

00:57:01 - Wow.

00:57:02 - Yes, just in the presence of the speaker of parliament

00:57:07 that come to that program.

00:57:09 And we had to go commission solar panels

00:57:12 and no need to, came along with a whole contingent partners

00:57:17 from Germany and Europe and so on.

00:57:20 And I was like, a country that powers France

00:57:22 is celebrating over a few solar panels.

00:57:27 That is problematic and that is serious.

00:57:29 So while somebody was in Niger taking all electricity away,

00:57:34 just a stone throw away, you don't have,

00:57:36 people haven't access to electricity.

00:57:39 And that is extremely worrying.

00:57:41 If you get to Niger and you see the way the country is,

00:57:45 you're going to say that it's not expected.

00:57:50 It's normal that people are supporting.

00:57:52 - Okay.

00:57:52 I see, I see it all.

00:57:57 Very touching.

00:57:59 But unfortunately we've run out of time.

00:58:01 I can imagine you having that first hand experience

00:58:04 of what's happening in Niger.

00:58:05 We're not by any means endorsing military takeover.

00:58:08 I guess this is just a wake up call to our leaders.

00:58:11 Yeah, to our leaders, definitely.

00:58:13 Thank you.

00:58:14 Doc, I'm sure that we'll meet again.

00:58:17 Nice having you this morning.

00:58:19 - Yeah, it's a pleasure talking to you.

00:58:20 I haven't seen you for a very long time.

00:58:22 I get to a club with one of these days

00:58:24 and then after a long day, maybe we'll get to hang out.

00:58:27 - Yeah, all right.

00:58:28 Dr. Adongo joining us, Development Economist,

00:58:31 sharing his thoughts with us on the news with us

00:58:33 this morning on the AM show.

00:58:35 Next is Prime Tech.

00:58:36 We're speaking to Dr. Njaho Tamaklok.

00:58:40 He speaks about football and others in terms of his passion.

00:58:44 Mufti Nabila will be doing that conversation shortly.

00:58:48 Please stay.

00:58:49 (dramatic music)

00:58:52 - You're doing good.

00:59:19 - Well, I'm taking good care of myself.

00:59:21 (laughing)

00:59:22 - I'm not surprised.

00:59:23 (laughing)

00:59:25 - I'm taking good care of myself.

00:59:27 When I tell people my age, they don't believe it, you know.

00:59:31 - So what is your age?

00:59:32 - 81.

00:59:33 - 81?

00:59:35 - Yeah.

00:59:36 - You look like someone who is 60.

00:59:38 (laughing)

00:59:40 - I passed this thing on to you.

00:59:42 - So I'm taking 81 out of your age?

00:59:44 - Exactly.

00:59:45 - Wow, wow, wow.

00:59:47 You look really, really good.

00:59:49 You look really good.

00:59:50 - We have also in the family these genes of longevity.

00:59:54 Because my dad died just about three years ago

01:00:00 at the age of 104 years, eight months.

01:00:04 My grandfather was equally old, over 98, if not 100.

01:00:08 And then my, it's only my great-grandfather

01:00:16 whose life was terminated through poisoning.

01:00:20 But his father, Togunyawotamaklu I, lived for 118 years.

01:00:24 - Wow.

01:00:27 - Oh yes.

01:00:28 Oh yes.

01:00:29 - My grandfather lived to 122.

01:00:33 - There you are.

01:00:34 (laughing)

01:00:36 - Doc, tell us, how did your childhood story begin?

01:00:42 - Well, that's quite interesting.

01:00:45 I was born at the old Kolebu,

01:00:48 as I was told by my mother and my father.

01:00:53 In those days, we, Kolebu was in the bigger hospital

01:00:57 in the country, you know.

01:01:02 And there were quite a number of white doctors.

01:01:13 Normally, in our tradition, after a week,

01:01:17 you are given a name.

01:01:18 - Oh, okay.

01:01:20 - But the doctors declared that I was not

01:01:23 that well to be released, but my mother was okay.

01:01:30 So the outdoor itself took place at Kolebu.

01:01:33 The island, they had gardens there for us.

01:01:35 - Oh, wow.

01:01:35 - Yeah, when it was described to me,

01:01:38 my parents, I was really impressed.

01:01:42 They had a nice garden, you know.

01:01:44 But they knew our tradition, the white knows our tradition.

01:01:48 Within a week, the child must be given a name.

01:01:53 Now, prior to that, my dad and one of my late uncles,

01:01:57 no, my grandfather, and one of my late granduncles

01:02:03 went to find out where do I really come from.

01:02:07 They knew it, you know.

01:02:10 And they were told I'm just, what do you call it?

01:02:15 - A reincarnation or something?

01:02:19 - That's right.

01:02:20 The reincarnation of Togbi Nyahu Tamaklu the First.

01:02:24 That is why I have his name.

01:02:28 So his name is Nyahu Tamaklu.

01:02:30 Togbi Nyahu Tamaklu.

01:02:34 And so I was given his name Nyahu.

01:02:39 And now, his tool is Nyahu Tamaklu's tool.

01:02:42 So I added Nyahu Tamaklu's tool to my name

01:02:47 because I had his name.

01:02:49 So I'm not surprised.

01:02:51 I have grown to look like him.

01:02:53 I guess I was shocked.

01:02:55 - When I was coming in and I saw the picture,

01:02:56 I was like, ah, this is you.

01:02:57 Only for me to be told that.

01:03:00 - That is my grandfather's grandfather,

01:03:03 is the picture you saw, the old man.

01:03:05 It's right here.

01:03:07 You can show it.

01:03:08 - Wow.

01:03:09 - Yeah.

01:03:10 And it's amazing.

01:03:12 You are not the only one.

01:03:12 Almost every journalist who comes here comments on that.

01:03:16 - In fact, when I was going to do the introduction,

01:03:17 I almost said a traditional ruler.

01:03:19 (laughing)

01:03:21 Togbi Nyahu Tamaklu the First.

01:03:24 That belongs to me.

01:03:25 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:03:25 He was a traditional ruler.

01:03:28 He was involved in a lot, lot of businesses.

01:03:33 He had business and properties all along

01:03:38 the Eastern Coast line, all the way to Benin.

01:03:42 - Oh, wow.

01:03:44 - Oh, yeah.

01:03:45 He even got the properties in Nigeria.

01:03:48 But there's a street in Lugos called Tamaklu Street.

01:03:51 - Oh, really?

01:03:52 - Oh, yes, oh, yes, oh, yes.

01:03:54 And he had a mine in Chile.

01:03:56 So you can imagine.

01:04:03 - Oh, wow.

01:04:04 - Yeah.

01:04:05 - Wow, he's a great, great man.

01:04:06 No wonder you have people in great mind.

01:04:08 - Oh, I don't come in the fashion of what they did.

01:04:12 He was a warrior.

01:04:13 - Oh, okay.

01:04:14 - Oh, that picture, the young picture you see,

01:04:18 that is him, the warrior.

01:04:20 If your camera can catch it.

01:04:21 - Yeah.

01:04:22 - He was a warrior.

01:04:24 And I have always been struggling to get

01:04:27 some of his ancient items, like artifacts and other things.

01:04:32 And when I got that picture, I was very much satisfied.

01:04:36 He was in his full regalia.

01:04:39 - Yes.

01:04:40 - And imagine where I got that picture from.

01:04:43 It wasn't from Ghana.

01:04:45 Nowhere in our archives would I have found it.

01:04:48 This picture came from Dresden in Germany, German archives.

01:04:53 They have the picture of this man.

01:04:55 - Wow, that's interesting.

01:04:59 - So you can see that we really don't take certain things

01:05:06 very serious as Africans, and that's unfortunate.

01:05:10 - But tell us, why did your people have to go

01:05:16 and find out your generation?

01:05:20 - Oh, it's done in a lot of families.

01:05:22 - Oh, okay.

01:05:23 - It's done by a lot of, they want to find out

01:05:26 your background, where you really come from.

01:05:29 That's their belief.

01:05:30 And as I know what they said is what has happened today.

01:05:36 - Wow.

01:05:37 - Oh, yes.

01:05:37 - Wow.

01:05:38 Why don't you tell us about your education?

01:05:39 How was it like?

01:05:41 Education.

01:05:42 - Oh, myself?

01:05:43 - Yes.

01:05:44 - Oh, in fact, I was born and bred in Accra.

01:05:46 I was born in Accra, bred in Accra, schooled in Accra.

01:05:50 I started school at the Presbyterian Primary School

01:05:59 at Dadaabaka.

01:06:03 It's still there now, on Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

01:06:07 In those days, it used to be called High Street.

01:06:12 No, not High Street.

01:06:14 It used to be called Station Road.

01:06:16 - Oh, okay.

01:06:17 - We had two streets running through Dadaabaka,

01:06:20 Station Road and Bondi Road.

01:06:22 Bondi Road is now what you call Koyo Thompson Road.

01:06:26 - Oh, okay.

01:06:27 - Now, Station Road has become Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

01:06:29 - Oh, wow.

01:06:31 - Yeah.

01:06:32 It was there that we as kids, about the age of seven or so,

01:06:37 I remember vividly, when Nkrumah, I think,

01:06:41 was released from prison or whatever it was.

01:06:43 I don't know.

01:06:45 In those days, he was so popular.

01:06:49 And they brought him to, I think, from the prison,

01:06:52 they brought him straight to the house

01:06:54 of one of his close allies, K.O. Badema.

01:06:57 - Okay.

01:06:58 - Badema lived right opposite our school.

01:07:01 And adjacent to our school was one, Brahma,

01:07:05 who was also Nkrumah's man,

01:07:07 who was a minister in Nkrumah's government,

01:07:09 one of the early ministers.

01:07:11 So that's where I had my basic training.

01:07:15 Then from there, I moved to Presbyterian Middle Boys

01:07:20 Boarding School.

01:07:22 - Okay.

01:07:23 - Yeah, that's how I was there.

01:07:24 Then from there, secondary school,

01:07:26 I went to Zion College in Ketah.

01:07:30 And then I--

01:07:31 - You finally went to your place.

01:07:32 - Yeah.

01:07:33 I went to my place, but unfortunately,

01:07:36 they were so strict that in those days,

01:07:39 you are not even allowed, rather,

01:07:41 to speak the local language in the school.

01:07:42 I don't know why.

01:07:44 - Wow.

01:07:45 - It was not only that school.

01:07:46 There were a lot of schools, but I don't know,

01:07:47 maybe they wanted to make sure

01:07:49 you grabbed the English language very well.

01:07:52 And then, after that, I had my university education

01:07:56 at Charles University in Prague.

01:07:59 I was the first person in Czech Republic.

01:08:01 - Oh, okay.

01:08:02 - Yeah, came back after graduation

01:08:06 and having done my houseworship and everything.

01:08:09 And I wanted to join the army.

01:08:12 And I--

01:08:14 - So the initial thing you wanted to do

01:08:16 was to join the army?

01:08:17 - I was doing the army after I finished medicine.

01:08:20 - Oh, okay.

01:08:21 So you finished medicine in Czech Republic.

01:08:23 - Yeah.

01:08:24 - Okay.

01:08:25 - After I finished medicine, I decided to look.

01:08:28 One of the reasons was that my late uncle,

01:08:33 Dr. Kwame Nyaho Tamaklo,

01:08:37 who established Nyaho Clinic.

01:08:40 - Nyaho Clinic?

01:08:42 - Oh, yes, oh, yeah.

01:08:43 That was his work.

01:08:45 And now, when I was,

01:08:49 when I was in medical school,

01:08:56 he had already established the clinic.

01:08:58 - Oh, that was a long time.

01:09:00 - Yeah, it was quite a long time.

01:09:02 I came to work there with him.

01:09:05 - In fact, initially I thought it was yours.

01:09:06 - No, not at all.

01:09:07 (both laughing)

01:09:09 I would say he did wonderfully well.

01:09:13 And he had the strength, but it wasn't easy.

01:09:18 It wasn't easy at all.

01:09:20 Unfortunately, he was behind his desk working

01:09:24 when he collapsed and died.

01:09:25 - Oh.

01:09:26 - Because of the work,

01:09:28 - Humanity.

01:09:29 - He put the strength he put into it.

01:09:32 Now, it was mainly because of him,

01:09:37 because by then, before he set up the clinic,

01:09:41 he was the head of the military hospital.

01:09:45 He was also a soldier.

01:09:46 - Oh, okay.

01:09:47 Military hospital in '37?

01:09:49 - Oh, yes.

01:09:50 Now, if you go there now, you see Tamaklo Ward.

01:09:54 - Oh, yes.

01:09:54 - That was named after him.

01:09:56 - I see.

01:09:59 - You follow me?

01:10:00 Now, when he retired from the military,

01:10:05 I think in '67 or '68, I can't remember very well now.

01:10:11 Then he went into private practice

01:10:15 and wanted this sort of mourning clinic,

01:10:19 which we call a joint sort of practice.

01:10:24 - Yes.

01:10:25 - So, even though at that time,

01:10:28 the clinic was an outpatient clinic,

01:10:31 we had specialists coming down there.

01:10:33 - Oh, okay.

01:10:34 - Most of the specialists, if I can remember,

01:10:35 the Professor Kwakunpung, Professor Taki of surgery,

01:10:40 Colonel Jabano, these are all people

01:10:50 I've worked with before.

01:10:52 I can't name them, Professor Drew,

01:10:55 each one in his field.

01:10:56 Professor Kwate, Wadolonji,

01:10:59 and they all visited the place.

01:11:01 So, it became a very popular place within a short period.

01:11:04 - I see.

01:11:05 - Yeah, so that was that.

01:11:07 - What happened to the military dream?

01:11:10 - Well, the military dream,

01:11:12 I was asked to attend an interview.

01:11:14 I was then in Europe.

01:11:15 Czech Republic is in Europe.

01:11:19 So, I was asked to report at the Ghana High Commission.

01:11:24 - Okay.

01:11:27 You wanted to join the military service in Czech?

01:11:30 - No, no, no, no, no.

01:11:31 I wanted to join the Ghana military service.

01:11:35 - Yes.

01:11:36 - So, I went to the Ghana military,

01:11:39 and I was asked to come for an interview.

01:11:44 - Oh, okay.

01:11:45 - In London.

01:11:48 And I wasn't the only one.

01:11:49 Quite a number of doctors came, about 15 of us.

01:11:52 And nurses, you know, female nurses,

01:11:59 and dentists also.

01:12:01 And I remember vividly that

01:12:05 that

01:12:08 particular

01:12:12 interview, which in the military they called,

01:12:18 we faced a selection board.

01:12:19 That's how they call it in the military.

01:12:22 There were three military officers in their uniform

01:12:27 who were white people.

01:12:28 One lady,

01:12:31 and two gentlemen.

01:12:33 One was a full Canadian,

01:12:35 the other one was a lieutenant-colonel.

01:12:37 And then two Ghanaians.

01:12:40 The Ghanaians were,

01:12:46 by then, his rank was lieutenant-colonel

01:12:51 Arnold Kuinu, who later became General Kuinu,

01:12:58 and was the first commander of this country.

01:13:01 He's still around, and I haven't seen him for a while.

01:13:05 I have to look up for him.

01:13:07 - After this, you have to call him.

01:13:08 - Exactly.

01:13:09 The other person was a major,

01:13:13 called Major Francis R. Genfra,

01:13:17 who passed on recently.

01:13:18 - For a death?

01:13:19 - Yeah, of some, for death.

01:13:20 And they were wonderful.

01:13:22 Now, Genfra also later became a major general

01:13:27 in the Ghana Armed Forces.

01:13:28 So it was at that particular interview,

01:13:33 after they have talked to me, they asked me to wait.

01:13:37 And I did.

01:13:40 They didn't tell me anything, so I was waiting.

01:13:43 You have to respect others right from the word go.

01:13:46 And then I noticed that another doctor had joined me.

01:13:52 And it turned out to be a gentleman by the name

01:13:56 Corbner.

01:13:59 Corbner was a dentist.

01:14:03 So we were the two who were picked

01:14:07 out of the lot that came there.

01:14:10 So they asked us to go to

01:14:12 Halle Street for medicals, and we went down there.

01:14:17 And after that, they asked us to come down to Accra.

01:14:22 I came to Accra and went to military academy.

01:14:27 And all the medicines and what you think you know

01:14:30 would disappear within a second.

01:14:32 (laughing)

01:14:34 Because of the training, oh my God.

01:14:38 But I enjoyed it.

01:14:40 You see yourself being transformed

01:14:42 from civilian life to military life.

01:14:45 You feel it.

01:14:46 - How do you like?

01:14:47 - You now understand why they always want younger people.

01:14:57 You follow me?

01:14:58 Yeah, because it's quite stressful and straight out.

01:15:02 - Very rigorous.

01:15:03 - Very rigorous.

01:15:04 You know, all sort of things that you do.

01:15:09 Going through swamps and walnuts, you know.

01:15:12 Climbing off ropes to heights that you can never think of.

01:15:16 Jumping walls and all that sort of thing.

01:15:19 Being left in the bush.

01:15:21 We were left, I remember, I was the platoon commander.

01:15:25 I was left down the Arboree Hill somewhere there.

01:15:30 And we had to find our way all the way to Accra Pond.

01:15:34 With only a compass.

01:15:38 In the forest, oh yes.

01:15:39 But we were able to make it.

01:15:42 (laughing)

01:15:43 - That's an interesting one.

01:15:44 So how many years did you serve in the military?

01:15:46 - My stay in the military was very brief.

01:15:48 There couldn't be more than three years.

01:15:52 And it was full of, it was very eventful.

01:15:55 Eventful.

01:15:58 - In the space of eight years?

01:15:59 - Oh yes.

01:16:00 - But this was an area you were interested in.

01:16:01 So what did you get into?

01:16:03 - Well, I got into the military

01:16:05 by then this country was so political.

01:16:08 Highly political.

01:16:09 Abuza had been thrown out.

01:16:11 I hope they call General Achambon was in charge.

01:16:13 It was the military.

01:16:18 But some of us had a different sort of approach

01:16:22 to certain things.

01:16:23 I asked myself,

01:16:25 the role of the military really is not to rule civilians.

01:16:32 That's not the role.

01:16:34 I read a book by one General,

01:16:36 Alexander, he was an officer.

01:16:40 And he has sort of specified clearly

01:16:45 the role of the soldier.

01:16:47 Okay.

01:16:48 Now,

01:16:50 personally,

01:16:53 myself,

01:16:55 when I left Nisra Kadda,

01:17:01 I served briefly at 37th Military Hospital.

01:17:06 Then I was put on a recruitment team.

01:17:10 Very interesting, I want you to get this portion.

01:17:13 It came out of a lot of things.

01:17:15 A recruitment team to tour the whole country

01:17:20 and then look for soldiers.

01:17:24 I'm talking about soldiers, not officers.

01:17:28 - Potentially soldiers.

01:17:30 - Not officers, soldiers.

01:17:32 You follow me?

01:17:33 We visited all the regional capitals in Ghana.

01:17:38 We ended up at Boko.

01:17:41 By then, Boko was not,

01:17:43 not Boko, we ended up at Boga.

01:17:46 - Boga.

01:17:47 - Yeah.

01:17:48 - Yeah, it's a regional capital.

01:17:50 - But it wasn't even a regional capital then.

01:17:52 It wasn't.

01:17:53 If my memories could set me right.

01:17:57 So they did this in order to balance

01:18:01 regional representation.

01:18:04 Very, very interesting thing.

01:18:06 Yes, not what is happening now.

01:18:08 In order to balance regional,

01:18:12 so we started from Ho to Cape Coast,

01:18:14 from Cape Coast to Saganditakradi,

01:18:17 and it went like that.

01:18:18 Koforidua, there's Kumasi.

01:18:21 We kept on going, Tamalian border.

01:18:23 And we had a true regional representation.

01:18:28 So, when we finished with the boys,

01:18:33 I came back, I was sent back to,

01:18:35 I remember very well,

01:18:39 the officer in charge at that time

01:18:41 was Lieutenant Ken Ofosu-Apia.

01:18:43 Who, when Jerry came,

01:18:49 General Rollins came in,

01:18:51 his second coming was in '81.

01:18:54 - Yeah, '81.

01:18:55 - '81, he moved troops from Takradi

01:18:57 to come and quell the coup.

01:19:00 And things went wrong.

01:19:02 Quite a number of people lost their lives,

01:19:06 I remember very well.

01:19:08 Now, when we finished with that assignment,

01:19:13 I was assigned to one battalion of infantry.

01:19:18 One battalion of infantry is at Michel Camp.

01:19:23 I don't know if you know Michel Camp.

01:19:25 - Yeah, I know Michel Camp.

01:19:26 - Yeah, that's another very interesting camp.

01:19:29 I was there as a resident doctor for the troops.

01:19:34 - Okay, so because of your medical profession, you--

01:19:36 - Oh yeah.

01:19:37 - If you have just joined us, this is Prime Tech,

01:19:40 and we are speaking to Dr. Nyahu Nyahu Tamakulo,

01:19:43 diplomat, a politician, a doctor,

01:19:49 an ex-military man, and a board member

01:19:54 of our House of Doc.

01:19:56 Just before we took a break,

01:20:00 you were talking about how there was

01:20:05 regional representation in the military service,

01:20:09 simply because the country wanted to have

01:20:14 every single region represented in the military service.

01:20:16 - Absolutely.

01:20:17 - Why was this necessary?

01:20:18 - I think it was necessary because,

01:20:21 I'm sure national security might have noticed that.

01:20:27 In those days, the national security

01:20:30 was then a national security.

01:20:32 They used to call them special branch.

01:20:35 These are trained people, not this sort of

01:20:38 wholesome thing we do now.

01:20:40 Well-trained people.

01:20:41 They really study what is happening,

01:20:46 the brief comment about it regularly.

01:20:50 There's one who has been coming on there some time,

01:20:53 one of the experienced ones, I've forgotten his name.

01:20:56 And I was, some of the early trained officers.

01:21:01 I think he's still around.

01:21:03 He's written a couple of books on national security.

01:21:08 So I'm sure they were able to inform government

01:21:12 that we have to go this way,

01:21:14 even though it was under a military regime.

01:21:17 Because by then, Achenpung was in power.

01:21:20 He followed him.

01:21:21 Now, and that was the main reason

01:21:25 why we went to all the regional capitals,

01:21:27 so that we can have access to everybody

01:21:30 who wants to join the army.

01:21:32 In those days, it wasn't, I mean, you don't think about--

01:21:37 - Having to go through a process.

01:21:40 - No, no, no, no, no, no.

01:21:42 If you are a declared-- - You need some

01:21:44 plain man to help you. - No, no, no, no, no, no.

01:21:45 It doesn't exist.

01:21:46 It didn't at all, I can assure you.

01:21:50 What we are seeing now, just yesterday,

01:21:53 somebody said, I don't even know him,

01:21:56 send me a short message on my phone.

01:22:01 So I said, "May I know who is communicating with me?"

01:22:06 He gave out his name.

01:22:07 I can show it to you.

01:22:08 I say he's looking for a job.

01:22:11 Can you imagine it?

01:22:13 I don't know him.

01:22:14 I'm not in government.

01:22:16 I've not been in government for years.

01:22:19 So that tells you that there is difficulty in this country,

01:22:24 and there is difficulty in this country.

01:22:27 We should stop trying to shy away from that.

01:22:32 There is real difficulty in this country,

01:22:34 and government has to sit up.

01:22:37 - So why did we get it wrong?

01:22:40 - Well, you see,

01:22:44 I think it's a long journey.

01:22:50 It's a very long journey.

01:22:53 I say so because

01:22:55 I think I have to come in with this.

01:23:01 You know Kwame Tuning? - Yes.

01:23:08 - After the killing of the judges,

01:23:13 during the era of the AFRC,

01:23:22 Armed Forces Revolutionary Council,

01:23:25 as they called themselves in those days,

01:23:26 and my dear,

01:23:27 on the council, that's why I say I'll tell you something.

01:23:34 On the council were five soldiers

01:23:38 that I examined them to be fit medically

01:23:43 into the armed forces, and that was in 1974.

01:23:47 I don't know whether you are following me.

01:23:50 - I get it, I get it.

01:23:51 - How do I get to know?

01:23:53 I have just been released from prison.

01:23:55 We were wanted to overthrow Achiampo, myself,

01:23:58 and four other officers.

01:24:00 So we were just thrown into a shaft for the way there

01:24:02 for years.

01:24:04 Until Achiampo was removed, we had our freedom,

01:24:07 and I just came out.

01:24:08 I came out some couple of months,

01:24:12 then 15th major, John Rawlings.

01:24:17 That was abortive, he was arrested.

01:24:19 Now after that,

01:24:21 I think a month later came

01:24:25 Bancho Fuentes group, a very good officer,

01:24:28 that young boy, very young boy.

01:24:31 And Bancho Fuentes group,

01:24:33 then my good friend, Captain Henry Smith,

01:24:39 of one battalion of infantry,

01:24:42 they brought in really

01:24:44 the crew that was successful on June 4th.

01:24:50 By then, I was,

01:24:55 I have just been released from detention.

01:25:01 So I had no hand in that one.

01:25:03 But I was driving,

01:25:07 I think by then, when I came out,

01:25:12 I came up with my uncle at Nyaho Clinic.

01:25:16 So I was driving one time around 37th Military Hospital,

01:25:20 and I stopped by the roadside to talk to somebody.

01:25:23 And these young men, when they came in,

01:25:26 the soldiers, not the officers, the soldier mostly,

01:25:30 they use a vehicle they call a Prince Gore.

01:25:34 So they were in this Prince Gore,

01:25:35 the Prince Gore came and stopped right in front of me.

01:25:38 So I said, "Are these boys coming to arrest me?"

01:25:40 (laughing)

01:25:43 They said, "I'm not part of it."

01:25:45 Then five of them got out of the vehicle,

01:25:48 and sharply saluted me.

01:25:50 "Good afternoon, sir."

01:25:52 I said, "Good afternoon."

01:25:54 And I was amazed, because I can't recognize any of them.

01:25:59 I'm talking about '74,

01:26:03 I took them in in '74,

01:26:05 and the coup took place in '79.

01:26:07 - '79, yes.

01:26:09 So it was '79, the second one was '81.

01:26:11 - Yeah.

01:26:12 It was then that they disclosed to me

01:26:14 that they passed through my hands

01:26:17 when I was doing the recruitment.

01:26:18 - Okay.

01:26:19 - I was amazed.

01:26:22 - So how come you wanted to overthrow Ichampo?

01:26:25 - Well, as a,

01:26:29 as General Alexander said,

01:26:31 "The role of the military is not to rule the civilian."

01:26:35 But African leaders have turned it the other way around.

01:26:41 All coups in Africa

01:26:44 are brought by the leaders themselves,

01:26:49 are brought in by the leaders themselves.

01:26:51 And when they go home,

01:26:56 and they are being advised by national security,

01:27:00 they don't listen.

01:27:01 I'm telling you.

01:27:02 - If the role of the military is not to rule.

01:27:06 - Not to rule, that is what it is.

01:27:08 That is what, that is the traditional role of the military.

01:27:11 But we have instances where the military has

01:27:14 seized power in other countries.

01:27:16 You know, Argentina and all these places.

01:27:18 - But even in Ghana, when did they seize power?

01:27:19 - In Ghana, several times, yeah.

01:27:21 - Generally seized power,

01:27:22 - Oh, several times. - It's a rule.

01:27:23 - And I'll tell you, I'll tell you one interesting thing.

01:27:26 Well, we have to be careful

01:27:28 because this is really something that happened.

01:27:31 By then, I have not even joined the army.

01:27:35 And I was told this by Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu,

01:27:40 a very good friend of mine,

01:27:44 who was once Kufu's national security advisor.

01:27:49 You see, I'm saying this

01:27:49 because I hope people will learn from it.

01:27:53 Now, Joshua was having a chat with me.

01:27:55 And then the question of how Achiampong came to power

01:28:02 came up, this same question you're asking me.

01:28:04 - Yes.

01:28:05 - I asked him that question.

01:28:06 And then he said, "Now, there's an interesting question."

01:28:13 I said, "Why?"

01:28:14 He said, "When Achiampong came to power,

01:28:17 "he was then the head of military intelligence.

01:28:21 "He was then a colonel.

01:28:23 "He has gone to play tennis."

01:28:28 When he had a call that there are radio messages,

01:28:34 there was no cell phones or radio.

01:28:36 That he should see the president-elect immediately.

01:28:41 Listen to me carefully.

01:28:44 Now, the president-elect then was Professor Bouzia.

01:28:50 He was staying at that part of Accra, I've forgotten the name.

01:28:55 So he drove there immediately.

01:29:01 When he went in, the prof had a visitor,

01:29:08 so he just waited.

01:29:10 The colonel and the prime minister

01:29:13 and the executive prime minister, you know the difference.

01:29:17 Prime minister-elect.

01:29:19 - Yes.

01:29:20 - Then later, who comes out of the prime minister's house?

01:29:26 Lieutenant General Afrifa.

01:29:28 Listen to me carefully.

01:29:30 Now, he called him, and Afrifa, of course,

01:29:39 Hamidu immediately paid respect to Afrifa.

01:29:43 Afrifa was a general, and he was a colonel.

01:29:45 So he stood up and greeted him.

01:29:49 (papers rustling)

01:29:51 Then he was ushered in to see the prime minister-elect.

01:29:56 The prime minister-elect said,

01:29:58 "What I wanted to discuss with you,

01:30:01 "I've got some of the facts from General Afrifa."

01:30:03 He said, "I want to make General Afrifa,"

01:30:09 let's move, he was in a lieutenant colonel.

01:30:16 Yeah, a lieutenant colonel,

01:30:18 "who has been given the command

01:30:21 "of five battalions of infantry,

01:30:24 "the most notorious battalion in this country."

01:30:26 I have studied that before.

01:30:27 (laughing)

01:30:30 So I want to give you, I want to give him

01:30:33 another command in addition to that.

01:30:36 Listen to me carefully.

01:30:38 And the command the prime minister-elect wanted

01:30:40 to add to Achampong's already important position

01:30:45 was one brigade commander.

01:30:48 When you are advised wrongly, this is what happens.

01:30:54 The man is already holding a battalion,

01:31:00 that is a great confusion.

01:31:04 You are going to add one brigade to it.

01:31:08 One brigade means all the battalions in the southern sector.

01:31:11 - He's not going to be in charge?

01:31:14 - Oh yes.

01:31:15 And you know, we have lost some of the best officers.

01:31:21 G. Roger Fiamedo advised him that

01:31:25 he is from military intelligence,

01:31:31 so anything on any officer is our way.

01:31:34 And you follow me? - Yes.

01:31:37 - He told Professor Bouzia that

01:31:44 for ABCD reasons, Achampong cannot have that command.

01:31:49 He told the professor, Dr. Bouzia,

01:31:56 he was a professor, he told him openly,

01:31:59 professionally, if I may put it.

01:32:02 - Yes.

01:32:03 - For ABCD reasons, he can't be given a command,

01:32:08 such a command, because that's a high command.

01:32:12 The professor, he said,

01:32:16 apparently, when General Freva came there,

01:32:25 it was the same topic that was discussed.

01:32:28 And the general gave-- - The green light.

01:32:33 - The green light to the prime minister-elect.

01:32:39 And Achampong was made brigade commander,

01:32:44 first as acting brigade commander.

01:32:47 One battalion commander and one brigade commander.

01:32:53 These are things that people must know.

01:32:57 He took three years in your battalion, Bouzia.

01:33:01 Now tell me one thing about it.

01:33:06 - I get it, you mean that he was handed the power

01:33:08 to take turn in the same--

01:33:09 - He was handed the power, but to the wrong person.

01:33:13 There were better officers there.

01:33:15 I want you to understand me more.

01:33:18 There were better, who were professional officers,

01:33:22 who would not remove, what do you call it?

01:33:26 A democratic elected government.

01:33:30 Maybe for one simple reason,

01:33:38 that they come from the same area.

01:33:40 This is also one of the things, that's why I say,

01:33:43 even at that, it happens.

01:33:45 Even at that time, we have to go nationwide

01:33:48 to look for soldiers.

01:33:49 You follow me?

01:33:53 - But if you also overthrew Achampong,

01:33:55 why not going to rule the people,

01:33:56 or you're going to overthrow him

01:33:57 and give it back to democratic leadership?

01:34:01 - But that is a problem.

01:34:03 Look at the number of coup d'etats we've gone through.

01:34:06 Right down from the time of General Kutuka,

01:34:10 - Yes.

01:34:10 - Kutuka, Ankara, Ankara, Afrifa.

01:34:13 Yes, Ankara, Afrifa.

01:34:17 - Afrifa, and Achampong.

01:34:19 - Then Achampong came in, Jay Rawlings came in.

01:34:24 Before Rawlings was, in fact, before Rawlings came,

01:34:27 they have been serious.

01:34:29 Our group was there too, myself and Judge Menyele.

01:34:32 We wanted to remove Gutu Achampong.

01:34:36 So Yasso said, "Why so?"

01:34:39 And the reason is quite simple.

01:34:44 Politicians fail to do the right thing.

01:34:48 - But do soldiers do the right thing?

01:34:50 Do military do the right thing?

01:34:51 - Oh, soldiers do.

01:34:52 Why Achampong was removed, listen to me carefully,

01:34:56 was he got soldiers more involved in civilian life.

01:35:04 - And soldiers don't want to be involved in civilian life?

01:35:06 - No, you'd be surprised, no.

01:35:08 A good, well-trained officer would not like

01:35:13 to be involved in civilian life.

01:35:16 Achampong appointed some of them managing directors,

01:35:19 this, this, this.

01:35:20 No, no, they're good soldiers.

01:35:25 And we can say something about them.

01:35:28 They're some of the good soldiers.

01:35:30 - See.

01:35:30 - You follow me?

01:35:32 So what one should do always is to keep your eyes open

01:35:37 and also make sure you listen to the advice

01:35:43 coming from national security.

01:35:46 Know what you have now.

01:35:48 - So what you have now is not fit for purpose?

01:35:50 - Oh, look.

01:35:51 What I will say, we might have gone through rough times

01:35:59 if we have been years back with the military.

01:36:04 Let's be frank about certain things.

01:36:06 - So Ghana would have been better to govern--

01:36:08 - No, that's not what I'm saying.

01:36:09 - Okay.

01:36:10 - What is happening now, if it had been years past,

01:36:17 would have called for good detail long ago.

01:36:20 - I suggest--

01:36:21 - That's the point that I'm saying.

01:36:22 - I suggest that the current that we've had in this country,

01:36:26 say, since we became a democratic,

01:36:30 or since we had democratic elected leaders,

01:36:32 the way they've led the country, years past,

01:36:36 they would have been a good--

01:36:37 - Absolutely.

01:36:38 Absolutely.

01:36:40 Only a fool would not recognize.

01:36:42 And a true soldier would know that, look at that.

01:36:44 There are people who feel the same way I feel.

01:36:47 I'm not interested in military government

01:36:50 because I know the harm they bring to the country.

01:36:55 But for heaven's sake, when you are running a nation,

01:36:58 run the nation with integrity.

01:37:01 That's what I'm saying.

01:37:06 - So the past leaders,

01:37:07 or the leaders of this democratic government, they failed.

01:37:11 - No.

01:37:12 You know on what basis Nkuma was removed,

01:37:15 with all the wonderful work that he did for this country?

01:37:18 He said he wasn't democratic.

01:37:21 That was the basis.

01:37:24 Nkuma was removed because there is an argument

01:37:29 that he has set up a one-party state,

01:37:33 and this and that and that.

01:37:35 That's why he was removed.

01:37:37 Now look at what we are going through now.

01:37:42 - Are we worse off?

01:37:45 - We are worse off.

01:37:46 If that is what you want to hear.

01:37:49 We are worse off.

01:37:51 Look at what happens during elections.

01:37:54 People being killed.

01:37:55 Look at the behavior of so-called militia.

01:37:58 I mean, they are legion, I can't count them.

01:38:05 Look at them, fascists.

01:38:07 Infractions.

01:38:09 Not just from ordinary people, but from ministers.

01:38:16 I mean, you see, what they feel to see this disease.

01:38:22 It amazes me.

01:38:23 I mean, there are serious things happening in this country.

01:38:28 Apart from the mess in which we are, with the economy.

01:38:33 Recently, look at what happened.

01:38:38 A huge amount of money reported stolen

01:38:41 from a former minister's house.

01:38:43 I mean, that will get the soldier crazy,

01:38:49 about 10 years, 15 years, 20 years ago.

01:38:51 I'm telling you.

01:38:54 I am telling you.

01:38:56 - Wow, that's quite an interesting one.

01:39:00 But there's a certain question I want to ask.

01:39:04 As much as we are having a conversation

01:39:08 about your life story and all that,

01:39:10 but some of these things, they become quite relevant.

01:39:12 But before I ask that question,

01:39:14 if a military soldier wants to

01:39:18 take over, does he have conversation

01:39:23 with other military soldiers to be on standby?

01:39:26 Or how does it happen?

01:39:27 (laughing)

01:39:31 Because we've had so many coups.

01:39:34 (laughing)

01:39:36 Let's say when a champion wanted to overthrow Pusia,

01:39:43 probably he's told Dr. Nyokolo to be on standby.

01:39:46 I want to take this action.

01:39:47 Then he can, let's say, the people--

01:39:49 - Look, telling somebody to be on standby,

01:39:52 then you disclose your intention to the person.

01:39:55 These are two different things.

01:39:57 - So the people within your circle,

01:39:59 you tell them the plan. - You have a circle.

01:40:01 Of course, you have to start from somewhere.

01:40:04 There must be a new clause.

01:40:07 Maybe one, two, three people.

01:40:12 You follow me?

01:40:13 If they agree on an issue,

01:40:16 then the conspiracy starts building.

01:40:18 - So if it is-- - You follow me?

01:40:21 - If it is weak--

01:40:22 - And then, a lot depends on the leader

01:40:27 and the command he's holding.

01:40:31 - Oh, okay.

01:40:32 - That's very important.

01:40:33 - Okay.

01:40:33 - You follow me? - Yes.

01:40:36 - The leader, that's why I said,

01:40:39 I need advice, the prime minister,

01:40:43 that Achampon wasn't a material for that high command, yet.

01:40:48 You follow me?

01:40:51 - But the likes of Hamidu too was there.

01:40:53 When Achampon did that,

01:40:55 and why did they not disagree with him,

01:40:58 but still allowed him to proceed?

01:40:59 - No, no, no. (laughs)

01:41:02 - I'm speaking as a civilian, I don't understand these things.

01:41:06 - A coup has been done by five battalion of infantry.

01:41:09 Led by Achampon.

01:41:13 - Yes.

01:41:13 And you were also a brigadier.

01:41:16 - Interesting thing about that coup was that

01:41:18 Achampon was the head of the battalion,

01:41:23 and at the same time, head of one brigade.

01:41:27 That's a strong position.

01:41:29 Now, one battalion of infantry in Thema,

01:41:37 Michel Camp, is headed by Lieutenant Kennell.

01:41:43 The second in command was a major, he recently passed on.

01:41:48 - So it means that you must have all these people

01:41:51 in your center.

01:41:52 - I'm telling you, we're asking how Achampon

01:41:54 formed the group.

01:41:55 He didn't talk to the commander.

01:41:56 Do you understand me?

01:42:00 - Yes.

01:42:01 - He spoke with the second in command.

01:42:03 When the commander is not there,

01:42:05 then the second in command.

01:42:07 He spoke with the second in command, who was a major.

01:42:10 I told you, the commander should be a Lieutenant Kennell.

01:42:13 And there was a commander there,

01:42:15 but he didn't trust the commander.

01:42:17 So he spoke with a major, and the major got the trick.

01:42:23 And not just, listen to me, it's not just Michel Camp.

01:42:31 All the other battalions that he attached.

01:42:37 Second battalion at Aprendu, Takrade,

01:42:40 he spoke with the second in command.

01:42:42 I don't want to mention the others.

01:42:43 - Oh yes, I get it.

01:42:44 - Signal, he spoke with the nurse in command.

01:42:51 And other places.

01:42:52 So that is a new clause.

01:42:56 So when he moved, so his school was a bloodless school.

01:43:01 He just came, announced that the government

01:43:06 was overthrown for ABCD reasons, and that was that.

01:43:09 And he stayed almost for eight years.

01:43:12 - In power.

01:43:13 That's quite an interesting one.

01:43:15 But talk to me briefly on this one.

01:43:18 You were talking about how the governance

01:43:22 of the country today, if that happened many years ago,

01:43:25 probably there would have been,

01:43:27 once you are getting angry, I say no,

01:43:29 we cannot continue to allow this,

01:43:31 excuse my language, nonsense to happen.

01:43:34 Prior to the elections of 2016,

01:43:38 you had a warning for Ghanaians.

01:43:40 Would you say you have vindicated that you warned Ghanaians

01:43:42 not to give this government power,

01:43:45 but Ghanaians went ahead and voted for them?

01:43:47 Are you vindicated that what you just said,

01:43:49 like you cited the example of a former minister

01:43:52 allegedly having money in her house,

01:43:54 kind of suggests that there is mismanagement of the country,

01:43:59 and that we give power to the wrong people.

01:44:03 (dramatic music)

01:44:05 (dramatic music)

01:44:08 (dramatic music)

01:44:11 (dramatic music)

01:44:14 - The embattled commissioner of police,

01:44:40 Alex Mensah did not miss words

01:44:42 in his submission before the committee.

01:44:44 He confirms dealing with Daniel Bugrinabu

01:44:47 but doubts the authenticity of the leaked tape.

01:44:50 - Because the audio which I've just listened

01:44:56 is an edited one.

01:45:01 There's a likelihood that somebody

01:45:04 faked my voice.

01:45:08 But I can't confirm,

01:45:10 'cause I don't have that technical scene to confirm it.

01:45:15 Is there any flow of conversation on this tape

01:45:21 that you, in true humility,

01:45:27 will say that nobody's faking my voice?

01:45:31 Or it is the entire tape that you want to say

01:45:36 that somebody's trying to,

01:45:38 I mean, fake your voice?

01:45:39 - Mr Chairman, not the entire.

01:45:43 - COP Alex Mensah has also taken on his boss,

01:45:48 the IGP, Akufo Danpare,

01:45:50 for mismanaging the Ghana police service.

01:45:53 - Madam Chair, I will not deny that fact today,

01:45:57 tomorrow, or the next day.

01:45:59 I will make that statement again.

01:46:01 That the current inspector general of police

01:46:06 is not managing the police service well.

01:46:09 It's something I will not run away from.

01:46:13 I will say it everywhere, anywhere that I go.

01:46:16 And you can do your own investigations,

01:46:23 call police officers underground,

01:46:25 and find out from them.

01:46:26 - Commissioner, calm down.

01:46:31 Calm down.

01:46:33 Can you assist this committee?

01:46:36 You see, within the context of your statement,

01:46:41 - He revealed that majority of the police officers

01:46:46 are currently disgruntled,

01:46:47 which has the potential of affecting

01:46:49 the political fortunes of the MPP,

01:46:52 a reason he's unhappy about his administration.

01:46:55 - As we speak,

01:46:57 majority of police officers

01:47:02 are not happy.

01:47:06 (silence)

01:47:08 And if the same people are those

01:47:15 who are going to police the elections,

01:47:19 and remember, police officers,

01:47:26 they vote.

01:47:28 Their wives vote.

01:47:31 Their children vote.

01:47:34 Their mothers and fathers vote.

01:47:36 That is my concern.

01:47:41 - Mr. Alex Mensah has therefore expressed

01:47:44 willing to open up on the rot in the Ghana police service,

01:47:47 but on condition of an in-camera hearing,

01:47:51 chairman of the committee investigating

01:47:53 the leaked tape, Atachia, said they may consider doing so

01:47:57 due to the sensitivity of the information.

01:48:00 - Which is for public consumption.

01:48:02 Some testimonies and pieces of evidence

01:48:06 might have national security implications,

01:48:08 and therefore in-camera hearing

01:48:10 is one of the ways to address a problem.

01:48:14 So when we come to terms with that, why not?

01:48:17 We invite him to give us in-camera testimony.

01:48:21 - There were earlier objections by lawyers

01:48:24 for Alex Mensah, which were overruled.

01:48:27 Their concern was about reported prejudicial comments

01:48:30 by members of the committee.

01:48:32 Peter Tobu and James Agaga.

01:48:34 Mr. Atachia said the committee

01:48:36 will offer them the opportunity to adduce evidence.

01:48:39 - We will not stop them from tendering evidence

01:48:42 which should aid what we are doing.

01:48:44 Guess what?

01:48:45 Even the members of the committee

01:48:47 are not enemies of the witnesses at all,

01:48:49 or the people involved.

01:48:50 And therefore, if you start doing

01:48:52 what they call evidence gagging,

01:48:54 then you are a biased ab initio.

01:48:56 That is why I said anything of consequence

01:48:58 that they will need to aid what they are doing,

01:49:00 they should give it to them freely.

01:49:01 And they are about to do that.

01:49:03 In the same token, if there's anything

01:49:05 which is scopetrio of them and they have,

01:49:08 the committee should look at it.

01:49:10 And if there's plain bias about certain things,

01:49:13 I've said one thing which is very important.

01:49:15 I would not be the person trying to get bias members

01:49:20 of the committee to mess them up.

01:49:23 So I don't have the lenses of bias.

01:49:25 But if they believe that the committee

01:49:27 is not properly constituted, then it's above me.

01:49:30 So I'm not the one who constitutes the committee.

01:49:32 The speaker.

01:49:34 - The committee has adjourned sitting

01:49:36 to Friday to continue probing COP Alex Mensah

01:49:40 and Superintendent George Asare.

01:49:42 Meanwhile, the third officer,

01:49:43 Superintendent Eric Emmanuel Jebe,

01:49:46 who was denied dealing with Buglin Abu,

01:49:48 has been discharged.

01:49:50 From Parliament House, Samuel Mbura, Joy News.

01:49:54 - Asare, do you know--

01:49:56 (static)

01:49:58 (dramatic music)

01:50:01 (dramatic music)

01:50:28 - Well, so a wrap of events in Parliament,

01:50:32 but we know that that hearing

01:50:33 will certainly be continuing today.

01:50:37 And Samuel Mbura has been monitoring the events of our state.

01:50:40 That hearing started, is joining us in studio

01:50:43 just to get more clarity on some of the keys.

01:50:46 He's transpiring before the Speaker's Special Committee,

01:50:49 hearing the alleged plot

01:50:51 against the Inspector General of Police.

01:50:54 We'll also be joined very shortly

01:50:55 by a deep sunny security analyst,

01:50:57 Justin Puara Teruaja.

01:51:01 He's been a serviceman before,

01:51:04 has extensive experience into happenings

01:51:06 within the police service.

01:51:07 They will all share their thoughts with us shortly.

01:51:09 Samuel Mbura, good morning.

01:51:11 Let's start off with what we're expecting today,

01:51:13 because we've seen a flow of events

01:51:16 and some of the key happenings,

01:51:19 especially yesterday's hearing,

01:51:21 where we had COP Alex Mensah.

01:51:23 Confirm now that, okay, yeah, I'm the one on the tape,

01:51:27 except to say it was doctored,

01:51:29 some issues were not captured as it should.

01:51:31 Just take it away.

01:51:33 Give us a wrap of some of the key highlights

01:51:38 that many of us may have missed out on.

01:51:41 - All right, good morning, Bennett.

01:51:42 We know that this is the third sitting of the committee.

01:51:45 The first one, Mbure Nnabu couldn't avail himself

01:51:47 because he was reportedly sick.

01:51:50 The second one, he appeared and gave testimony

01:51:52 before the committee,

01:51:53 where he mentioned these three officers.

01:51:56 The officers included Eric Emmanuel Jebe.

01:51:59 He is a director at the Criminal Investigations Department

01:52:02 Forensic Science Laboratory Unit.

01:52:05 The second person was COP Alex Mensah.

01:52:08 He is on a terminal leave, pending retirement.

01:52:12 The third person is Superintendent George Asare.

01:52:16 George Asare works at the protocol unit

01:52:19 of the Ghana Police Service at the headquarters.

01:52:21 So the committee extended an invitation to these officers

01:52:24 to come and also give witness or testify.

01:52:27 So in the letter, they indicated that the leaked tape

01:52:31 in circulation included senior officers

01:52:33 in which they wanted them to come and then examine.

01:52:37 - So all three were invited?

01:52:39 - Yeah, all three were invited.

01:52:41 All three appeared before the committee with their lawyers.

01:52:44 Before the committee, after the introduction,

01:52:47 the committee wanted to proceed with the playing

01:52:50 of the leaked tape or the recorded tape.

01:52:52 However, lawyers for Alex Mensah,

01:52:57 COP Alex Mensah raised some preliminary comments

01:53:00 or objections about some of the members of the committee.

01:53:05 They were saying that they made some prejudicial comments

01:53:08 that have the potential of influencing their report

01:53:11 about their clients.

01:53:13 The reference was actually,

01:53:15 the other issue had to do with the terms

01:53:17 and reference of the committee.

01:53:19 They said they were not given in prior notice.

01:53:22 So at that point, they were incapacitated

01:53:24 or their clients couldn't have spoken to their issues.

01:53:28 - So they're not sure of what exactly

01:53:29 the committee was looking for.

01:53:31 - So the chairman came in, Mr. Attachia came in,

01:53:34 he gave the explanation that,

01:53:35 your client has not been charged.

01:53:38 He's only here to examine and to be questioned.

01:53:41 So it is not a charge sheet

01:53:42 where you need to know your charge before.

01:53:44 It is even a civil engagement, not a criminal one.

01:53:47 So that was overruled.

01:53:49 The second objection had to do with two committee members.

01:53:52 The vice chairman is James Agalga, MP for Bulsanov.

01:53:57 And they said he made some comments

01:54:00 that were captured by a newspaper, the Ghanian Standard.

01:54:05 And the report indicated that,

01:54:07 or attributed certain words to Mr. Agalga.

01:54:11 He said that the comments passed for treason.

01:54:14 - This is from the lawyers.

01:54:17 - Yeah, this is from the lawyers.

01:54:19 And that's what the newspaper reported.

01:54:20 So based on this comment,

01:54:22 they felt Mr. Agalga already had an entrenched position

01:54:25 and he's a member of the committee.

01:54:28 So how can you be your own judge in a case?

01:54:32 So that was on the part of Mr. Agalga.

01:54:34 The second person was Peter Tobu, the MP for Wild West,

01:54:37 who is also a member of the committee.

01:54:39 Their concern with Peter Tobu was that,

01:54:42 Mr. Tobu allegedly on an interview with NIT.FM,

01:54:46 indicated that the conduct by the officers

01:54:51 in the league, as head in the league team,

01:54:53 was very dangerous for the country.

01:54:56 And then they were unprofessional.

01:54:58 They were not qualified to be used

01:54:59 or manner of words on them.

01:55:01 So with their clients appearing before the committee

01:55:05 and the comments by these people,

01:55:07 they felt that the comments are already,

01:55:09 they've already judged the case.

01:55:11 So they were not fit to be part of the committee.

01:55:14 So the chairman came in again,

01:55:16 and then he explained that,

01:55:18 these are members of the committee.

01:55:21 They don't have the final say.

01:55:23 I don't have the power to take them off from the committee.

01:55:26 The speaker constituted it.

01:55:27 So I cannot on my own remove them.

01:55:29 - So all the committee was doing was to,

01:55:33 you know, ask questions, get responses to the questions,

01:55:37 and then submit their findings to the speaker.

01:55:39 But this was supposed to have happened

01:55:41 amongst three individuals.

01:55:43 Some were let go.

01:55:44 - Yeah, exactly.

01:55:45 So before then, I just want to establish the point

01:55:47 that there were earlier objections

01:55:48 that they wanted to exclude some of the committee,

01:55:50 but that was actually overruled.

01:55:51 The committee chair assured that

01:55:53 there'll be justice at the end.

01:55:54 But the lawyers said they had tips

01:55:56 that they'll be presenting today

01:55:58 to prove their case, and the officers

01:56:00 or the committee members,

01:56:01 or some of the committee members--

01:56:02 - Made those comments, yes.

01:56:04 - So they were overruled,

01:56:05 and they proceeded to play the tape for over 40 minutes.

01:56:08 We all listened.

01:56:09 And then the first person that appeared before the committee

01:56:12 was Superintendent Eric Emmanuel Jebe,

01:56:14 who is the director

01:56:15 at the Criminal Investigation Department

01:56:17 Forensic Science Laboratory Unit.

01:56:19 So he was questioned.

01:56:20 He said he has never had any dealings with Bugrin Abu.

01:56:23 He doesn't know him.

01:56:24 He doesn't have his contact.

01:56:26 But if you remember, Bugrin Abu, in his testimony,

01:56:28 said that he called Mr. Jebe on one Sunday,

01:56:33 paid the arrangement as part of the plot

01:56:35 to go and meet the president.

01:56:36 But Mr. Jebe wasn't around.

01:56:37 He was in the eastern region attending the funeral.

01:56:39 So Mr. Jebe confirmed that, yes,

01:56:42 he was at a meeting in the eastern region,

01:56:45 but he never spoke with Bugrin Abu.

01:56:48 He saw several calls on his phone.

01:56:50 He stepped aside and told the person

01:56:51 that I am at a noisy place.

01:56:53 Let me step out and call you.

01:56:55 But he never called the person.

01:56:56 - Okay, he wasn't sure, basically,

01:56:58 if that was Bugrin Abu.

01:56:59 - So after the back and forth,

01:57:00 he was discharged after denying it.

01:57:03 And then he has been discharged by the committee temporarily.

01:57:06 So as and when the committee needs him--

01:57:08 - Then they may bring him back.

01:57:09 - Bugrin Abu has also been discharged,

01:57:11 but as and when they need him, they'll bring him.

01:57:13 So the next two people were Alex,

01:57:15 COP Alex Mensah and that of

01:57:17 Sub-Lieutenant George Asare.

01:57:20 So they asked George Asare, after playing the tape,

01:57:23 whether he could confirm his voice.

01:57:25 And he confirmed that that was his voice.

01:57:27 They didn't proceed with him.

01:57:28 Then they moved on to COP Alex,

01:57:31 because he was the main person of attention here.

01:57:34 COP Alex said that, yes,

01:57:37 I've met Bugrin Abu four times

01:57:39 at different locations.

01:57:40 We've had private conversations

01:57:42 in which he will not divulge in public.

01:57:45 He made that emphatic point.

01:57:46 However, the audio in circulation is not a whole thing.

01:57:51 There may be a full one.

01:57:52 So the committee, if there's a full one,

01:57:54 it should make it available to the--

01:57:55 He's rather asking the committee

01:57:56 to give him the full thing,

01:57:58 because what he is hearing there--

01:58:00 - Is different from the private conversation he has here.

01:58:03 - Is like someone represented his voice or doctorate.

01:58:06 So he confirmed that was his voice.

01:58:07 He confirmed he had engagement with Bugrin Abu.

01:58:10 However, he denied that,

01:58:13 I mean, he indicated that the voice appeared doctorate.

01:58:16 So there were several issues that came up,

01:58:18 including why he was heard in the tape

01:58:21 talking about the IJP, Dan Parino,

01:58:24 being the right person now to lead the police service.

01:58:29 And he was actually angry in his response.

01:58:33 You could see that he was agitated.

01:58:34 He said that he actually confirmed

01:58:37 what was said in the tape,

01:58:38 that he said Dan Parino is not the correct person.

01:58:41 And he will say it any time and anywhere.

01:58:43 - And that's his conviction, he says.

01:58:45 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:58:45 So that's his conviction.

01:58:46 He believes that Dan Parino is not competent.

01:58:47 He's not managing the Ghana police service well.

01:58:49 And if you check with the rank and file

01:58:51 of the Ghana police service,

01:58:52 the junior officers, the senior managers,

01:58:55 and then the officers,

01:58:56 they are not happy about his management.

01:58:58 And that is why he was worried

01:59:00 about the continuity of Mr. Dan Parino.

01:59:02 - Okay, so that's Samin Burahus, who was there for us.

01:59:06 And today he will be returning.

01:59:08 I also want to bring into this conversation

01:59:10 Adeeb Sani, a security analyst

01:59:12 helping us to do the discussion.

01:59:13 Adeeb, a senior police officer,

01:59:16 telling us now what possibly might be happening

01:59:19 within the service.

01:59:20 The fact that junior officers reportedly are disgruntled,

01:59:25 and it's because he believes George Akufo Dan Parino

01:59:30 is not managing the service well.

01:59:35 - Well, thank you so much.

01:59:36 A very good morning to you.

01:59:38 Indeed, as a leader,

01:59:40 there is absolutely no way you can please everybody

01:59:44 all the time.

01:59:45 I might have my differences

01:59:47 over certain policy directives

01:59:50 of the Ghana police service.

01:59:51 One of the major challenges I had

01:59:53 with the police service in recent times

01:59:56 is their attitudes towards the media.

01:59:58 It's been a major challenge.

02:00:00 I mean, you can never do away with the media.

02:00:03 The media goes to cover events,

02:00:05 I understand they are asked to leave.

02:00:08 Even during funerals of police service,

02:00:10 I mean, the media goes there, they are asked to leave.

02:00:13 And like I always say,

02:00:14 you cannot fight the media for crying out loud.

02:00:17 It is no accident that it is called the,

02:00:19 it is the fourth estate.

02:00:22 I've also had calls from a section of the population

02:00:26 and including very top people from within

02:00:29 and outside of the police service

02:00:31 who have spoken about seven boys called "Dampari Boys."

02:00:35 And that these are the new crop of police officers

02:00:38 who don't respect nobody.

02:00:40 - Oh, really? - They don't respect.

02:00:41 Yes, yes.

02:00:43 I mean, on several occasions.

02:00:44 Even my colleague, Emmanuel Putin,

02:00:47 has had a run with them not too long ago.

02:00:51 He called me to the Manet police station.

02:00:55 I was with him and these boys were all over the place.

02:00:58 And you speak with the commander,

02:01:00 you know, not the Manet commander,

02:01:02 but there were some other commanders we spoke with.

02:01:06 And they are like, you know, we cannot talk.

02:01:09 We don't want to say anything, you know.

02:01:12 And it was quite obvious that they had certain challenges.

02:01:17 Maybe there's a bigger truth to the matter that we know,

02:01:21 but surely on the same--

02:01:22 - And possibly, if that's the case,

02:01:24 possibly what are you suspecting?

02:01:26 That George Akufo-Dampari is simply gagging his men?

02:01:30 Is that what you suspect?

02:01:32 - It's difficult to say.

02:01:35 I mean, he's my friend.

02:01:36 On several occasions, we've had conversations

02:01:41 around his vision for the police.

02:01:43 And I can say without missing words

02:01:45 that he means well for the police.

02:01:47 Just that he might have engaged in certain activities

02:01:52 that ended up being very unpopular amongst his rank and file.

02:01:56 A clear case in point is when you need information

02:01:58 from the police these days,

02:02:00 are you able to get interviews?

02:02:02 - Well, if you ask me that question,

02:02:04 the experience is that there's a new structure

02:02:07 towards communication at the Ghana Police Service.

02:02:09 We're not sure if that's to be interpreted

02:02:13 to mean George Akufo-Dampari is not interested

02:02:15 in speaking to the media.

02:02:17 But yes, you can see visibly that almost all officers

02:02:21 have been ordered not to speak

02:02:24 until that clearance comes from the headquarters.

02:02:27 I guess it's just a new way of dealing with issues.

02:02:32 I don't know what your thoughts are.

02:02:34 - But the thing is, if there's any situation

02:02:38 involving the police, what do they do?

02:02:39 They issue a statement.

02:02:41 - That's right.

02:02:42 - And that statement, there are follow-ups.

02:02:43 Sometimes they are incoherent, inconsistent,

02:02:46 and somewhat confusing.

02:02:49 So you would need to follow up with interviews

02:02:51 like it was done in the past.

02:02:53 When Priscille Furi and the rest were there,

02:02:57 Sir Bas Arthur, we used to meet in the studio.

02:02:59 - Yeah, Adib, I'm saying that I don't disagree

02:03:01 with you on that.

02:03:02 I'm just trying to point out what the experience

02:03:06 or challenge has been with the service.

02:03:08 - Absolutely.

02:03:10 But nevertheless, since he became IGP,

02:03:14 a lot has changed within the Ghana Police Service.

02:03:18 We've had a revamping of the court case units.

02:03:20 Now we have the K9 units.

02:03:22 We have the horse patrols.

02:03:24 When you go towards the Crime Improvement Museum,

02:03:27 you see them helping people cross traffic and all that.

02:03:31 There's more accountability within the police service.

02:03:34 I'm not saying it's a perfect institution today.

02:03:37 It is not a perfect institution.

02:03:38 But what I am very worried about is whether COP Alex Mensah

02:03:43 is a police officer or a politician.

02:03:46 He spoke more like a politician

02:03:48 than a police professional.

02:03:51 And I think that is sad because the thing is,

02:03:53 we cannot delink politics from police.

02:03:59 This is something that has always been the case

02:04:02 for years on end.

02:04:03 The chairman of the police council for crying out loud

02:04:06 is the vice president, okay?

02:04:08 However, the seeming over-politicization

02:04:12 of the police service is really a matter of great concern.

02:04:16 There are speculations to the effect

02:04:18 that if you are not even connected,

02:04:20 you are not able to get recruited.

02:04:22 If you are not connected,

02:04:23 your promotions don't happen.

02:04:25 People you have the same educational qualifications

02:04:28 with are promoted, when you are not promoted,

02:04:31 and all of that.

02:04:32 So it is really problematic.

02:04:34 And listening to COP from the scratch,

02:04:38 he was being dodgy about the whole thing.

02:04:43 At a point he said,

02:04:45 the part of the tape was dodged.

02:04:51 Then at a point he said the whole thing is dodged.

02:04:54 Then the next minute he said,

02:04:55 okay, he didn't hear it well.

02:04:57 So they asked him, okay,

02:04:59 those you heard,

02:05:01 were they a true reflection of what you think you said

02:05:06 at the meeting?

02:05:08 He couldn't tell.

02:05:09 So they had to replay the whole thing all together.

02:05:12 And I'm a body language expert.

02:05:17 Looking at his body language,

02:05:19 his mannerism, the inconsistency

02:05:22 in some of the statements and all that,

02:05:24 it was quite obvious that there's a lot more

02:05:26 to the issue than we know.

02:05:29 - And that partly could be infighting

02:05:32 within the Ghana Police Service

02:05:33 and jostling for power.

02:05:35 And it may not just be COP Alex Manse.

02:05:38 There might be other officers.

02:05:40 Because for him to boldly say

02:05:42 that you can ask the others,

02:05:44 it does suggest that a lot more is happening.

02:05:47 Let's hear from Justin,

02:05:48 for Terry Waja,

02:05:51 who's also a legal practitioner.

02:05:53 He's been in the service before too.

02:05:55 And Justin,

02:05:56 there are a lot that we're now learning

02:06:00 about how the police service functions.

02:06:02 It appears that beyond,

02:06:04 if you're a junior officer,

02:06:05 it's fine, you can play professionalism.

02:06:07 But when you begin to rise to the top,

02:06:10 then politics sets in.

02:06:13 That's the reality of our police service, isn't it?

02:06:16 - And in my opinion,

02:06:19 I think that they are products of the system

02:06:23 that we have currently.

02:06:25 If you look at the constitution,

02:06:28 we have a whole chapter on the police service.

02:06:31 And it makes it clear,

02:06:32 that is chapter 15.

02:06:36 That is article 202.

02:06:38 It says that the inspector general of police

02:06:40 shall be responsible for the operational control

02:06:43 of the service and the administration.

02:06:45 So, he appoints the regional commander.

02:06:50 He appoints the district commander,

02:06:52 all the way to the station officer.

02:06:55 And so,

02:06:57 if you have an IEP,

02:07:00 desiring to have certain things done,

02:07:04 it's very easy.

02:07:05 He gets some people,

02:07:06 the operational control,

02:07:08 he gets people appointed along the line

02:07:11 to make sure that he gets what exactly he wants to do.

02:07:14 And for fear of being transferred,

02:07:16 or for fear of negative reactions

02:07:21 of the IEP against him,

02:07:23 he may fall in line and do what he wants.

02:07:26 And when I listen to the investigations

02:07:30 that are going on,

02:07:30 the decisions of the Adford committee,

02:07:33 I,

02:07:34 there were certain things that I did concerning.

02:07:38 There was talk of mafia tactics,

02:07:42 and we all know what the mafia is.

02:07:45 So, if we are desiring that there should be an IEP

02:07:49 to come and implement a mafia style

02:07:52 of operational control and administration of the service,

02:07:56 that is something that should give all of us

02:07:58 cause for concern and sleep less nights.

02:08:01 Because this is kind of the theme of the whole thing.

02:08:06 And that's why I said,

02:08:08 if you get your product of the system,

02:08:11 we have a system that will become patronage.

02:08:15 - Yeah, and that's the system I'm trying to explore

02:08:18 with you and your experience.

02:08:20 And that's why I was building the point

02:08:21 about the promotion system within the Ghana Police Service

02:08:24 and how that works.

02:08:25 Listening to your PLX Mensa,

02:08:28 it's no secret actually that you find

02:08:30 senior officers lobbying to either be IGP

02:08:34 or to get promotion to become COP within the police service.

02:08:37 It's normal, right?

02:08:39 - Yeah, that is the system.

02:08:39 Because the system is not a meritocracy.

02:08:43 You know, when you have a system

02:08:44 that is based solely on merit and performance on the job,

02:08:48 and with political party connection

02:08:52 and that kind of thing being less important,

02:08:56 but the most important thing that gets you moving forward

02:08:58 is performance.

02:09:00 Then you don't see this type of thing.

02:09:01 And even if people have a mafia mindset,

02:09:04 they find it difficult to implement it.

02:09:06 Our current system is quite weak.

02:09:08 And there was this occasion when Barack Obama of the US

02:09:13 came to Ghana and addressed Ghana's parliament,

02:09:16 I think somewhere in 2009, I remember that.

02:09:19 And I'm mistaking the year,

02:09:22 but he came and addressed Ghana's parliament.

02:09:24 And he made it clear to us that we have

02:09:28 an institutional weakness,

02:09:29 and that for our democracy to thrive,

02:09:32 we need to strengthen our institutions.

02:09:35 And the institutions can be weak

02:09:37 because of some of these things.

02:09:39 And when the institution is weak,

02:09:41 and you get the wrong type of people appointed,

02:09:44 then the whole society suffers.

02:09:45 I hope we all remember the issue of Ayahuasca,

02:09:48 West Wagon, the violence,

02:09:50 the recent election, 2020,

02:09:54 we even have people dying in the tumor cells.

02:09:56 And these are the things that we should have

02:09:59 at the back of our minds while we discuss this mistake.

02:10:02 What is very revealing is that people

02:10:05 with a certain kind of agenda come on board,

02:10:08 and they pursue it in a dogged manner,

02:10:11 irrespective of what the facts on the ground are.

02:10:14 And then when there is resistance,

02:10:15 we are ready to maim and kill.

02:10:17 - Okay, the comparative studies though,

02:10:19 you've learned about policing in other jurisdictions.

02:10:23 How do we correct our system now?

02:10:26 Elsewhere, do you do complete meritocracy?

02:10:28 Because the police plays a very important role,

02:10:31 pivots a role to the running of

02:10:34 and functioning of government.

02:10:35 So you want to have a commander in chief

02:10:38 who have control over the police,

02:10:39 and to have control over the top security couples.

02:10:44 - Exactly, that is the meritocracy I was talking about.

02:10:48 You know, when I was in the police service,

02:10:50 I left the police service in 2008.

02:10:52 Okay, I was called for about 2002,

02:10:55 I joined the police service in the afternoon,

02:10:57 I exited in 2008 before I went into practice.

02:11:00 I realized I was becoming more of a police officer

02:11:02 than a lawyer, and I had to make a choice

02:11:04 to entrust the law.

02:11:05 Now, but the point is,

02:11:06 once I was in the service, 2006,

02:11:08 something struck me.

02:11:10 There was a British prime minister

02:11:12 having a meeting with his cabinet,

02:11:14 and the police stormed there,

02:11:17 and arrested members of his cabinet.

02:11:20 He himself wasn't arrested.

02:11:22 And I began asking myself,

02:11:24 and they investigated them,

02:11:25 I mean, arrested them,

02:11:26 sent them to different locations,

02:11:28 and then interrogated them

02:11:29 to see whether there would be conflict

02:11:31 in their account, to get to the bottom of it.

02:11:34 And it just struck me at that time.

02:11:37 I was like, can this happen in Ghana?

02:11:40 And then that began my search

02:11:42 to find out what are the alternatives

02:11:44 in these other countries.

02:11:46 And I discovered that in the UK, for instance,

02:11:49 it is not our type of system.

02:11:52 Meritocracy is much more important

02:11:54 in the appointment of senior,

02:11:56 I mean, commanders of that nature,

02:11:59 people who are in charge of the police.

02:12:01 Imagine that we have a police appointment boss

02:12:06 made up of politicians and ordinary people.

02:12:09 Imagine that nurses in a trap.

02:12:11 So they don't even have an IGP for the whole country.

02:12:16 The very people who came and gave us IGP

02:12:18 don't have IGP like that in Britain.

02:12:20 So we have like a chief of police

02:12:22 for chief constable for a trap,

02:12:24 chief constable for commerce,

02:12:25 chief constable for this,

02:12:26 and he's in charge of that.

02:12:28 And his appointment is based on merit.

02:12:31 So then you have me, chief constable,

02:12:33 subject to reappointment based on performance.

02:12:35 And the board that is going to evaluate you

02:12:38 for reappointment,

02:12:40 it's not purely made up of politicians.

02:12:42 Imagine a board of, let's say, 15 people.

02:12:46 One person is representing the nurses in the region,

02:12:49 one representing the teachers,

02:12:50 one representing lecturers, blah, blah, blah.

02:12:53 And then politicians have representation as well.

02:12:55 So let's say 15,

02:12:57 and the politicians are just like five.

02:13:00 And it is about performance.

02:13:01 So if you're going to use political patronage,

02:13:03 you get there and the politicians will vote for you,

02:13:06 but then the ordinary people

02:13:06 who are not getting quality service on the ground

02:13:09 will vote against you.

02:13:11 So what you do is you're a chief constable

02:13:13 in such a scenario.

02:13:14 You make sure that you deliver on your promises.

02:13:18 You're not expecting for which politician

02:13:20 is happy or not.

02:13:21 So that's how can they go there

02:13:23 and they form the place.

02:13:24 They're able to arrest all the people,

02:13:26 the right-hand men of the prime minister,

02:13:28 and investigate thoroughly

02:13:30 without fear of negative repercussions.

02:13:32 And then when you have such a system,

02:13:35 why won't people want to do the right thing

02:13:38 and then rather make sure

02:13:40 that they're in the good books of the public?

02:13:42 But in our type of system,

02:13:44 we can keep having a year or two

02:13:46 with one type of scenario

02:13:47 as long as the people who are to be appointed

02:13:51 know that I just need to be a yes man

02:13:53 for the politicians,

02:13:54 the president or whatever.

02:13:56 - Okay.

02:13:56 - And then we have that type of situation.

02:13:58 So you see Alex Mensah, for instance,

02:14:00 I mean George Mensah.

02:14:02 He's a nice man.

02:14:02 When I was in the police service, I know him.

02:14:05 And I was surprised to hear those type of statements

02:14:08 coming out of his mouth.

02:14:09 - And could it not be because of this?

02:14:12 Even though you're out of the service,

02:14:14 you've been watching the service from afar.

02:14:16 The style, the mode of leadership of George Akufo-Dampo.

02:14:21 Do you see him building an institution

02:14:23 or this is just someone taking all the shine?

02:14:25 - I'm not getting your question very well.

02:14:29 - Yeah.

02:14:30 Do you see him building an institution?

02:14:31 I mean, the IGP or, I mean,

02:14:34 this is all about him, by the way.

02:14:36 - Yes.

02:14:37 So far, from afar, I'm no longer in the service.

02:14:39 But from afar, I get that impression.

02:14:43 I may be wrong,

02:14:44 but let me just give you one observation.

02:14:46 I've been to the police headquarters a number of times.

02:14:50 And when I get there, I see all that is discipline,

02:14:53 much more than what I used to experience when I was there.

02:14:57 And even after leaving the place,

02:14:59 you get there, even how to enter the police service.

02:15:03 I mean, sorry, the police headquarters.

02:15:05 When you are driving in there,

02:15:07 you see the arrangement is made.

02:15:10 There's much more discipline just by observing that alone.

02:15:13 That tells a story.

02:15:14 That is somebody who is ready to make sure

02:15:17 that things are done right.

02:15:19 If you've been to the police headquarters before

02:15:22 and you go there now, you see that, no,

02:15:23 the place has changed.

02:15:24 There's something different there.

02:15:26 - It has changed, not just,

02:15:28 I think also in terms of structures,

02:15:30 if you want to put that on record,

02:15:33 in terms of the structures.

02:15:34 Samy, let's talk about the ambition to become IGP,

02:15:39 as COP Alex Menza has been pointing out.

02:15:44 It appears he didn't start today.

02:15:46 - Yeah, at the time he was at the rank of ACP,

02:15:49 Assistant Commissioner of Police,

02:15:51 he started lobbying, even in 2017.

02:15:54 So the question was asked as to whether an ACP qualifies

02:15:58 to be an IGP, and he said, "The rank doesn't matter.

02:16:03 "Once you're a commissioned officer,

02:16:05 "you can become an IGP."

02:16:06 So he has been lobbying.

02:16:08 This is not the first time.

02:16:09 He admitted that, yes, they have been moved

02:16:12 from those times till now,

02:16:15 and it is not something that he hide from the public,

02:16:18 but he had been lobbying to become IGP.

02:16:20 - And he says that this is not new to the service.

02:16:24 You often find ADCs, people serving political appointees,

02:16:29 having some sort of relationship with them.

02:16:32 He believes it's healthy to do that.

02:16:34 - Yeah, so in the case of Dan Parry,

02:16:36 he's accusing him of having some relationship with the ADC.

02:16:40 - That's the opposition political party.

02:16:42 - That's his name, you see.

02:16:43 He said he was having a very good relationship

02:16:45 with the former president of Blessed Memory,

02:16:48 Ivansa Tamils, and if you look at the trajectory

02:16:52 of his promotion, at the time he was a chief super,

02:16:56 Dan Parry was a sergeant.

02:16:58 That is his junior, junior rank.

02:17:00 Then he rose to become COP before him,

02:17:03 and then later became IGP

02:17:04 under the Acco Polo administration.

02:17:05 So he feels like politics played a role.

02:17:08 Politics has favored Dan Parry to get to where it is,

02:17:11 and then he's still trying to favor the NDC

02:17:14 ahead of the 2024 election.

02:17:15 So that's where the whole issues about politics came in.

02:17:18 He was asked as to whether he was a supporter,

02:17:20 Cadbury member of NPP or not,

02:17:22 and he said his family has been a UP tradition supporter.

02:17:27 - And then we saw the intervention

02:17:28 from the chairperson of the committee

02:17:30 saying that the questions might be sensitive.

02:17:32 Did he point to any concrete thing,

02:17:35 a reason for which he's still convinced

02:17:36 that this man is not the best man

02:17:39 who President Akufo-Ando should be putting

02:17:41 at the top for the Ghana police?

02:17:43 - He actually had more to reveal.

02:17:45 However, because of the sensitive nature of the information,

02:17:49 there was a request for an in-camera hearing

02:17:52 that at least certain information are there

02:17:55 that you cannot put out there

02:17:57 because of this national security reason.

02:17:58 So that request was made.

02:18:00 The committee is considering granting him

02:18:02 an in-camera hearing, possibly today,

02:18:05 so they can get additional details on that.

02:18:08 - Adip Saini, the possibility of even having

02:18:10 the IGP himself appear before this committee?

02:18:13 Because I'm not sure that George Akufo-Dumper

02:18:17 is the only one who some private conversations

02:18:20 will be centered around.

02:18:22 Looking at what COPL X-Men are told us,

02:18:25 he's had the intention long,

02:18:27 I mean, ever since he joined the service,

02:18:30 others do same, and he's been pointing to some

02:18:33 aid to camps, individuals who've worked

02:18:36 with these political appointees,

02:18:38 and all they do is to try and strike

02:18:40 some good relations with the political class

02:18:42 so as to get some appointment

02:18:45 when they win political power.

02:18:47 - Something?

02:18:51 Hello?

02:18:52 - I'm with you, Adip.

02:18:53 - Okay.

02:18:54 Can you hear me?

02:18:55 I hope you can hear me.

02:18:58 - Loud and clear, Adip.

02:19:00 - Wonderful.

02:19:01 I said there's something we need to know, okay?

02:19:04 There's no way you can become an IGP

02:19:10 without, at a point, becoming somewhat political.

02:19:15 There's no way.

02:19:18 I've seen, there's a thin line

02:19:22 between being political and being the professional you are.

02:19:28 Okay?

02:19:31 Every human being has some political tendencies

02:19:35 in him or her.

02:19:36 But surely, before you become an IGP,

02:19:40 the governments in power should be comfortable with you.

02:19:46 They should be okay working with you.

02:19:50 You should have had some few people

02:19:52 to at least say something on your behalf.

02:19:56 But you just don't sit at one place

02:20:00 and expect you to come knocking at your door.

02:20:03 Things don't happen that way,

02:20:06 especially at the very top, okay?

02:20:11 However, my concern with the politics

02:20:16 within the police service has to do

02:20:21 with you becoming so political to the extent

02:20:25 it compromises your professionalism

02:20:28 and it compromises your ability to execute the mandate.

02:20:33 That you are supposed to enter the law.

02:20:37 That is a problem.

02:20:39 Almost every IGP I know has, in one way or another,

02:20:43 lobbied to be an IGP.

02:20:46 So for anyone to tell you that I became an IGP

02:20:50 because I'm the most hardworking police officer,

02:20:52 I'm the most qualified, no, things don't happen that way.

02:20:56 - Things don't work that way?

02:20:58 So Judge Akufo-Dampari did not become IGP

02:21:01 solely on the basis of merit?

02:21:04 - It's a combination of a lot of factors.

02:21:06 Surely it should be based on his track record,

02:21:09 it should be based on his educational background.

02:21:12 A lot should be taken into consideration.

02:21:17 And like I also indicated, the government of the day

02:21:20 should be willing to work with you, okay?

02:21:24 But of course, you should have also had

02:21:27 some few political gods for this

02:21:29 to mention you to the powers that be.

02:21:31 Oh, I know him.

02:21:33 I mean, I can guarantee that he's the best man for the job.

02:21:38 Okay?

02:21:41 Because there's politics in it.

02:21:44 There's so much politics in it.

02:21:45 But you have to ensure that the politics in it

02:21:49 doesn't become so obvious.

02:21:51 - Adip?

02:21:55 Okay, looks like we're having a challenge there

02:21:58 but Adip Zani, who John is back shortly.

02:22:00 And Justin, you're still with us.

02:22:03 The work of the committee itself,

02:22:05 let's take a look at that.

02:22:06 Are you confident that anything at all

02:22:10 will change after this committee hearing?

02:22:12 The feeling is that the police

02:22:14 is largely controlled by the executive.

02:22:16 So depending on the kind of political party in power,

02:22:20 the kind of presidency we have,

02:22:22 that's what's going to influence

02:22:24 the administration of the police service.

02:22:27 - But before I come to that,

02:22:29 Adip Zani talked about the fact

02:22:32 that political considerations influence

02:22:34 the rights of the current IGP.

02:22:37 I think that appears to be looked at

02:22:39 because I remember Honorable Peter Toomey

02:22:44 asked a commission of police judge,

02:22:47 a mentor, George Alex Mentor,

02:22:52 if he was aware that the promotion regulations,

02:22:57 if somebody became a chartered accountant,

02:22:59 he was supposed to be meeting the superintendent of police.

02:23:02 And he admitted.

02:23:03 So if the fact that he became a chartered accountant,

02:23:07 he was leapfrogged to the position of superintendent.

02:23:11 And from there, from superintendent,

02:23:14 just need two more promotions

02:23:15 and you are a commissioner of police.

02:23:16 From there, you become chief superintendent

02:23:18 and then assistant commissioner.

02:23:20 So that kind of made him to leapfrog to that position.

02:23:25 So then if he got it

02:23:27 because he became a chartered accountant

02:23:29 somewhere along the line

02:23:30 and he had to be promoted to superintendent,

02:23:32 then it would not be fair to say

02:23:34 it was politics that propelled him that far.

02:23:38 Because I joined the police service as a lawyer.

02:23:40 And because I was a lawyer,

02:23:41 I was misdeeded to the superintendent of police straight away.

02:23:45 So if somebody says,

02:23:47 because I was misdeemed to the superintendent of police,

02:23:50 it was political,

02:23:51 then that person is not being fair to me.

02:23:52 And I think the same unfairness

02:23:54 may be applied to the current IGT.

02:23:56 If you say he was a sergeant,

02:23:59 then from there he was propelled to superintendent

02:24:02 or something like that.

02:24:04 And if you do not look at the fact that

02:24:06 he became a chartered accountant

02:24:08 and the rules at the time,

02:24:11 if you were a chartered accountant,

02:24:12 you merited such a leapfrogging.

02:24:14 - Yeah, I see.

02:24:15 - That's a point that we need.

02:24:17 And it came up in the proceedings

02:24:20 of the committee yesterday.

02:24:22 And George Alex Mesa himself admitted that.

02:24:24 So then if he knew that this was the case

02:24:27 and he goes to meet Chief Nabu

02:24:31 and he's talking about the fact that

02:24:33 the person was a sergeant when he was an officer,

02:24:35 then he was really not being fair to the man.

02:24:37 - And to the question about if anything positive

02:24:40 is going to come out of this committee hearings,

02:24:42 because this is much more about administration.

02:24:46 - I understand the backstop with the president

02:24:51 in the current scheme of things.

02:24:52 He appoints and he hires and fires the IGP.

02:24:56 So, and once the person is IGP under the constitution,

02:24:59 he's in charge of operational control

02:25:01 and administration of the police.

02:25:03 So, all this, yes, it will help highlight

02:25:06 and put pressure on the powers that be

02:25:08 to make sure that the right thing is done.

02:25:10 But to what extent the president will cave into this pressure

02:25:14 I am not too sure.

02:25:15 That would be my answer.

02:25:17 - And this is what I want to take your thoughts on, gentlemen

02:25:20 the point about possibly inviting the IGP himself

02:25:23 to appear before the committee.

02:25:25 Justin, you agree with that?

02:25:26 - Well, to the extent that he may need to clarify things

02:25:33 because he is not the person being investigated there.

02:25:35 But if there is something that we need him to clarify

02:25:38 because what is admitted needs no proof.

02:25:41 Judge Alex Menza himself admitted that

02:25:43 this person merited the superintendent promotion

02:25:46 which was more like a leapfrogging.

02:25:48 So then if the man was leapfrogged

02:25:49 because he merited it by dint of hard work

02:25:52 to become a secretary of the county,

02:25:53 it's not easy to get it.

02:25:54 - Yeah, and not necessarily because of his promotion,

02:25:59 but on the basis that an accusation has been made

02:26:04 he's not running the police service well,

02:26:06 we should all be concerned about this.

02:26:08 - Now, that aspect, from what I gather,

02:26:11 that one is going to be in camera.

02:26:14 So if that one is able to give those

02:26:16 further and better particulars in camera,

02:26:18 well then, if you want the IGP to also come,

02:26:21 then I will guess that the IGP is also coming

02:26:25 to speak to those issues in camera

02:26:28 rather than at the public system or public hearing.

02:26:32 - So why should we vary the rules for the IGP?

02:26:35 You have--

02:26:36 - And this is against the IGP.

02:26:38 The further and better particulars are given

02:26:41 in a closed system.

02:26:42 And that's what I mean by in camera.

02:26:45 Then it will not be fair for the IGP to come

02:26:47 and then virtually speak to the gallery

02:26:51 by responding to them publicly.

02:26:54 So, yes, they said he's not running the service well,

02:26:58 maybe he can also come in public and say,

02:26:59 I'm running it well, but the details are reserved

02:27:01 then for the in-camera system.

02:27:03 But for him to come and then go into the details

02:27:06 in an open system, it may not even be fair

02:27:10 to George Alex Mansak in the first place.

02:27:12 - Okay.

02:27:14 You've been in the police service for quite some time now.

02:27:16 What history do you have on the kind of relationship

02:27:21 that exists between George Akufo-Dampari,

02:27:24 the IGP and COP Alex Mansak?

02:27:27 Has there been any history of bad blood between them?

02:27:30 - That's much difficult for me to tell.

02:27:33 Because while I was in the service, I knew them,

02:27:36 but the personal relationship between them,

02:27:38 I never worked on either of them.

02:27:40 So it's difficult for me to tell.

02:27:43 - If an officer is promoted above his colleague

02:27:47 who was then senior to him,

02:27:48 do these happenings have the tendency

02:27:52 of just raffling feathers?

02:27:54 - The person may resent it, but if you are aware

02:28:00 that the person came based on merit,

02:28:02 that's the rules of the game at the time,

02:28:04 this is what he resents and he gets that.

02:28:07 And then it's just unfair to use that against a person

02:28:11 without telling the whole story.

02:28:13 You make it look like he rode on the back

02:28:16 of a political figure to get there

02:28:19 when the truth you have admitted before the committee

02:28:22 is that he became a separate accountant

02:28:24 and was entitled to that treatment.

02:28:26 I went there as a lawyer and I was slightly unthinking.

02:28:29 Then I was a DSP over people who were almost

02:28:34 getting to the time when they were seeking success.

02:28:37 And so if they said I came there based on policy,

02:28:39 and I'm looking at the fact that I came

02:28:41 with a higher qualification,

02:28:43 then that was not the reason.

02:28:44 - Okay.

02:28:45 - More concerning, before I go,

02:28:49 more concerning is the fact that the kind of controversy

02:28:52 that we are seeing in these proceedings

02:28:54 is clearly misconduct.

02:28:56 In section 17 of the Police Service Act,

02:29:00 it's clearly stated that it's misconduct

02:29:03 for a police officer to engage in activities

02:29:05 that will generate political controversy.

02:29:09 So professionalism requires that the police officer

02:29:14 should avoid unnecessary political controversy

02:29:17 of that nature.

02:29:18 And so if this matter is to be looked at thoroughly,

02:29:20 the officers involved are supposed to face

02:29:23 administrative disciplinary trial.

02:29:25 If they're right in the case,

02:29:27 they're supposed to face administrative disciplinary trial

02:29:29 for these things to be looked into deeply.

02:29:32 - Okay, Justin Puara-Teriwaja,

02:29:34 thank you for talking to us this morning.

02:29:37 Adib Sani, your thoughts on whether or not

02:29:40 the IGP should be invited?

02:29:41 - Well, let me say emphatically that it will be unfair

02:29:47 not to grant the IGP audience,

02:29:51 because if leadership style has been called to question,

02:29:55 a lot of things was said that impugns him.

02:30:00 So it is only right that he is given a fair hearing

02:30:04 so we get to know his side of the story.

02:30:08 Mr. JB was invited based on what's Boogreena who said

02:30:13 when he appeared, even though he wasn't mentioned in the tape

02:30:17 so as and when more questions are asked

02:30:21 and answers are given, we need to follow up the leads.

02:30:25 That is how you are able to fact find.

02:30:29 But let me also clarify something

02:30:32 and it's extremely important.

02:30:33 I never said the IGP got to his position

02:30:38 because of politics or politically.

02:30:42 What I said is there is some degree

02:30:46 of political interference when it comes to appointments

02:30:51 at such high level.

02:30:52 You remember when the Chief Justice was appointed,

02:30:55 there was a lot of hullabaloo about the fact

02:30:58 that his seniors are there.

02:31:00 Why here?

02:31:01 Because the politicians want someone

02:31:03 they will be able to work with.

02:31:05 If I am president today, you think I'll be comfortable

02:31:09 to go for someone I cannot trust, I cannot work with

02:31:12 over someone I can trust and work with.

02:31:15 So these are the hard facts.

02:31:17 We cannot believe about it, okay?

02:31:19 And I repeat, there is always some degree

02:31:23 of political experience so far as appointing an IGP

02:31:29 and other top public officials is concerned.

02:31:34 But it might just be a figment of the wider scheme

02:31:38 of things that would be looked at

02:31:40 before that appointment happens.

02:31:42 But surely there is politics involved

02:31:45 if really you want the truth to be said.

02:31:48 - Yeah, and that's the truth actually

02:31:49 because COP Alex Mensah has just opened up on that,

02:31:52 the fact that all of them do it, after all.

02:31:55 The possibility of having the IGP appear

02:31:58 before the committee, your take on that?

02:32:00 - Yes, it's surely a good thing.

02:32:03 I think an invitation should be extended to him.

02:32:07 A lot of things were said about him, his leadership style,

02:32:11 and it's only proper that he comes to tell us

02:32:14 his version of the story.

02:32:17 I'm also hoping that as and when the citizens progress,

02:32:24 any other names that come up, we make those follow-ups

02:32:28 so we are able to get to the bottom of the matter.

02:32:31 But in the end, I mean, like the committee said,

02:32:34 yes, it's to find the facts.

02:32:37 After that, what happens?

02:32:39 Then a report will be, I think, submitted to the speaker.

02:32:44 Then if there's any, going forward,

02:32:47 if there's any criminal capability established,

02:32:51 the laws must work, because a lot of things were said

02:32:55 on the tip that hinges on the security of the state,

02:32:58 especially as we go into next year's election.

02:33:00 One of the biggest threats to any election

02:33:04 is lack of confidence in that process.

02:33:07 So if you have anybody thinking that we have to remove

02:33:10 the IGP to make things easy for us,

02:33:12 how would it resonate with the support base?

02:33:16 Of course, they would also take drastic measures

02:33:19 by hook or crook to ensure it doesn't happen.

02:33:22 So we need to be very careful,

02:33:23 because next year's election is going to be decisive.

02:33:28 It's going to be a make or break for us.

02:33:31 The whole world will be watching us,

02:33:33 and that is when we get to the river,

02:33:36 so we are able to cross or not.

02:33:38 When we cross, then it is safe to say that we have arrived.

02:33:42 If we don't, then we can say we are still experimenting.

02:33:46 So everybody has a role to play,

02:33:48 and I must congratulate you for the good work you're doing

02:33:52 in educating the public and giving us the opportunity

02:33:56 to feed in different perspectives to the discourse.

02:34:00 And hopefully together, we can make things happen.

02:34:03 - Okay, the service deals with order.

02:34:06 In fact, they enforce orders,

02:34:08 so the service must be in order.

02:34:10 Looking at the public display of the types of confirmation

02:34:17 and disclosures we're seeing from COP elections

02:34:20 on how disgruntled some members of the police service

02:34:23 might be, and looking at the fact that the issues,

02:34:26 internal issues of the Ghana Police Service

02:34:28 is now being discussed publicly,

02:34:30 does that not portend any form of fractures

02:34:35 within the service itself in terms of maintaining a command,

02:34:39 maintaining the order within the service?

02:34:41 - Well, I've had people call me to find out

02:34:45 why this wasn't held in camera.

02:34:47 Perhaps it was in the spirit of transparency,

02:34:51 but sometimes when things become overly transparent,

02:34:56 it tends to be disadvantageous to us.

02:35:00 Indeed, a lot of things were said that I felt

02:35:04 shouldn't have been within the public domain,

02:35:06 because now it's common knowledge that there are fractures

02:35:10 within the police service.

02:35:12 It is something that I have personally known,

02:35:16 but to what extent is what I'm able to tell.

02:35:20 But surely now, everybody knows,

02:35:23 and that could pose a security threat to the nation,

02:35:28 knowing full well that the police service,

02:35:34 within the law, is supposed to ensure public safety,

02:35:39 arrest criminals, prosecute them, et cetera.

02:35:41 It's in practice.

02:35:44 But we need to confirm whether really what we said

02:35:47 is the truth or not.

02:35:49 That is why we need to follow up

02:35:50 by getting the IGP on board.

02:35:54 So we are able to know the situation

02:35:59 of the police as it currently is,

02:36:02 and how we can deal with the legitimate issues

02:36:05 that might have come up.

02:36:07 So we have a unified police service

02:36:10 that is committed to service to the people of Ghana.

02:36:14 - Okay.

02:36:15 Zami, what are we to expect today?

02:36:19 The number of individuals appearing,

02:36:21 the itinerary for the committee,

02:36:25 and how many days they have actually

02:36:27 just to deal with this case?

02:36:28 - There is no exact time they have.

02:36:31 As of when there's a need for them

02:36:32 to call any person involved for interrogation, they will.

02:36:35 But today, the committee is continuing the probing

02:36:39 into the leak tape with COP Alex Mensah.

02:36:43 As I said earlier, there's a possibility

02:36:46 of the committee granting him an in-camera hearing.

02:36:50 So after going through with him,

02:36:53 we'll now bring in Superintendent George Asare,

02:36:57 who Mr. Bugrinabu said was the one

02:37:01 fronting for COP Alex Mensah.

02:37:03 So it's another full day to go.

02:37:07 It starts at 10.

02:37:08 And as and when the committee is satisfied

02:37:10 with the information provided,

02:37:12 then they can adjourn and end the proceedings.

02:37:15 - Do you get the disposition,

02:37:18 I mean, the disposition or the push from the committee

02:37:23 that they intend to maybe invite the IGP possibly

02:37:28 to make some comments on some of these issues?

02:37:31 - We've not gotten that indication yet,

02:37:32 but for the purpose of natural justice,

02:37:37 anyone whose name has been mentioned

02:37:39 will definitely appear before the committee.

02:37:42 The reason Mr. Eric, Superintendent Eric Emmanuel Ejebi

02:37:46 appeared before the committee

02:37:47 was because Bugrinabu mentioned-

02:37:49 - His name.

02:37:50 - Yeah, that he allegedly spoke to him on phone

02:37:53 and he was the one to go to the presidency

02:37:55 with to tell the president

02:37:57 about the happiness in the Ghana police.

02:37:58 So once your name is mentioned

02:38:00 and the committee sees it necessary

02:38:04 that you come and testify, you'll be invited.

02:38:06 So we should not be surprised to see the IGP

02:38:09 invited by the committee.

02:38:12 - How does the committee intend to deal with allegations

02:38:14 that some of its members are making prejudicial comments?

02:38:18 That was raised, for instance, by the lawyers of-

02:38:21 - Alex Mensah.

02:38:23 - COP Alex Mensah, that the concern was raised

02:38:26 that they are making comments pointing to the fact

02:38:29 that they seem to be on one man's side

02:38:33 when it comes to this case.

02:38:34 Is the committee resolved to tackling that issue

02:38:39 and the concern that these people have?

02:38:40 - I spoke with Mr. Atache, the chairman of the committee.

02:38:44 He gave the indication that they've asked them

02:38:47 to bring audios.

02:38:48 The lawyers claim they have audios of their comments.

02:38:52 So they've asked them to turn that in the audios.

02:38:54 They will study the audios, but until then,

02:38:56 the committee members will continue.

02:38:58 But they will give them the audience

02:38:59 to present their evidence against the members.

02:39:02 - Okay, just before we let Justin Teruaja go,

02:39:04 Justin, the point about the conduct of members

02:39:07 of the committee itself.

02:39:09 This is a committee drawn from,

02:39:11 largely from the Interior and Defense Committee

02:39:13 because you have the ranking on the committee.

02:39:16 Some other members are also being part of the committee.

02:39:20 You take a look at what transpired yesterday,

02:39:22 the concerns about Superintendent Retired Lonchina Tubu,

02:39:27 who's the MP for Wild West.

02:39:30 You also have concerns being raised

02:39:32 about the ranking on the Interior and Defense Committee,

02:39:36 James Agaga, and some of the comments

02:39:38 they're making in the media.

02:39:40 It does suggest that some of the members of the committee

02:39:43 are on the side of the IGP.

02:39:45 Do you see, you know, the same concern?

02:39:48 - Well, they said they will bring the tapes

02:39:53 because for now, these remain allegations against them.

02:39:57 And if they had admitted that they made judicial comments,

02:40:00 then the option would be for them to recuse themselves.

02:40:03 But now that I think they've not admitted this

02:40:07 and they have to prove, so for me,

02:40:10 I would rather wait to see what will unfold today

02:40:13 when these things are brought up.

02:40:14 - Do you feel that the composition should be expanded

02:40:19 at least just to give room for more fairness,

02:40:23 if indeed the concerns of COPL X-Men

02:40:27 says anything to go about?

02:40:29 - Well, I think that if, for instance,

02:40:33 they are able to make a case,

02:40:35 the person who, again, took the case as he made,

02:40:38 can even recuse himself.

02:40:39 It would be very possible that we would get there today

02:40:41 and then the people will recuse themselves

02:40:43 and say, "Look, we don't want to continue

02:40:45 in the light of this or that."

02:40:47 Or the matter will be referred back to the Speaker,

02:40:50 because the Speaker is going to take this at the committee.

02:40:52 And then a determination will be made.

02:40:54 You remember the chairman of the committee,

02:40:57 Ronald Blackhurst, made the point that

02:40:59 he was not the one who considered this committee.

02:41:01 He only chairs it to these issues about bias,

02:41:06 not issues that he can conclusively pronounce upon.

02:41:10 So that's why I think it is early days for me,

02:41:14 because we are giving a preemption.

02:41:16 We are preempting what will happen today.

02:41:18 But we'd rather wait, see what happens today,

02:41:22 and then we can comment more in a more informed manner.

02:41:26 - Yeah.

02:41:27 - So we are just being speculative now.

02:41:29 - Why are we living off the aspect of the government,

02:41:34 the interior ministry, the minister himself?

02:41:37 He's made some pronouncements on this,

02:41:39 indicating that the IGP,

02:41:41 George Okubo-Dampari, is going nowhere.

02:41:43 That could be undermined by the commander-in-chief himself.

02:41:46 The president feels that the IGP needs to go home

02:41:49 based on what's happening now.

02:41:51 I mean, IGP, COPL, X-Men are all going home

02:41:54 just to give a new face to the Ghana police service.

02:41:58 That could happen.

02:41:58 That's a possibility, isn't it?

02:42:00 What options are there for the president, in your view?

02:42:02 - Options for?

02:42:04 - For the president.

02:42:06 - I didn't get that.

02:42:07 The president? - Yes.

02:42:08 - Oh, as Matthew found,

02:42:10 it is the president who has the prerogative

02:42:12 to appoint and fire the IGP.

02:42:15 You know, effective of all the...

02:42:17 So the president can choose who he wants to be the IGP.

02:42:19 And that is what I have been saying,

02:42:21 that Barack Obama pointed this out a long time ago,

02:42:26 a decade ago, that these are weaknesses in our institutions.

02:42:30 And if we wanted to have a stronger democracy,

02:42:34 we should be looking at strengthening these institutions

02:42:36 to be able to stand for everybody.

02:42:39 One of the cardinal principles of rule of law

02:42:41 is equality before the law.

02:42:42 And so equality before the law,

02:42:45 I mean, no matter who you are,

02:42:46 how powerful you are financially, politically, whatever,

02:42:50 if you have, I mean, you've violated the law,

02:42:53 the state's authority, that is police,

02:42:56 other agencies, police enforcement power,

02:42:59 can arrest you, investigate you,

02:43:01 and get the rights and banks.

02:43:03 And it seems to me that this is what

02:43:05 the current IGP seems to be doing.

02:43:09 Because if you listen to the tape,

02:43:11 and also what Commissioner of Police George,

02:43:15 Alex Mensah is saying,

02:43:19 it's clear that he wants the man's job,

02:43:21 and he thinks the man is being too good.

02:43:23 And so give it to me,

02:43:25 and I'll do a political partisan job for you.

02:43:28 And this is very much concerned to any person

02:43:31 who is minded about Ghana and Ghana's future,

02:43:35 rather than political party support.

02:43:38 And so we should be looking at building institutions

02:43:41 that will be there for us today and tomorrow,

02:43:43 whether we are in government,

02:43:44 whether we are in opposition,

02:43:45 the institution will stand for us.

02:43:47 And that's what we should be looking at

02:43:48 at the end of all of this.

02:43:49 How do we strengthen the state institutions

02:43:52 to serve everybody, and to promote the rule of law?

02:43:55 Because the liberal democracy

02:43:56 that we are borrowing from the West,

02:43:58 it goes with one, human rights,

02:44:00 two, rule of law.

02:44:03 So if you want to start with liberal democracy,

02:44:06 but then you don't have rule of law being strengthened,

02:44:09 and human rights culture is poor,

02:44:13 then we are aping Western-style democracy.

02:44:16 I mean, we are not doing the right thing.

02:44:19 So it seems to me, the current IGP is doing the right thing.

02:44:22 And I wonder why he's invited, as I was saying,

02:44:26 because if this is someone who has admitted

02:44:28 that he was looking for his job,

02:44:29 and so he's engaging in much language,

02:44:32 and much language.

02:44:33 And so if you're much lenient on to take his job,

02:44:36 I mean, why should he be invited to come and say what?

02:44:39 - Yeah, but I guess it will be prejudicial

02:44:42 if we don't hear from the man who's also been accused

02:44:45 of not running the police service well.

02:44:47 - If the accusation had come from somebody who's neutral,

02:44:52 and who's been objective in making that statement,

02:44:55 the circumstances under which

02:44:57 this particular statement was made,

02:44:59 it's not worth the attention that an IGP

02:45:03 should always address.

02:45:04 - All right, let's see what the committee will do

02:45:06 about this interesting terroir.

02:45:09 Thank you for joining us.

02:45:10 Adib, the options for the president,

02:45:12 let me wrap up with you on that.

02:45:15 - Well, there are so many options on the table.

02:45:18 You mentioned something I found quite intriguing,

02:45:21 whether the president should just ask everybody,

02:45:26 and give the police a new place.

02:45:29 But I think that would be tantamount

02:45:30 to running away from your troubles,

02:45:32 because if you don't deal with the fundamental issues,

02:45:35 and just decide to ask them,

02:45:38 it amounts to dealing with it superficially.

02:45:40 It's just like a farmer getting rid of weeds

02:45:43 on his farm, and instead of attacking its very DNA,

02:45:47 or uprooting it, you are rather trimming the top.

02:45:50 So what happens?

02:45:51 It grows back.

02:45:52 So by removing them doesn't change anything.

02:45:54 We need to deal with the fundamental issues.

02:45:57 I mean, how independent is the police?

02:46:00 What is the level of political interference?

02:46:04 How do we depoliticize the Ghana Police Service

02:46:08 to make it criminal to some extent,

02:46:11 to engage in active politics when you are a police officer?

02:46:16 'Cause now it's more of an ethical issue, okay?

02:46:20 But for crying out loud, this is a security agency.

02:46:25 - Yeah, it is.

02:46:27 It is a security agency, Adi.

02:46:29 And we hope that things will change.

02:46:32 - Well, I'm hoping so.

02:46:35 But until we deal with the fundamental issues,

02:46:37 I'm sorry to say we cannot change the Ghana Police Service.

02:46:40 And in the past, there's been talk about

02:46:43 making the police world-class,

02:46:45 making its activities in line

02:46:47 with best international practices.

02:46:48 A whole lot of things were said about the police.

02:46:52 To what extent have we achieved that?

02:46:54 I've had audience with the IGP,

02:46:57 and he said quite a number of remarkable things,

02:46:59 including the fact that he wants to change the regime

02:47:02 where people sit on their job for a number of years

02:47:05 and feel they are due for promotions.

02:47:07 No, it's going to be merits-based.

02:47:10 And I found that quite plausible.

02:47:13 I mean, a lot of changes were beginning to happen

02:47:17 within the police service,

02:47:19 but I think the manner in which it was done is a problem.

02:47:22 And I speak as a change management expert myself.

02:47:26 In this part of the world, we found ourselves,

02:47:28 even if you are going to implement changes,

02:47:32 it has to be gradual.

02:47:34 A whole lot of strategies goes into it.

02:47:36 I remember at a point where implementing

02:47:39 a government system which would have public officers

02:47:44 use an IT-based system to engage in government business.

02:47:48 It was a big challenge.

02:47:50 It was a very big challenge because they thought,

02:47:52 one, it was taking over their jobs,

02:47:54 and two, they couldn't engage themselves

02:47:57 in certain practices.

02:47:59 But we made them know that, no,

02:48:01 it is the same manual process you are going to IT,

02:48:04 and it involves a number of activities

02:48:06 we have to engage in to get their buy-in.

02:48:08 So I think IGP should also really look at

02:48:11 his implementation strategy

02:48:13 so he has all his officers behind him.

02:48:16 - Okay, grateful.

02:48:17 And representing security analysts joining us this morning

02:48:20 on the AM show.

02:48:21 Sami, we need to go.

02:48:22 - Yeah.

02:48:23 - What are we to expect?

02:48:25 Obviously, you'll be there.

02:48:26 There'll be coverage also on the Join News channel,

02:48:28 I believe.

02:48:29 - Exactly.

02:48:30 So today's sitting is not going to last less than five hours.

02:48:32 As usual, started 10 yesterday,

02:48:34 close around 2.30 there.

02:48:35 So we're expecting more revelations from the witness

02:48:39 before the committee.

02:48:40 - Yeah, and we'll see what then will happen.

02:48:42 Sami Mubarak with our political desk,

02:48:45 also watching the developments in Parliament for us

02:48:48 regarding the alleged plot to oust the IGP.

02:48:53 Stay on the Join News channel,

02:48:54 we'll bring you updates on that.

02:48:55 This is the AM show.

02:48:58 When we return, we'll talk about an event

02:49:01 that's happening, obviously, in the coming days,

02:49:03 which you need to know about,

02:49:04 which you need to watch yourself.

02:49:06 It's called Naked in Bed,

02:49:08 and it's by the Rubberman Productions.

02:49:10 All that you need to know about that, in a jiffy.

02:49:13 Please stay.

02:49:14 (dramatic music)

02:49:18 (dramatic music)

02:49:20 - And you're welcome back to the AM show.

02:49:43 What I've told you is that the AM show

02:49:45 is worth waking up for.

02:49:47 There was a fair surprise which I unveiled

02:49:49 about the Naked in Bed being produced

02:49:52 by Rubberman Productions,

02:49:53 and there's another big surprise for you this morning

02:49:56 as Anotio Abay is joining us as our guest presenter

02:49:59 for the AM show.

02:50:00 Good morning.

02:50:01 - Good morning, I'm pleased.

02:50:02 - You're looking really beautiful this morning.

02:50:03 - Thank you.

02:50:04 - Yes, so what's coming up?

02:50:05 We'll be hearing about Naked in Bed and all of that.

02:50:07 What are we to expect?

02:50:09 - We'll be having a quick conversation shortly

02:50:11 with Uncle Ibo White.

02:50:13 - Oh.

02:50:14 - How he came by that title in the first place.

02:50:17 What the storyline is and why he believes

02:50:20 that people should sit.

02:50:21 - We're looking forward to that.

02:50:22 Amazing story it is.

02:50:24 Well, we'll be getting that shortly,

02:50:30 but I guess Uncle Ibo is on with us now.

02:50:32 - Okay, okay.

02:50:34 Thanks so much for staying with us on AM show.

02:50:36 I am Anotio Abay, your guest presenter for today,

02:50:40 and it's time for us to tell you about Naked in Bed.

02:50:43 This is a new play by Rubberman Productions as usual,

02:50:46 and it promises to be an exciting piece

02:50:49 because that's what the man I'm about to speak to

02:50:52 is known for.

02:50:53 Joining me via Zoom is Uncle Ibo White.

02:50:57 Good morning, Uncle Ibo White,

02:50:58 and thanks for joining us on the AM show.

02:51:00 From what I see, you are not naked in bed,

02:51:03 so we are safe this morning.

02:51:06 Please tell us what the play is about

02:51:10 and how you got that title, Naked in Bed.

02:51:14 (silence)

02:51:16 Are you there?

02:51:19 Please unmute.

02:51:20 Can you hear me, Uncle Ibo White?

02:51:23 - Yeah, I can hear you.

02:51:24 Can you hear me?

02:51:25 - Yes, yes, it's better now.

02:51:26 So I wanted to know what the story entails

02:51:29 and why that title, Naked in Bed.

02:51:32 - Well, once again, thank you for having me.

02:51:35 - You're welcome.

02:51:36 - You know, we go to school to learn a lot of things.

02:51:40 We go to school to learn even how to drive.

02:51:43 Some go to school to learn how to cook.

02:51:46 But when it comes to the one area of our life

02:51:50 that is more important than anything else,

02:51:51 our love relationships, there's no school.

02:51:54 And so what my productions seek to do

02:51:59 is to provide, if you like, an informal kind of school

02:52:04 for all things love and marriage.

02:52:06 And Naked in Bed is in line with that.

02:52:10 In particular, we are trying to deal with an aspect

02:52:15 of marriage that we don't talk about often.

02:52:19 And it is this, that when you see a boy and a girl

02:52:23 at the altar on the day of their wedding,

02:52:27 the girl knows exactly what she's doing.

02:52:29 The boy does not.

02:52:31 He has no clue.

02:52:32 And so nobody prepares the boy for taking that step.

02:52:37 He thinks he knows what he's doing, but he doesn't.

02:52:39 The girl has been prepared by her mommy, her aunties,

02:52:43 her exes, her friends, her colleagues, and all that.

02:52:47 The boy, nobody's prepared him.

02:52:49 And so we have a lot of situations where

02:52:53 what could have been great relationships go wrong

02:52:57 because there was no one to help the boy in particular

02:53:01 to understand the step he's taking.

02:53:03 And so Naked in Bed is along that line.

02:53:07 We are trying to bring, particularly let couples wake up

02:53:12 to understand the seriousness of the step they are taking

02:53:18 and how to make it work.

02:53:20 - And how did you come by that title?

02:53:23 What is so particular?

02:53:23 Why that title?

02:53:25 - Well, every play, every story suggests its own title.

02:53:32 By the time you write any story or any piece,

02:53:37 somewhere along the line, a title will suggest itself.

02:53:41 It either encapsulates the whole thing, the whole story,

02:53:46 or it takes an aspect of the story

02:53:50 that you hope people would pay attention to.

02:53:54 But in this case, the story suggested itself,

02:53:57 the title suggested itself in the story.

02:54:00 And if you come to watch it, you would understand

02:54:03 that we couldn't have given it any other title

02:54:06 but Naked in Bed.

02:54:07 - Uncle Ebo, let's talk about Samson who was caught in bed

02:54:13 by the fiancee in a seemingly compromising state

02:54:17 with the best friend.

02:54:18 If this happens to anyone in real life,

02:54:20 how should the person handle such a situation?

02:54:23 - Oh, those situations are difficult.

02:54:26 You can be philosophical about it,

02:54:29 but when it hits you,

02:54:31 it is a very different game altogether.

02:54:34 It is the kind of situation that nothing can prepare you.

02:54:38 No matter how you say, "Oh, I will deal with it this way,

02:54:41 "I deal with it this way,"

02:54:42 it never quite plays out that way

02:54:45 when you are facing it in real life.

02:54:49 And it happens to be an aspect of a story

02:54:53 that somebody I know, somebody very close to me,

02:54:57 had to deal with.

02:54:59 And so how do you deal with it?

02:55:03 Oh, you hope that you know the person

02:55:06 you're going to marry well enough

02:55:07 that you will not receive this kind of nasty surprise.

02:55:11 But when it happens, nothing can prepare you for it.

02:55:14 - So that's a true example of you need to wear the shoes

02:55:19 and know how it will fit.

02:55:21 That is only when you can know how to react

02:55:23 if you are hit by such a circumstance.

02:55:26 I know it starts showing this weekend.

02:55:29 If I miss this weekend, what next?

02:55:31 Or when next can I get to watch it?

02:55:34 - It actually starts this evening at 7 p.m.

02:55:41 This evening.

02:55:42 And then tomorrow we'll have two shows, four and eight.

02:55:46 Sunday, three shows, one, four and eight.

02:55:50 And then the next weekend, the weekend after this,

02:55:54 same times, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

02:55:59 - Okay, so how do we get the tickets?

02:56:05 - Oh, tickets will be at Joy FM.

02:56:08 If anyone wants to come there, there are a number of outlets.

02:56:13 But there are also online platforms

02:56:18 on which one can get tickets.

02:56:22 And so I would ask that if,

02:56:25 I'm sure they gave you an LPM for the production.

02:56:30 I'm sure the details would be on that one.

02:56:32 - Okay, since we are in a digitized world, I expected that.

02:56:35 So definitely there's gonna be a short code

02:56:37 to buy from, I guess.

02:56:39 - That's right, yes.

02:56:40 Yes, there is.

02:56:41 - Okay, final words, Uncle Ebo?

02:56:44 - Well, in the first place, thank you to you guys

02:56:48 for the good work you are doing.

02:56:49 And the second thing is this.

02:56:51 My platform is made for people who are working very hard.

02:56:55 And you see, sometimes we work so hard

02:56:58 and we feel too late.

02:57:01 So every now and then, take time off to just come and live.

02:57:04 Come and have fun.

02:57:06 Come and enjoy the success you have already achieved.

02:57:09 And so you can go back and make more success.

02:57:12 So I'm hoping that everyone listening to us,

02:57:15 especially those in responsible positions,

02:57:18 would take the time off and come and let their hair down.

02:57:22 Because there's a lot of laughter, there's a lot of music,

02:57:25 and there's a lot of dance in this.

02:57:27 And then this evening, after the show,

02:57:30 there would also be music for people to dance

02:57:34 the night away.

02:57:34 So let's see you this evening.

02:57:38 - Thank you so much.

02:57:39 That was playwright Uncle Ebo White.

02:57:42 And I hope you'd make time to watch his latest play,

02:57:46 "Naked in Bed."

02:57:47 Let's take a breather.

02:57:48 We'll be back with what's happening on social media.

02:57:51 Today, we're getting reactions to the probe

02:57:54 into the leaked audio tape where some persons

02:57:57 were alleged to be scheming to oust IGP Dr. George

02:58:01 Ekufu-Dampari.

02:58:01 We're also asking on social media,

02:58:03 what do you want government to focus on

02:58:06 from now till end of year?

02:58:08 Share your thoughts with us on AM Show.

02:58:11 Join us right after this break.

02:58:13 (dramatic music)

02:58:17 (dramatic music)

02:58:20 (dramatic music)

02:58:24 (dramatic music)

02:58:27 (dramatic music)

02:58:30 (dramatic music)

02:58:33 (dramatic music)

02:58:35 (dramatic music)

02:58:38 (dramatic music)

02:58:41 - Welcome back.

02:58:42 This is the AM Show with your guests,

02:58:45 presenter and Nochewaba Adjoa Sewa.

02:58:49 So let's do some social media comments.

02:58:52 What are people saying on social media?

02:58:54 What do you want government to focus on

02:58:58 from now till end of year?

02:59:01 Share your thoughts with us on the AM Show.

02:59:04 This was what we posted.

02:59:06 And these are some of the comments

02:59:08 from our cherished followers.

02:59:10 Ken Hudson said, "Selling the country for us

02:59:14 to share the amount equally."

02:59:16 Wow, that's hilarious.

02:59:18 Mathias says, "Focus on stepping down."

02:59:22 Grant May, "Ghana military."

02:59:24 No, no, we ain't doing that.

02:59:25 Pa Jo, "Focused on Namwanto, he's jailed."

02:59:30 Bruno Cook who says, "Sicilia Dapa."

02:59:32 Godwin Ajete Nahu says, "Nothing, it's obvious

02:59:35 that anything the government place their focus on,

02:59:39 they end up making a mess of it."

02:59:41 Stephen Covey handing over notes to John Mahamaukei.

02:59:45 Joshua Amewonu, "To retire officers at high rank

02:59:50 as Kenya president did, if not, wow."

02:59:54 Alvata says, "Reserve the little left in the public purse.

03:00:00 Corruption, no, yeah, we beg them."

03:00:03 Ken Dazzling, "To stop taking salaries

03:00:05 while we wait for a new leader to come

03:00:07 and take us out of these difficulties."

03:00:10 Legend Highman Ghana, "Here, even the military men

03:00:13 that would take over, hmm, will still be corrupt."

03:00:16 Okay, he's basically talking about corruption.

03:00:20 Felix Ohene, "He should focus on retirement."

03:00:23 Okay, Yawa Bwaje, "How to get gobe on the pharmacy counter.

03:00:28 Very necessary, wow."

03:00:30 Charles Buntugu says, "Hmm, wow."

03:00:33 Richard KB, "A year, yentiobia, #leadership, #tintintinti."

03:00:39 Lord Have Mercy, "#responsibility."

03:00:42 Fatau Abdo, "They should not retire and leave office."

03:00:46 Well, that is a huge name,

03:00:49 and I doubt I can mention it, but I'll try.

03:00:52 I don't wanna disgrace myself, okay.

03:00:55 So he say, "Even if I say it here,

03:00:58 what impact will it make?

03:00:59 We have elders who do not listen.

03:01:01 They think they are entitled to the position they occupy.

03:01:04 Who are we to tell them to do this and that?

03:01:07 I am feather proud."

03:01:09 Don't be, there is still hope for you and I.

03:01:11 Sani SMS says, "Handing over speech."

03:01:15 Jifa Mausi, "CB Bado, the man says for now,

03:01:20 he only the wait for the new leader cause he tire."

03:01:24 Satinja Albert, "Nothing he can offer now.

03:01:27 He should just stop talking or taking pay, sorry."

03:01:32 Ariza Arizi, "His handing over."

03:01:34 It looks like a lot of people are waiting

03:01:36 for the handing over note.

03:01:38 Anati Alfred, "Nothing because anything they focus on

03:01:41 turns out to be a corrupt scandal."

03:01:43 Dominic Ahinful, "Security and food security."

03:01:47 Sadiq Abubakar, "I think Dominic is a glutton

03:01:50 just like I am, yes."

03:01:52 So he's more focused and concerned

03:01:55 when it comes to food security.

03:01:57 Ebenee Eshen, "Nothing good coming from him.

03:01:59 He should resign as soon as possible."

03:02:02 Daniel Quan Chi, "Focus on not being removed cause.

03:02:08 It is only over for them."

03:02:10 Okay, Nicholas Na, "Bow out in peace.

03:02:14 No clap, not to talk of standing ovation."

03:02:18 Okay, "Not even a thank you from the MC."

03:02:20 Wow, Albert Kofi Adams, "They should focus on packing

03:02:25 their things from Jubilee House, nothing else."

03:02:27 Well, I can't read the letter part, forgive me.

03:02:31 Henry Gameli says, "The economy and roads."

03:02:36 So Yaga, NDC, Nadonli, "The president says

03:02:39 he's tired of the challenges of the nation.

03:02:42 He has finished all his tactics and is waiting

03:02:45 for a new NDC government to fix the problems.

03:02:48 What we expect of government is to be disciplined

03:02:51 and keep things until JM comes."

03:02:54 JN Amankwa, "The government has officially declared itself

03:02:57 out from business and waiting for the next administration

03:03:01 to take over."

03:03:03 So joining me on the phone is Albert.

03:03:05 Good morning, Albert.

03:03:07 - Good morning.

03:03:08 - Okay, what would you like to share with us?

03:03:11 - Yeah, I want to talk about the committee

03:03:17 probing the leak page about the IGP.

03:03:22 - Sure.

03:03:23 - Yeah, it appears that in this country,

03:03:27 even the leakers are now looking for just one leak page.

03:03:31 Let me say so, because when you be a legislator

03:03:35 for the committee, it was established that he's a lawyer

03:03:39 with good standard and also an experienced police officer.

03:03:42 But this was a man looking for jobs from Google and Apple

03:03:45 who also appeared for the committee

03:03:46 and he indicated that he has not been disciplined.

03:03:49 So my question is, given that you are giving the norm

03:03:52 to become the IGP, who would he have pleaded his allegiance

03:03:55 to, or is it that he would have pleaded his allegiance

03:03:57 to the one who helped him get the job

03:04:01 or the people of Ghana?

03:04:04 - All right, Albert, I think that is a great question.

03:04:08 Looking at people talking about politicizing

03:04:11 the police administration because the person is,

03:04:15 one way or the other, appointed by the ruling government.

03:04:18 So thank you so much for your question.

03:04:20 You can phone in 0302 211691.

03:04:24 Let me go back to the comments on social media.

03:04:27 Jay Nana Amangwa, okay, I read that.

03:04:30 One Sadat Larry Kokoko, they will hatch you

03:04:34 until you accept that this is not a dating area,

03:04:37 but it is actually a mining area.

03:04:40 Paddy Ebenezer Bronze, okay, so let's go back to the phone.

03:04:45 Abdul, good morning, thanks for joining me on the AM show.

03:04:50 - You, little one, if you're listening,

03:04:54 everything happening in the world, especially in Africa,

03:05:01 is beginning to be a lesson to every leader

03:05:04 who wants to take the people,

03:05:06 who wants to take them for advantage.

03:05:10 It is obvious that most of the rules

03:05:14 that are being preached in Africa now

03:05:17 are hugely supported by the citizens.

03:05:22 That is telling us that everybody in this world,

03:05:25 especially in Africa, is angry.

03:05:27 And therefore, our leaders must take cue of this

03:05:30 and begin to take these decisive decisions

03:05:33 and take the people in account

03:05:34 whenever they are taking the same decisions.

03:05:36 If not, the temperature or the atmosphere is already charged

03:05:40 and if our leaders don't take that,

03:05:42 don't want to, even the military,

03:05:44 we cannot be sure what they will do

03:05:46 if they take up any country in the way.

03:05:48 But the leaders who are being trusted with our mandate

03:05:52 must be very circumspect in their decision

03:05:54 that they are taking.

03:05:55 Thanks so much.

03:05:58 - Joining me back to your social media comment,

03:06:01 Sadat Larry Kokoko, I read yours,

03:06:04 party Ebenezer Brown's focus to restore

03:06:07 the worst economy ever.

03:06:09 So, Baumea, what's he coming to do so special

03:06:13 or tax to recover the economy?

03:06:15 I can't think far.

03:06:16 Hair, politics is a dirty work, Ampa.

03:06:19 Wisdom Kwame Doce says,

03:06:21 even if I say they can't do anything meaningful,

03:06:25 they are clueless.

03:06:26 So, Thomas Yenemi exit from government.

03:06:30 Bohegli Anas says, Nanadi should resign.

03:06:33 Stephen Kwesi Amphoyamwa says,

03:06:36 let money flow into the system.

03:06:39 That is what he has to say.

03:06:41 Okay, let's go back into the phone lines

03:06:43 with Moses joining me.

03:06:45 Good morning, Moses.

03:06:46 Thank you for joining me.

03:06:48 - My turn.

03:06:50 How are you?

03:06:51 - I am doing so great.

03:06:55 - Are you there, Moses?

03:06:57 - Yes, I'm there.

03:06:58 - Okay, listening.

03:06:59 - The issues we are hearing is really troubling,

03:07:04 my dear, as a young man.

03:07:05 This is not only happening in the,

03:07:11 or at the top there,

03:07:12 to our level, where young graduates are asked,

03:07:19 without anything, they are still asked to pay money

03:07:23 to be able to be engaged.

03:07:26 You see, this is how we,

03:07:29 and that is how we will end.

03:07:30 I believe we have to do something

03:07:35 about our education system.

03:07:37 We will be feeding ourselves.

03:07:41 We don't educate patriotic citizens.

03:07:45 We don't actually mind whatever we can do

03:07:50 to get today's bread.

03:07:51 We don't think about tomorrow.

03:07:53 So I think it is reason for all these regulations.

03:07:58 If not, you cannot have a party chairman

03:08:02 who sounds so confident, so bold,

03:08:06 and even the leader who is supposed

03:08:09 to be protecting our security,

03:08:11 saying that it is known that the security system

03:08:16 do not like our boss.

03:08:19 This is serious.

03:08:22 We need to relook at the way we educate ourselves.

03:08:27 We need to relook at the way we do things in this world,

03:08:30 where we eulogize ill-gotten wealth,

03:08:35 and decide to, I mean,

03:08:41 insult or describe people who are honest

03:08:44 and just as lazy people.

03:08:46 We need to move away from the issues of,

03:08:50 I mean, cheap way of getting things.

03:08:53 And we don't even ask people how they get their wealth.

03:08:58 I think we need to sincerely,

03:09:02 sincerely sit back and look at those

03:09:06 we elect or choose to be our leaders.

03:09:09 And also those we recruit,

03:09:12 whether they have passion and love,

03:09:14 whether they are greedy,

03:09:16 or they are people who really want to serve.

03:09:19 That is the way we can go.

03:09:20 Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity.

03:09:23 - Thank you too for your time.

03:09:25 I think that one was a necessary one, of course.

03:09:28 It's about time we took probing people's

03:09:31 source of wealth very, very serious.

03:09:34 So we would go back to the online stories

03:09:38 or the comments, and we would read more

03:09:42 focus on normalizing the economic crisis.

03:09:45 That one, Augustine just brought his.

03:09:48 We have a lots of messages, Adriana Bar,

03:09:54 Boston News files to focus on agriculture.

03:09:57 Okay, that's what he has to say.

03:09:59 Then Phyllis too has another one down there.

03:10:03 And Idrisu Abdulmumin says, "Nanadu should resign."

03:10:07 Owusu George says, "Antwabu in real rude."

03:10:10 Yes, so bad, I spoke of it this morning on Bidrem.

03:10:15 It was so bad, Antwabu in real rude, it's so bad.

03:10:18 So you have wrote, "I think we should be remembered."

03:10:21 Let's go back online and speak to,

03:10:24 we have a caller online.

03:10:25 Good morning, thank you for joining us, Isa.

03:10:29 - Yes, good morning.

03:10:30 How's the morning, Magita?

03:10:32 - Oh, we are managing yourself.

03:10:34 - Fine.

03:10:35 I want to be part of your program.

03:10:38 I think as a country, I think we don't know

03:10:43 where we are heading towards.

03:10:45 The economy is so badly, and the coups around Africa

03:10:50 is becoming too much.

03:10:53 As I would quote former President Barack Obama,

03:10:58 that as long as we condemn the coups,

03:11:02 but we should remember by time limit,

03:11:04 our leaders are, they are the one power drunk.

03:11:11 I think this Gabon issue,

03:11:14 we are saying democracy, democracy.

03:11:17 How can a particular family who rule 62 years in power,

03:11:23 what ways are our leaders?

03:11:28 They are sitting down quietly, they will not talk.

03:11:31 But when there is chaos, they will come out

03:11:33 and say something.

03:11:34 That's hypocrisy, will kill our African leaders.

03:11:38 So it's about time, this is tough.

03:11:42 I mean, it's pathetic, it's sad as a country.

03:11:46 I think some of us are regretting as Africans,

03:11:49 because the way they are ruling us

03:11:51 is very, very, very bad in Africa.

03:11:53 So this is what we will be expecting.

03:11:56 Thank you.

03:11:57 - Thank you so much, Isa, for joining us live

03:12:00 on the AM Show this morning.

03:12:02 You can call in 0302211691.

03:12:06 We have few minutes to go back to your comments.

03:12:10 Felix Eviron says, "Return our monies and step down."

03:12:13 Kwame Desmond, "Military," no, no, no.

03:12:16 Idrisu Abdulmumin, "Nanadi should resign."

03:12:19 Ransford Kumar, "Focus on unemployment."

03:12:22 I agree.

03:12:23 Badass DJ Rokorji, "Step down."

03:12:26 Ransford Okran, "This government has lost focus.

03:12:28 "Therefore there is absolutely nothing to focus on."

03:12:32 Mohammed Isa Abdullahi, "Stop daylight robbery

03:12:36 "and corruption."

03:12:37 Okay, that's what Mohammed Isa Abdul has to say.

03:12:41 Amma, good morning.

03:12:44 Amma, good morning.

03:12:49 - Yeah, good morning, how are you?

03:12:51 - I'm doing so great, thank you for joining me.

03:12:53 - Okay, so I have two quick things to talk about.

03:12:57 - Sure.

03:12:58 - The first has to do with where politicians hold monies

03:13:03 in their rooms and under their beds and all that.

03:13:07 Well, that is what has become the norm,

03:13:11 especially with African politicians.

03:13:14 Look at Gabon, when they went to search

03:13:16 in the minister's home, they found a lot of money.

03:13:20 So Ghana is an African country,

03:13:22 so it is definitely not an exception.

03:13:25 If we want to go into people's houses now,

03:13:27 especially the ministers, we will find loads

03:13:30 of monies under their beds.

03:13:32 Look at Niger, I think one minister,

03:13:35 there was a social media video going around,

03:13:37 one minister was traveling with bags of monies

03:13:40 and all that.

03:13:41 So well, this is what has become of them.

03:13:45 And when there are coups, they want to make noise.

03:13:48 Why are they not trying to correct

03:13:51 what brings about the coups?

03:13:53 Then the second issue has to do with the police,

03:13:57 meddling in politics.

03:13:59 I'm surprised, Ghanaians are surprised

03:14:01 that our policemen do not engage in politics.

03:14:05 NDC, MPP, after every election has accused,

03:14:09 depending on where the battle falls on

03:14:12 or who becomes the winner,

03:14:14 the other person accuses the other,

03:14:17 I mean, the police of aiding the other party

03:14:20 to win the elections.

03:14:22 And so I don't see why people are surprised

03:14:24 about the COP, the commissioner,

03:14:26 coming to say that DT is meddling in politics.

03:14:31 Well, it has been, we know that even both parties

03:14:35 have been talking about, so for two of them sitting there,

03:14:39 I mean, the panelists, the investigative team,

03:14:42 for them sitting there and are surprised.

03:14:45 Yesterday, I was so surprised that they were surprised

03:14:47 that the man is saying that he is even a politician.

03:14:51 I'm surprised, both of them have been accusing police

03:14:55 of being, of meddling into politics.

03:14:58 So why are they surprised?

03:14:59 The man has come to speak the truth.

03:15:01 And Ghanaians, we become surprised.

03:15:03 So Ghanaians are fond of being surprised

03:15:05 about things that are normal, that we know are happening.

03:15:08 When the thing comes out into the light,

03:15:10 then we become surprised, we behave like Austriaches.

03:15:14 We are so surprised about things.

03:15:15 I am not surprised.

03:15:17 I'm not surprised about money under people's beds.

03:15:19 And I'm not surprised about this man saying that,

03:15:21 well, the police have been meddling in politics.

03:15:25 - Okay. - In Africa.

03:15:27 And so we need to deal with it

03:15:29 and stop being surprised about these things.

03:15:31 - Thank you so much, Alma, for joining us.

03:15:34 This is where we draw the curtain, yes.

03:15:37 Thank you so much for calling in and your comments.

03:15:40 Thank you so much for dropping them.

03:15:42 I am Anoche Waba Ajuwasewa.

03:15:45 Let's meet same time on Monday.

03:15:47 Thank you, have a nice weekend.

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03:16:14 ♪♪

It would be unfair not to grant the IGP an audience; he must be given a fair hearing - Saani

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