Former President John Dramani Mahama has empathised with the late President Kwame Nkrumah over the 24 February 1966 Coup which toppled his government.
Mr Mahama made the comments when he recounted the events leading to the 1966 Coup, exactly 57 years ago, today, 24 February 2023.
In a Facebook post, the former President said: “57 years ago today, 24th February 1966, the Danquah-Busiah political tradition conspired with external intelligence agencies to initiate Ghana’s first coup d’etat, which toppled the government of our first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.”
Mr Mahama noted: “This coup was achieved through a conscious and constant campaign of falsehood and calumny.
“As a former President of Ghana who has also been at the receiving end of the Danquah-Busia tradition’s campaign of slander and sabotage, I can empathise completely with the quandary President Nkrumah found himself in.”
Mr Mahama stressed that: “In 1966, I was a young boy still in primary school. But I remember highlights of the dark days that followed the February 24, 1966 coup.
“The perpetrators woefully failed to liberate Ghana as they had promised. They instead initiated a long nightmare that destroyed Nkrumah’s vision for Ghana and Africa.”
He called on Ghanaians to remain loyal to the 1992 Constitution as they reflect on the 1966 Coup, today.
“As today marks 57 years of that coup d’etat, I call on all fellow Ghanaians and our patriotic security agencies and armed forces to mark this day as one of reflection and to remain loyal to the 1992 Constitution as we begin the task of rescuing our dear nation from the dark pit the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has plunged us into.”
He also urged “all Africans to give meaningful democracy a chance, the very reason for which I am presently here in Nigeria as Head of the West African Elders Forum on an election mediation mission, as the country votes on Saturday.”
The Foundation wants the factions in the renewed Bawku conflict to bury their differences
The Queen Mothers’ Foundation of Ghana is calling for an end to the protracted conflict in the Bawku area.
The Foundation wants the factions in the renewed Bawku conflict to bury their differences and allow peace to prevail.
In a statement issued and signed by its President Nana Ama Serwa Bonsu, Thursday, 23 February 2023, the Foundation expressed concern over the recent development in Bawku.
“In such situations, women, who are the backbone of economic activities, are so vulnerable to the extent of losing their livelihoods, while children are unable to attend school, thereby jeopardising their future.
“In light of the above, the Queen Mothers Foundation of Ghana appeals to the factions in the renewed conflict in Bawku to bury their differences and embrace peace to move the development of the area forward,” the statement said.
The foundation therefore advised the youth in particular “to refrain from acts of violence and not to allow themselves to be used as conduits to foment trouble.”
It urged “the traditional authorities to lead the processes of peace and reconciliation for the good of the people.
It further called on “security agencies to endeavour to maintain law and order in the area, but in so doing, they must be cautious not to infringe on the human rights of the people.
“The government must also endeavour to discharge its responsibilities to ensure the resolution of the conflict.”
It also admonished “political parties to refrain from politicising the conflict or stoking the fire for political expediency. Rather, they must work together to douse the fire and restore peace.”
“We appeal to the media to help defuse the conflict and refrain from comments and publications that would rather worsen the situation,” the Queen Mothers’ Foundation added.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak is asking whether President Akufo-Addo will now listen to the German Ambassador and reduce the size of his government for external help.
This comes on the back of German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, addressing journalists disclosed that the size of the Ghanaians government is bigger than Germany’s.
Mr. Krull further questioned why Ghana should have a high number of appointees in government and go out begging for help.
Commenting on the call by the German Ambassador, the Builsa South Lawmaker wants to see if President Akufo-Addo will now adhere to the many calls and cut down on expenditure.
“Akufo-Addo has ignored our calls to cut government expenditure, including reducing the size of his bloated and corrupt government.
“Will he now listen, now that the German Ambassador has made it clear that a cut in government expenditure is a condition for external help?” Mr. Apaak asked in a tweet.
The German Ambassador however expressed confidence that things will get better for the Ghanaians people.
“I only can compare with other countries like my own and I can just come to the conclusion that the number is much higher than in my country. So that might bring me to the conclusion that maybe there’s room for improvement.
“Well, of course, it depends very much on what kind of expenditures you’re looking at. I’m convinced this is true because if I look at the budget of the German Foreign Ministry of the German government, I’m convinced there are important tasks that can be cut without hurting the economic development. Ghana has a very dense layer of institutions and responsibilities all over the country,” Mr. Krull explained.
He continued: “And I’m convinced without going into details this also is true for Ghana. There are certain expenditures that can be lowered substantially and make an important impact and it has to be part of the package. I mean, I cannot go out to the international community and say I need help, but I’m not willing to cut my own budget expenditures. I have to be careful not to cut the social expenditures that are destroying lives and families. I have to be very careful not to take measures that might negatively impact economic growth.”
Source: classfmonline.com
