Opinion: Ghana heading towards dictatorship

In a conversation with an oil executive whose company also operates in Equatorial Guinea, she provided a very interesting answer to my question. Asked what contrasts exist between her company’s experience in Ghana and in Equatorial Guinea, she smiled and said “huge contrast.” Then she continued “over there, you only have to worry about one person who makes all the decisions. You make him happy, then you are happy.” This conversation took place in Accra back in the latter part of 2008, and that one person she referred to is President Brig. Gen. (Rtd.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO. She went on to describe how the environment was better in Ghana because democratic principles were “well in place,” which meant foreign companies have to do more to remain in good stead with the country as a whole.

Almost two years later, the political landscape in Ghana has changed drastically. On paper, democratic principles are still in place, but certain adages are becoming all too reminding. Adages such as “birds of the same feather,” and “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” are beginning to show Ghanaians glimpses of who really are running the country. More importantly, the friends of those really running our country should tell us which direction we are going as a nation.

We begin with the leader of Equatorial Guinea. President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was “re-elected” by (get this) 95.8% in November 29, 2009 for another seven-year term. His country’s constitution was approved via a referendum, and it places no term limits on the president. For a soldier who came to power via an August 3, 1979 coup, this sounds like a president for life. Not surprisingly, his son goes on wild Parisian shopping sprees with private jets and a host of girlfriends drawing from a bank account that has a steady stream of cash inflow from the country’s oil revenue. In short, there no voice of dissent in Equatorial Guinea.

MBASOGO’s biggest fan and advisor is our own Tsatsu Tsikata, on whose invitation he is currently visiting Ghana. Why is this important? Because Tsatsu Tsikata is currently the one who calls the shots behind the scenes about anything related to energy in Ghana, and $2 million bribe or not, he is essentially daring anyone to ask questions. President Mills, who has publicly stated that he owes his presidency to Tsatsu Tsikata, has concluded that his idol is becoming a political liability, but is yet to develop the balls to do something about him. He has taken two quick overseas trips recently to devise a plan about Tsikata, but has returned from both trips still unsure how to deal with him.

The next worrisome association is between Tsatsu’s senior brother Kwadwo and Angola’s President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS. After the death of former President Augustino NETO in 1979, Dos Santos was selected by the ruling party to lead Angola. It was only a 1992 constitution that forced Dos Santos to run for re-election later that year. Falling short of 50% plus one vote (49.6%), Dos Santos was to face his closest challenger in a runoff that he eventually called of in order to remain in power. Another election was not scheduled until 2008, but even that has been postponed indefinitely. Why is this important? Kwadwo Tsihkata’s long association with Angola’s guerrilla fighters has endeared him to the ruling MPLA party such that he continues to advise them on ways to continue to hold onto power. It is also important because those in the know concede that Kwadwo Tsikata is the most feared man in Ghana among the security apparatus.

The Tsikata brothers are but a few of those running our dear country behind the scenes, which explains why this administration has taken on an increasingly anti-American posture. The phenomenon also explains why freedom of speech, of the press, and of the judiciary, have all sustained encroachments and half-veiled threats in recent times. They know Ghanaians would never stand for radical institution of dictatorship so they chip away gradually until we all wake up one day to find that our once bright nation has been taking over by a ruling clan. Furthermore, this group of people knows that none of them has any chance of ever winning the presidency in today’s Ghana, but they are willing to use a man deceptively dubbed “asomdwiehene” as puppet until they are ready.

Of course let us all shelf this article as another “alarmist” ranting of a suspicious “NPPian.” But I would leave you with the story of an abused spouse. After the first incident of physical abuse, the husband apologizes and blames everything on everyone else but himself. He “sweet talks” the wife into believing it was all a mistake – an accident. Then he strikes again, then again, then again until the wife is afraid to even be seen with her own friends let alone complain to the authorities. That is when he begins to completely own her.

The Rawling era was supposed to be long gone (and remember he was friends with only dictators). It would never happen again. Ghana has moved too far down the democracy path. Then Mills era came. And some of the same abuses that occurred under Rawlings are beginning to re-emerge. The political violence, the killings, the attack on the judiciary, on press freedoms, the suppressing of political dissention, the purging of the security and military services, and so on. Meanwhile Ghanaians continue to bask in the erroneous belief that the clock can never be turned back. For the sake of posterity, one can only hope that this author is wrong. In fact, I want so desperately to be wrong. But I am fearful that I might be right. I hope Ghanaians would at least begin by asking why do these people associate only with dictators if they really are democratic as their name suggests?



Paul Manu (Rev)

Sydney, Australia

paul.manu@rocketmail.com
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