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Opinions of Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

NDC Is 'Tribalising' The Military.

The cohesiveness of our country is being chipped away by an administration headed by a President with a reputation of being a Peaceful man, hence the moniker, "ASOMDWEHENE". When this Gentlemen campaigned and assured Ghanaians that, he was going to be a father to all Ghanaians, we bought it hook and sinker because of his reputation, but voters buyers remorse is sinking in faster than anticipated.The issue this article is going to be about is very sensitive and controversial but all peace loving Ghanaians irrespective of your tribe or Party affiliation have to nip this 'tribalization' of the Military in the bud.

I hope this article is not hijacked by the hawks of both NDC and NPP to achieve their tribal interest but debated in a civil manner as our country's reputation as a beacon of a peaceful place in a neighborhood of war ravaged failed states in West Africa depends on it. This is a very controversial issue and I know I am going to make a lot of People really upset for bringing this to the fore, but I believe in the axiom that, If you haven't made anybody mad, you probably haven't done anything in your life. This 'Ewenization' of the Military should not stand. Â

The Economic failures of this administration is really not a shock to a large section of the population since NDC lack any legacy of economic achievements, but President Mills a lackluster attention to what is going on in his administration is really baffling. Koku Anyidoho, the so called communication Director at the Presidency is hijacking this administration for his own selfish interest and the President has so far shown that, he lacks the cojones to call some of his appointees to order when they astray from the main objective of this administration. The Ministeries have become fiefdoms into themselves with Ministers issuing directives without the Castle approval. Below is a letter purported to have been written by one Stanley Glate, Ho Central constituency Secretary of NDC asking for individuals interested in joining the military what to do.

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NDC Recruits Activists For Military

Monday, 14 December 2009

General J.H. Smith, Defence MinisterALL Is set to pack the military with activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a directive has been sent to all branches of the party for the compilation of names. DAILY GUIDE has gathered that a letter had been written and addressed to various NDC branches in the Volta Region, asking them to forward the list of party faithful who would like to be recruited into the military. A copy of the letter, which is dated December 8, 2009 and signed by Stanley Glate, the Ho Central Constituency Secretary of the NDC, has directed that the list should reach the Municipal Coordinator of National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) by December 11, 2009. The letter noted: “I humbly write to inform you that the sale of forms for recruitment of people into the military as well as youth employment is ongoing in the Ho Municipality.” “As part of our campaign message to help fill our favourites into the various places, I am happy to inform you that your branch has been given the opportunity to submit the names of two persons to be employed in the Youth Employment program.” It continued, “Anybody from your branch who is also interested in prisons, fire and immigration services should get the form and we will help in processing it. “The names should get to the Municipal Coordinator of Youth and Employment programme together with two passport pictures by 11 December 2009 for consideration.” When DAILY GUIDE contacted Stanley Glate via phone, he confirmed that the said letter was written and signed by him, adding that the letter was no longer effective since he had asked it to be withdrawn. According to Mr. Glate, who is also the former President of Ho Polytechnic chapter of TEIN, a student wing of the NDC, it was later discovered that the directives that he gave did not include the military; hence, his decision to withdraw the said letter. He added that a different letter had been written to that effect, appealing to this reporter to “look for the current letter before coming out with any publication.”

From Wise Donkor, Ho

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"DAILY GUIDE has gathered that a letter had been written and addressed to various NDC branches in the Volta Region, asking them to forward the list of party faithful who would like to be recruited into the military."

Why is this letter asking for Military recruits not being sent throughtout the NDC branches in the country but only in Volta Region? Are we going to fill the military with only NDC faithfuls from Volta Region for Political intimidation in 2012 elections? This is not beyond the realm of reality if one recals what was done to one Medical Professor from Volta Region and NPP Party observer, one DR Ohene. This man was almost killed by NDC hoodlums even when NPP was in power and I don't even want to think about the impending bloodbath in 2012 if the Military is filled with NDC thugs from their World Bank of Voters.

One Colonel Damoah,a Bono was released of his Military duties as the Director of the Military Human Resources to pave the way for the 'Ewenization' of the Military. This policy if implemented does not bode well for the future of our country and the Minister of Defence needs to come out and deny this or the Opposition Parties have to protest in no uncertain terms their disgust of such a tribal policy germinating seed in our Military service.

One Respondant to this article wrote:

"written by Gokah- Ho (02448888000), December 14, 2009 I am a true indigenous son of Ho and can boldly testify about plans been made to recruit we the Voltarians into the military coming next enlistment.. My parent asked me to register my name but i refused due to the bad nature of the recruitment. Whoever deny this report is not true son/daughter of Volta. There is a special letter from JJ Rawlings to ensure that we the Ewes are enlisted. I want to tell my people that, this practice is not the best and we need to discard it. We constitute minority in this country and therefore we should not dominate military. Sometimes HO Poly do the same to admit Ewes more than any other tribe which is very bad. You can contact me with more proof on either my phone or email"

I don't know the veracity of this comment but if that is how somebody who can benefit from such a policy thinks about this, then there is still hope for Ghana as a country.

Sarpong, Justice

Houston, Texas