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NewsTranscript
00:00 Welcome back on the AM show. Time now for us to get into the newspapers and find
00:05 out what they have to say. Joining me this morning Benjamin Kofi Kwasi,
00:10 he is Council of Elders Chair with NDC South Africa. He joins us for the news
00:16 review. But right before I bring him in, well you've seen him already. A very good
00:21 morning to you sir. I am okay. Good morning to you and to our cherished
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01:16 the conversation, well welcome aboard Mr. Kwasi. And how is South Africa? Very
01:23 well. As usual, I always say that they are trying their best, much better than
01:29 we are doing here. Covid hits all of us, especially them. It hit them so hard.
01:34 But the government is doing what it has to do. It's not easy anyway, but they are doing better than we are.
01:40 They are doing better than we are. Yes. Since you're... how long ago were you in South
01:45 Africa? I think I've been here for two weeks now. So two weeks back I was in South Africa.
01:49 So two weeks back you were in South Africa. We know they have their own political
01:53 crisis on their hands. You know the transition from apartheid rule to the
01:58 ANC, Nelson Mandela, all the way now to Cyril Wamaposa. And there have been
02:04 different dynamics about the failure of the ANC and how it's creating inroads
02:09 for other parties. There's Malema, Julius Malema and what he's been doing.
02:12 Power outages and all of that. Some people would say looking at some of
02:17 these problems they're facing, including xenophobic tendencies that
02:21 he's exhibited over the years, over the last few years. Do you still rate them
02:26 above? What are you basing this on? Just the economy? No, not only the economy. Like
02:31 you said, for about two, three years now the xenophobic attacks have not
02:34 happened. I believe that it's because of the call by the EFF that is led by
02:40 Julius Malema. They have said that we should be one as Africans, not to divide
02:45 ourselves. So I think that has helped. The economy, load shedding, like you said, is a
02:50 very big problem there. But gradually, gradually they are getting out of it and
02:54 I think that in no time things will be well with them. Anyway, let's come back to
03:00 Ghana. Let's come home and get into our own affairs. Yindzi ifiasen. We're about
03:06 to get into our own local affairs. The Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, the
03:12 Custodian newspapers. Those are the papers I'm going to be looking at. Which
03:16 ones are you looking at? Then the Ghanaian publisher. All right. So let's start with
03:21 the Daily Graphic newspaper. Government increases cocoa prices back up from 800
03:26 Ghana cities to a thousand three hundred and eight Ghana cities. TAN now going for
03:31 twenty thousand nine hundred and forty three Ghana cities, up from twelve
03:34 thousand eight hundred Ghana cities. That's an increment of about sixty three
03:38 point five percent. So the details. The government has increased the back, the
03:43 price at which it buys a bag of cocoa from 800 Ghana cities per 64 kilogram
03:47 bag to a thousand three hundred and eight Ghana cities. Now the sixty three
03:53 point five percent increment also translates to twenty thousand nine
03:56 hundred and forty three Ghana cities per ton of raw cocoa beans up from twelve
04:00 thousand eight hundred Ghana cities per ton. President Nanarodon Kwekufuadu,
04:04 who announced the new price at the Durbar of Chiefs and Cocoa Farmers at
04:07 Tepa in the Ashanti region at the weekend, said the new price quote "is the
04:12 highest to be paid to cocoa farmers across West Africa in over 50 years."
04:18 But we're going to be getting into the details of that later on the show because
04:21 they have there has been some contestation from somebodies, including
04:25 the farmers themselves, about the veracity of this fact. But it also remains that it
04:32 is quite an increment. It is important. Of course some people have made mention of
04:36 inflation for example. So if you factor in inflation, what does this really mean?
04:40 But for you, what do you make of this story? It's a big positive isn't it?
04:45 A very positive. We have always said and maintained that our farmers need to be
04:50 taken care of and very good at that. So from an increase of twelve thousand eight hundred to twenty thousand nine hundred and forty three, it's a big leap.
05:01 That is almost about sixty three point five percent increase.
05:04 It actually is sixty three point five.
05:05 Sixty three point five. So I think we should pat the government in the back.
05:09 But again, like you said, we should look at the figures very well. Inflation coming in,
05:14 other factors as well. Farmers have complained over time, over the years. And I
05:18 hope that this should be a time that our farmers will not be taken for granted. A
05:22 time that I believe that whatever the government has initiated, it's able to
05:27 sustain it. When our farmers are happy, the country grows because they do
05:32 whatever they have to do to ensure that our export of cocoa goes very high. And I
05:36 hear it's the highest in the West African sub-region. So we'll pat the
05:40 government in the back and say that these are things that we have to
05:42 continue to do to help the Ghanaian economy grow.
05:45 And even making mention of that, I mean we all salute government for this
05:51 initiative. Definitely a positive. You cannot overlook the fact that
05:56 farmers are part of our agricultural backbone. And so if this is happening,
06:01 it's a very positive step. But there are also other dynamics to do with it.
06:08 The smuggling, for example. And the claim is that it's usually not the farmers
06:12 themselves, it's the middlemen. Those who are not even part of the process.
06:16 Who end up smuggling the commodity. Even as we do this, how do we stem the tide,
06:21 do you think? I think we need to tighten those loose ends and ensure that, like
06:26 you said, the farmers are producing and we should, government should be able to
06:29 come up with a facility that helps them market their products. And let's see
06:34 how best we can do our way with the middlemen. So that whatever we do would
06:38 be towards the economic freedom of farmers. And also to help grow our
06:42 economy as a country. I believe that this is one of the most foreign exchange that
06:48 we get as a country from cocoa as well. And if we are able to plug this loophole,
06:52 I'm sure that we'll make the maximum benefit out of it for the growth of our
06:56 economy. Even as we talk about these matters, sometimes when it comes to the
07:00 main stage that we are known for as a country, it breaks my heart because then
07:04 you contemplate, why is Belgium, you know, Brussels, the chocolate capital of the
07:09 world? You know, why not Ghana or the Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire, so to speak?
07:14 Why is it that the Netherlands exports the most, if I'm not mistaken, cocoa
07:19 powder? Do you get it? So there are still many areas, avenues, where we can do
07:26 better when it comes to the entire value chain of cocoa cash crop. But let's look
07:32 at other stories. Ghana pumps JSE first oil will boost revenue and the economy.
07:37 For me, I've sort of given up on oil revenue, doing much for our country on
07:42 the back of what I've seen since 2010 till now. NDC, NPP, and especially now with
07:49 all the assets we have when it comes to black gold. I'm talking of oil and the
07:55 economic situation we find ourselves in. I don't know. But then there's also, I'll
08:00 just lump a few stories together and then you can react. So the oil story is
08:04 one, in fact let me go to it on page 16, and President Nana Abedankwe Kofu Ado has
08:12 turned on the valve at the offshore Jubilee fuel to signify the production
08:15 of additional oil from a new well, the Jubilee Southeast project. But like I
08:20 said, how many haven't we seen in this country? What have been the results and
08:24 what have we done with the oil money? What can we say that, "Ghana 4, this is
08:29 your oil money and this is what we've achieved on the back of that." Stress.
08:35 Very little to show. That's why I'm not so enthusiastic about this. Because in
08:39 other jurisdictions, you go to Norway and they have a fund that has been there
08:43 since the 90s just salting away money, oil revenue for future generations. Here
08:49 we're even indebted when it comes to our economy. Then there's
08:54 explosion rocks Shamma, another matter we're getting into this morning on the
08:58 show. So four dead, well five dead as confirmed now and managing director
09:04 others missing. So an explosion at the SDA Atsum quarry mine, formerly Obenai
09:09 quarry in the Shamma district in the western region, has killed according to
09:13 the story, four persons and left many injured. Many night workers believed to
09:17 be Chinese and Ghanaians were burned beyond recognition. While others
09:23 including the managing director of the company are still missing. Now those who
09:26 survived were rushed to the various hospitals in the district and second
09:31 DFU station and the only health post in the area were not spared as the blast
09:36 caused extensive damage to countless structures and compromised the
09:39 structural integrity of many buildings. Very sad situation there. We'll be
09:44 heading to the western region today to get the scoop on that. But I'll just say
09:48 this Ben, I'm hoping that the director and the others that we cannot find, I am
09:54 hoping they've not absconded. Because sometimes you have issues like this
09:59 crop up and then leadership, that is one of the worst things you can do
10:05 as a leader and if that's what they've done I feel some action should be taken.
10:08 But your reaction to this explosion and then more oil for Ghana but will it lead
10:13 to a better life for Ghanaians? Let me start on the issue of the oil and say
10:18 that I share in your frustration like you say and I believe that most Ghanaians
10:23 also share in that frustration. Because over the years we have seen the
10:27 mismanagement of our economy and you ask yourself that what has happened to the
10:30 oil revenues that we generate. But I think we should not always just push it
10:34 over and say that we are tired. I think we should continue to remind government
10:39 that these resources that we have are for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.
10:44 These resources are supposed to be there for generations yet unborn. So if
10:49 there's a government that is reckless, we've seen the NPP administration being
10:52 so reckless. They have had most revenues from this oil revenues over the years
10:58 than any other government, especially the NDC during the time of which oil was
11:03 discovered in this country. But one thing that we should know is that we can't
11:07 continue on this trajectory. It's one that is so so so demeaning on a person as
11:14 a country. Government should realize that whatever we are making revenue from this
11:21 oil production should be geared towards the development of the country. We should
11:24 stop this thing of mismanaging the economy and expect Ghanaians to clap for
11:28 us when such discoveries are made. In other jurisdictions when such discoveries
11:32 are made, people become very happy. But unfortunately in our side of the world
11:35 and especially in Ghana, we are not happy with it because of the mismanagement by
11:40 the Nana Ado-Bawumia administration. On the issue of the explosion, I think
11:46 before then, let me extend my condolences to the families of the bereaved ones
11:52 that we've had. We had five so far. On my way here I heard that it is likely that
11:57 the owner was also part of the explosion that happened. They said he was there so
12:02 they can't find him as well. So I don't think that he has absconded. If that the
12:06 story we are hearing is true. The talk was about the director and some
12:11 others. I'm saying that if there were others there and whatever happened
12:17 happened or they were not even in the vicinity and because they've heard what
12:21 has happened, they've absconded. That would be if that is the case.
12:25 And then the minister is saying that it looks like they were not properly
12:28 registered. So these are some of the things. There are lots of issues in there.
12:31 These are some of the things that I ask myself. Where did we go wrong?
12:35 Institutions are not working. They are there. And I'm sure that this should be a
12:39 wake-up call. People must be held responsible. People that were supposed to
12:43 do their work and have not done it. I think sometimes we need to crack their
12:47 whip and ensure that. Not sometimes, all the time. Because look at the
12:50 explosions we used to see some years back. I remember I was around the
12:54 University of Ghana campus. I was actually on campus, I think around
12:58 Pentagon, when that one, the atomic one happened. And it was crazy. All the way.
13:05 You could feel, you could, you know, feel what had happened. Buildings shook and
13:10 all of that. So I don't know. And then we had the recent one that we saw. The name
13:17 just skips me. Where there was that other explosion. In the West of India. The mining one.
13:23 The mining one, yes. I don't know why it escapes me. I'll try to get it.
13:28 Apiati. Apiati. Yes. You know. So we've had a series of these. And each time you have
13:33 people losing their lives. People getting injured. Look at Apiati. The whole
13:38 community was raised to the ground. And we spoke about it for a month, a week, some
13:42 weeks. And then it's gone. And this has also happened. I think that sometimes we should,
13:47 like you said, always we need to ensure that the loss are respected. And I believe that if we are able to do this, some lives like this that are lost, unfortunately, we would be able to save them.
13:59 Back page of the Daily Graphic. I'll not get into the stories. I'll just give you the headlines.
14:04 Catholic University partner presents 60 beds to five health facilities. And a
14:08 story by my friend Della Russell. We call her class prefect.
14:14 Motorway tunnel highway authorities start stolen bolts replacement. And that's
14:19 interesting. So to prevent the Accra motorway from collapsing following the
14:24 theft of about 1,400 of the 2,000 bolts holding the bridge to the motorway
14:29 concrete. Out of the 2,000, 1,400 have been stolen. Ghana and Kassa. Anyway, let's
14:38 let's check out the papers. It's so funny. It's so funny because. And this
14:43 thing, if it collapses, it will kill people. I was ordinary people. But the
14:47 question is, how is it even possible to expose it like that so that people are
14:51 stealing up to the point where 1,400 out of 2,000 something. That's about
14:57 three fourths. Three fourths of it is gone.
15:00 Who can do their work well? Anyway, I have the Ghanaian publisher here. It says, the first one says on the front page, Winnie Bassett for
15:10 ECOWAS Parliament, a Fenyo marking. The story is on page three. It also speaks
15:16 of farmers' redress of a historical co-price. And then on the farmers bit, I saw
15:20 someone send a message saying, Bernard Bleu says, the farmers are not happy with
15:25 the price. They are asking for 3,000 Ghana CDs. Well, a case of Oliver Twist. But
15:30 but in this instance, we must commend government. They've done something good. I
15:34 mean, if you were receiving 800 and something and now you're receiving a
15:38 thousand three hundred and eight. I'm not saying it's the optimal. I'm not saying
15:41 it's the best possible scenario. But half a loaf is better than nothing at all.
15:46 But again, like you said, if you delve into it properly, we would get to
15:51 hear from the farmers and they might also give us some indications that will
15:55 show that the 3,000 they are demanding might be right anyway. It's realistic.
15:59 Remember that we say we don't have money as a country, so we'll give them some and
16:02 then we'll keep some. So, Winnie Bassett for ECOWAS Parliament, it says that the
16:07 member of parliament for a foot to Alexander Fennel McCain, who serves as
16:11 leader of government's dedication to the ECOWAS Parliament, says Winnie Bassett is
16:16 ready to host the extraordinary meeting of ECOWAS Parliament. I think this is a
16:20 plus for us as a country, a plus for Winnie Bassett.
16:25 Credentials and I think that such such events and such opportunities we need to
16:31 continue to use it to market our country and let others see how we are doing well
16:37 when it comes to our democracy. The Finder newspaper, customs investigates
16:43 two shipping lines agent for suspected falsified trade documents and the page
16:49 the stories on page 4 and it says the customs division of the Ghana Revenue
16:56 Authority is investigating two shipping companies and agents who connive to
17:01 falsify information on trade documents to pay lesser duties and taxes to the
17:07 government. I think we we have known this for quite some time now. I remember when
17:13 His Excellency President John Evans of blessed memory stormed customs
17:20 yard in Thirma and said that look he had come because he realized that most of
17:24 the frauds that were happening at the port and you and I know we've heard the
17:29 story several times. So people go ahead do things that the government is not
17:35 able to get what is supposed to get from this ports authority. I think that it's a
17:41 story that we need to look at and it's an issue that as a country we continue
17:46 to speak about it and ensure. I believe that when we are able to move from the
17:52 paper system and get things all in the technological way things would get
17:56 better. I think these are the okay so it says not more alerts of torrential rains
18:01 in the northern region in September. It's happened again every year we keep on
18:08 saying this. So we're heading we're heading into the second the second one
18:12 belt of the rainy season which is shorter yeah but much more devastating
18:17 it comes with heavier rain and if what we saw in the first one is
18:23 anything to go by then we really we must really brace ourselves
18:30 for what is to come. And I think over the years we should have come
18:34 up with practical solutions to to help our brothers and sisters in the north. I
18:39 think that we these are things that we need to look into so that we can we can
18:44 help our people especially those in the end remember most of them are farmers
18:48 and they are the ones that keep us going they are the ones that give the middle
18:51 bed food and all of that so it's something that we all need to look at
18:55 as a nation. Let's get into some other stories so you're done with the two-stop
18:59 papers right yeah all right so in the next few minutes we'll be wrapping up
19:02 for sports to come in. A daily guide farmers jubilate over a thousand three
19:05 hundred and eight Ghana CD's CD Cocoa Prize. Abu Zain receives double
19:10 doctorate awards. Explosion kills four in Sharma district. Ekofuada opens
19:15 Eko as Parliament. But the story I'm going to be focusing on with you I'll
19:19 give Mahama a showdown. Baumya says so. In fact this is something that on on you
19:29 know Joy News on Facebook we've actually put it up there I'm going to pick up
19:35 some responses that I've I've seen there but what do you make of that? First it
19:41 was Kennedy Tapole whom we heard saying he would give President Ekofuada and
19:45 Dr. Baumya a showdown. Now the vice president says he's going to give Mahama
19:49 a showdown. Seemingly saying you know what everyone knows I'm going to be a candidate
19:56 for the MPP though we've not gone to that contest yet and when it gets there
20:01 people don't want to see me there because they know I'm the one who will
20:06 give the NDC and Mahama a showdown. I think it's time we all call out the
20:11 vice president and let him know that Ghanaians are now white awake. Ghanaians
20:18 are now discerning. Look I watched that video several times and you see
20:24 those days when the vice president makes such comments people laugh and people
20:29 you know mockery of others but did you see the demeanor of the people that were
20:33 sitting there when he passed that comment? I think he made a joke and he
20:36 just laughed about it himself. People were not so enthused about it. What is a
20:40 showdown? If the vice president knows what a showdown is he should get to work
20:44 and fix the economy. He should get to work and answer the 170 questions he
20:49 gave the late Pakwe Seyemita at a former vice president. The vice president is a
20:54 monumental failure. Do we need any more school of thought to tell us this?
20:59 Ghanaians have realized what haven't he said? What haven't the vice president said
21:03 in opposition? You see the vice president came up with textbook theories as to how
21:07 to solve economic situations. When reality set in and he got to the
21:11 Jubilee House he has become a monumental failure. Now he doesn't hold lectures, he
21:14 doesn't talk about the economy. Governance is a very serious business
21:18 and I think that as a people we should take technology and innovation
21:23 digitization and digitalization are also crucial parts of the economy. Very crucial
21:27 parts but how has it been implemented? He always talks about it. You see one thing
21:32 about this administration is that I think we've given them too much leeway
21:36 for them to take us for granted. Look at the problem on the Thema motorway when I
21:40 was just driving down. There's a minister for roads and highways we went on that
21:46 road and said that Ghanaians don't understand if you don't understand what
21:49 construction of roads is about shut up. The minister said this to us as a people.
21:55 Today what is the mess? Aren't people dying on that road? I think
21:58 Bawumie's behavior needs to be put in check now. Everybody will have to
22:05 call him out and tell him that he should stop the theatrics. He should just
22:08 get to work and get things off for us as a country. All right let's get ready to
22:12 wrap up. So just on Facebook the responses that some of you have been
22:16 sharing as we posted this. So Yacubu says he should rather show down the
22:23 economy. What a solid team. Then there's this one Abubuashi says
22:29 that's the fact. If he goes he will give the NDC a showdown. Ebenezer says that's
22:35 the gospel truth. Dr. Bawumie always gives the NDC nightmares. This one
22:40 Yacubu says if the elections are free and fair that can never happen that he
22:45 will give the NDC a showdown. Then Samuel Donsa says you think we are fools right
22:53 addressing what the vice president has said and in your dreams that's what he
22:58 says. David Tetser says keep dreaming if you have something better to offer Ghana
23:02 would have seen it by now. Then there's Joseph Ohenede who has the vice
23:08 president as his display picture and he says I perfectly agree and I feel he's
23:14 going to give them a showdown. Let's just look at a few more. So quite a number of
23:19 you have been reacting. This one says 100% showdown. Bawumie remains the Ghanaian
23:23 favorite and then Kwame Ebo also says if I DM you will beat Mahama hands down. So
23:27 it's a mixed bag of comments here. There are those who are obviously in favor of
23:33 that and others who are saying there's no way if elections are free and fair
23:37 this this can happen. Anyway the showdown should be against the economy. The
23:43 showdown should be him doing things that he promised Ghanaians that he was
23:47 going to get done that he has not gotten done and I think that like the
23:52 comments have indicated Ghanaians are not happy. I don't see president Mahama
23:57 losing an election against Bawumie. It will never happen. President Mahama is
24:01 the people's choice. President Mahama is a trident. How can you be so sure?
24:04 Politics is politics. Did you suspect that Alan
24:08 Trembath-Ting would would perform the way he did in the super delegates
24:12 conference and that he would he worked out of I mean he has said that he he
24:17 felt the process was compromised and all of that there was intimidation for him
24:22 to step aside. Did you see that coming? No I didn't see that coming but it is a tradition with the NPP not to give the aspirant fair playing ground and as principled as Alan
24:32 Trembath-Ting was he resigned based on the principles. If you say that those were
24:36 allegations they were not mere allegations. The pictures are there for us
24:39 all to see and it is not only... The NPP has a tale of the tape, the
24:44 Constitution. Yeah. There are things that you're supposed to do. They went by the
24:48 book. They they did everything. If you talk of things that were done behind the
24:51 scenes whether people were compromised that's a different thing but in terms of
24:54 the elections apart from three areas where there were major issues the rest
24:59 of them... Does the process... Does their parties constitution... You remember Ejaku,
25:04 Boakye Ejaku has indicated that they were supposed to go and vote for the
25:08 fourth and fifth position. The party took a decision. Was that what is in their
25:12 constitution? No. They deviated. They said they were making things earlier, easier
25:16 for everybody. But of course always with processes you can you can decide among
25:20 candidates what the way forward is. But time will tell how time will go. The
25:25 custodian newspaper says "Koka gave me a run for my money that's according to
25:32 Wuntu me. We'll not let you down. YEA beneficiaries assure a government. NDC
25:36 misled public on 2020 polls. Professor Kpesa White tasks leaders to admit their
25:41 failures." And of course there's Winnebago's echo us Parliament. Right before we go
25:46 though, so we've we've looked at the Koko situation, the IGP and you know
25:54 everything, the leaked tape and now Tuesday we hear he's going to be before
25:58 the Parliamentary Committee. What do you make of that right before we go? I think
26:02 the the sit-in is so clear and for me I'm disappointed in some of the comments
26:09 that have been made by COP that... What's his name? COP... Is it Mensah? Alex Mensah.
26:15 I think some of the comments are just something that you'd expect to be said by senior policemen of the state.
26:22 But does it not paint the reality of what what is in the Ghana Police Service?
26:28 That is pure bitterness. That is somebody that is bitter. When he speaks you don't see somebody that is speaking about
26:35 reforms of anything that can happen in the police service. He's just a bitter
26:39 soul and if we have such people as police officers I think as a country we
26:44 need to be very careful and I believe that the committee that has been
26:49 instituted by Parliament, the hearings are in public, we are all listening to
26:54 them, we are watching them and I'm sure that the Ghanaian people will make a
26:58 firm determination after the hearings are done. The IGP I'm told will be there
27:02 and we'll listen to a side of the story but whatever it is, COP Mensah has not
27:08 shown leadership and I think that is a worrying thing for our country and for
27:12 institutions especially to do with the police service that we have always
27:16 believed that should be there for the people. You don't politicize an
27:20 institution like the police service but if that is what is happening as people
27:24 we should be very worried about it. Some interesting comments coming in. Some of
27:28 you are using terms but you say it's high time Dr. Baumea, you used a
27:32 different name for him there, stopped his comic relief and bowed his head in shame
27:37 for the mess under his watch. You're talking of the economy and D, Andy Brown
27:43 says why is Mahama your benchmark? So if you say Mahama is competent, he has
27:47 sadly become your benchmark, then have you already failed? Okay that's
27:52 another message to the vice president and that was a message. Yeah, Don Don says
27:59 Ben stop celebrating mediocrity, this government is chopping more than the
28:03 farmers. You can make different strands of argument but the point simply is
28:09 what if they had also not increased it? That is also an option so at least
28:14 if they've done something you pat them on the back but like I rightly said it's
28:17 not where it could be. Any final words as we go? Ben I think I'll just take a minute.
28:23 Just briefly, 20 seconds. 20 seconds about the limited registration by the
28:28 Electoral Commission. I am here to just reiterate what our leader President
28:35 Mahama has said that we should we should stop all other activities and ensure
28:38 that we all go and register if we've not registered yet but again I want the EC
28:43 to use the benchmark that they use when they set any elections that they are
28:49 holding if there's an injunction, they respect the injunction, there's an
28:52 injunction towards the process and I'm watching to see what they are going to
28:56 do if they have different sets of rules for every other institution. Thank you.
28:59 Ben Kwashi, Benjamin Kofi Kwashi is a chair, council of elders, NDC South
29:06 Africa. He joined us for a conversation, the news review this morning. Happy
29:10 birthday to you Princess Umulhatia. You are 45 today and 45 looks so beautiful
29:17 on you. Happy birthday and God richly bless you. So I am told we could have
29:26 a few more minutes just to conclude the conversation properly. Apart from what
29:32 we've seen with the IGP and the Shama incident and everything else that is
29:38 happening on the political terrain, I'll just briefly go back to inter-party
29:44 politics, NDC, NPP. We've noticed that you know usually around this time tensions
29:51 start to simmer, the vigilante bit. In fact the special paper I presented
29:58 recently has to do with that, vigilantism in Ghana. From where you sit, is this
30:05 still a problem that we have? Is it something that has folded up on the back
30:09 of the Vigilante and related offences act or is it something that we should
30:14 keep our eye on heading into election 2024? I think after the passage of the
30:18 act, all the political parties are part to ensuring that we don't let
30:24 vigilantism take over what our security services are supposed to do. What is the
30:29 reality on the ground? I think that the parties, because of late we've not heard
30:34 of any such incidences like we used to hear before. It might not have been
30:39 completely stopped but I believe that once the act has indicated the processes
30:45 that needs to be established and I think that it brings in the issue about what
30:50 COP Mensah has been saying at the Commission. You want to
30:58 believe that an institution like the police service, it's a human institution
31:01 and these things are supposed to happen but you see the way with which we have
31:06 now come to know what actually is happening there, it's threatening to us
31:11 as a people and I think that if we don't stop this and we say NDC, MPP, this is
31:18 what they do always, at the end of the day we are not helping build such
31:22 institutions and these things will come back to bite us as a people. We need to
31:26 be very careful about it and this is one of the things that would help stop the
31:30 parties from coming up with vigilantes because at the end of the day every
31:34 party would believe in the police service and say we believe that they
31:38 will be professionals because they are trained to help and be there for
31:41 everybody. Now we hear some people saying you know this IGP on the
31:47 back of the by-election in Assin North, we don't want this person
31:53 because he may not play to our end. That's basically what COP Alex Mensah was saying
32:00 and he even says that look let's not pretend we are not partisan in the
32:05 police service. We are. There's NDC, there's MPP but that creates, that
32:12 sows the seed of chaos, likely chaos. I don't see COP Mensah as a police officer, he's a
32:17 politician. But he admitted that he was a politician and he even says, you
32:23 remember, there have been some people too who left the police service and within
32:27 weeks they were contesting. They left. For another party. They left. No but the
32:32 point he makes is that you have to have been a card-bearing member for some
32:36 years before you can contest. Absolutely but at the point that they
32:42 were police officers, what were the comments that they were passing? Did they
32:45 pass comments as COP Mensah has been passing lately? It's not a here or
32:50 there. Whatever it is I think he should put down the uniform, go to the
32:54 commission in his party cladded dresses because we know him to be a
32:59 politician, not a police officer. Okay and that will be the final bit. Thank you
33:04 Ben for joining the conversation. This segment as always brought to you by
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33:36 of the news review but just the start of sports. Up next, Tuesday.
33:43 [Music]
34:07 (gunshot)