Features
A soldier’s lingo
Sometime last week I watched a video clip on Facebook where a Drill Sergeant of the Ghana Armed Forces was taking new recruits through what I want to refer to as an orientation. What I saw, or heard, was very instructive and I picked a great lesson therefrom.
He said something to the effect that there were only two religions during their training period. You are either Muslim or Christian. If presently you are not either, you have to choose one of them. Then came the very profound statement. The Drill Seargent said again that it did not matter who brought them into the Armed Forces and that would not affect the course of the drills and the training.
This was profound for a number of reasons. First, it is clear that the trainers are aware that some of these young ones were brought in through influence peddling and political patronage as I had alluded to in an earlier article. Second, he was making it clear to the recruits that irrespective of how they were admitted; there would be no favouritism of any sort.
If any of the sponsors of those young recruits watched the video clip, I wonder what would be going through their minds. Would they say they had done their part and it was now left over to their charges to prove their mettle? Or will they try to influence the Drill Seargents as well? My honest prayer is that each and everyone of those sponsored recruits should fail to make the mark and get sent away.
The idea of protocol enlistment into our security services has gained currency over the last couple of years and, as a nation, we need to be overly worried about this development if nothing is done to check the canker. No more is this a circulating rumour to be wished away; it is the reality.
People come to me with varying stories of being turned away from some of the security services because they are not on what is termed “Protocol List.” It is in the Police Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service, Prisons Service and in the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. You must go through someone to be enlisted; bottom line.
A Fire Service officer once told me in frustration how the service was inundated with protocol demands during the enlistment season of 2017. Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and other government officials brought their lists. In one case, an MP had brought a list of up to 500 people. According to this officer, it wasn’t the numbers that concerned them as much as the indiscipline of those who passed out. These young ones would not take orders from their superiors because they had godfathers behind them.
No one needs a sponsor to be enlisted into our security services. There are standards; academic, physical, health and mental aptitude to become a professional security person. We are likely to have a cripple saunter into a training ground to be enlisted in the very near future. Do you know why we do not have flatfoots, crotchet legs, bowlegs in the security services? Ask.
The story is told of a young man who completed his “O” Levels in 1966. In 1967 he happened to be in the Teshie area and saw other young men milling into a hall around the Burma Camp. He followed, thinking there was a job recruitment, only to realize that they were going to write an aptitude test to be enlisted in to the Armed Forces. He decided to give it a try and went to write the test. When a year and a half later he visited his village, he was dressed as a Flying Officer of the Ghana Air Force to the disbelief of his folks. He retired as a Squadron Leader.
Our Armed Forces are the only institution left standing on the scale of integrity, professionalism and high standards. To taint this institution with nepotism, favouritism, political patronage and influence peddling is to deliver the security of Ghana into the hands of dogs. If the senior men of the Armed Forces are not openly grumbling about this new trend it does ot mean they are not murmuring. You only need to get as close to know what they are thinking.
When I heard that retired Colonel Felix Aboagye had warned that the government’s avowed aim to impose this E-Levy on the nation was a recipe for a military putsch, I knew this could be a trigger, but there are underlying conditions as I have enumerated in this article. Our politicians must not think Ghanaians do not know what is happening. Jerry Rawlings once said that no coup will succeed unless the situation calls for it.
As time goes on, as I have stated in an earlier write-up, Ghana is likely to have Service Commanders who are where they are by political patronage. Then there will be dire consequences for the stability of this country. Captain Joel KwamiSowu has said it many times that one of the main reasons Nkrumah was overthrown was the fact that the Osagyefo wanted Ghana’s soldiers to be card-bearing members of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
Are we not treading the same path by using subtlety to politicize the Armed Forces and other security services? It is not my prayer that our democratic experiment be scuttled but we delude ourselves if we think it cannot happen. Today, the “Boys” are in charge in Mali, Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso, all ECOWAS member states. Let’s not forget that when the “Boys” start, the cycle gets completed in our subregion. Each time it happens ECOWAS suspends the country. If the numbers dwindle, will it be the “Boys’ who will revatalise it? It is my wish and hope it does not come to that.
The Drill Seargent in the video has spoken a soldier’s lingo.
Writer’s e-mail address
By Tony Prempeh
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
