Features

Former Prez Mahama: A ‘bitter loser’ and ‘itinerant deceiver’?

Readers, according to Wikipedia, a ‘bitter loser’ is a person who becomes very upset or angry when he or she loses a game or a contest.

Some political analysts, however, describe ‘an itinerant deceiver’ as a deceitful person who preaches the basic ‘political redemption message’ in a notorious manner, while travelling around to different groups of people; within a relatively short period of time.

Readers, gradually but steadily, many Ghanaian voters and political actors are increasingly becoming sophisticated with their understanding of the trending nature of our nation’s politics.

The ‘new sophistication’ of Ghanaian voters and political actors seems to be hugely influenced by the contents of the multiplicity of media networks in the country, particularly the social media.

And so, just recently, when former President John Dramani Mahama started his “Thank-You-Tour” in the country, many Ghanaian voters and political actors keenly ‘followed him’ with admixture of interests.

As the name implies, Mr Mahama’s ‘Thank-You-Tour’ was expected to be used to thank Ghanaians who voted for him and his NDC party during the December 7, 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

This is against the backdrop that Mr Mahama lost the presidential election while his party also failed to win majority seats in Parliament.

Some political analysts, however, say the ‘Thank-You-Tour’ is just a ‘smokescreen platform’ for Mr Mahama to launch his 2024 presidential campaign, contending that, “he has ‘elected’ himself ahead of his own party, thus, breaking all the required selection protocols.”

In the various towns and cities across some of the 16 regions of the country, where he visited, Mr Mahama has reportedly made certain ‘outracious’ statements concerning Ghana’s December 2020 elections.

Indeed, some political watchers even claim that Mr Mahama’s utterances during his ‘Thank-You-Tour’, betray him as a ‘bitter loser’, an ‘itinerant deceiver’ and above all, ‘a notorious liar’ .

Readers, let us examine some of Mr Mahama’s alleged ‘Thank-You-Tour’ utterances.

Mr Mahama is reported to have said: “The military was used to influence and declare the December 7, 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.”

He is reported to have also stated: “The Electoral Commission thumb-printed one million ballot papers and stuffed ballot boxes to favour President Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party.”

Again, he reportedly said: “But for a lot of scheming that took place, the NDC would have won the 2020 elections,” contending that” the polls were not credible, transparent, free and fair as the Electoral Commission claimed.”

Expectedly, the Electoral Commission has swiftly responded to Mr Mahama’s allegations; describing them as ‘palpable untrue’ and “an attempt to undermine the credibility of the electoral system.”

Responding to the allegations at a press conference in Accra on October 25, 2021, the Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Eric Bossman Asare said; “at no point was the military used in the declaration of the 2020 election results.”

Dr Bossman Asare stated: “The election results declared by the Electoral Commission, were similar to the results announced by the media houses in the country…

“The media houses and other observers also picked their data right from the ground and the collation centres and the results were not different from what the Electoral Commission declared.”

Dr Bossman Asare added: “We urge the former President to provide evidence of the stuffing of ballot boxes by the Electoral Commission,” stressing that, “this is not a matter to be ignored.”

Mr Peter Mac-Manu, NPP’s Director of Elections, describes former President Mahama’s ballot stuffing claim as “bogus, spurious and loose talk.”

Speaking on Joy FM on October 25, 2021, Mr Mac-Manu stated: “If anybody understands the content of the pink sheets, you would know that it is impossible to dump thumb-printed ballot papers outside what the Electoral Commission brought to the polling stations,” adding that “people should not be talking loosely like that.”

Mr Ben Ephson, Managing Editor of The Daily Dispatch newspaper also says:”Stuffing of ballot boxes in Ghana’s current electoral dispensation cannot work,” stressing that , “Mr Mahama can go to court, if he has any evidence to that effect.”

Speaking on Morning Starr radio last Tuesday, Mr Ephson described Mr Mahama’s one million ballot printing and stuffing allegation as “baseless and reckless.”

Readers, remember? The ‘Thank-You-Tour’ utterances of former President Mahama are not new at all!!!

While waiting for the declaration of the 2020 election results, Mr Mahama said at a press conference in Accra that: “We have won 140 parliamentary seats and what else do we expect?”

He stressed: “I am happy Ghanaians have rejected the Akufo-Addo government,” and asked his NDC supporters to take to the streets and jubilate.

Additionally, Mr Mahama stated: “The Akufo-Addo government is using the military to change the results of the elections,” contending that, “the Electoral Commission is also attempting to change the election results to favour Akufo-Addo and his NPP but we will not allow them to steal the elections.”

Indeed, after the declaration of the presidential results, Mr Mahama and the NDC roundly rejected the results , claiming that the will of the people had been subverted and that “the proper verdict of the people has been stolen.”

So, readers, was it, therefore, not very strange to see Mr Mahama at the Supreme Court of Ghana, claiming that per the election figures declared by the Electoral Commission, none of the 12 presidential candidates obtained more than 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast, as required by our National Constitution ?

And strangely too, in his petition to the Supreme Court, Mr Mahama “deleted” his ‘stolen verdict’ chorus ; “the government using the military to change the results of the elections”; and “the Electoral Commission attempting to change the election results to favour Akufo-Addo.”

So, readers, without providing any evidence to support his claims; can we, therefore, agree with some Ghanaian political watchers; that Mr Mahama is now ‘a bitter loser’, ‘an itinerant deceiver’ and ‘a notorious liar’?

asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

By G. Frank Asmah

Features

Who knows tomorrow?

Recently a friend posted a sad news on his Facebook page, announcing the death of a school mate who had passed away, suddenly. The report had it that he was on his way to the airport to take a flight to Ghana.

I am sure this man had already informed the wife or a friend or a work colleague at work that he was returning home but he was not to return as a human being but as a dead body.

Such is life and so we need to be circumspect in how we go about things in life. The Bible reminds us that we are like grass which at one point in time looks elegant and the next moment becomes withered according to Psalm 90:5 and 6. It is for this reason that we need to guard our hearts with the word of God so that we shall be motivated to do the right thing, at all times.

This will enable us live on this planet, free from all sorts of troubles in our personal lives, even if we ignore the question of Heaven and Hell. Living a disciplined life delivers us from any kind of trouble as the Bible declares in Galatians 5:23 that against such there is no law.

The uncertainty surrounding our lives on earth is the more reason why people should commit their lives into the hands of the one who created it, in the first place unless you believe that the world created itself and that it appeared from nowhere.

Otherwise, the logical thing to do is to recognize the authority of the creator and surrender to his Lordship. Heaven is real and Hell is real, so for us who know the truth and have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the onus lies on us to encourage our relations who have not believed and received Jesus into their lives, to do so.

We are a couple of days from another Easter Resurrection celebration and an opportunity to reflect on our lives in relation to the significance of Easter. In the Bible, the only occasion Jesus, Saviour of the world commands us to celebrate is his death and resurrection.

He never commanded his followers to celebrate his birth but like everything else, we chose to ignore Jesus’s instructions and decided to do what pleases us, just like our forefather and mother in the Garden of Eden.

Let us deliberately choose to do things differently as Christians this Easter, so we can really benefit from all the blessings that the celebration of the death and birth of Jesus, has on offer. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is definitely insanity.

I choose to be different this Easter and I am believing God for a newness of life so God’s glory would be revealed in me to draw the unsaved to him. It is only when people especially the unsaved, see the character of Christ in us, that they can be convinced about the authenticity of Jesus, as Saviour of the world, who can bring transformation in their lives too.

This is what would motivate them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us make this Easter a memorable one that will be cherished for a long time. It is also a period for reconciliation and it would be great if in the spirit of Easter, we would try to reach out to those who have wronged us or have a grudge against us.

This would demonstrate that we have indeed accepted Jesus and that our religious posture is not a sham. May the good Lord grant us the grace to love our neighbours as ourselves, demonstrating the love of God in the process.

Those who have lost their loved ones and Easter brings sad memories, may the good Lord comfort and strengthen you. God bless.

.NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’

Features

Cosmetic deformities

COSMETIC deformities refer to physical imperfections or abnormalities that affect an individual’s appearance, often causing emotional distress and impacting their quality of life.

These deformities can be congenital, acquired, or result from various medical conditions or treatments. This article provides an in-depth exploration of cosmetic deformities, their types, causes, effects, and treatment options.

Types of cosmetic deformities

Cosmetic deformities can affect various parts of the body, including the face, skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Some common types of cosmetic deformities include:

1. Facial deformities: Congenital or acquired abnormalities affecting the shape, structure, or appearance of the face, such as cleft lip and palate, facial paralysis, or facial asymmetry.

2. Skin deformities: Conditions affecting the skin’s texture, tone, or appearance, such as acne, scars, birthmarks, or skin discoloration.

3. Hair deformities: Abnormalities affecting the hair’s growth, texture, or appearance, such as alopecia, hirsutism, or hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments.

4. Nail deformities: Conditions affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the nails, such as nail fungus, nail psoriasis, or nail trauma.

5. Dental deformities: Abnormalities affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the teeth, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, or malocclusion.

Causes of cosmetic deformities

Cosmetic deformities can result from various factors, including:

1. Genetics: Congenital conditions or inherited traits can cause cosmetic deformities.

2. Trauma: Injuries or accidents can result in cosmetic deformities, such as scars or facial trauma.

3. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema, can cause cosmetic deformities.

4. Treatments and procedures: Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, can result in cosmetic deformities.

5. Aging and environmental factors: Aging, sun exposure, and environmental factors can contribute to cosmetic deformities, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or age spots.

Effects of cosmetic deformities

Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, including:

1. Low self-esteem: Cosmetic deformities can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem.

2. Social anxiety: Individuals with cosmetic deformities may experience social anxiety, avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed in public.

3. Emotional distress: Cosmetic deformities can cause emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or stress.

4. Impact on quality of life: Cosmetic deformities can affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting their relationships, career, or overall well-being.

Treatment options for cosmetic deformities

Various treatment options are available to address cosmetic deformities, including:

1. Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures, such as reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, or dermatological surgery, can correct or improve cosmetic deformities.

2. Non-surgical treatments: Non-surgical treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, can address cosmetic concerns, such as skin texture, tone, or appearance.

3. Medical treatments: Medical treatments, such as topical creams, oral medications, or injectable treatments, can address cosmetic concerns, such as acne, hair loss, or nail deformities.

4. Prosthetic and orthotic devices: Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as wigs, hairpieces, or dental prosthetics, can help individuals with cosmetic deformities.

5. Counselling and therapy: Counselling and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cosmetic deformities.

Conclusion

Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.

Understanding the types, causes, and effects of cosmetic deformities is crucial in addressing these concerns.

Various treatment options are available, ranging from surgical procedures to non-surgical treatments, medical treatments, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and counselling and therapy.

By seeking professional help and support, individuals with cosmetic deformities can improve their appearance, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their overall quality of life.

Reference

1. “Cosmetic Deformities” by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons