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Ghana: Why this embarrassment?

Many Ghanaians now believe that Ghana’s ‘golden-name’ has been regrettably recorded among ‘the jungle-of-states’ where ‘human-animals’ do what they like.

The reason? They have expressed amazement and fury upon the incessant media reports clearly indicating that the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra has been illegally demolished by ‘a very powerful ‘ private developer in broad-day-light.

• The new building. Inset: The Bulgarian
Embassy in ruins and the imposing building

And disturbingly, some Ghanaians contend that even with all the coercive powers of the state, the person who demolished the Embassy in Accra has neither been arrested nor prosecuted since the illegal act was committed in 2017.

Readers, the Bulgarian Embassy insists that it has valid documents confirming its entiltlement to the property in contention.

A retired Ghanaian Diplomat says:”What makes the situation very sad and beyond ‘reasonable comprehension’ is the apparent solace the Bulgarian Embassy is seeking from the Minority Caucus in Parliament; having seemingly lost confidence in the Republic of Ghana in abiding by the Vienna Convention.”

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The Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations affirms the inviolability of the premises of missions.

The Convention bars any right of entry, even by law enforcement officers of the receiving state, and imposes on the receiving state, a special duty to protect mission premises against intrusion.

Readers, eye-witnesses confirm that in place of the demolished embassy building is an emerging huge commercial edifice.

Media reports allege that just this week, Government’s STOP WORK order splashed on the walls of the emerging and imposing building were quickly ripped off by the private developer as he brazenly continued working on the new building.

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Ghana’s Foreign Ministry , however, says “Government has distanced itself from the demolition of the Bulgarian embassy.”

According to the  Deputy Minister of  Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration , Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, “government has no hand in whatever the developer is doing.”

Explaining, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said, the Bulgarian embassy leased the property from its rightful owner on 1st February 1979 and extended it in 1983 for 50 years, thus, the lease expires in 2033.

According to the Foreign Ministry, upon the demise of the landlord , “the administrator of the estate attempted to forcefully repossess the property, notwithstanding the latter’s full payment for the lease to the late landlord.”

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The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister further explained that, “the administrator of the estate of the late landlord went to the High Court with a writ for declaration of title to the property, housing the Bulgarian embassy.

“And eventually when the case travelled to the Supreme Court, it affirmed the right of the Bulgarian embassy to the leased property.

“And notwithstanding the judgement of the Supreme Court, the successor of the late landlord sold the leased property to a private developer, who later encroached on the property.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands has appointed a retired High Court Judge, Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta as sole inquirer into the circumstances leading to the encroachment and demolition of the property on the land being used by the Bulgarian embassy.

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According to Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands, the sole inquirer has seven days to present his findings on the Bulgarian embassy’s issues and one month to present his report on land matters affecting other diplomatic missions in the country.

However, in a diplomatic language, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Ghana, Yanko Yordanov says;”talks are ongoing between leaders of Ghana and Bulgaria to facilitate the restoration of the demolished Bulgarian embassy building.

“Engagements include, to reinstate the legal rights of Bulgaria as the owner of the land on which the embassy was sited, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.”

A statement issued by the Bulgarian Ambassador last Thursday emphasised that, “until the lease agreement expires in 2033, Bulgaria reserves the right to own the property as ruled by the Supreme Court.”

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He said since the illegal demolition of the property in 2017 and the illegal development of the property in August 2021, “the Bulgarian-side has taken a number of diplomatic actions to protect its rights as the owner of the lease over the property.”

Readers, from the foregoing, the question on the lips of many wondering Ghanaians is: Who is this private developer who seems to be more powerful than the President and the STATE of Ghana?

And the other question is: Does Ghana deserve such embarrassment in our current democratic experiment?

Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:

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asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

By G. Frank Asmah

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The Prophet part 2

Some young men queing for visas
Some young men queing for visas

“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.

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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!

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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!’

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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.

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“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

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Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives

• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship
• Members of the Full Gospel Businness Fellowship

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.

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“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.

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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

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