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Parliament: Bagbin ‘arrested ‘in a ‘red’ lie net?

Readers, last Saturday, my column did not appear so as to make way for a rejoinder to my article in the Saturday, August 28, 2021 edition of The Spectator.

The rejoinder from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament was headlined: ‘George Frank Asmah’s aspersions on Speaker expose his ignorance.’

The rejoinder was authored by Mr Peter Bampoe who claims to be Communications Officer at the Office of the Speaker of Parliament.

The fact of the matter is that the rejoinder woefully failed or refused to respond to the SPECIFIC ISSUES I raised in my article and instead; attacked my personality and the personality of the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Mr John Boadu.

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Readers, in my article, I highlighted SPECIFIC STATEMENTS reportedly made by our Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on alleged snatching of parliamentary seats by the NPP to gain Majority in Parliament, when the Ethiopian parliamentary delegation called on him.

I again highlighted the response made by the NPP General Secretary to debunk the Speaker’s statement claiming that, “even the NPP General Secretary admitted that the NDC won Majority seats in Parliament.”

I then drew inferences to conclude that our venerable Speaker told a ‘red’ lie to the Ethiopian delegation that called on him, on his claim about NPP snatching parliamentary seats to get Majority in Parliament. The simple reason is that our Speaker of Parliament has no evidence to support such a ‘red’ lie.

Indeed, the ‘red’ lie of Mr Bagbin on NPP snatching parliamentary seats to gain Majority in Parliament has even been ‘magnified’ and ‘exposed’ the more, by the rejoinder authored by Mr Peter Bampoe.

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This is because the rejoinder could not provide any evidence from the Speaker’s Office to support the statement made by the Speaker.

Really, the rejoinder supports the conclusion that Rt. Honourable Bagbin lied ‘very big’ to the Ethiopian parliamentary delegation about NPP snatching parliamentary seats to gain Majority seats in Parliament.

Indeed, the author of the rejoinder, Peter Bampoe, called me on phone, introducing himself as speaking from the Office of the Speaker. He then asked: “Have you seen the video of the NPP General Secretary, speaking on snatching of parliamentary seats?”

I said, “no”. Then he said he would send me a copy for me to see it myself.

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He added that, “even that part of the video capturing the NPP General Secretary saying, some parliamentary seats were snatched had been erased.” Readers, I am yet to receive the video he said he would send to me.

I asked Mr Peter Bampoe: “Is the video you are talking about the evidence of Mr Speaker?

“And apart from that, has Mr Speaker got any evidence to support the statement he made to the effect that the NPP snatched some seats to get Majority seats in Parliament?”

Peter Bampoe’s answer was: “You see, some of these things, it is very difficult to get evidence but it really happened.”

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So, readers; I knew as an indisputable fact that Mr Bagbin has no evidence under the SUN, MOON and STARS to support his statement that: “But for last-minute movements where some parliamentary seats were snatched by the NPP, the NDC would have had Majority in Parliament.”

I strongly suspected also that the rejoinder that would follow would be full of vituperations against my personality, instead of addressing the issues raised in my article. This is because the evidence to address the issues raised in my article, does not exist.

And truly, I was not disappointed by the shabby rejoinder. That is; leaving the issues raised in my article and attacking my personality. A really “political-generated propaganda.”

Readers, kindly examine the rejoinder which appeared in the Saturday, September 4,   2021, issue of the Spectator and put it side-by-side with my article which was published in the Saturday, August 28, 2021, edition of The Spectator.

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What were the issues I raised in my article?

I stated that the Speaker of Parliament in a recent interaction with a delegation from the Ethiopian Parliament is reported to have said; “but for last-minute movements where some parliamentary seats were snatched by the NPP, the NDC would have had Majority in Parliament.”

After making such a statement, the venerable Speaker seemingly chose the NPP General Secretary as his ‘witness’. Let us read what he said.

Reportedly, Rt. Honourable Bagbin said: “The NPP General Secretary, Mr John Boadu, even admitted that the NDC won more seats in Parliament, but some last-minute moves were made to snatch some of the seats from the NDC.”

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Rt. Honourable Bagbin reportedly added: “That one is a statement of fact.”

Readers, let us read also what Mr Speaker’s ‘seeming witness’ (the NPP General Secretary) said.

I wrote: Expectedly, the NPP General Secretary described the claim by Rt. Honourable Bagbin that parliamentary majority went in favour of the Opposition NDC as “falsehood”.

Mr Boadu said : “There is no iota of truth in such statement made by Rt. Honourable Bagbin to the Ethiopian Parliament since I have never stated anywhere that the NPP devised tactics to get parliamentary majority in its favour.”

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He insisted that; “the NPP has always maintained in its post-elections comments that our party won majority of the parliamentary seats.”

And the question I asked in my article was : “Has Mr Bagbin himself got water-tight evidence to back what he allegedly told the Ethiopian parliamentary delegation?” This question was not answered by Peter Bampoe’s rejoinder.

Another question I asked in my article was:”Assuming the NPP General Secretary said exactly what Mr Speaker is quoting him to have said; does it make his statement true?” This question was also not answered by Peter Bampoe’s rejoinder.

Yet again a question I asked in my article was: “Where is the evidence to justify that the so-called statement made by the NPP General Secretary is nothing but the truth?” This question was also not answered by Peter Bampoe’s rejoinder.

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CONTINUATION

Readers, again I asked; “Rt. Honourable Bagbin: You are known as a very competent lawyer. Not so? In the ‘game of law’ is it not the case that EVIDENCE is supreme?

“So, where is the evidence that what you told the Ethiopian parliamentary delegation actually happened?” This question too was not answered by Peter Bampoe’s rejoinder.

Readers, the venerable Speaker’s Office is a ‘hallowed’ Office which must be protected and respected by all Ghanaians. But the Speaker is a human so if he errs he must admit and apologise and we move on as a ‘growing’ democratic state.

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Mr Bagbin must always understand the circumstances for which he was ‘elected’ or ‘appointed’ the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament.

Having made such ‘rich democratic history’, all eyes across the world are now intently focused on him and his venerable Office.

Consquently, Mr Bagbin’s acts and deeds; particularly his utterances, will be scrutinised by the media, the academia and democratic institutions across the world.

There is no doubt in the minds of many Ghanaians that Mr Bagbin is a politician with a ‘ fabulous experience’. But for me, his office must engage very competent; level-headed and ‘tried and tested’ communications team, with practical ‘intellectual fire-power’ to analyse, review, write and communicate effectively and efficiently.

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Mr Speaker must not allow his Office to be turned into NDC propaganda machinery. Otherwise, history will not be kind at all to his record in that venerable Office.

For me , critical analysis of the content of the rejoinder to my article, speaks VOLUMES about the people ‘clothing’ themselves as ‘Communications Officers’ at the Office of the Speaker !!!

Was Professor Edward Gyampo also casting aspersions on Mr Bagbin when he said:” Bagbin is expected to be very firm and neutral person who will not even do the bidding of his own party and he sounded that caution.

“And if he begins to make such statements not backed by evidence, you open yourself up for needless criticisms.

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“They went to court. If they had that evidence they should have shown this there.

“For a whole Speaker to be saying this; is a bit problematic because if you do that, it undermines the expected neutrality.”

And by his comments, was Professor Gyampo also looking for a “juicy” political position in the NPP government?

By G. Frank Asmah

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Contact email/WhatsApp of the author:

asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

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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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