Following The Ghana Elections - 2012

Ghana faces yet another milestone in its quest for a thriving democracy this year - 2012. The country goes to the polls in December 2012 to elect a president. The current president barely won the last election in what is described as the closest election ever held in Africa. Subject to correction, I believe it can be described as the closest election ever held in the history of the world, politics and indeed democracy. The outcome of the Ghanaian elections in 2008 led to the birth of this blog - The Chix Files. The blog was eventually defined by its readers. As Ghana returns to the polls again this year, I deem it only right to follow the campaign, debates and elections. I also deem it right that readers of this blog should be given access to information regarding campaign, debates and the elections.

The above paragraph was intended to be the entire blog for this post but since the draft and the publication of the blog, matters have arisen which I feel need to be discussed or at the very least, touched on for further discussion in subsequent blogs. And besides, it is Friday, I am not sure if I may be in a position to be behind my computer over the weekend to actually think and write. Ha-ha. But you see, that is the beauty of Ghanaian politics, within 24 hours "filla" (juicy news in Ghanaian parlance) spreads like wildfire. There are two things I want to briefly touch on in this blog without boring you to sleep. First, I am sure you've heard or at least read about is the"Woyome Judgment Debt Issue" and the second is a new and developing story on a key player in the Woyome matter. If you haven't, then I suggest you type "Woyome" into Google's search engine and you'll be abreast after reading a few articles.

So Woyome was paid some money by the Ghanaian government for work he never did. The money was paid pursuant to a court order albeit a consent judgment (a judgment, the terms of which are agreed by the parties). At the time the monies were paid, Betty Mould Iddrissu was the Attorney-General of Ghana. She was later moved to the Ministry of Education (take note) and Martin Amidu became the Attorney-General. Martin believed Woyome did not deserve to be such amounts equivalent to millions of dollars. He therefore took steps to retrieve the money back. In his quest to do so, he was fired by the President for misconduct. My reaction was "wow". Ghana dey be right? Some argue that he was hounded out of office by the rented NDC press. This could actually be true because prior to his dismissal the rented press advocated same. So his dismissal was no surprise. What was surprising was that a "principled, holy, peaceful" man in the person of President Mills would take such a step. Anyway, he did and Martin was fired. Before Martin's departure from office he left Ghanaians with the word - GARGANTUAN. I say left because presently in Ghana, the word "gargantuan" is used in describing anything out of the ordinary. Martin said gargantuan crimes had been committed and were being committed and he was keen on pursuing the criminals involved. 

That is the background to the Woyome matter. Now yesterday, Martin releases another "gargantuan" press statement saying that the government is not prosecuting the matter properly and urged all Ghanaians to be vigilant in this matter. His recent statement further implicates the Solicitor-General, in that, the Solicitor-General pressurised Martin to pay a further 9 million Ghana Cedis as interest on the money already paid. Even as at December 2011. Interesting times. 

The final issue, I want to touch on briefly simply because it is developing is the $44 million contract to produce atlas for pre-tertiary institutions entered into on behalf of the Government of Ghana by the Ministry of Education. Remember, I stated above that Betty was moved to Ministry of Education? I am tempted to conclude that after Betty had successful gotten money out of Ghana's coffers as Attorney-General, to the tune of millions of dollars; she was transferred to the Ministry of Education to do same. I pray such temptation doesn't take over. It will interest you to know that the said $44 million contract is very recent and as at January 2012, steps were being taken to make substantial payments thereunder. More to come.