Mandela – One year on

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• Patapaa 11 years ago

  Ghana today is like Ghana in January 1966. Even though this is the reality there is no way any soldier will just get up and overthrow the corrupt NDC Administration led by the Thief and Trickster extra-ordinaire John Mahama
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  Ghana today is like Ghana in January 1966. Even though this is the reality there is no way any soldier will just get up and overthrow the corrupt NDC Administration led by the Thief and Trickster extra-ordinaire John Mahama
  February 24, 2014 marked 48 years since Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown by the National Liberation Council (NLC) under the leadership of General Emmanuel K. Kotoka. This exclusive interview by veteran and seasoned journalist and retired editor of the Christian Messenger, Mr G.B.K. OWUSU, gives an insight into the how and why the coup took place.
  OWUSU: Why did you overthrow Dr. Kwame Nkrumah?
  KOTOKA: The downward trend in our economic affairs resulting in high cost of living. This is due especially to extravagant use of the country’s funds on prestige projects and generally to maladministration, bribery and corruption, nepotism, special treatment of party activists, injustice, suppression and detention of political opponents and general disregard for the constitution.
  OWUSU: Generally the NLC enjoys the support of almost all Ghanaians and peace-loving people of the world but not unnaturally the beneficiaries of Nkrumah would have wished him back as president. What safeguards have the NLC provided as security of the state in such a situation?
  KOTOKA: I believe the beneficiaries who would like Nkrumah to come back are very few, indeed. It is well known that though some enjoy his generosity they know in their heart of hearts that what they are earning was undeserved. Although they might be sympathisers, it feels that most of them will do nothing to bring them back. However, normal security measures have been taken to prevent actions of subversion, and any person proved to be subversive will be mercilessly dealt with.
  OWUSU: Of what use will Nkrumah’s secret military camps be put?
  KOTOKA: Although this has not been fully decided, some may be used by the National Army for training purposes.
  OWUSU: Now that the disbanded presidential guards have been absorbed into the Army, what observation have you made in respect of their attitude and deportment since the coup?
  KOTOKA: Members of the disbanded presidential guards were recruited from the National Army, whether they liked it or not. Having been absorbed back into the National Army they are actually relieved and are very happy among their old friends.
  OWUSU: Conscious of the risk involved in the operation of the coup, did you Sir, make any provision for your family in event it proved futile?
  KOTOKA: I did not for one moment think of its failure. At any rate I knew my family and any relative of mine would have been killed in case of failure. Therefore, I made no provision for them.
  OWUSU: As the Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces, what are your immediate plans?
  KOTOKA: I wish I could tell you; but military plans are always secret.
  OWUSU: What changes have you observed in the Ghana press since the fall of Nkrumah?
  KOTOKA: The press is now free to publish whatever they like within, of course, the normal regulations. They have been doing so, even to extent of criticising the NLC.
  OWUSU: Could you furnish me with the background of the coup?
  KOTOKA: No

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• Senior Citizen 11 years ago

  Gaddafi fougth for Africa unification but Mandela fought only for his country South Africa and you people sees him as hero.Africans are dreamers

  Gaddafi fougth for Africa unification but Mandela fought only for his country South Africa and you people sees him as hero.Africans are dreamers

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• Achie-Chicago 11 years ago

  NKRUMAH COMES NOWHERE NEAR MANDELLA
  Nkrumah was in politics for about eighteen years only i.e. from 1948 to 1966. Mandella was in politics for well over Seventy Five years. At age Twenty, Mandella had formed a party to fight ...
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  NKRUMAH COMES NOWHERE NEAR MANDELLA
  Nkrumah was in politics for about eighteen years only i.e. from 1948 to 1966. Mandella was in politics for well over Seventy Five years. At age Twenty, Mandella had formed a party to fight White Minority rule in South Africa. Nkrumah formed the CPP when he was well over Forty years. They both achieved freedom for their respective peoples.
  To me Nkrumah comes no where near Mandella in terms of greatness popularity, Wisdom and achievement. Nkrumah was a Dictator who introduced one Party rule in Ghana, detained most of his critics and caused pain to most of his own people. Mandella never caused pain to anybody, not even to his opponents. Mandella is not only the greatest African leader but the greatest world leader to have lived on earth.

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• HAN 11 years ago

  NKRUMAH WAS VOTED THE GREATEST AFRICAN LEADER ACCORDING TO THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION RECORDS.
  MANDELA DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS. MANDELA WAS NOT POPULAR IN SOUTH AFRICA; HE WAS A MER ...
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  NKRUMAH WAS VOTED THE GREATEST AFRICAN LEADER ACCORDING TO THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION RECORDS.
  MANDELA DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS. MANDELA WAS NOT POPULAR IN SOUTH AFRICA; HE WAS A MERE PUPPET WHO IS EXALTED BY HIS FORMER MASTERS.
  
  
  ON THE CONTRARY, NKRUMAH OFFERED FREE EDUCATION FROM PRIMARY CLASS 1 TO THE TERTIARY AND CREATED ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO HIS PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES. LIKE ALL HUMAN BEINGS, NKRUMAH WAS NOT PERFECT BUT HE IS ADORED BY GHANAIANS FOR HIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS.

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• DABENDA 11 years ago

  Achie, you may be right in some sense but do never forget that your ability to read and write is from the effort of Nkrumah. At the time when he was stuggling for your freedom J.B. Danquah was condinning with the CIA to be pa ...
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  Achie, you may be right in some sense but do never forget that your ability to read and write is from the effort of Nkrumah. At the time when he was stuggling for your freedom J.B. Danquah was condinning with the CIA to be paid some few dollars for becoming their secret agent in Ghana. By that he succeeded in connecting the CIA with Kotoka to stage that animals' coup in 1966. I am sure you enjoyed Nkrumah's free education. After him, how do you see the stanard of education in the country. Give praise to whom it is due.

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• Malik 11 years ago

  Two wrongs don't make a right. JB Danquah did his part. He pushed the struggle for independence, invited Nkrumah to join, he gave us the name Ghana and a sound economic policy framework to work on.

  Two wrongs don't make a right. JB Danquah did his part. He pushed the struggle for independence, invited Nkrumah to join, he gave us the name Ghana and a sound economic policy framework to work on.

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• HAN 11 years ago

  History cannot be falsified. The name "Ghana" was given by Nkrumah not J B Danquah.
  Nkrumah was invited by Ako Adjei to join UGCC.
  JB Danquah was not serious in fighting for independence because he was on the payroll of the ...
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  History cannot be falsified. The name "Ghana" was given by Nkrumah not J B Danquah.
  Nkrumah was invited by Ako Adjei to join UGCC.
  JB Danquah was not serious in fighting for independence because he was on the payroll of the CIA hence his slogan "independence in the shortest possible time".
  JB Danquah was a bribe taker being secretly, on the payroll of the CIA not to fight for independence whilst pretending to Ghanaians that he was fighting for independence.

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• Achie-Chicago 11 years ago

  Which African country did Nkrumah get independence for apart from Ghana. He was an opportunist and was only making noise all over. He was a crook apart from everything. He claimed credit for everything including those he did ...
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  Which African country did Nkrumah get independence for apart from Ghana. He was an opportunist and was only making noise all over. He was a crook apart from everything. He claimed credit for everything including those he did not initiate.

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• summy addo 11 years ago

  cocoa farmers need some freedom from purchasing clerks and their superiors. We are not their slave.

  cocoa farmers need some freedom from purchasing clerks and their superiors. We are not their slave.

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• Abubakari Shaibu 11 years ago

  Mandela may he rest in peace,And we always praying for all our Leaders,

  Mandela may he rest in peace,And we always praying for all our Leaders,

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• The mask 11 years ago

  The economy is hitting some South Africans hard and many are fast running out of ideas.
  
  Boachsoft Finance 2012 software, developed in East Akim Municipality (Akyem-Maase and Bunso) in the Eastern Region of Ghana and in Acc ...
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  The economy is hitting some South Africans hard and many are fast running out of ideas.
  
  Boachsoft Finance 2012 software, developed in East Akim Municipality (Akyem-Maase and Bunso) in the Eastern Region of Ghana and in Accra/Sakumono, is helping many families across the globe to balance the family budget, amortize loans and save for the future.
  
  The next version is set to be released in December 2015. Use only the 2012 version.
  
  For more information on managing family finances read the following article:
  
  boachsoft. com

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• John 11 years ago

  A year ago Komla Dumor was reporting on the funeral of Madiba,sad both are no more.The world truly is a stage.May their souls RIP.

  A year ago Komla Dumor was reporting on the funeral of Madiba,sad both are no more.The world truly is a stage.May their souls RIP.

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• joe 11 years ago

  The symbolic man of Africa politics.May the Almighty grant you eternal peace as you fought for your country.

  The symbolic man of Africa politics.May the Almighty grant you eternal peace as you fought for your country.

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