Is Our Democracy Under Seige? Of Per Diem, William Antwi And Ghana Police

Sampling Some Views On The Internet.

I was shocked to read the Ghana Police has declared one William Antwi, a Ghana web writer wanted for writing on the per diem paid to the President and his Minister when they travel outside the country. In addition the Police I learned has invited two Chronicle journalists for questioning for publishing the said article. The issue of per diem paid to the President and his Ministers has been a subject of speculation and rumours for a long time. In a democracy, the onus of responsibility is on the government to come out with the facts on just how much is paid to these officials and how much has been spend on presidential per diems since the president assumed office. It is the duty of the Ministry of Information to be transparent about this and Ghanaians have a constitutional right to know. In the absence of the government providing the information needed , people are bound to speculate, since it is a matter of legitimate national concern. This is a democracy, we do not reside in a police state. Therefore this issue cannot be criminalized.

I sampled some views on the internet about what some think about this issue of national importance. Here they are:

Author: Amanshianyebi Okoe (registered user)
Date: 10-14-2005 19:11

I have not stoppped weeping for Ghana since I read about the Police investigations into the Chronicle's story on the per diem of the President. The issue has been in the public domain for sometime now with speculations and suggestions which have done no one any good. Yet for all this, I blame the government for being secretive and economical with truths about matters affecting the presidency. Why does someone feel Ghanaians don't need to know the salaries, allowances, benefits and per diem grades/rates of public servants including the president? Who now provided the rates as being $70 to $450 or thereabout?

When government starts using police in such a way as to drive fear into the media then we are spelling the death of democracy in Ghana. And what Ghanaians must know is that our democracy is not coup-proof. We may not like or suggest changing of government by any other means except thru the ballot box. But are we creating the atmosphere to make coup welcome, whilst we are sleeping on hopeless assumptions?

Why couldn't the Information Ministry handle the per diem issue and satisfy the public instead of waiting for this long? If I don't know how much Dr. Jonah earns at Goldfields I don't mind, as that would not affect my contribution to Ghana, but not a public servant such as the president.

It does not take more than 50% of the population to support a coup, and we have an opposition which scored almost 45% in the last election! Lets be real with ourselves and call on the government to behave as we shall not forgive them if they allow their unchecked actions and inactions to throw confusion on the streets of Ghana. There are wide murmurings all over Ghana, and the signs are not too good.

YOU CAN SUPPRESS THE ANGER OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME, BUT YOU CANNOT SUPPRESS IT ALL OF THE TIME.

I am getting scared for Ghana. I am getting scared for my relations in Ghana. I am getting scared for the security forces in Ghana, and you must know the devil even has supporters!!!

God Bless our Homeland Ghana!!!

Author: joe boloobo (registered user)
Date: 10-15-2005 04:30

This is nauseating and I feel like throwing-up. Why should the Police or the CID questioned Chronicle journalists regarding the so-called per-diem which the president and his adminstration staff, receiving a paycheck, without providing reasonable services. The Ghana Police Service should answer for the numerous deaths on our roads and the eruption of Arm-robberry, threatening hard working citizens in the country.

Why should the president draw allowance for his hobby. The Kuffour guy already made it known to Ghanaians that travelling is his hobby and why do we pay for that....does it make any sense at all? I will be ashamed to stretched my hand for a paycheck without providing any services....this is robbery...and it is recorded somewhere.

The Ghana Police should question the President of his dubious deals in the country....The President should provide a spread-sheet illustrating the HIPC funds......the citizens wanna know? When it get to a tough call he asked for prayers to solve Ghana Airways problems and I mean the PICK-POCKETS staff.

What is this," the allowance range from 70 dollars to 478.80. Who-ever answered does not know the exact amount written on the pay-check"?.

"These allowances range from 70 dollars to a maximum of 478.80 dollars. Records available also show that in respect of the presidential delegation session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France, from September 30 to October 9, 2005, the approval rates, which range from 70 dollars to 478.80 dollars per person per day were used."

Author: Joe Mensah (24.215.155.118)
Date: 10-15-2005 03:51

It is either one of the following: The **** Per diem President Kufuor's corrupt and mentally-challenged hunchmen in the Ghana Police are disgracing all the other members of the Ghana Police Force, or the S*****, U*** Per diem M**** Kufuor has succeeded in bringing Ghana Police down to his level. Whichever it is, it is clear that Ghana Policemen have been reduced to a bunch of dog poop-eating nincompoops.

How would you like to have your father working as a Ghana Policeman? They used to be corrupt but not stupid; now like president Kufuor, Ghana Police is both Corrupt and stupid. Who is going to redeem the Ghana Police?

Author: BAFO (registered user) Date: 10-14-2005 18:01

In the true spirit of democratic values and our respect for the law, we are ever ready to assist the Police in their "investigation". As I rightly provided elsewhere, I herewith provide for their records my e-mail addresses:

1. WILLIAMANTWI@HOTMAIL.COM

AND

2. BAFO@MYBLUELIGHT.COM

On the other hand, if they want me to contact them by phone they can provide me with a number to reach them.

Our democracy will surely survive!!!!

God save us all.

Author: Young Bajan Lion (registered user) Date: 10-14-2005 18:07

BAFO,

That is right! Face them with courage! Ayekoo!

What we are witnessing here... what is unfolding before our very eyes... are the tentacles of corruption stifling Ghana's democracy, stifling Ghana's freedom, stifling Ghana's justice, and trampling on the rights of Ghanaians.

Let all who witness it record it carefully, so that when the day of reckoning comes they can say with courage, with confidence and without fear: "I remember." Remember it!

Aluta continua! Nuff Respect, Young Bajan.

Author: Yaw Adu-Asare (registered user)
Date: 10-14-2005 17:39

This action by the Ghana Police is a clear anti-constitutional process towards gagging and censorship and must be stopped dead cold if democracy is to gain roots in Ghana.

Free speech cannot be abridged in a true democracy.

Should the attorney-general pursue this case in court, Ghana's drive towards democracy would end in a ditch.

What the aggrieved persons in the story under discussion should do is to write to disprove the writer's views.

The extent to which the police should be involved in freedom of speech issues in Ghana is mind-boggling and the Ghana Journalists Association and parliament should put partisanship aside and oppose the action vehemently before it snowballs.

Forward Ever! We Shall Overcome!

Subject: BAFO YOU ARE A PIECE OF @!#$
Author: qa (69.148.178.177)
Date: 10-14-2005 09:29

Why don't you disclose to Ghanaians your dealings at the obnoxious, evil tribunal you once chaired? Why don't yopu call on the stupid Ahwois, the Tsikatas, the Rawlings, E.T Mensah's, the Obed Asamoahs, to tell Ghanaians the sources of their wealth? You cannot have it both ways. You should be the last person to accuse any Ghanaian politician. You are shameless to the core. Shut up and let patriots rebuild the Ghana you helped destroy.

I think all Ghanaians owe it a duty to hold accountable those who wield and exercise power. Democracy suffers in a country where there?s an absence of a critical spirit in the populace.