Madness! – Is Ghana Military that partisan to arrest a soldier?

On the evening news of yesterday, Wednesday 12th October 2016, I learnt from Peace FM radio that a soldier has been arrested and temporarily incarcerated by his Commanding Officer (Colonel…..) for posting a close-up selfie of himself sipping a kalypo on the social media.

Before proceeding any further, let us ask ourselves what a selfie is. A SELFIE is defined as “a photograph that you take of yourself, usually with a mobile phone. Selfies are often published using social media”

What is “kalypo”, as those of us not familiar with, and had never seen any may want to know? Kalypo is simply an orange-based “soft” drink in paper enclosure. It is locally made in Ghana.

As many Ghanaians, sorry to say, out of inferiority complexes and, or show of ostentation, do not want to patronise made-in-Ghana goods, the NDC faithful had desired or sought to tease or demean Nana Akufo Addo when a photograph of him was seen or found on the social network sipping kalypo.

Nana was said to feel thirsty when on a campaign trail so he reached out for kalypo, being humble, caring, and a believer in prosperous Ghana for all as he has always been. He did not see it inferior for his status because it is Ghana-made.

However, the NDC decided to mock him for being broke hence drinking a low standard Ghana-made soft drink. Unfortunately for the NDC, it backfired on them. The drink has rather become so popular with many people rushing to drink some because the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, even drinks it. What a perfect instance of a misfortune turning into a blessing.

Back to the madness of the highly politicized and partisan Ghana army, any open expression of support for kalypo, by whomever, indicates that they support Nana Akufo Addo in his campaign to become the President of Ghana come 7 December 2016 hence punishing their own kind for posting a selfie of himself drinking kalypo. Does this mean Ghana army supports only President Mahama and prayerfully want him to secure a re-election handed down to him on a silver platter? If no, why are they maltreating their own kind for drinking kalypo?

Let me ask a few questions to set the record straight or to make my case clearer to public readers.

1. Is it a crime to post a selfie of oneself on the social media when in their work uniform

2. Is it a crime by the statutes of Ghana for a soldier to take a picture of themselves drinking “soft” drinks but not alcohol to post on the social media?

3. Is it criminal in Ghana for a soldier to take a picture of themselves in their military uniform to be published in the media for harmless reasons e.g. drinking kalypo when not intentionally entered into terms of contract with the manufacturer to advertise the product for money but for fun?

4. When did it become official that drinking kalypo to boost local production and consumption of made-in-Ghana goods means one supports the aspirations of Nana Akufo Addo to become the President of Ghana?

5. Would arresting people for drinking kalypo not amount to the arresters’ expression of support for President Mahama if I were to give close analytical interpretation to the arrest of the said soldier?

Anyway, I find the behaviour of the Commanding Officer (Colonel…) whose name was mentioned in the news but has just slipped out of mind, quite bizarre. He seemed to be saying people may find the arrested soldier offensive should he be posted to a polling station on 7 December 2016 since the NDC supporters will see him as a supporter of NPP but not neutral hence they will foment election tension simply upon seeing him.

The less I talk about the offered reason for incarcerating the soldier much the better, as I find it absolutely preposterous. So does it mean that anyone who reads Rockson Adofo’s publications is a supporter of NPP and Nana Akufo Addo even if what he has written has nothing to do with politics? This is exactly the impression the Commanding Army Officer is putting across.

Kalypo, kalypo, and kalypo all the way. Let us create jobs for the youth by patronising made-in Ghana goods!

If drinking kalypo is to garner more votes for Nana Akufo Addo, then I shall encourage all Ghanaians to drink more kalypo.

Rockson Adofo

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