Ill Health of President Mills occupies the attention of strife-laden Ghana

Amid chaotic security situation across seven out of ten regions, Ghanaians have found themselves being occupied with the state of health of President John Evans Atta Mills. The president has been heavily criticised in the last few days for failing to speak out against the pockets of violence across the country. Ghana is going through a period of instability both on the security and economic fronts and there is a feeling of pessimism and despondency among the people.  The calls for his comments became more prominent following the clashes which claimed three lives at Hohoe in the Volta Region. Sources at the Castle earlier told the media the president had been taking some days off to rest due apparently to temporary incapacitation caused by infirmity.The president left Accra June 16, 2012 evening for urgent medical attention in the United States described by officials as 'a routine medical check-up'. 

This follows days of rumours about his ill health in recent times. The President of Ghana was last seen in public performing official function at the Allied Air crash scene near Kotoka Airport on Sunday June 3 2012 and is now officially declared temporary incapacitated. In other words, President Mills will be unable to do his official duties for the unknown future. 

The president did not indicate how long he will be staying out other than saying a "few days" and an assurance that there was no cause for alarm stressing that the check-up is a normal one. It would be recalled that President Mills spent almost the whole of the last quarter of 2011 in the US on the pretext of taking his vacation interspersed with official assignments. Ghanaians were suspicious and there were claims that he left the Presidential jet on a tarmac in New York and secretly travelled to Cuba for cancer treatment. Officially President Mills has told Ghanaians he is suffering from sinus. It is however doubtful if his condition is due to sinus and has become a subject of speculation for a long time. According to one of the Wikileaks transcripts quoting the Deputy Minister of Tourism but then the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Mohammed Baba Jamal, President Mills is dying of throat cancer. Mr. Jamal added that Professor Mills will never make public admission of his diseased throat as it is considered 'unfavourable and untenable practice in African politics' to disclose a politician's sick status.

Article 69 clause 1 subsection (c) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic Ghana states that the President shall be removed from office if he is found, in accordance with the provisions among other things "to be incapable of performing the functions of his office by reason of infirmity of body or mind."

I am sure you the reader must be wondering why quoting this constitutional provision when President Mills is only going to the USA for a routine medical check up. Well, for your information, it is usual for the casual observer but a serious sign for any political animal. This seriousness arises out of three things emanating from statement released by President Mills regarding this trip. Firstly, routine medical check-up, secondly staying 'few days' and thirdly 'no cause for alarm'. The fact of the matter is that our President has always denied ever going to the USA for medical reasons so how can Mills now officially announce that he is going there for 'a routine medical check-up'? Anything said to be routine refers to regularity with well defined periodicity and this is where the second matter raises eyebrows. If indeed Mills is going for routine medical check-up, how come he sounded unsure of his duration abroad? If it is routine, then he has been doing this over time now and must be accustomed to a certain timeframe within which this medical treatment is conducted. And so why the unsolicited assurance that there is no cause for alarm? Is there something he is not telling Ghanaians? Is he incapacitated and therefore unable to perform his official functions?

Mills with blackened palm said 

to be due to effects of medication

This disease is cancerous tumours that develop in the throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils. Throat cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage (epiglottis) that acts as a lid for the windpipe. It is attributed to heavy smoking, chewing tobacco and excessive alcohol use. Treatment for throat cancer often causes complications that may include speech problems such as mispronunciation of words like the famous ecomini instead of economy.

It would be recalled that Guinea-Bissau's President Malam Bacai Sanha died on Monday 9 January 2012 after a long period in a Paris hospital aged 64.

Will President Mills be capable of completing the remaining six months of his tenure of office considering the demands of electioneering campaign for a second term bid and its toll on one's health? Only time will tell!

The gargantuan questions

• Is the president of Ghana, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, an honest man?
• Does he deserve to be in office for another term?
• Do you think President Mills is competent enough to lead Ghana?
• Does he have the competent team to work with?
• Have those who returned the NDC onto the political scene done Ghanaians any good?
• Do you think there was an error of judgment on the part of the electorate in 2008?
• Do you think the Ghanaian electorate should also give Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo a chance in the December polls?   

“If you want to test a man’s character, give him power” – Abraham Lincoln. In their quest to test the character of the then the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Ghanaian electorate gave their mandate to Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills in the 2008 presidential election. Prof. Mills, since the year 2000, has made 822 promises and below are some of them. Kindly read and make your own judgment about our president.

Top Promises of President Mills

      0. There will be no familial appointments in my government. Who are Dr. Cadman Atta Mills and   Samuel Atta Mills? Ato Ahwoi and Kwesi Ahwoi? Alfred Agbesi Woyome and Stan Dogbe? Mahama Iddrissu, Betty Mould-Iddrissu and Alex Mould?, Zita Okai-Koi and Andrews Okai-Koi? Kofi Totobi-Quakyi and Felix Ofosu Kwakye? etc???

1. I will consult Rawlings 24 hours a day – Today, Mills says he is looking for an opportunity to sit down with Rawlings to sort out their differences. Former President Rawlings, the founder of the NDC, now says he has perceived enemies from the opposition and traitors within the NDC hence NDC must return to opposition.
2. I will hit the ground running – Mills hit the ground and broke his legs. He seems to be crawling as all sectors of the economy are growing slowly.
3. I will reduce fuel prices drastically – a gallon of petrol has increased from GH¢3.60 to GH¢8.0, showing a drastic increase in price in the last 3 years.
4. I will put money in your pockets – our pockets are now empty because of increases in utility tariffs (electricity, water, gas) and school fees. Poverty is on the increase and the number of strike actions and demonstrations tell it all.
5. I will heal wounds and unite the nation – the nation is polarized as the NDC continues to play the tribal card. Ewes occupy 90% of political appointments.
6. I will make sure there is no NPP Ghana or NDC Ghana – Ghana is seriously divided between NDC and NPP. Politics of ideas has given way to politics of insults.
7. I will build a factory in each district – Where can we find the factories? Instead, John Mahama is buying bulldozers to kill flies. Over 300 factories were sold by the P/NDC government.
8. I will make sure all my appointees declare their assets within 6 months into my administration – None of the appointees has declared any asset after 3 years.
9. I will set up a truly non-partisan and competent commission on the murders of Ya Na and Issah Mobila, and prosecute the killers – There is no evidence for prosecution according to Kofi Adam.
10. I will avoid the appointment of MPs and Ministers to positions of Chairman of Public Sector Companies to avoid intrusion of the party – Board Chairman of GETFund is Kwabena Adjei (NDC Chairman), Board Chairman of Road Fund – Joe Gidisu (MP), Board Chairman of NHIS, Doe Adjaho (MP). Board Chairman of Ghana Civil Aviation, Alban S.K. Bagbin (Minister and MP).
11. I will clear all filth in the cities within 100 days – Cholera outbreak is the order of the day. Ghana is ranked the 2nd dirtiest country in West Africa.
12. I will make Ghanaians pay one-time premium – The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has collapsed as the one-time premium has given way to ‘Capitation’.
13. I will give 40% of ministerial appointments to women – Only 11% appointments have been made so far and the maltreatment of Nana Konadu Agyemang and other female journalists are clear examples. NDC has only 4 female MPs as against NPP’s 14. Mills tells Ghanaian women that they are not interested in politics.
14. I will build 200,000 houses within 5yrs through the STX Korea deal and 30,000 of the houses would be given to the security officers – STX Korea deal is dead.
15. I will improve the country’s education at all levels – the BECE recorded the worst results for over a decade. Only tea cups embossed with the president’s portrait have been given to these pupils.
16. I will build 2 universities in the Volta and Brong-Ahafo Regions in this ‘Action Year’ – The construction sites have now turned into zoological gardens.
17. I will eliminate all schools under trees – In spite of the oil revenue, several schools are still under trees.
18. I will provide all basic school pupils with school uniforms – for the past 3 yrs only 20% of the pupils have received the free school uniforms.
19. I will expand the School Feeding Programme to cover all basic schools – that did not happen as some schools in NPP strongholds were removed from the programme for the benefit of those in NDC strongholds.
20. I will make armed robbery a thing of the past – Social vices are on the increase. Police officers are being killed by armed robbers.
21. I will provide meaningful jobs for the youth – For the first time in the history of Ghana, there is an Association of Unemployed Graduates, and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a Dep. Minister of Local Government, calls them lazy people and sees them as an evil group.
22. I will generate funds internally and not rely on IMF, World Bank or foreign loans – Surprisingly, the Mills-Mahama NDC government has secured over GH¢18bn loans abroad. Another $3bn from China is in the pipeline. According to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s debt stood at GH¢25.3m as at 2011.
23. I will bridge the poverty gap between the north and the south – Poverty between the north and the south is widening.
24. I will put GH¢600m into the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) – In the 2011 Budget Statement, only GH¢8m was voted into it. SADA has come to a standstill.
25. I will build the Eastern and Western corridor infrastructure – That was a camouflage. The promise of 10% of oil revenue to the people of Western Region was not fulfilled.
26. I will cut down waste and profligate spending – Mills purchased 5 military aircrafts at a cost of $250m. He spent GH¢48,000 on Nkrumah’s birthday, and GH¢622m on judgment debts, including Woyome’s GH¢51m. The NDC is building a $20m party headquarters in Accra.
27. I will prosecute my corrupt ministers and appointees without asking for evidence – What happened to ‘Kyinkyinka’ Muntaka (pampers), Mahama Ayarega (tractors), Carl Wilson (imported vehicles), and Asiedu Nketia (block making)? Why are Mills’ appointees committing gargantuan crimes against the state? Why did Mills sack his former Attorney-General, Hon. Martin Amidu?
28. I will be a father of all Ghanaians – Selective justice has replaced the “father for all mantra”. Why did Mills direct his DCEs/MDCEs to open their doors for only NDC members and sympathizers? Why arrest Hon. Ken Agyepong and leave Nii Lamptey Vanderpuije?
29. I will not pursue politics of vendetta – Why did the president order his appointees, especially Victor Smith, to seize vehicles and offices belonging to his political opponents? What has happened to ex-president Kufuor’s end of service benefits? Why did the Mills-Mahama government file 13 high profile court cases against its political opponents and lose them all?
30. I will turn the Golden Jubilee House into a poultry farm – Why is the place being occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
31. I will abrogate the Ghana Telecom sale to Vodafone – What are you waiting for, Mr. President? Vodafone is the leading mobile network in Ghana today.
32. I will probe the Ghana @ 50 celebrations and prosecute all those who misappropriated and misapplied public funds – What came out of the reports by the 23 Commissions of Enquiry set up by the president?
33. I will modernize agriculture – Agriculture has seen a consistent decline in growth since 2009.
34. I will cut down rice importation by 50% - Rice importation has increased from $400m to $700m annually.
35. I will build airports in Cape Coast and Tamale and also build the Kotokoraba market – We are still waiting.
36. I will improve infrastructure in the country – the President bows down his head in shame when he passes on some of the roads. Is the Sofoline interchange in Kumasi part of the infrastructure?
37. I will expand all social interventions introduced by my predecessor – most of the interventions, e.g. NHIS and free maternal care have collapsed and now maternal mortality is on the increase.
38. I will not be a globe-trotter like Kufuor – By the help of the Presidential Jet, Mills, together with Mahama, has travelled around the globe more than any Ghanaian leader. He went to Japan, made a u-turn for the Population Census and disappeared the following day. Similarly, he left for the US for 6 weeks, returned to Ghana for 3 days and went back to the US under the pretence of meeting investors during the Christmas period.
39. I will make full investigations into the serial killings of women that occurred between 1999 and 2000 – We are still waiting.
40. I will not introduce any new tax – Several new taxes, including Akpetshie, airport, and environmental taxes have been introduced.
41. I will wage war against narcotics trade – Cocaine turns into soda under Mills’ watch.
42. I will ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections – Biometric Voters’ Registration exercise has turned into violence. What happened at Akwatia, Chereponi, and Atiwa during the by-elections?
43. I will burn Ghana like Kenya if the elections go the other way – Fire outbreaks, mining disasters; floods have characterized the Mills-Mahama administration.
44. I will ensure a level playing field for the 2012 elections – Today some police officers are registering foreigners in Togo.
45. I will strengthen all state institutions – CHRAJ, EOCO, EC, PURC, GSS etc. – After 2 years of Population and Housing Census, figures are yet to be released. Ghana Statistical Service has been cooking inflation figures for the NDC government. Kwabena Adjei, NDC Chairman, threatened to ‘kill the cat’.
46. I will promote freedom of speech – This has been substituted with “causing fear and panic”. Nana Darkwah and Amina can tell you more about that.
47. I will pay professional allowance to all professional teachers – In the end, teachers who embarked on demonstration were sprayed with hot water. Others were stripped naked in Bawku.
48. I will form a government on expertise and competence, not party or family interests - Who are the ‘bootlickers’, ‘greedy bastards’, and the ‘Team B’ ministers? Why did the president sack Dr. Bawumia and Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng?
49. I swear, try me and see. I will not disappoint you because I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth – Mansions are being built by President Mills through Regimanuel Estate and his Director of Communications describes them as “tokens”.
50. I am a better man for a better Ghana – If so, why the ‘ecomini’ and ‘omama’ pronunciations? Why did the party’s founder, J.J. Rawlings, refer to Mills as “Konogo Kaya”? The ‘Better Ghana’ agenda has turned into a ‘Better Volta’ agenda and Ghanaians are witnesses to this fact. 

A new opinion poll by research outfit Synovate Ghana, formerly Steadman,  offers some insight into how Ghanaian electorates feel about the president. The new opinion survey conducted between April 24 and May 10,2012 puts opposition New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ahead of President John Mills by eight percent if elections were held in May, 2012. Nana Akufo-Addo will leap in front with 44 percent lead ahead of President Mills garnered 36 percent of nation-wide votes. The survey said Nana Akufo-Addo won in six out of the 10 regions, whilst president Mills will won the other four. Both candidates got very high votes in their traditional strongholds of Volta and Ashanti. President Mills got 76 percent of the votes in the Volta Region as against Nana Akufo-Addo’s 17. In the Ashanti Region, the NPP flagbearer had 73 percent as against President Mills’ 22. In the swing regions of Greater Accra, Central, Western and Brong Ahafo regions, the survey finds that the NPP’s Akufo-Addo will win in all but one – the Central Region, where president Mills comes from.