WHEN I BECAME A SOLDIER AT AKIM ACHIASE ( PART III)

By Kingsley Komla Adom

..........continued! 

At this point, I knew the Birim Protection Forces were going to have it all to do.

A number of coordinated attacks would follow shortly, and catch the expatriates unawares.

Consequently, several mining equipment were destroyed, the company's expatriate staff were attacked , large sums of money and other valuables were robbed at the concession area by the Birim Protection Forces.

The sustained wave of the attacks on the company, prompted the Ghana government to order the Ghana Armed Forces to flush out the group which had established several bases in forest reserves in the two districts, 2IC of JWS, Major Richard Cobbah-Eshun told us.

At this point I began to better appreciate why we were at Achiase. Certainly not for sight-seeing. My colleagues would agree with me.

Agnes Arthur -our self-styled captain, Kojo Nyed - errrmmmm major or so, our in-house DJ, Gillian Abbew -Lt. Col. and how could I forget our WO Osei Siaw Addison would begin to plan how our one-week stay in the community was going to be structured from our perspective.

More revealing information had it that, in February of this year, a raid by the special forces unit of GAF on their bases succeeded in capturing a number of (Birim Protection Forces) members, however, leader of the group - Officer Toro and some of his key lieutenants escaped arrest and went underground.

Following these waves of attacks and counter attacks in the two municipalities, operations of Auxbeux INC had to be suspended for obvious reasons.

A couple of months ago in March this year, some locals explained that leaflets started appearing in and around the communities of Birim South and central municipalities where Auxbeux INC concessions and operations were taking place.

These leaflets according to them indicated that the (Birim Protection Forces) was not giving up on it's earlier demands and that the group would ensure that all their aims and objectives would be achieved regardless the opposition, thereby raising tension in the communities.

The National Security Council alarmed by the activities of the group we were told, convened a special emergency meeting in the Ghanaian capital - Accra on 2 July 2015 at which the Chief of the Defence Staff,Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie was tasked to defeat the (Birim Protection Forces) and their cohorts as soon as possible.

The CDS therefore composed a joint specialized jungle force with troops drawn from Central and Southern Commands,Support Services Brigade Group, Navy and Air Force to immediately defeat the dissident group operating in and around the Birim South and Central municipalities in order to ensure peace and stability and to allow to Auxbeux INC resume it's operations.

And that was our mission at Achiase - simple and straightforward;to defeat the dissident group!

Chiefs and opinion leaders of the area gave their blessing

For several months, the various teams had been training to compete among themselves in jungle tactics they were going to adopt in defeating and flushing out the Birim Protection Forces.

This Exercise, since 1991 is one of the most important on the training calendar of GAF and the teams fully aware of this, put in their all in preparation for it.

From its inception, it has been organized biennially based primarily on a concentrated effort on "Search and Rescue Missions (SAREX)" where participants were sent on a long navigation, marching on bearings in search for wounded and fallen combatants on helicopter patrols.

It involves adequate fitness and endurance - the toughest,strongest and fittest team survives the challenges along the "tigers' path" to emerge victorious.

As one would expect, a few modifications have been made owing to the advancement in technology, increasing sophisticated nature of crime and insurgency, as well as requirements on United Nations peace support operations in certain troubled regions.

The additions have been refreshing for the 24 year-old Exercise, some of which include but not limited to ; practicing jungle survival,combat triage and medical evacuation, raid, ambush and offensive tactical operations.

Others include obstacle crossing,shooting skills in the jungle setting and tactical walk.

Troops are required to train in these tactical activities to get themselves combat-ready to deal with insurgents and other dissident groups like the Birim Protection Forces.

Call it anticipation, expectation, my colleagues and I were fired up for this. We were going to participate all the way through, we said to ourselves, bearing in mind the enormity of the task.

The next day after our arrival at the school was a demonstration of what was to come during the real exercise on 21 July.

.......to be continued!

Writer's email address : kingsleykomla@gmail.com

Twitter : @kingsley_komla

Blog address : www.kingsleykomla.blogspot.com

WHEN  BECAME A SOLDIER AT AKIM ACHIASE ( PART II)

By Kingsley Komla Adom

Continued........

Apart from knowing the Exercise we had come here for was a biennial one organized by the Army Training Command - (ATRAC) and coordinated by the Jungle Warfare School (JWS) to primarily test a cross-section of troops in patrol drills,navigation, watermanship, obstacle crossing,marksmanship,Platoon administration in the field,jungle craft, team spirit,endurance among others, the sequences and methodologies were unknown to me.

Snippets of information I had gathered that evening were enlightening. 

Having heard that the Birim Central and South municipalities had become active with agitations and violent demonstrations since 2012, I became alarmed.

Easiest thing I remember asking myself aloud that evening was - what about?

Only a few hours ago, a section of the locals had lined up across the street to watch us jog past , amidst cheers and applause. 

So what may have caused a community which is in agitation, to suddenly make a u-turn to cheer us on, I lamented.

It became clear that these agitations and violent demonstrations were because indigenes of the area including galamsey operators prospecting for diamonds claimed they were not consulted before an agreement was signed between the government and an Australian mining company Auxbeux INC, to exploit diamonds in the Birim Central and South Municipalities.

As if that was not enough - to add salt to injury,the company also discovered large deposits of uranium in the middle of 2012 and expressed interest in exploiting the uranium rather than the diamonds.

According to more available information, Consultations and negotiations with government for the company to exploit the deposits of uranium stalled in 2014 because the government was not sure of the company's intentions - I am pretty certain this excited the locals, but for how long would these negotiations stall I imagined?

About a few weeks on, the country renewed the negotiations as the government saw this as an opportunity to get the materials to resource the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) at Kwabenya to refine the uranium for the production of power to augment the country's energy stock in the face of the energy crisis.

In February 2014, however, not long after an agreement was reached and the company was given the go-ahead and started operations, the locals were up in arms.

Their reason was simple and their demands - aptly spelt out in clear terms. But their approach to the issue left many wondering if it was the most appropriate of approaches.

They were not going to allow the company operate until certain demands were met.

In the circumstances,they asked for 80 percent of all royalties that would accrue to government from the exploitation of uranium in the area to be paid to the traditional authorities for the development of the area.

They also demanded that 50 percent of the company's employees be from that area - demands their leaders described as genuine and progressive for the communities.

However, just as pressure groups in politics, a group known as the Birim Protection Forces emerged to champion the demands of the communities.

By the sound of that, I am comfortably sure you know how this "blockbuster" would unfold - if you don't , well sad news.

Unsurprisingly, we gathered the group was led by a disgruntled former Army major called Joshua Gyaesaa popularly known as Officer Toroo - who was sacked from the Army in the early 1980s for going on AWOL (a grave service offense which warrants very severe sanctions).

The group threatened that if their demands were not met within the shortest possible time, they would disrupt the activities of Auxbeux INC and make their stay unsustainable in the two municipalities.

In Spite of the opposition from this group, obviously because the company had the blessing of government, it continued its operations in its concessions as per the agreement between itself and the government.

As is expected, the decision did not sit down well with the Birim Protection Forces - whom true to their announced threats, began a series of sabotage activities against the Australian company.

A series of attacks were carefully planned and made ready for execution by the disgruntled bunch.

.......... to be continued! 

WHEN I BECAME A SOLDIER  AT AKIM ACHIASE (part I)

By Kingsley Komla Adom

As we jogged out of the gates of the Jungle Warfare School and headed for the town roundabout on our first full evening at Achiase, the cheers and shouts from the town folk were deafening - it spoke volumes.

The town folk must have said - they are here again!

Junglers in a group photograph before leaving for the jungle

Suddenly the expression of enthusiasm and unbridled zeal was evident among us.

Tired and fatigued legs had given way for renewed ones as we closely followed the lead of our physical training instructor with well-orchestrated foot-bangs and body movements while we chanted a couple of interesting 'Jama songs ' along.

"Mmarimma mma" to wit strong men, they kept screaming at our every move until we negotiated the roundabout.

Apparently, the Achiase enclave gets set alight every time the soldiers are in town for one jungle warfare exercise or another, I later found out.

"It is not only the beauty of the uniform that excites us", one onlooker whispered loudly to her neighbor.

"Whenever they come around,economic activities blossom - and their presence brings along with it some sense of security", the other retorted.

I got a clearer picture. It made a lot of sense to me.

But....hang on!

Who would not relish the presence of personnel from the famed Ghana Armed Forces in their community - especially one that has been notorious over the decades for many forms of illegal activities than one?

Talk of illegal tree-felling from the numerous forest reserves in the Birim South and Central Municipalities,illegal mining (galamsey) operations on the Birim River - which have rendered the water body of an estimated 50-meter width and 15 feet depth, contaminated as well as other forms of crime.

Akim Achiase boasts of several forest reserves. 

It made for perfect comprehension the reason the then Achiasehene - Nana Otchere Darko II in 1976, lobbied for the Jungle Warfare School to be situated at Achiase, it's present location.

At least the large acres of oil palm, rice and cocoa plantations were going to be spared the invasion from farm produce thieves - and the poor farmers would have something to smile about.

Oil palm plantations are very common in the area

Aside promoting the town and it's adjoining communities, the school, I gather attracts many foreign nationals whose activities once they are in town, significantly impact the lives of the locals.

Many soldiers who travel to train at the school, according to 2IC of the school, reside in town due in part to the accommodation challenges and as well to serve an indirect and unofficial purpose of providing security for these locals.

But that's a discussion for later.

We knew from that point, our stay in the community for the Exercise Tiger's Path 15 that was to come off between 21-24 July ,2015 was going to be memorable - I personally could not wait!

Prior to our journey however, we had heard stories - stories aplenty.

Those that were true.Those that were untrue.Those that defied logic.Those that were just beautiful.Then there were those that were "ugly" .

Experiencing life in the "jungle" was the aim and to participate in as much as our weak bodies could carry us through, was all that mattered.

In less than thirty odd minutes though, we were back at the school carrying out a few aerobics to warm ourselves after the evening jog.

The night at our hostel was different. Nothing like the prominent stories back home that we were going to sleep in the forests with snakes and other animals and at the mercy of the weather,no!

It was a tiring journey and we had to have some food

Away from the busy Ghanaian capital of Accra - usually alive with activities all day and sometimes all night long, to a somewhat secluded environment of little to no activity - just the little conversations among little groups.

It was uncomfortable. What excited us, was the thought of looking forward to the next day which we were told was going to have a number of activities.

Butterfly effect already? Perhaps not. Those of us who dreaded the weird experiences told of the jungle would not look forward to another day with much anticipation

..............to be continued

The Con Man meets me another time.

A flat Monday had passed and I was on my way home after work (near Eddys Pizza). The day had been so boring and terribly unrewarding - but who would care?

Around multichoice, a business ghetto along the Ring road route which has banks,  recording studios,  wine shops, telecommunications companies, insurance organizations, radio stations and the like sadly does not boast a commercial vehicle joint.

This area,  you would imagine does not host only middle class businesses - the regular porridge seller, bread vendor and tabletop recharge voucher sellers are all very much represented .

As I make for the Paloma end of the stretch to catch a bus, I meet my familiar friend - the con man. I call him the strategic beggar for good reason.

The interactions follow:

Strategic beggar : Good evening boss, Please have you been standing here for long?

Me : Not quite, (didn't wait for the rest of the niceties) how exactly may I help you Mr?

Him : I have been standing here for 45 minutes....(stammers a bit and continues). I was admitted at the something something hospital for seven months and was released last month.

Since then, I visit the hospital .....Every other month. Whenever I go,I'm charged GH 36 but today I was asked to pay GH 41 and all my money is finished. ... (his visage changes - as if to shed a few tears)......

These are my tablets (I won't even bother to look because I know this trick dadaada - all too familiar with the lines)

Me : OK so how do I come in?

Him : I'm going to Nungua and don't have enough .... (stammers again) .Can you please help me with GH 1? From there I'll walk home.

Me : (faking a smile) It's very easy to pretend and stand before me like you really really need help. But I know you people, it's your latest trick . How sure am I that all you've said are true?

Him : (heaves a heavy sigh and looks away briefly)..(.Before he could say a word. ..I gave him the money) .Thank you very much Sir, God bless you.

Me : I look at him carefully and say to him; if you attempt to use this money (I don't care how many people you've told similar stories to and extorted monies from) for cigarette or any form of drug, may God smite you there and then.

And if it's for other sinister purposes than what I know, may God deal with you as he pleases.

Him : ...... (attempts a fake smile) ....can't say a word.Looks at me again and bows his head.

Then the troski arrived and I jumped in. As we left, I saw the young man still rooted to his spot, presumably, awaiting his next "jon" to tell his beautifully crafted story.

That was the third time in one day I had encountered these guys. One of them however, I recall has met me twice at different places with different stories.

The rest of my encounters with these guys would come in good time. Keep reading.

Sunday Musings - De Bruyne or some so-called proven stars.

A certain team had him, they said he wasn't proven. He wasn't good enough to be a starter. He forced his way out and in a couple of months, becomes center stage in Germany.

Shuttering the assists record in all of Europe. Creating a million and one chances for his Wolfsburg team. Being the key cog in that team as they beat the more fancied Bayer and Dortmund to the German cup or so.

Winning the accolade for the best player in the Bundesliga (I think).

All of these and more have seen him earn a place among the best players of the past league season - culminating in a move to money bugs.

Kevin De Bruyne formerly a Chelsea man

Meanwhile, at the other end, yaanom are struggling to piece their midfield together. Their so-called proven midfielders are struggling. But they can't complain.

...and because they are "proven" players , they can't be dropped to the bench - so they keep them playing game in, game out and they keep flopping.

Francesc Fabregas had a blissful first six months of his
Chelsea career - but has since tailed off (second season syndrome)

But who would care? Their talkative coach who has the penchant of blaming everyone else but himself when the team fails, has said his team's terrible start would not see them panic - buy before transfer window closes.

An all too familiar story. Yet zero lessons learnt. Only an open show of arrogance and disrespect!

FOURTEEN YEARS SINCE 9/11 – WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT

By Komla Adom

The world was stunned. America was in the uncomfortable fix of counting her tragic losses. For nearly all American citizens, September 11, 2001 will remain one of the most indelible memories in their collective psyche – the world has equally had their share of grief.

It has gone down as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history – not only because the series of coordinated attacks targeted symbolic landmarks in the United States of America, but also because of the devastation to human lives with figures of deaths reaching in excess of 2,900.

More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks, including the United Kingdom  , Dominican Republic, India and many others.

The day which has since gone on to be described as the darkest day in America; saw four passenger airlines hijacked by supposed Al-Qaeda terrorists and slammed into sensitive buildings including a 47-storey World Trade Center tower and the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense).

Photograph of some sensitive American installations during the explosion
Credit : Reuters

Shockwaves were sent across the world – and America was literally brought to its knees with destruction from the attack estimated at some $10 billion in property and infrastructural damage.

For the thousands of human lives lost – it was pricelessly unquantifiable.

The entire America and indeed the world began to mourn the cruel events of September 11, 2001, with the first memorials to the victims having begun to take shape online, as hundreds of webmasters posted their own thoughts, links to the Red Cross, and other rescue agencies, photos and eyewitness accounts.

Soon after the attacks, efforts were made throughout the United States and across the world to remember the victims, offer expressions of solidarity and tribute, and document the impact of this unpleasantly historic event.

The communal gathering and shared commitment of American citizens and other nationals were central to each of these efforts, whether in collective tribute projects, or individual solidarity endeavours.

Every year since 2001, the world joins America to mark this day – and reassure themselves that never again should such devastation be visited on any country.

Already, it has been fourteen years since the events of September 11, and the world unites once again to solidarize with the entire US and its citizens to remember the scores of people who lost their lives on that day.

Debris of the wreckage after 9/11 in the US
Credit : Reuters

However heartbreaking the events of September 11 have been, very instructive lessons have been learnt by countries and individuals.

Terrorism is a fact of life and is here to stay, but we cannot let terrorists win by hiding and altering our lives as a result of fear generated by these attacks.

There is much disagreement about whether air travel is safer now than before 9/11 – but the cooperative will of countries to ensure safety structures are put in place at air strips and airports has been significantly strengthened.

A great lesson learnt is certainly how to be assertive as a people to speak up upon suspicion of perceived wrong-doing by others. For in a community and country that is fraught with all sorts of dastardly acts like terrorism, little to no growth can be recorded.

 Americans' ability to come together and pull through the events of 9/11 remains truly heartwarming and exemplary for other countries including Ghana to emulate – that tragedy would come, but there always has to be progression despite the odds.

The need to be tolerant and respect one another regardless the race, creed, or political disposition of the fellow could be drawn from this case, and a certain reaffirmation of the need to see ourselves as a common people will go a long way.

As we join the rest of the world to mark 14 years since the multiple coordinated terrorist attacks in the US, may we be guided by the basic principle of humanity, which entreats us to love one and another.

May we be renewed in our resolve as a country, continent, and a united world, to fight terrorism to its finest core.

May we also be reminded of the obligations we owe it to the memories of the over 2,900 people who perished in that attack, to ensure that acts of terrorism are not commonplace in our world.

And may we finally say, NEVER AGAIN should this happen!

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE LAUNCHES REPORT "Ghana,the rising star - progress in political voice,health and education"

Stakeholders in the health,education and civil society sectors have met at an event in Accra,to launch a 38-paged survey report titled,"Ghana,the rising star - progress in political voice,health and education".

The survey conducted by a leading policy think tank in the United Kingdom on international development and humanitarian issues,Overseas Development Institute (ODI) aims to among other things,explore progress Ghana has made in three key areas of political voice,health and education.

Speaking at the launch,Alina Rocha Menochal - who co-authored the report,said the research about Ghana forms part of a broad project the think tank was undertaking called 'development progress' - which is particularly directed at changing the negative narrative about development in Africa and instead better understand whether development is happening around the world and how this is happening as well as the drivers of same.

According to the report authored by Amanda Lenhardt,Alina Rocha Menochal and Jakob Engel,Ghana has made remarkable progress in human development over the past twenty years while achieving one of the most stable transitions to multi-party democracy in sub-Saharan Africa.

This has been largely due to the activities of civil society,the media (described as one of the freest in the world),the people and other key indices.

Ghana was once among the lowest 40% ranked countries in terms of 'voice and accountability according to the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) ,but has since moved to join countries in the top 40%,and this the report says gives Ghana the tag of being in the 'golden age' of political voice.

The report further reveals that Ghana is outpacing wealthier countries in terms of health provision,high immunization rates,major declines in child-stunting,as well as halving malaria deaths among children.

In the area of education,the survey reveals that access to education and enrollment at the pre-primary,primary and secondary levels have increased from 28% in 1980 to 50% by 2005 in pre-primary education,70% in 1988 to 80% in 2005 as well as below 40% throughout the 1980's and 1990's to 61% in 2012.

Deputy Education minister in charge of tertiary education,Honourable Okudjeto Ablakwa attributed the gains Ghana has made in the education sector to the massive investments the country has made and continues to make in education.

He said,in a bid to ensure the elements of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education in article 25 of the constitution was achieved,his government have rolled out interventions such as the distribution of uniforms,shoes,textbooks,exercise books and the elimination of schools under trees to achieve access,quality and equity.

"If education must be compulsory and universal,we must remove all the excuses,so if a parent would not send their child to school because they cannot afford basic needs - uniforms,shoes,books,transportation among others,all these hurdles ought to be removed and that is the founding principle guiding education," he added.

Hon Ablakwa noted that education over the period has received more resources compared to the other ministries and if more tangible progress is to be seen in the sector,more resources need to be committed in order to provide quality education to the people.

However,Executive director of the Ghana integrity Initiative,Vitus Azeem noted that political voice which the report described as key to the progress in development of the country,did not reflect the situation in practice.

While admitting that Ghana had made gains in this regard,he was of the view that political voice and it's positive impact has been largely exaggerated.

He added that aspects of the indicator such as the transition from authoritarian and military rule to democratic systems,peaceful elections in the multi-ethnic setting of the country have contributed to progress,even though other aspects such as demonstrations,people's participation in political debates,press engagements among others have been weak.

He further noted,that only in a few instances have governments acted on the voice of the people,and that cannot be explained to mean a golden age of political voice,since the instances where governments have overlooked the voices of the people far outweigh the former.

Executive director of Imani Ghana - Franklin Kudjoe explained that Ghana had achieved a lot in terms of political voice looking back at Ghana's history,but the nature of Ghana's constitution leaves very little for the people.

"The nature of our constitution in spite of our democracy encourages a lot of state capture,and the reason there's a lot of vitriol and voice when it comes to elections is because the stakes are high,and whoever captures power,captures everything.

You can have a situation where a lot of people are politically active voicing their opposition and demands,but when the political class gets into office,it creates an executive system that is an overbearing one and usually does everything," he added.

He said the partnership between the elected and the electoral college was almost non-existent - and if the real sense of political voice must be achieved,it must translate into ownership of the decision-making and resource allocation processes.

These he said,can only be reached if an effective decentralized system of governance and a decentralized system of ownership of resources are pursued.

In the health sector,prevalence of stunting among children under age five decreased from 35% in 2003 to 28% in 2008,while Ghana ranked 7th out of 153 countries in terms of progress of measles immunization between 1990 and 2010,the report revealed.

The Ghana statistical service report of 2009 pegged increase in child immunization rate from 19% to 70% and measles-vaccination rate stood at 91% - a figure above the regional average of 75%.

The report also indicated a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality rates,and this former Health minister and ranking member of the health committee of parliament,Dr. Richard Anane attributed to deliberate policies initiated and carried on by successive governments.

He noted that the introduction of a social engineering venture- the national health insurance scheme under the John Kufuor administration in 2001 and pursued further by successive governments,has largely played a role in achieving health stability in Ghana.

Dr. Anane said access of free health care for all pregnant women and children formed part of innovations in this regard,but over the years has resulted in some pressure on the scheme,thereby requiring a new funding regime.

Private sector participation,he added,have been key in providing financial and geographical access to the people in the healthcare sector.

The report admitted that there were challenges of quality distribution,equity,financial sustainability,inclusivity of political voice as well as making the state accountable through increased participation and democratic space, but researchers at the institute are confident with a lot more effort,Ghana could achieve more through pre-established,agreed upon and publicly countable framework of rules.

"Ghana,the rising star - progress in political voice,health and education", is one of a series of development case studies being carried out by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) across the world.

The project,funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,is a four-year research initiative which aims to better understand,measure and communicate progress in development across countries and to provide evidence of what has worked,examine drivers of the process and serve as a benchmark for other countries to emulate.