Two months into 1985
A Chronicler's Diary
Anyway, I'll leave the economies aside for the moment and survey the political trends over the past two months.
The euphoria of the 31st December anniversary nearly overturned by an attempted coup d'etat and which highlighted the Burkinabe President Sankara's much publicised visit has virtually died down. They have got tonnes and tonnes of salt from Ada and they are satisfied. This was followed by the golden jubilee celebrations of the restoration of the Ashanti confederacy, marked by a grand durbar at the Kumasi sports stadium.
As if to smooth the entry of the government entourage to Kumasi, the PNDC announced it is instituting the Yaa Asantewaa trophy as a national award for heroism and patriotism. Then another announcement revealed that new cedi currencies notes were to be introduced in February, one of which bears the portrait of the legendary Yaa Asantewaa. To Kumasi, they all came to attend the durbar and recreate a hitherto forgotten piece of history.
Suddenly the planned route by J. J. Rawlings to ride in an open motorcade from the airport to the stadium was changed when his security retinue of Cuban and Libyan operatives who have been in Kumasi days before the event confirmed that an assassination plot has been hatched to tear out Rawlings' eyes along the route. Thus he was flown in a helicopter straight to the stadium. His itinerary to dine with the Asanteman council after the durbar was cancelled and he had to get out quick and fast by flying back to Accra. Meanwhile, the security team decided that once Rawlings was away and safe to Accra, they would seek out the plotters and eliminate them all. That led to the shoot out in the residence of a former PNP activist Alhaji Abass.
Later on after a half hour battle which resulted in plenty of casualties, the security team decided to dynamite the whole edifice. The explosion which followed was deadly and catastrophic, erasing the whole house flat to the ground. Two events followed this in quick succession: The publication of the facts of the events by the PIONEER reporter mentioned a Flying Officer Abass, serving soldier mistakenly for the Alhaji Abass, the financier of the dissidents' operation.
"Our 1969 constitution was prefaced with 'if the wise in any country refused to take part in government, they will live under the government of others' - fools probably".
Consequently, the entire editorial team of the newspaper found themselves in Gondar barracks where they tasted real revolutionary torture and beatings. Meanwhile PNDC Chairman Rawlings took off on a visit to Algeria ostensibly to let the whole world know that all was well at home.
Passing from these series of events, came the revelation that a group of army officers who attempted to overthrow the government at the end of December 1984 are to face a "public" tribunal except that it wouldn't be a public affair at all. The whole proceedings will take place behind doors, in camera. Anyway, on this particular case, again Rawlings was the key target at the anniversary parade in Accra.
It appears the Cuban and Libyan security operatives are having a field day and chalking successes. So this country is in turmoil to be frank and although on the surface, it appears calm and peaceful, beneath, the cauldron is boiling. The left and right within the PNDC clique are at each other's throat and the dissidents aim probably for a Sadat-type elimination stratagem. In fact, I wonder whether Rawlings can sleep well at all. He must be a worried man indeed!
One event follows another all too soon. The J. B. Danquah memorial lectures were to follow and who else was chosen to deliver the keynote speech but veteran politician and lawyer, Mr Wiliam Ofori Attah alias Paa Willie, alias Mr "Eye Clean", founder and leader of the erstwhile United National Convention. Speaking on the theme: "Our Hopes for a New Ghana", Mr Ofori Attah exhorted the people of his country to eschew apathy, organise and fight for their political rights.
"People must get involved in the politics of the country. There is no point for people to sit down unconcerned and think that everything will be alright overnight", he said. Paa Willie quoted an Englishman, Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" adding that "our 1969 constitution was prefaced with 'if the wise in any country refused to take part in government, they will live under the government of others' fools probably". He called on Ghanaians to keep in touch with the governing, work with them, counsel them and not alienate them.
Mr Ofori Attah compared Ghana to a city on fire surrounded by people who profess to help but infact only add flames to the fire, then there are passive onlookers who care less about how well the city will burn and finally those who genuinely offer to help and save. On the economy, Mr Ofori Atta said no matter how much the cedi was devalued it would yield no fruit unless the exercise went hand in hand with measures to boost productivity. The lecture was attended by foreign diplomats, university academics, businessmen and former politicians. So the nation plods on and looks forward to more events - a major international trade fair in Woodwork and furniture industries in early April and of course Easter to celebrate the death of Jesus Christ.
As I usually say, the nation is waiting, praying and still waiting.
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A Touch Of Nokoko returns after Easter with "Funerals - it's a R.I.P. off!"
