We invite commentaries from writers all over. The subject is about Ghana and the world. We reserve the right to accept or reject submissions, but we are not necessarily responsible for the opinions expressed in articles we publish......MORE

The president’s accident and some security implications
E. Ablorh-Odjidja

The question on the minds of many is whether President Kufuor was in an actual accident or there was some attempt at assassination.

Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information has told the press that investigations are ongoing, and that the driver of the car which rammed into the president’s car is under protection at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

She says it is her hope that from this driver, name yet unrevealed, will come answers to questions swirling about the true nature of the unfortunate event this past Wednesday.

Mrs Sai-Cofie has also made it known that the safety of this driver is of serious concern to the state because he is considered key person to the investigations now taking place.

Some security analysts have been quick to criticize the reaction of the president’s security detail to the accident, especially soon after it  happened. They have expressed concerns about how onlookers were allowed to intrude on the accident scene.

Mr. Emmanuel Bombandey of the West Africa Network for Peace Building told the media that the perimeter within which the president’s vehicle was should have been secured from outsider intrusion and that the failure to do so should raise some serious security concerns.

What has not been answered was how the driver of this expensive Mercedes Benz car could have been drunk so early in the morning, with blood alcohol level of 1.8, as revealed by investigations and reported by the press.

While questions by security analysts may be valid, the nature of their concern should also reveal the manner in which Ghanaian society is changing or has changed.

An act of public intrusion on an accident could usually be viewed as a spontaneous act to help victims. In the case of the president’s, while onlooker response may present some security risks, it should also reveal how fast our world has been changed by those who would use violence for political ends.

What should also not be overlooked are the history and ownership of the vehicle involved in the accident with the president. Was it a vehicle that has passed all safety tests or one that has been condemned as insurance loss overseas and then imported into the country by some nefarious entrepreneur?

Also of concern should be the epidemic of indiscipline on Ghanaian roads and its consequences.

One thing is certain so far: the blood alcohol level and the expensive nature of the car driven should reveal some recklessness on the part of the driver.

The accident occurred in the morning while the president was on his way to work on a route he travels daily. If it is an assassination attempt who will it benefit?

It certainly would have caused some confusion in the coming elections and set the country back in the huge political and economic gains that have been made so far. But an assassination attempt would serve no one any good other that to fulfill the purpose of a highly confused mind.

E.  Ablorh-Odjidja, Washington, D.C. November 15, 2007




 

President Kufuor tasks NSC to manage stadium well

Accra, Nov 11, Ghanadot/GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday tasked the National Sports Council (NSC) to adopt the best management, economic and safety practices in the administration of the refurbished Ohene Djan Stadium.....More

Ghana thrashes Togo in Stadium opener

Accra, Nov 11, Ghanadot/GNA - Ghana's Black Starlets gave fans that thronged the Ohene Djan Stadium for the official inauguration of the venue on Sunday a perfect reason to smile when they thrashed Togo 4-1 in a special international friendly. ....More