ACILA Releases Report on LGBT Survey

Result of survey, Source: ACILA 

Policy and Education think tank, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) is set to release the first ever comprehensive survey on lesbianism, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

The survey with an estimated sample size of 1,200 using random sampling procedure has produced some interesting findings and analyses which will engage the minds of the Ghanaian public in the coming weeks.

Executive Director of ACILA, Mr. William Nyarko in a discussion stated that no individual or institution is pushing for the legalization of LGBT, but insisted the basic rights of people must exist.

ACILA has already released a teaser of the survey on what the public must expect on Monday and Tuesday 30^th and 31^st July, 2018 at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra.

One critical area the research focused was on the health sector. Under this section, people’s beliefs were put into test against LGBT issues. Respondents, consisting Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists were asked if they would allow medical practitioners with the perception of being LGBT administer “emergency treatment” on them. Results from respondents were very close.

For instance, three (3) out of ten (10) Christians noted they would reject “emergency medical treatment” from a health practitioner perceived to be LGBT. In the Islamic Religion, four (4) out of (10) respondents noted they would not receive “emergency medical treatment” from a health practitioner whiles in the traditional religion, it was five apiece.

Result of Survey, Source: ACILA 

With respect to gender, four (4) out of ten (10) females were against “emergency treatment” from a health practitioner perceived to be LGBT whiles three out of ten males also shared similar views.

What this survey means is that the sexual orientation of health practitioners does not matter to the Ghanaian patient in the administering of emergency medical treatment. 

However, many of these respondents are against the recognition of LGBT rights in Ghana. 

Another area the research focused was on mob justice. A total of 98 respondents sided that it is the duty of the police to protect every individual from mob injustice. 

However, the survey showed that 72 of them stated that LGBT people should be protected from from mob injustice. 

This tells that, many Ghanaians may consult health staff perceived to be LGBT, but some respondents support mob injustice against them.     

Pollution Alert: Weija Lake Now Refuse Dump Site

Weija Lake encroached & polluted by cottage industries  

A Unit Committee Member at Weija Electoral Area in Weija Gbawe Municipality in the Greater Accra Region and some residents around Weija Lake are accusing the Asafoatse (Chief) in the area, Nii Aryee Pampamku I for polluting the lake by using a portion of land closer to the lake as refuse dump site.   

The member, who spoke to The Manual on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimized, noted that in recent times, both the military and police personnel on some occasions have been to the dumping site to warn the people engaged in the activity, but they have always returned to resume work.

This, the residents and the committee member believed there is higher political undertone that is enabling the activity to go on unstopped. 

The Manual was the area to see firsthand and noticed the level of irresponsible dumping of refuse in the lake and what we found out was jaw dropping as huge pile of refuse is dumped daily at that sensitive area despite complaints from residents living there. 

Some residents noted that it is unhealthy to use that portion of land very close to the lake as dumping site. Their worry was that should cholera outbreak hit the area, it will have adverse effects on them.

The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Wilfred Blankson noted that portion of land belongs to the Asafoatse, but the Assembly has not granted him permit to use it as refuse dump site.

Asked why the activity is still ongoing whiles the Chief does not have permit, Mr. Blankson stated that the whole problem is that the area does not have a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). He added that with the presence of an MCE, things will be done swiftly. 

“That is a multi-million question everybody is asking. The authorities have worked on it; how to stop it, how to go about it, they invited him, he came and provided his indentures. The most important thing is that we don’t have an MCE but the assembly can do something about” the assemblyman said.

Meanwhile, he stated that the Chief had argued he had good intentions for the youths in the community, and if those intentions were true, he sees it as a “laudable idea”, but the manner its being done is the problem.

“The Asafoatse had argued that there is no major source of employment for the youth. He said the place is being used as a dumping site and afterwards the land will be filled with laterite and sealed. After this is done, they will not build on it, but panels will be installed as a company will soon come with heavy equipments to establish factory at the area. Because there are no lands in the district, he [Asafoatse] has taken it upon himself in order to assist the youth in getting jobs. If this is true, fine”, Mr. Blankso added. 

Dumping site: some refused washed into the lake 

In a sharp twist, the Assemblyman was very disappointed and expressed his outmost surprise and shock in the residents. According to him, when the activity started, he brought the press to cover the people’s plight for action to be taken. However, the residents expressed their satisfaction of the activity openly to the media.

“I took him [Asafoatse] on by reporting him to the assembly. I went to Onua FM and Citi FM; we had discussions on that issue. They were at the place with their reporters. Some residents who spoke to the media, however, stated that dumping of refuse at the area is rather helping them because since the activity began, whenever Ghana Water Company Limited spills water, it does not affect them unlike previously”.

“Therefore, the refuse dump at the area is good for them. At that time, I was there with a unit committee member and some colleagues; we were utterly shocked with their response”, he lamented.  

Several attempts have been done to contact the Chief to respond on these issues, but all efforts aimed at reaching him proved futile.

Due to the continuous pollution of the Weija Lake, the Water Resources Commission (WRC) has hinted that the Kasoa toll booth and all illegal structures, including cottage industries around the lake will soon be demolished to protect the river body.

The lake provides 3 million gallons of portable water per day. Twenty-one (21) communities and over 3 million people in Western Accra and Central Region depend on the dam.

Establish Independent Police Complaint Commission to deal with Police unprofessional conduct, ACILA Boss

William Nyarko, ACILA Executive Director

The Executive Director for policy and research think tank - Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Mr. William Nyarko is urging President Nana Akufo-Addo to establish Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) to deal with Police unprofessional conduct.

President Akufo-Addo after being briefed of an assault case of a policeman brutalizing a customer at a branch of Midland Savings and Loans in Accra coupled with the recent police shooting incident in Asawase in the Ashanti Region mentioned that government will establish a committee of inquiry to look into the events and make recommendations going forward.

It is as a result of this response the Executive Director stepped-in to advice the president that such a committee is needless and urged him to rather concentrate on the implementation of IPCC. 

“Ghana agreed to a recommendation to establish the Independent Police Complaint Commission when its human rights record was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council in November 2017 and we should follow through and establish the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC)”, Mr. Nyarko stressed.

“Mr. President respectfully we don’t need a ‘conumtea’[committee] to investigate the conduct of police officers, he jovially added.

The Executive Director further noted that instead of establishing a committee on matters like this where final reports of committees have always been left to rot on the shelves, it was important the state allows the criminal justice system to work in bringing unprofessional security personnel to the full rigorous of the law.

“We have to allow the criminal justice system to work by prosecuting these officers and if they are found guilty, they should do time in prison in accordance with due process’, Mr. Nyarko noted. 

Following the Midland Savings and Loans police brutality, the police hierarchy has interdicted the officer involved in the alleged assault case and commenced investigations into the conduct of the police officer.

The assault has resulted in many social media condemnation. Some civil society groups and individuals have come out to condemn the action and have urged stricter punishment to be taken against the policeman Federick Ammanor. 

However, the family of the policemen in an interesting twist apologized to the public and the family of the victim and stated that their relative “usually” beats up women.

WEIJA LAKE NOW REFUSE DUMP SITE: 3 Million Lives at Risk, Kasoa Toll Booth to be Relocated

Hawkers at the Kasoa Toll Booth, area now market

Government will soon give a green light for relocation of the Kasoa Toll Booth, the Manual can reveal with authority.

This is because activities of residents, hawkers and motorists around where the toll booth is located are gradually polluting the Weija Lake.

The lake serves as a source where Ghana Water Company Limited draws and treats water for over three million people in Western Accra and parts of Central Region.

The Manual has established series of human activities including dumping of both solid and liquid waste into the Lake which has now culminated the pollution of the Weija Lake in the Ga South Municipality.

Reports gathered state that the area is ecologically sensitive and it is important the toll booth is moved into a more convenient location whereas all illegal structures along the lake will be demolished in next coming weeks. This is to protect the river body which serves more than 50% of the population of Accra.

Revealing more on this development, Chief Basin Officer of Densu Secretariat of the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Dr. Ronald Abrahams said that the commission had already discussed the matter with the Ga South Municipal Assembly and will soon carry out the project.

     

“What we [WRC] have done is to consult with the Minister for Roads and Highways who is about to give his word on the removal of the toll booth because the toll booth represents some form of encroachment because at the time it was being constructed, the highways did not seek permit from the Ga South Municipal Assembly. They also did not obtain permits from the Environmental Protection Agency before embarking upon the construction of the booth”, he told the Manual. 

 “So we have actually discussed the matter with the Ga South Municipal Assembly and we are moving the toll booth a little further into an area which is not as ecologically sensitive as where it finds itself now’, he added again.

Downstream Polluted Weija Lake

According to him, a team of experts will soon engage measures to get rid of all trading and commercial activities, sale of stone chippings and all forms of activities along the lake. 

To ensure that this project is carried out successfully and maintained to its maximum best, the Densu Chief Officer noted that the area will be fenced-off to prevent encroachment because at the time of construction of the toll booth, such environmental consequences were not considered.

ADVOCACY 

With regards to education and advocacy, Dr. Abrahams noted that the Water Resources Commission has been carrying out some public advocacy on pollution and encroachment, which he noted is a major problem within the Densu Basin and especially around the Weija Lake where Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been treating water for most of the population of Accra. It was gathered that for over 10 years, the commission had engaged the people around the lake through media programmes and community durbars to sensitize them on the consequences of pollution.  

“Over the years, we have tried to carry out radio panel discussion programmes, TV programmes, community durbars and educative programmes in schools to ensure that residents living in communities along the Weija Lake do not engage in activities that pollutes the water. That has been the trend. Recently, we have tried to instill discipline into the area by clearing structures that are not supposed to be in places that we find them now”, the Chief Basin Officer added.

Asked whether the aim of the commission has been met, Dr. Abrahams said it is to some extent, but insisted that it was important not to cease working because the people they are dealing with are very ‘recalcitrant’ and would therefore have to do more to ensure discipline prevails. 

“It is not appropriate for community people to build in water ways because that is the reasons for flooding in a lot of places in Ghana and Accra in particular. We need to abide by rules and regulations or the law and ensure that people do not go about their day to day actions in disorderly manner”, he noted. 

CHALLENGES

Despite these initiatives by the commission, Dr. Abrahams added that his outfit faces some challenges in the discharge of their duties. One of the challenges he noted, is clearing of illegal structures along the Weija Lake.

He mentioned that it is important such illegal structures at the area are demolished to save the water body.  

“We have carried out some removal of unauthorized structures and this has gone on in several areas. One of the challenges that we face is clearing unauthorized structures; that is demolition the areas that are not supposed to be inhabited by the people. When you clear people after a while; when you think that understanding has come and people will not move back, they move back to the place, he stated.

  

The Manual gathered that the WRC is soliciting funds to immediately begin the second phase of the project. Cottage industries that are springing up along the banks of the lake will all be affected, it was learnt. 

The Chief Basin Officer further added that the people involved in all forms of activities have already been given warning notices and the commission had indicated to them in earlier durbar that where they are doing their businesses was not appropriate.

This according to him will amount to massive threats to the lake.

“We cannot put our fecal matter, urine and garbage in an environment next to massive water body such as what we see here. We need to instill some discipline in the residents in making sure that people do not get the chance to misbehave’’ he said.

Area very close to the dumping site 

I was bitterly disappointed in UN, ECOWAS report, Gambia massacre survivor

Martin Kyere, 2005 Gambia massacre survivor 

The only known survivor of the July 2005 massacre of over 50 migrants in Gambia has told The Manual that he felt bitterly disappointed in the joint UN and ECOWAS report issued after the team had conducted their investigations.

A team made up of UN and regional investigators from ECOWAS exonerated then President of Gambia Yahya Jammeh from being responsible in the murder of scores of migrants from Ghana and Nigeria, which reports say they were mistaken for mercenaries.

According to Mr. Kyere it was by the Grace of God who released him from the victims of death so he could come and tell the whole world what Yahya Jammeh had done to them. Nine years after the report, he still feels bitter, not only for himself but for his entire colleagues who made the trip.

“I don’t know the facts and truth UN and ECOWAS used to arrive on the basis that Jammeh didn’t know anything about it. I was totally and bitterly disappointed in the report; not me alone but also the travelling members”, Mr. Kyere lamented.

He was hopeful when the investigative team from the two bodies met him in Accra to listen to his side of the story but did not hear from them again only for them to come out with that “unfortunate” report in 2009.

“I was invited to a meeting with the delegation in a hotel around the foreign affairs ministry. I was there from morning till evening. They just asked me what the story was about, I briefed them and didn’t hear from them again”, he stated. 

Ghana minister of information Dr. Mustapha Hamid has revealed that government was studying a request sent by Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International to extradite and prosecute Yahya Jammeh in Ghana.

Ghanaian Migrants in Gambia shot dead, thrown in wells, Jammeh’s hitman reveals

A former death squad member of the infamous paramilitary “junglers” of ex-Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh has described how more than 50 Ghanaian and other West African migrants were murdered in July 2005.

In a radio interview given in 2013 to a Gambian radio station and translated into English for the first time, Bai Lowe revealed how his unit covered the migrants’ heads with cheap plastic bags, shot them and dumped them in wells across Gambia’s border with Senegal.

One of the migrants escaped and after he was recaptured, a jungler “cut him into pieces like a Tabaski ram” and put him in a plastic sack.  (Tabaski is the Muslim “festival of sacrifice” Eid al-Adha at which rams and sheep are slaughtered.)

On May 16, 2018, Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International released a report based on interviews with 30 former Jammeh-era officials showing that the migrants were murdered by the junglers after having been detained by Jammeh’s closest deputies in the army, navy, and police forces.

In response to the report, Martin Kyere, the sole known Ghanaian survivor of the massacre, the families of those disappeared in Gambia, and Ghanaian human rights organizations, called on the Ghanaian government to investigate the new evidence and potentially seek Jammeh’s extradition and prosecution in Ghana.

Ghana Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, announced last week that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department were “studying” the request “to ask for the extradition to, and trial of Yahaya Jammeh in Ghana.”

William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), who is coordinating the campaign in Ghana to have Jammeh prosecuted for the massacre, said that the jungler’s testimony underscored the importance of Ghana taking up the case. “Forty-four Ghanaians were cruelly murdered in a foreign country. The gruesome killings as narrated Bai Lowe should shock the conscience of Ghana to get to the bottom of what happened and ultimately bring the perpetrators to account.”

Bai Lowe, ex junglers member 

Baboucar “Bai” Lowe, a former Gambian Army Warrant officer, who is now living in Germany, described the events in his 2013 interview with journalist Pa Nderry M’Bai of Freedom Radio based in North Carolina (USA):

“We got information that they were captured mercenaries … who were coming to attack the Gambia. So, we caught them, and we took them to the NIA [National Intelligence Authority] office. From the NIA headquarters, they were scattered, and [then] we took them to Kanilai [Yahya Jammeh’s home village]”

Following an order to kill the migrants; “Two guys will just bring you to the well execute you and throw you in the well [in Senegal]. That is where I saw them use a pistol to kill people….. [T]hey hold you and shoot you, while they already had a plastic bag over your head, the one dalasi [= 10 Ghanaian Pesewas] black plastic bags, shoot you and throw you in the well.”

Regarding the escapee, Bai Lowe stated; “Yes, one escaped, he was caught near Kankurang and Bambara. When he was caught, [Sanna] Manjang [a Jungler] went there and cut him into pieces like a Tabaski ram and put him into a sack. He even boasts about that, that nobody has done what he did for the Gambia because he has cut more people into pieces than any soldier in the Gambian Army. He said he has more guts than the kids because the kids cannot do what he did. He has killed people, cut them up, bagged them and threw them in [the bush]”

Bai Lowe, who was trained in Libya, served in the Gambian Presidential Guard and the junglers for some 12 years before being arrested himself in 2012 and jailed in Banjul’s infamous Mile 2 prison. After his release, he participated in a December 2014 coup attempt.

Bai Lowe’s account squares with that of the survivor Martin Kyere, who jumped out of a pick-up truck and into the forest just before the other detainees in the truck were apparently shot and killed.

Kyere has been advocating for the Ghana government to prosecute the case. “We need to make clear that Ghanaians abroad can’t be tortured and killed with impunity. By prosecuting this crime, the government will be protecting and standing up for Ghanaians everywhere.”

In a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding between Ghana and Gambia intended to put the issue to rest , the two countries “pledged to pursue through all available means the arrests and prosecution of all those involved in the deaths and disappearances of the Ghanaians and other ECOWAS nationals, especially those identified as culprits in the report.” No arrests have ever been made in connection with the case.

However, the Ghanaian groups which have called for Jammeh’s prosecution include the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Perfector of Sentiments Foundation (POS), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and Amnesty International.

Source: Jammeh2Justice  https://www.facebook.com/Jammeh2Justice/posts/2071581913114388

Editorial: Anas' Money Ball Vs Kennedy Agyepong's Who Watches the Watchman

Anas Aremeyaw (right) and Hon. Agyepong (left) 

For the past few weeks, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central in the Central Region, Hon. Kennedy Agyepong has been accusing investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas for being corrupt himself.

The MP made these attacking comments prior to the premiering of Anas' latest corruption investigative piece, Number XII, also dubbed Money Ball.

One important thing, which The Manual believes is worth mentioning is what the MP stated: "when someone raises accusing finger on a corrupt fellow, that person must also be clean".

This, The Manual thinks is a fair comments. Aside this, we are unhappy with some portions of Hon. Agyepong's comments.

In one of his submissions, he showed some pictures purported to be Anas and entreated his sympathisers to "beat" and "slap" Anas and his boys wherever they see them as he (MP) mentioned that he was capable of paying any amount of money in case any casualties result from the beatings.

The Manual sees this as a high level of threats that must be dealt with by the security agencies accordingly for the safety of not only Anas, but all journalists.

Notwithstanding, Anas has provided concrete evidences on the people he accused of being corrupt in his latest exposé.

More than 60 premier league referees, including their female counterparts and some match officials were seen collecting bribe prior to the commencement of league matches.

One of such referees is the hardened referee Samuel Suker who awarded an 83rd minute penalty to Hearts of Oak against arch rivals Asante Kotoko after the ball hits the back of kotoko's defender Ahmed Adams. This was during the 2017 Ghana Premier League. He took Ghc1500 and a goat to influence the game as Hearts won 1-0.

The return leg of this fixture in Accra was not left out as referee Dally Gagba was also given his share to influence the game in Kotoko's favour. Eventually, he awarded a similar dubious penalty to Kotoko when the ball hit the shoulder of Hearts of Oak's defender.

We believe that these great evidences by Anas is worth commended at all levels as referees and match commissioners who should ensure the sanity of the game are rather destroying the beauty of the game.

On the other hand, Hon, Agyepong has on many occasions, mentioned that Anas himself is not a "saint". He added that he also has evidences showing Anas collecting bribes from some agents which he has titled the videos "Who Watches the Watchman". That is also good.

In order to have a level playing field and also to vindicate Hon. Agyepong on his numerous allegations against Anas, the Manual will entreat the MP to show those evidences accordingly.

Already, he has promised to show it on his TV network -Net 2 on Friday and we wait patiently to see those videos.

Meanwhile, The Manual was extremely shocked after watching Anas' documentary, Number 12 today at the Accra International Conference Centre. These evidences cast a slur on Ghana's top flight football league.

It also tells that eventual winners of the 2017 Ghana Premier League -Aduana Stars, may not deserve it. Those evidences were only the ones Tiger Eye, -Anas'company went undercover to trap those referees.

How would we know what the other clubs did with these same officials without the influence of Tiger Eye? And yes, it is very possible.

The Manual believes that these videos will change Ghana Football forever. It will never be the same again.

Below are pictures of the show.

Ghanaians killed in Gambia: “Akufo-Addo nearly fought my Foreign Minister”, Jammeh makes wild allegations, curses him

President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo

Reports seen by The Manual have revealed that then Foreign Affairs Minister and now president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo nearly fought with his Gambian counterpart, Bala Gaye in Banjul when he led a delegation to Gambia following the murder of 44 Ghanaians.

This was contained in the 17^th -18^th June 2009 Edition of the Foroyaa Newspaper where then Gambia president Yahya Jammeh - for the first time since the murder of 56 migrants in July 2005 in Gambia, broke his silence on the issue. This was after the joint ECOWAS and UN investigations into the murder exonerated Jammeh and his government from being directly or indirectly involved.    

Then Gambian leader mentioned that upon seeing the eight bodies that were deposited in Ghana town, in Gambia, he invited Ghanaian community, African missions and all diplomatic representatives in Gambia to go and identify them, but were unable to do so, even though he [Jammeh] insisted that they [bodies] “must” be Ghanaians.

According to him, when the bodies could not be identified after more than three weeks, he directed they should be buried because the bodies “were occupying space” at the morgue. Few days after they were buried, then Ghana leader, President Kufour sent envoy to Gambia on the issue. Here was when Mr. Jammeh stated that Ghana foreign minister Nana Akufo-Addo lost his cool.

“And interestingly, when countries are put into alphabetical order, you have Gabon, Gambia, and Ghana. And at the AU, we sit side by side. As I said, this sad episode did not interfere in my relationship with the then President of Ghana, Kufour. But then the foreign minister of Ghana [Mr. Akufo-Addo] almost fought the foreign affairs minister of the Gambia, Balla Gaye in his office”, Jammeh said.      

The Gambian leader further mentioned that Mr. Akufo-Addo had a presidential ambition and was leading a “campaign” against Gambia government for being responsible of the murder in order to shutter his [Jammeh] dreams of becoming ECOWAS Chairman.

“I told him [Akufo-Addo] it was a campaign against the Gambia to host the 2006 AU Summit. Not only that but also for me to be Chairman of the ECOWAS and that time my best ally in West Africa was Mauritania and Ghana and so killing of the Ghanaians will create problems between me and Ghana”.

“As far as I know, you [Mr. Akufo-Addo] wanted to use this as politics so as to contest for the next presidential election [2008]. I will tell you if that is the case, you are not going to win the election. We have nothing to hide”, Mr. Jammeh claimed.

Ex-Gambia Leader, Yahya Jammeh

Ritual killings, fight at sea cause of deaths  

After Yahya Jammeh was exonerated by ECOWAS and UN for having no hand in the murder of 44 Ghanaians and eight Nigerians in Gambia, he accused Ghana for being directly involved in the killings. 

He stated that it was as a result of “ritual killings” in Ghana and a fight at sea by some “fishermen” as a the cause of deaths. He said during that period (2005), there were rumours of some strange ritual killings ongoing in Ghana.

“Originally when the matter was reported to me, what I thought was maybe ritual killings, because at that time also there were some cases going on in Ghana of ritual killing. There were a lot of rumours of some strange rituals. The other thing that came to mind was that they were all predominantly fishermen. They might have had a fight at sea or somewhere and these people were killed”, Jammeh noted.

Funeral contribution not compensation

Another element worth mentioning in his interview with the newspaper was the issue of compensation. Throughout the interview, he consistently said his government would not regard the money ($500,000) sent to Ghana for “funeral” preparation and re-burial as compensation.

According to him, it was on “humanitarian grounds” and “African solidarity” that caused his government to play that monetary role and not accepting responsibility of the murder.

He added that this was part of the campaign championed by Mr. Akufo-Addo to let Gambia accept the responsibility of the murder and pay compensation, thereby making Gambia liable to the killings.

Yahya Jammeh still insisted that they would not pay any compensation to Ghana, and added, paying compensation could make them “guilty” of committing murder.

“We are not going to pay for compensation; to compensate for what? I made it very clear that if they insist on compensation, we will not accept it simply because we are not responsible for those deaths. That is what we are doing out of humanitarian and out of African solidarity”, then Gambian leader noted.

Yahya Jammeh has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing December 2017 elections to current president, Adama Barrow. Experts say for Jammeh to be extradited to Ghana to face charges and trial for his crimes, the leadership of Ghana must take the leading role.

Reports say that government has received a request by campaign groups Human Rights Watch and Trial International on the extradition and trial of Jammeh to Ghana to face justice. One of the people who will be very happy to see him face trial is Martin Kyere, the only known survivor.

Contact made to the presidency has not been responded to at the time of filing this report. The Manual has also made contacts to Equatorial Guinea. When Yahya Jammeh responds, readers will be well informed.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/858617/ghanaians-killed-in-gambia-akufo-addo-nearly-fought-my-for.html

Anas is a Decimero

Anas Aremeyaw Anas

World-known greatest investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas yesterday on his official Facebook handle, explained why he undertook the exercise of exposing corruption in the activities of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

It was a very lengthy submission. Some people who made comments stated that they were unable to read the whole story but got the gist of it by reading few line lines. One thing that must be stated is that Mr. Anas was poetic in the introductory lines of his submission.

The story can best be described as a satire, with its tone and mood depicting despair in Ghana football. 

Below is the poem. 

It’s not my domain and I have done my best to remain in my terrain. 

Yet have I been hounded with a refrain of pleas I can no longer restrain. 

Our game is on the wane,

           
They complain, 

And the very officials in charge are the bane. 

No matter how you train, 

However much you strain, 

You labour in vain, 

For the main actors have a stain on their brain, 

And no blood of honour in their vein. 

Literature experts are not alien to this kind of exercises. Back in school, perhaps the initial questions to emanate from such a poem will be to identify the literary devices, rhyming scheme, tone and mood, themes, the persona’s attitude and what have you.

Knowing Anas for the past few years, I can say he is not somebody very inclined to sports, most especially football. However, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, he sat outside one of the stadia during a match, wrote what was happening and still won an award.

His least desire for football and willingness to “remain” at the areas he likes best in fighting corruption are evident in the first couplet (two lines) of his decima -“It’s not my domain and I have done my best to remain in my terrain. Yet have I been hounded with a refrain of pleas I can no longer restrain”.

Here, he narrates that he has “done his best” to stay in his “terrain” where he could be much comfortable. However he had been “harassed” with lots of “pleas” “he can no longer” cope with. This narrates what motivated him to investigate alleged and perceived corruption at the GFA.  

The tercet (three lines) which follow the couplet state emphatically that the beauty of Ghana football have dwindled – “Our game is on the wane”, whiles Anas accused the “officials in charge” to be the cause of the problem.

At this stage, it clearly tells that Anas might have gotten some concrete facts in order to put across this allegation, an allegation which has caused someone’s job quite recent.   

The final quintet (five lines) of his decima, suggest the pitiful mood of some dedicated players who train extra hard to win points on the field in order to bring smiles on the faces of their vociferous fans; only for the score-line of the said matches to have been decided indoors already by the “main actors” involved.

He ended by stating that these actors have no respect for Ghana football which is seen as the passion of the nation.    

"No matter how you train,

  However much you strain,

  You labour in vain,                             

  For the main actors have a stain on their brain,

  And no blood of honour in their vein”

Anas Aremeyaw Anas used a ten line poem to tell a satire. In literature (poetry), a ten-line poem is called decima. Those who write and perform decimas are called Decimistas or Decimeros. Anas’ decima in his recent work depicts despair in Ghana football.

In Puerto Rico and some parts of Lartin America, decima is often sung and improvised (Robert Lee Brewer, 2015). Who will sing for us? I choose Shatta Wale for the main track and Patapaa Ft. Sarkodie for the remix.  

https://www.modernghana.com/news/856637/anas-is-a-decimero.html