JusticeGhana Looks at the Ups and Downs of the Year 2009

It was the year Barack Obama and Ghana’s President John Atta- Mills took office. The recession hit globally.

MPs’ expenses in UK parliament were exposed to public scrutiny, Iranians protested after a flawed presidential election, Michael Jackson died. And the Copenhagen climate summit which ended in a flawed deal. And Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana. Other events will be discussed briefly.

AKUFO-ADDO CONCEDES DEFEAT IN GHANA PRESIDENCY POLL

ACCRA, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Ruling party presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo conceded defeat on Saturday in

Ghana’s presidential election after the Electoral Commission declared a narrow run-off victory for opposition leader John Atta Mills.

“I acknowledge the electoral commissioner’s declaration and congratulate Professor Mills,” Akufo-Addo told a news conference at his New Patriotic Party (NPP) headquarters in the capital Accra.

 

JOHN ATTA MILLS

On January 7th, Professor Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills assumed office as the new President of Republic of Ghana. This event became a milestone, not only for

the country, but also for Africa which is in need of examples of peaceful political process.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

The police-cum-military brutalities in Ghana raised its ugly head in the Bawku conflict as soldiers assaulted and brutalised civilians in their efforts to forestall what appeared to JusticeGhana as peace, security and progress in that impoverished part of Northern Ghana.

This had come at the time the ruling government was struggling to bring justice to the families of those alleged to have been murdered in similar circumstances under the previous administration that it inherited. Ghana recorded perhaps, one of its hightest shoot-to-kill victims in an attempt to stamp-out armed-robbery.

POPE BENEDICT XVI ATTACKED

The woman who launched a Christmas Eve attack on Pope Benedict XVI will probably not face charges because of her mental state, Italian news agency ANSA says …The 82-year -old Pope Benedict XVI, according to abc News, was knocked down to a marble floor by one Susanna Maioloman, who leaped over the barrier to get closer to him as he was making his way down the long aisle in St. Peter’s Basilica.

On Saturday 24 October 2009, Pope Benedict- whose New Year message centred on respect for each other without discrimination and probably, change of negative lifestyles that affect humanity, appointed the Ghanaian Cardinal Peter AppiahTurkson, to head the Vatican’s justice and peace office.

OTUMFUOR CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Otumfuor Nana Osei Tutu Ababio celebrated 10th anniversary of ascending on the Sikagwa Kofi (the Golden Stool) with a durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, in Kumase, on Sunday April 26 2009. The Asantehene, who rekindled his commitment to purposeful leadership to his people, especially on the field of education and qualitative health delivery, later met with the Ga Mantse- King Tackie Tawia III, in London, United Kingdom.

KING TACKIE TAWIA III MET OTUMFUOR

The Ga Mantse- King Tackie Tawia III, met Otumfuor Nana Osei

Tutu Ababio II on matters of common interest to their peoples and Ghana. According to UK-based Ghanaian Journalist Nana Sifa Twumin, the Ga Mantse came to London to interact with UK government officials on the educational and youth development of his people.

OKYEHENE CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY

The Okyehene Osagyefuo Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin II marked 10th Anniversary with grand durbar at Kyebi and with a renewed commitment to arrest what Myjoynews report described as escalating state of environmental degradation in the country, especially, in his Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area, where illegal diamond/gold mining (galamsey), not forgetting illegal timber lumbering, are rampant. According to Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), the Okyehene ((who recently inaugurated an Agricultural and Environmetal University College at Bunso, near Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana)), has inspired respect and admiration among many poor people, including community people, politicians and environmentalists and NGO’s both in Ghana and abroad.

RAWLINGS REWARDED AND MADE CHIEF

 

Former President Jerry John Rawlings was decorated Torgbui Avaklasu I by the Chiefs and Peoples of his home region- the Volta Region. Earlier in the year, the former president, together with Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Festus Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana; Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra-Leone, were honoured by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for their role and contribution to the growth of democracy on the African Continent.

In a citation which bestowed on the former air force pilot with Agyiwodin Award (“which roughly translates as “you’ve made your name”) at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to climax Otumfuor’s 10th Anniversary as Asante King, the Asantehene said:

“Former President Rawlings during his time as a leader maintained political stability, and has as well maintained his reputation as an honest and rational leader who did not use his position at that time for personal enrichment… Rawlings also helped him and the Asante people in diverse ways when he was in power and to that effect, the former president be honoured for his role in attaining democracy for the people of Ghana.”

Because of intenational commitment, ex-President Kufuor, it appears to JusticeGhana, was not at the ceremony for his share of the award. Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain was for example, honoured and similar to that of his invited colleagues, decorated with rich kente cloth, for his enormous love and support for the African Continent.

OBAMA’S VISITED GHANA

GHANA was the first sub-Saharan nation to gain independence, in 1957. In President Obama’s speech in Ghana, he mentioned that ‘Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. Obama was inaugurated as president in January 2009. One of his main campaign promises was that he would shut Guantanamo Bay and pass a health care Bill. He won the Nobel Peace Prize within his first year of office.

DUTCH RETURN HEAD OF NANA BONSU

The Dutch Return Severed Head of King Badu Bonsu II to his ethnic Ahantas in western region of Ghana. Ghanaians around the world celebrated this historical event.

international criminal justice triumphs

Radovan Karadzic, one of the world’s most wanted men, was arrested 13 years after he was first indicted by the United Nations War Crimes Court.

The Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic appeared at his war crimes trial for the first time on 3 November 2009 and said it should be delayed.

 

Ghana Black Satellites

Members of Ghana’s Black Satellites won Fifa U-20 World Cup. The senior team the Black Stars also qualified for the Football World Cup in South Africa 2010. It was all joy!

 UK MPs’ EXPENSES

The year 2009 was the year politicians managed the unthinkable – they became more unpopular than they were last year. In May, The Telegraph sensationally released details of its investigations into how MPs exploited the system of parliamentary allowances. In Ghana, some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress were complicated in bribery and corruption charges dating back in the 1990s in the Mabey&Johson verdict, down here in the UK. Alhaji Muntaka an NDC Asewase MP and Sports Minister, resigned over alleged corruption.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH

He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson’s brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July.

SWINE FLU

On 18th March 2009, Mexican authorities first noticed outbreaks of a flu-like illness and by 16th April the World Health Organisation (WHO) had been notified of a swine flu outbreak.

 

GERMANY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

Germany celebrateD the anniversary of the Berlin wall along with world leaders such as Gordon Brown. The CDU/CSU- led Agela Merkel who was elected as Budeskanzler for the second term in office delivered a significant speech about the impact of the wall. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that this isn’t just a change about Germany, it’s the whole world along with it!

Tiger woods dark secrets come to light

Tiger Woods “dark secrets” come to light after his car accident. Wife Ellen, reportedly, is filing divorce over Woods’ alleged relationship with 10 cocktail waitresses. Not a good year tiger and, you’re not out of the woods yet!?”

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

The UK Telegraph, 13 December 2009 … More than 200 people were arrested in Copenhagen on Sunday as demonstrations calling for a new international deal on climate change …

 

GOD SAVED THE WORLD

Earth Times, 27 December 2009- Washington – The son of a wealthy Nigerian banker was handcuffed to a wheelchair at a Detroit hospital Saturday and charged with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines passenger plane carrying 278 passengers. The young man attempted the attack as the plane approached the Detroit airport on Christmas Day.

 

 

GHANA AT HALF-MASK

The Ghana flag flew at half-mask in the hearts and minds of the Ghanaian as they waited to usher in the Year 2010 with hope and determination for better years ahead. The traditional spirit of national remembrance was extended to the souls of its departed citizens, including those of the world, for their selfless service to mankind and nature while on earth.

It was in this context that personalities such as for example, Nkrumah and the BIG Six, R.R. Amponsah, Dr Agamah, Doris Asibi Seidu, Dan Lartey, entertainer John Grahl (aka “Water Proof) and many unsung heroes, heroines and the tragic burning down of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, were remembered.

Researched and Compiled By The Youth Editors

JusticeGhana.com