Background
I met Major-General Andoh at a recent church service to celebrate the 80th birthday of the former National Security Minister, Francis Poku.
Kweku Baako Jr., Kwesi Pratt Jr., Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Owula Mangortey were the Media personalities in attendance.
I was chatting undertones, and comparing some notes with my friend, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, when Major-General Andoh, Engineer Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Ambassador D.K. Osei, Ex-IGP Asante Apeatu, Osabarima Nana Ansa Sasraku, Akwapim Mamfehene, were introduced as some of the dignitaries present.
So, I noted to myself that this was the “powerful shortie” General who as Director-General of Defence Intelligence was looking all over the place for me, Owula Mangortey.
After the church service, I walked straight up to him and introduced myself. I was so surprised to see a whole General Andoh of the Ghana Armed Forces shrink and walk away from me as if he had suddenly seen a venomous cobra!!
Crisis of conscience of the Military High Command
Then, suddenly, I noted that on 11th January, 2022, Major-General Andoh by a letter number GHQ/1002/61/COS had informed the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana that the Ghana Armed Forces of Ghana had found out that
four (4) their soldiers were attached to the Office of the Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament “without proper procedure.”
In effect, was Major-General Andoh, who styles as the Chief of Staff, General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, painting the following scenarios of a crisis of conscience of the Military High Command?:
(1). That, the Parliament of Ghana by its own powers commandeered four (4) soldiers to be attached to the office of the Speaker without the knowledge, concurrence and approval of the Military High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces.
(2). That, four (4) serving soldiers of the Ghana Armed Forces left their barracks to attach themselves to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament without the knowledge, concurrence and approval of the Military High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces.
(3). That, the Ghana Armed Forces suddenly came to the realisation that four (4) of their soldiers were missing from barracks, and upon investigations they were found to be attached to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament without the knowledge, concurrence and approval of the Military High Command.
Fellow Ghanaians, while we ponder over the crisis of conscience of the Military High Command, can some one be kind to provide me the lyrics of ZOMBIE by Fela Anikulapo Kuti?
All I can remember of the lyrics are:
Zombie o Zombie.
Zombie no go go unless you tell ’em to go.
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell ’em to stop.
Zombie no go think unless you tell ’em to think.
Tell them to go straight (to Parliament).
No break, no job, no sense.
Tell ’em to go kill.
No break, no job, no sense.
Tell ’em to go quench.
No break, no job, no sense.
National Security saves Major-General Andoh by the bell
Then, on 15th January, 2022, it had to take the “sharp brains” at the Ministry of National Security to notice the self-defenestration of Major-General Andoh’s letter, and to bellow a sharp command in Fela Anikulapo style, vide letter number MSC/NSC/15/10/22/15:
Attention, quick march.
Slow march, left turn.
Right turn, about turn.
Double up, salute.
Open your hat, stand at ease.
Fall in, fall out.
Fall down, get ready.
Attention.
Fellow Ghanaians, join me to sing:
Zombie o Zombie (zombie o zombie)
Zombie o Zombie (zombie o zombie).
I am singing all the way to Wulugu, Kpasinkpe, Gambaga, Nalerigu and Nankpanduri.
I shall return.
Owula Mangortey
Walewale
16th January, 2022