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There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy William Shakespeare, Hamlet There is absolutely no doubt that nations all over the world continue to disagree on certain matters that affect the lives of their citizenry. There are disagreements in what needs to be done and how they should be done, but in the end there is also the recognition that basic things which are required for institutional growth and individual development should not be compromised. Any nation that sets up institutions, both critical and supporting, but refuses to equip those institutions, is as good as not having those institutions at all. It is in the knowledge of this that many nations adopt the principle of compromise in addressing many of such critical decision making in the face of very essential competing demands. This country has major institutional weaknesses because we have not had the courage to support them with the needed and right equipment for their survival and efficient delivery. There are so many public institutions which exist in name because there is a structure that is supposed to be the office and staff who are paid monthly for doing nothing, not because they so wish, but simply because they do not have the basic logistics that should make them work. We are so concerned about bread and butter issues that very basic and sometimes critical necessities, which when provided would guarantee our collective security and safety, are relegated to the background until we find ourselves in very dire circumstances. That is when we rope in the dark, looking for solutions. Adhocism has been our management style. During the latter part of President Kufuor�s reign, when the propaganda machinery of the NDC and its allied ideological dinosaurs had painted a picture of famine and total nakedness among Ghanaians, a failed state as it were of Ghana, a decision was taken by the then government, on the genuine request of the Ghana Armed Forces, for the acquisition of two aircrafts for the institution. In spite of the fact that the matter was brought before Parliament and critically discussed, the ideologically bankrupt NDC and its allies vilified the Kufuor administration as the most insensitive government that ever governed this country. Championed by Kwesi Pratt, who like any human being enjoys the best of things in life but cannot see others enjoying same, lashed at the administration and described it in the most acerbic and uncomplimentary terms. The usual �majority of Ghanaians cannot afford three square meals a day� was the refrain of vintage Kwesi Pratt. He complained bitterly about the hundreds of Ghanaians who did not have places to lay their heads, and the poor health needs of Ghanaians in the face of the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Education, according to Kwesi Pratt at the time, had totally collapsed. He concluded therefore that the Armed Forces and the Presidency did not deserve those aircrafts in the face of the issues he and his compatriots in the NDC had raised. The insults Kwesi Pratt and his jaundiced-eyed friends heaped on Kufuor are known to all of us. Happily, it was also very obvious that Kufuor was not buying the aircraft for himself and that he was doing that to meet a critical need of a major institution like the Ghana Armed Forces. When Kwesi�s NDC came to office, not only did they wisely continue with the project, but they also even added to the original specifications of the Kufuor administration. Any humble President would have said �I am sorry, we did not know�. In less than three years in office, the NDC, which has employed its most vitriolic arsenals of lies, ably supported by its blurred vision and lack of ideas against the Kufuor administration, is buying further aircraft and hangers for the Ghana Armed Forces. For me, aside what is perceived to be an inflated cost, the decision is a good one. If every government decides to gradually equip the Ghana Armed Forces, we would build a very strong force that we will all be proud of, devoid of political nonsense. If one is to go by the warped reasoning of Kwesi Pratt and co. in heaping insults on Kufuor the last time, would we say that the conditions that �warranted� the cacophonous ranting and ravings have disappeared over the past two years, thus necessitating the acquisition of the aircrafts? Certainly not, but that should not be the reason why the Ghana Armed Forces should be denied the planes. What is your position on this current attempt to secure the aircrafts? Would you argue, for the sake of the ordinary Ghanaian, that instead of buying the aircrafts, the monies should be used to complete the Achimota-Ofankor and Sofo Line roads? And did I hear Baba Jamal, the Deputy Minister of Information, saying that the aircrafts are not meant for the use of the President and that they would be used for national and peace-keeping purposes? Kufuor was placing an order for the Falcon, which was to be delivered in 2010; was he ordering it for himself? A nation is not governed by emotions based on dead ideologies. The most successful governments have been those that tackled issues on the basis of prevailing objective conditions, even if those decisions were against their earlier philosophies. Those who cannot run ordinary eight page newspapers successfully cannot run a country. Hei, GH�20 million for Eco brigade, intended to clean our beaches to attract tourists? That is great. I listened to Hon Kobby Acheampong, Deputy Minister for Interior on Metro TV defending the budget. Yes, as the immediate past Deputy Minister for Tourism, he rightly should be concerned about the state of our beaches. But Kobby, (I hope you would not mind me addressing you as Kobby, please don�t consider me kokoase kurasi ni) how do you expect tourists to travel within a very filthy environment, their first contact on arrival into this country, into a clean beach? The two must go hand in hand. This country is very filthy. I agree with you, it is the responsibility of all to ensure a clean and healthier environment, but you saw it too late. Under your administration, 4000 people were at a given point in time affected by cholera and over 100 of them died. We should be more concerned about that. Accra is seething under filth, Takoradi is engulfed with refuse, Kumasi cannot be better off. All cities in this country are being compelled to live in filth, why special attention to the beaches? Have you heard the other news? That Honourable Members of Parliament pay their drivers GH�80.00. They do not care where they sleep when out of station (Accra) for other Parliamentary duties. They go hungry while their drivers famish. Drivers of Ministers of State and MMDCEs as well as public and civil servants are on government payroll, why can�t we do the same for drivers of our MPs so they can have a secured future. It is not easy to drive very busy people like MPs in the service of the nation. A discontented driver can be the sure cause of an early death of an officer. A word to the wise�� Ei Egya Atta, why all these homos and gays under your regime? You have so impoverished the people of this country such that even men are giving out their something in exchange for cash. Aaabah, under your administration, spousal murders are on the ascendancy, domestic stress which is the consequence of the economic hardship your government has inflicted on the citizenry has made enemies of lovers under the same roof, and yet you are praising yourself for a job well done? You tout yourself as a Christian par excellence; a God fearing President with a vindictive character who is presiding over one of the most pungent immorality this country has over witnessed. Man of God, what doeth thou? Hypocrisy is the praises which vice showers on virtue. Onyame ehu mo. My brothers and sisters, I am informed that the Falcon has broken down and grounded at the Air Force Base in Accra. Let me cut some mahogany bitters, please fill the glass because I am very sad about our politics today. [email protected] By Kwasi Biney