One must give on to Caesar what belongs to Caesar for a nation that does not honour her heroes is not worth dying for. One sole armed with truth, courage and dedication can change the destiny of a nation. Quashigah is an achiever, a hero, an initiator, an innovator and a change agent.
Going down memory lane, many across Ghana, Africa and the globe have described the Achievements of Major Quashigah (Rtd) as selfless and humane. Quashigah’s achievements are those that will forever stand the test of time. Like his Master, the late Osagyfo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who never dies, Quashigah’s name will forever live on. For as the saying goes, all shall pass away but the Words of God will remain the same. It is also fact to say that man will depart from earth, but his good legacies lives on and like wars that comes and go great soldiers will forever stay eternal.
Anyone who does not know Major Courage Quashigah very well must be told the true story; for his name, “COURAGE” is never his birth name. His true birth name is Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah and the name Courage was given to him during his secondary school days at Keta Senior High School where his envious exhibition of courage and bravery crowned him that name and since then has lived on with him throughout his lifetime. He was the only student in the history of that school to have held seven appointments all at the same time including the Assistant Head Boy, Band Leader, President of the Volta Region H. Y. Club, Drama Society and House Captain amongst others. Yet he passed his 'O' & 'A' LEVELS to enter the University of Ghana that he later quitted to joined the Ghana Military Academy.
Throughout the lifetime of the Good Old Major Quashigah, he has been seen as one of Ghana’s Military Best who has distinguished himself as one of the best students in the British Royal Military Academy , Sunhurts graduating with an ACADEMIC DIPLOMA in Economics, War and Communication Studies. His exceptional distinction on the course won him the PRINCE ABDUL FAISAL AWARD FOR WAR STUDIES. In addition, he was awarded a CANE AND CERTIFICATE OF HONOUR for being the BEST OVERSEA'S CADET AND HIGHEST IN THE ORDER OF MERIT. He also attended and graduated from the United States Army Ranger School where he become the first Black African to date to emerge as the DISTINGUISHED HONOUR GRADUATE RANGER on one of America's Roughest and Toughest Military Leadership courses in competition with 146 Americans. There, he trained as an Airborne (Paratrooper) in order to operate on land, sea and air. The Ranger school is a leadership course that teaches a soldier what he or she is capable of doing under stressful situations. By nature of the course, an individual emerges a more confident, tactically proficient leader with the ability to accomplish any mission assigned.
He also attend the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College where he was named the EVERAND AWARD FOR ORATORY AND PRESENTATIONS recipient. The late General Mensah Wood also presented him with COMMENDATION FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE COMMAND during Peacekeeping Operations in Lebanon, UNIFIL in 1980. Again he won the COMMENDATION FOR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE ON THE CANADIAN STAFF COURSE, from General Emmanuel Erskine Forces Commander Ghana's one time Army Commander, in 1987.
Over the years as a soldier, Quashigah continued to demonstrate his physical fitnesss by engaging in different sports. His excellence in this area made him stand out in most of the events. He became the captain of the Royal Military Academy Sports Boxing Team and led the Team to several victories across many boxing clubs including Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the Naval College, the London Sporting Club amongst others. He received THE BALL CHAMPION CERTIFICATE in Inter-Syndicates Volleyball, Canada in 1987; CHAMPION CERTIFICATE in Inter Brigades Squash Competition, Ghana in 1978; LIGHT HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION MEDAL in Army Officers Boxing Tournament at Aldershot, Britain in 1971, FULL COLOURS FOR BOXING AND ATHLETIC in 1971 and 70 at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Britain.
“As you may all have heard of the saying that, if wise men refuse to be in politics they will end up being led by unwise”. Likewise with men and women of Quashigah, Baah Wiredu and Speaker of Parliament – Justice Banford Addo’s Calibre in politics, Ghanaians will never be ruled again by the unwise. They are mentors for the youth. The youth will forever emulate their courage, boldness, innovations and the “I can do spirit” so that Ghana will no longer be ruled by the unwise.
“Throughout history, it has been the inactions of those who should have acted, indifference of those who should have known better, and the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph”
The actions of Major Quashigah will never allow the evil to triumph, but rather give voice and hope to the voiceless and future to the next generation. Quashigah is never afraid of the future and not a slave of the past. He has an impeccable record and an unprecedented history that the youth are proud of. In fact, he is one of Ghana’s most successful military politicians who does and do his work in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Like father like son, Quashigah was trained as young pioneer during Nkrumah’s era. He blends both capitalist, socialist and rangers attitude in all his leadership positions and excels distinctively in them. No doubt, he is a true fun of Nkrumah.
Quashigah’s exceptional achievements and working experience dates back to 1972 when he joined the 1st battalion of infantry as a platoon commander and then as an instructor at the Junior Leaders Company in Kumasi in 1974. Straight from the Rangers School in the US in 1978 that trains commando’s he was appointed the Intelligence Officer at the Headquarters of the Second Infantry Brigade, Kumasi; Chief Instructor, Jungle Warfare School, Achiase; Chief Operations Officer at the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) Headquarters; Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Police. As the Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Police, he transformed the Unit into a highly professional and respected unit in the Ghana Armed Forces and making the unit the best at that time.
He also became the Commanding Officer for the Force Reserve Battalion (64) and Directing Staff at Ghana Military Academy and Training Schools.
Major’s unfortunate high security political detention in 1989 at the Bureau of National Investigation for two and half years incommunicado was a blessing to many inmates who were also on detention. Today, they talk about how he kept them busy throughout the day training them in physical fitness and Marshal Arts, organizing singing practices and innovative games. Some of them have told their stories with tears, saying anytime they were released to go home and he was still there, they cried like babies. He survived that gruesome detention to the surprise of many people since he was kept in one room with little ventilation.
Major’s love for music actually brought about a lot of change into local music industry. Kojo Antwi on the 7th of November, this year lauded the Great Old Major for his envious achievements in music for initiating Healthy lifestyle living. Ghana’s most celebrated musician said this when about hundred Ghana Dimona Alumni’s met in Accra. Kojo Antwi declared Music as medicine explaining that it forms an integral part of regenerative health. Historically, Major’s dynamism and innovation made him introduced local songs into military march music after convincing the late LT. Col. Larbi in 1973, the then Capt. and Director of the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band. For the first time this was played in 1974 during the 13th January, Parade with the first two slower marches “De Sror de Afe and Madzi Agbanam”. This is an idea he brought from the Royal Military Academy Band in Sandhurst, Britain. Since then, a lot more local songs have been added to revolutionize Military March Music to the admiration of all Ghanaians.
Today, national security services, schools and churches are dancing to the tune of this legacy. What a great man; truly he was a young pioneer because Osagyefo’s spirit can be found in him.
Quashigah has touched and made impact on many lives. After Quashigah having been trained in Germany by the Frederick Newman Foundation in civil society and local government, political strategy planning and local governance in the early 90’s, he used his newly acquired skills to train a number of organizations in Ghana and Nigeria in planning and organization. In his efforts to do this, he organized a lot of workshops for the following organizations; the Business and Professional Women (BPW) (GHANA), Private News Paper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) and International Federation of Economic Journalists (IFEJ). Others are the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI). The rest are the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF Nigeria) and Business and Professional Women (NIGERIA).
In 1992, Quashigah joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and was made a Member of the Publicity Committee and National Organisation Committee from 1994 – 96; to canvas for support to contest in the 1996 elections. Having lost the 1996 elections, he was elected in 1998 as the first National Organizer. During his tenure, he developed a political strategy and manuals, trained polling agents and particularly parliamentary candidates, displayed envious leadership skills and oratory before the people of Ghana, which contributed immensely to the victory of the Party in the December 2000 elections. When he was appointed Minister of Food & Agriculture from 2001 - 2004 by President Kufour's Administration, for the first time in many years, Ghanaians experienced abundant food supply all year round. Again, the perennial post harvest losses were significantly reduced. The ministry also effectively promoted the processing, storage and packaging of agricultural products while ensuring that Ghanaians eat nutritious diet from locally produced foods, commodities and products. Value addition to every thing was his hallmark. This unique characteristic won him the MINISTER OF THE YEAR in 2003 by Ghanaians. In the same year, he was crowned the PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR.
When the NPP was given the second term of office, he was appointed Minister of Health in February 2005. Initiatives such as Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme are some of his landmarks that are aimed at promoting healthy living, long life and creating wealth through health.
His extraordinary performance as FORMER GHANA'S HEALTH MINISTER whose works have led to the adoption of quality health system based on Dimona Health Delivery Experience (An African Hebrew Israelites Community); and the introduction of a paradigm shift in Ghana's Health Delivery with emphasis on promoting Preventive Health, Regenerative Health and Healthy Lifestyles. This has now become the focus of discussion across Africa and even in Britain today. Britain has voted over 70 million pounds to health education. Ghana the pace setter and initiator of this initiative is still trailing behind.
This ingenuous approach to health delivery was vividly projected during his press briefing on “Creating Wealth through Health, a New Paradigm for Ghana's Development” in 2005 and to the Commonwealth Health Ministers Conference in Geneva in 2006 and the African Union Health Ministers Conference in South Africa in 2007.
This has led to the institution of the celebration of every Last Friday of February each year as Africa Healthy Life Style Day by the African Union Commission last year. Quashigah has added another continental celebration to that of the birthday of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah making Ghana proud and indeed the pace setter in Africa's development.
This impeccable record makes him a True Humanitarian, a Patriot, a Nationalist, a Pan - Africanist and an Illustrious Son of Mother Ghana and Africa.
For his Courage and Boldness to question the existing health system, empowering Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners and promoting the Chiropractic Society in Ghana has earned him the West African International Award for Merit in 2008 as Ghana's Best Health Minister since 1992 - 2008.
His distinguished performance as a statesman made the former President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffuor confer on him the “ORDER OF THE STAR OF THE VOLTA, COMPANION DIVISION”.
Currently he is the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Vice Patron of the Board of Patrons of the Country Awards Council - Ghana (CACG). His exceptional leadership qualities have contributed tremendously to the implementation and sustainable development of the Council's initiatives. During the introduction of the Ghana National Exchange Programme School, an Agency of the CACG, he actively played an extensive role to ensure its successful implementation. He travelled the length and breadth of this country to visit participating schools. The reasons for which this Agency was establish is to serve as a nerve centre for promoting inter cultural and cross cultural diversity and intellectual advancement. About 800 students have already benefited from the programme from two successful batches.
Under his Chairmanship, a lot of women, children, institutions, professionals, statesmen, headmasters, the media have been honoured for their contributions to national development.
With these exceptional lifetime distinctions, the Country Awards Council conferred a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD on him, “THE GNAHAF HEROES OF EXCEPTIONAL DISTINCTION IN SOLDIERING AND LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS, ORATORY AND STATESMANSHIP, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE TO HUMANITY”
Not a lot if some at all in our nation's times gone, by have served so distinctively, so gratifyingly, so selflessly, and so well. This is a demonstration that, the determined, patient, visionary, honest and lawful persons can always reach the zenith of their aspirations, learn, serve, and lead at the highest echelon. In every field of profession he found himself, responsibilities assigned, regardless of skills and experiences, he coped, managed and excelled, he demonstrated compassion and steadfastness, acumen and understanding, integrity and commitment to leadership.
With all these envious achievements and contributions to mother Ghana, some people are trying to bring his integrity in disrepute. In doing so, it is not shocking to note that, empty barrels make the most noise. Not all those perpetuating and orchestrating these acts have introduced a root initiative to the admiration of the citizenry. Quashigah has done so many things for this country and why have some decided to honour him this way.
QUASHIGAH’S NEW INITIATIVE – PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN
Ghanaians hate good things. The evil that men do follows them. According to these publications that made news Last Wednesday 11 November edition of the GHANA PALAVER captioned “Major (Rtd.) Quashigah Granted Police Bail.... for awarding contacts to 5 non – existent companies”; The 12th November Edition of the DAILY GUIDE also captioned “QUASHIGAH ARRESTED” and; the 13th November centre spread edition of the DAILY GRAPHIC captioned “SFO INDICTS QUASHIGAH, TWO OTHERS”
These are nothing worthy of comment but rather attempts being perpetrated and orchestrated to bring the hard won reputation and achievements of one of the worlds best Rangers and the Great Old Major into disrepute. The likes of Major Quashigah and Baah Wiredu’s laurels were earned, not bought or conferred upon. Barely two weeks ago, Major Courage Quashigah received a letter from the SFO for a meeting. On arrival Major Quashigah met two personalities for the meeting to clarify issues on the above subject. He was told to go and come later when needed. He made a statement and was asked to grant himself a bail as a procedure of the meeting and that the case is under investigation.
Ghanaians as a society lacks the culture of maintenance and in Major Quashigah’s bid to save in enough money for other developmental projects for the country; this time around it is published in the newspapers that Quashigah has being Arrested and Granted Police Bail or Indicted for Financial Scandal and Impropriety.
Words such as Arrested and Grated Police Bail or Indicted for Financial Scandal or Impropriety and awaiting prosecution for awarding contracts to 5 non – existent companies or companies managed by one person were use to described him. Sometimes one may ask the kind journalism some media persons practise. When fact lacks clarity then one should be circumspect in their reportage. This publication was alarming that even on Morden Ghana website, the picture used for this particular publication online displayed a picture of Quashigah been arrested because they how to edit a crowed picture where he was walking with some dignitaries.
This is how the great and the good old major is been honoured. For those who are behind these things must cease-fire or put a stop to it since it will not go done well for the country. While the media should use their platform to educate, train, inform honour and put checks to the system they have rather resorted to blustering the best, black mailing and destroying society etc.
Rangers (Commando’s) as Quashigah is one, always lead the way. They are trained to adhere to the culture of maintenance. For instance Rangers are made to clean their weapons every six months to ensure they stay safe and on top of the job. When it happens that way, they remain the best in everything; and if you mess with people like rangers who are the best then you will die like the rest.
The introduction of this idea was a fantastic peace of initiative, Preventive Maintained Programme which Major Quashigah adopted from a Canadian School. It is fantastic to say that every school Major Quashigah attended abroad, he made sure he instituted in Ghana something good he learnt from them. If all Ghanaians who went abroad for further studies will emulate the ideals of the Great Old Major then Ghana, will see accelerated development.
After having said these on several health platforms; the need to institute a Preventive Maintenance Programme to forgo huge future repair cost of health facilities that later other institutions of Government will surely emulate, ministry officials prepared a proposal and forwarded to the former minister of health. At a time when this project was even executed, Major Quashigah was taken ill and was been treated at the Korle Bu teaching hospital. However, he was convinced and cautioned them after having read the proposal which was given to him, and told the directors in charge to go through proper tendering procedure and due diligence.
Later, Fund Mobilization was raised and given to the best bidders based on a Bank Guarantees. So if no work has been done, nothing is lost. Why should the Old Major be attacked? It is the duty of the Technical Team to do their evaluation for final review and signing of documents.
As reported in the publication, even if these companies are operated under one company, it is no news but so sad to hear that they are not in existence. Why do you thing the good old Major will act this way. These are two contradicting reports by the Ghana Palaver/Daily Guide and the Daily Graphic. After all companies such as the UT and Antrack have several companies under their umbrella. Once they can execute the job why not. It is not the duty of the Old Major to conduct checks on these companies, it is the technical team.
This is not how to treat our heroes. Touching on some of the great legacy of Quashigah, even in the health ministry, he used the Capital Investment Unit of MOH to embark on consultancy work at the Gusheigu Hospital in Tamale, that saved over half a billion cedis. Who has congratulated him for good work done. If he had used a private partner this money will have gone done the drain. Lets give on to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.
On the scope of work done in this case in questioned, information from the ministry indicates that about 20 principles have written to confirm excellent work done in their respective institutions. Where lies the financial scandal and the failure of this project. The Graphic has cited that work had not been done in most of the institutions. This gives an understanding that some work has been done. Why put out such publications. Lets credits to Major for he deserves it.
The news application has further stated that the perceived MOH financial scandal is the least among the many on going investigations under the former government. If it is so, why are other officials of the former Government not captured in the news but rather Major been humiliated. It will not hold water or land in any conclusion with premises. These journalists purporting or persons behind this and perpetuating this story to market their news based on the fake information on such a credible newsmaker and an illustrious son must stop.
Well, the world is for those who can wait. And great leaders are always ready to go through this moment and trauma. The same platform that is used to destroy the best, will be the same platform that will be used to honour heroes and even destroy the worst. Lets do it the proper way. It does not pay, for the truth will set you free.
It has also been captured in some of the publications that major is awaiting prosecution. This is the worst part of their so-called news making. Why? As off the morning of last Friday 13 November 2009, one of the two persons who invited Major Quashigah said to him on phone that they had not finished with their investigations and then also they are not aware of the publication. He said “as for me, am even in my village attending a funeral and that the investigations are still on going”. This is deliberate. It is a political witch hunting, burnt on tarnishing the image of a good man. God is watching and President Mills will surely get those who are tarnishing the image of Government. God Bless Prez Mills.
Reporter Albert Salia of Daily Graphic has quoted the Executive Director of SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey and his two deputies as having confirmed these reports. If indeed it were true or it the news papers that have resorted to these actions then they are on call for. Civil society must condemn them.
No nation is built this way. Risks must be taken. Pre cautionary measures will be taken and Mistakes would be made. Yet still, we must move on. Nobody knows the number of human beings whether dead or alive that doctors have experimented upon. The number of those alive who died in the course of experimentation; or the number of people who die in car accidents in an hour which is more expensive than money; or the huge sums of money that Ghana looses from produce that go waste in the farming areas.
A nation that waste more than half of its active day on politics, football and music is a nation that has no future. In Ghana we talk too much than we can act. Why don’t we act and stop talking. Lets do the right thing, speak the truth and it shall set us free. Let everybody introduce change initiatives and let us support him/her. This how a nation can be developed other than that, I would say that Ghana is living in an imaginary world.
Like Mr. Gregg Frazier who has been preaching the truth about how Ghana can retrieve her money from the Unite Bank of Switzerland, we say he is talking too much. Those who want to steal Ghana’s money are rather getting access to the Government. Why should it be so? Courage and Frazier are two great Rangers. They do things the Ranger way. They are heroes. Let us use them and stop biting ourselves. Whether NDC, NPP or CPP or any other party. Ghana cannot move forward or be built the better way if go on this way. Let us look for the turning point and built around that. Let us protect our best. They will continue to be our backbone. The best are noted to be died hard people and if you mess with them, you will die the rest.

SIGNED
KOBLA ASAMANI