Corruption – Episode 43

Corruption – Episode 43

© Akoto Alexander

At the President’s Residence:

President R. Mensah: Ah I wasn’t expecting to see you here by this time. You are supposed to be in the Bono region by now.

Vice Prez. J. Bugri: Why won’t I be here your Excellency, after hearing the unfortunate news about Beverlyn’s abduction, I had no choice than to fly in and join you grief.

President R. Mensah: Well that was thoughtful of you. I have to prepare for my nation address in my study, we will talk more about your trip to the North-East region and how the commissioning of the ultra modern police headquarters and centre went.

Vice Prez. J. Bugri: No problem boss, I will be here interacting with the others.

Hon. Asantewaa: (follows the president to his study) My son I know how hard it is and what you might be going through. I have been trying to console your wife but she is not taking it likely at all. You must be strong now so that your wife can fall on you for consolation.

President R. Mensah: Thank you very much madam Asantewaa, anytime you come around me I feel so secured and fulfilled. (mobile phone rings)

Caller: (on phone) I hear you are coming to address the nation?

President R. Mensah: Who is on the line please?

Caller: You can call me your worse nightmare. I will advice you choose carefully your words when you are sitting infront of the cameras to address the nation. Your daughter is in my custody as I speak with you, I will make my demands known to you when you are done talking.

President R. Mensah: (raises his voice) You dare not touch my daughter or else I will find you and your hoodlums and gun you down.

Caller: (in a calm tone) Your Excellency, I know you to be a calm and soft spoken gentleman, gentlemen also are not rude and they don’t raise their voices when talking on phone. I have told you in simple and plain language that our negotiation will take place after you are done addressing the nation and I will give you a brotherly advice not to provoke me or do anything that will give me the liberty to harm your little girl. She was trying to be stubborn and behave like a spoilt brat but my girlfriend has tamed her down.

President R. Mensah: If you dare touch my girl erh……

Caller: (cuts in with a serious voice) Shut the f**k up Mr man, do you think we are in the parliament house where we will be debating or arguing about anything here? Whether you are the president or Secretary General of the United Nation, I call the shots here so you better shut up and listen to me and stop behaving like you are standing on a political platform. Before I forget, there are two things involved here, anyway it goes I laugh last so tell those thieves you call police not to come after me or my gang if not I will cut you daughter into pieces, fry her and serve it to you as lunch. (cuts the call)

President R. Mensah: Hello! Hello!! Hello!!! That idiot has cut the call on me.

Hon. Asantewaa: Is everything alright your Excellency?

First Lady: (runs in) I heard you talking on top of you voice, is everything alright?

President R. Mensah: One of the abductors called me and he was trying to get on my nerves.

First Lady: My love you know we don’t have a say or choice in this case, we only have to plead with them so they don’t hurt or ki*ll my only child. Please negotiate with them and give them anything they demand for so that our girl will be released to us in one piece and not pieces.

Man: (walks in) We got some few informations that I can work with my brother.

President R. Mensah: That sounds good senior Alex, one of the abductors called me some seconds ago.

Man: What did he say, I hope you didn’t negotiate with him to ask for his demands?

First Lady: And why shouldn’t he negotiate with him in the first place? Do you want those people to hurt or murder my only child?

President R. Mensah: Rhoda you better shut up over here, what do you know about security? Is either you keep quite and listen to the experts in the security field or you go back to the living room and join the others. My mind is very hot so please in the name of God don’t compound me with extra worries.

Man: Please calm down your Excellency, what your wife said is normal for women to register their displeasure when matters like this arises. Madam first lady, the little I will say to you is that, the president of a country doesn’t negotiate with kidnappers, terrorists, armed robbers or scammers. If he does that, he paves way for bad people to attack his country and citizens at will. Also the constitution has stated clearly that the president on no condition must give his concern for negotiations concerning anything criminal as far as it concerns the nation or its citizens. Lastly unless you want your husband’s political opponents to get him in a tight corner, what has happened is very bad and the decision our president takes now will make or unmake his legacy as the first gentleman of the land.

First Lady: So because my husband is the president, I should sit comfortably and watch my only child and daughter go through hell in the hands of those wicked people huh?

President R. Mensah: Where is this lady, mmmm sergeant Ofosuah come and escort my wife to the bedroom. She is not helping matters here a single bit.

First Lady: Reedolf I swear by my father’s grave that if you follow your so called security experts and anything happens to my daughter erh, I won’t curse you but I will never forgive you. You want to follow the ideas of people who have more than a child and you are comfortable with what you are saying to me. You too don’t touch me with your filty hands. (walks out)

Lt. Col. Akatopori: (walks in) Your Excellency please time is up for you to address the nation.

President R. Mensah: Okay I will be there right now.

Man: Reedolf I will advice you stand tall when addressing the nation and not for a second should you show signs of weakness. You don’t have to open your defense now by accepting to negotiate with those social miscreants. I and your reliable security agencies will bring your daughter home in one piece, healthy and hearty.

President R. Mensah: Thank you very much senior Alex, I am only laying my hopes and trust in God and you security experts but I hope my family will not crash based on my choice of words this evening.

TV Anchor: Welcome to a special segment which is not common on our tv screens, the president will in no time address the nation to tell us something pertaining to the abduction of his only child this afternoon. Our cameras went out to sort the views of some Ghanaian citizens when the news broke that the first child of the land has been abducted by some unknown people from her school, a playback will be shown to you after the president is done addressing the nation and telling us about the state of affairs in the country. Cherished viewers, my producer has just notified me that his Excellency the president has taken his seat and is about to address the nation. Enjoy our exclusive coverage as we cross over to the president’s house.

President R. Mensah: (talks after the nation anthem is played) Good evening to the good citizens of mother Ghana. I bring you facilitation from the presidency and that of the first house and family. This afternoon, around 2:15, some unknown people went to my daughter’s school pretending to be part of my security detail and managed to make the school authorities believe in their tailor made story that they were the new team that had been detailed to convey my daughter back home. Some few minutes ago, the leader of the gang that has my daughter called me to inform me that indeed my girl is with them and that after I was done addressing the nation, he will call to make his demand known to me. Good people of Ghana, our country and her leaders don’t go about negotiating with kidnappers, terrorist, criminals, blackmailers, scammers and what have you. To those that have my daughter in your custody, I would advice you take my free advice and release my daughter before the long hands of the law grips you. A man I respect so much once told me; we can’t retract our decision that we make, we can only affect the decisions we are going to make from there. We must not give into fear. We must face those things we fear the most. We must appeal to our better angels so they lead us in every step and decision we take. As the President of this country and the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, it is my obligations to defend, protect and lead the country not to the hands and snear of the oppressors. I sit here today to reaffirm the oath I took the day I was sworn in that I won’t and will not negotiate with any criminal, terrorist, blackmailer, scammer, armed robber or a kidnapper. Ghana is not under any threat and we are not sitting on any unsecured time bomb. Ghana remains resolute, a beckon of hope and gateway to Africa for business transacts and site seeing for foreigners. Ghana is very safe, sound, secured and open for business from all walks of life any day and time. I want to guarantee and register this assurance of hope, peace, stability and maximum security to every foreigner and citizen living in this country. I would sound caution to people who have vowed not do right and protect the integrity of this country that, under my watch, their evil ways will never materialise. Lastly I will end by promising Ghanaians again that, I won’t gamble or compromise with the peace our beloved country is enjoying. I won’t on any day or condition negotiate with any kidnapper, terriorist, armed robber, blackmailer, scammer, fraudster or any criminal. I want to assure Ghanaians that I have trust in our security system so I am going to put my trust and hope in them and wait for them to rescue my daughter and bring her back to me safely. Notwithstanding, I also want to assure the families of the 3 other girls who have been kidnapped almost a year now that, their wards will be brought back to them by the grace of God if they are still alive.

May God bless our homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.

Good evening and may you all have a great evening. (national anthem is played again)

Twum Boafo: This youngman is very brave, look at how resolute he was when delivering the nation address to us.

Matron: I don’t think that was the best thing for him to do my dear. What if the people get angry and they do something to his only child?

Twum Boafo: My dear they won’t do anything to the little girl, she is the bait for the ransom involved but as the president said, he has trust and confidence in the security agencies so I know they will deliver.

Matron: I just hope so but if I were to be his wife, I will be so mad at him with the speech he just delivered knowing very well that we only have a child and he is saying on live tv that he won’t negotiate with the people who have her daughter in custody.

Twum Boafo: Well its too early to predict anything yet so let’s cross our hands and wait for the best.

Back at the President’s Residence:

Man: That was a powerful speech you gave out there, now you have called for the wrath of the perpetrators and they will descend heavily on you, that will be the time we will take them by surprise and strike very hard. Please connect this device on your cell phone, its a tracking device which can trace the location of the goons and where they are keeping you daughter. Also please try and keep the caller on phone for more than 60 seconds, that is the only time that I can get the location of those idiots.

President R. Mensah: Senior Alex I hope I didn’t take the wrong decision by coming out openly to provoke those criminals?

Man: I told you earlier on that your speech will either make you or unmake you. You might think your opponents are not watching and following events but trust me, they are trailing you with a drone on how you will handle this very matter. You were so much on point and I duff my heart out for you for the courage you displayed when addressing the nation. At the right time you will see reasons with the option you chose. As you assured Ghanaians, I am also giving you my word that, I will bring your daughter to you in one piece and not with even a single scratch on her. You have done your part so leave the rest to we the security experts.

President R. Mensah: Senior Alex you sucked poison from my buttocks when I was bitten by a black cobra on my first day in the secondary school. From that day you won my respect, love and trust, if you could place your life at risk for me, then today I am also putting the life of my daughter into you hands. Please don’t put me to shame. (phone rings and it’s an unknown number)

Man: Reedolf as I told you, please try as much as possible to keep the caller on the phone for at least 60 seconds.

Caller: So you had the guts and audacity to sit on live tv and tell the world that you don’t negotiate with criminals and kidnappers huh?

President R. Mensah: Oh my friend calm down, I only did that to make Ghanaians feel secured and not worry about what has happened.

Caller: Oh so president Reedolf Mensah is not as brave as he pretends to be? He is just an ordinary politician like the others. He is a corrupt person in disguise and he doesn’t do what he preaches to Ghanaians. Oh what a shame?

President R. Mensah: It is not like you think, do you mind letting out your demands now?

Caller: Mmmmm how about we doing a live telecast of this conversation? If you think you are smart I am faster than you, tell those security personnels listen to this conversation to back down or else I will post a dismantled body of your daughter to you. This is my last warning to you. (cuts the line)

President R. Mensah: Tell me you got the location?

Man: No Reedolf, you guys only spoke for 57seconds.

President R. Mensah: Jesuuuuuuus Christ, senior Alex he was aware that my line had been tapped into, he knew my line had been compromised and he got very angry about that. What do we do now?

Man: Don’t worry my brother, even though I didn’t get the exact location of where they are hiding now, I managed to get an area view of the place he might be hiding. The geographical area of the place shows that he is hiding somewhere here and that place is the Nima slum. I will give the information to all the security agencies so we surround the place and start a room to room search.

President R. Mensah: I hope they won’t do anything to her by then and it won’t be too late to retrieve my little angel. I should have listened to her this morning; gosh, if anything happens to her I am not sure I can take it and my wife might never forgive me. (walks out of the study to his bedroom)

First Lady: So now it has gotten to the point where my views are no longer respected in this house? You sat on live tv to tell the world that you don’t and will never negotiate with criminals, armed robbers, terrorists and kidnappers right? Reedolf pray very hard for nothing to happen to my daughter because if it does, I won’t curse you but I will never forgive you also.

President R. Mensah: My dear I told you to calm down, as the president I couldn’t openly sit on live tv and let the people I am supposed to lead see my weakness. I said that so that Ghanaians will feel secured under my watch, I am prepared to give in to the demands of the people who have our daughter so please relax.

First Lady: Relax? Well I will make this bold confession to you, I am not angry with the President but I am disappointed in my husband. Please I want to be left alone, I have had it up to here and there is a limit to whatever a mother can take. If by 72 hours my daughter is not found and brought to me safely, I will step out of this house and go and search for my daughter myself just like how Yaa Asantewaa took the mantle of war and went to face the British.

President R. Mensah: Baby has it gotten to this that you are now threatening me that you will go out in search of our daughter?

First Lady: Don’t baby me, your real baby is the one those criminals have decided to take away from me just because you are the president now. You see why I didn’t like the idea of you doing politics in this country? If you don’t believe what I said to you about stepping out of this house in 72 hours time, you can sit and watch me embark on that rescue mission. (leaves the room)

President R. Mensah: (talking to himself) Hey where do I find myself now? This is more than facing the devil in the middle of the blue sea. God I didn’t bargain for anything like this, please as Jesus said before his death, father Lord; if possible let this problem pass me by because it is more than I can handle. I need to see senior Alex and ask for his affirmation one more time because should anything happen to Beverlyn, Rhoda will never forgive me and my marriage with her might go sour. (moves to his study)

Somewhere in the city:

Mrs Twum Boafo: Reynolds so when are you taking me home finally? The receptionist said the money you paid for this room will expire tomorrow noon, I am equally tired of staying in the hotel all day without doing anything, I have been here for weeks and this was not what you told me from the beginning.

Reynolds: Woman exercise patience over here for me and wait ooooo, were you expecting me to throw my wife and children out of our matrimonial house for you to replace her?

Mrs Twum Boafo: Isn’t that what you told me earlier on before I left my husband to come after you? Reynolds please if this is a prank you want to pull on me, kindly stop because I don’t find it amusing.

Reynolds: Ah are you serious with the nonsense that came out from your mouth?

Mrs Twum Boafo: Of course Mr man, why should I be kept in a hotel for that common low life market woman to live in your mansion. If you can’t throw her out, I can do you the honour of throwing her out myself. I am damn serious about…….

Reynolds: (cuts in) Hey shut that trap you call your mouth, do you think I will sit and watch you call my wife names? That woman you are calling low life made me; that mansion you are forcing your way through to come and live in was finance fully by that low life woman. The Range Rover Sports you have been comfortably riding in was purchased by that same woman. She might not be as educated, beautiful and sophisticated like you but she knows how to make a house a home. Her relentless efforts, prayers, pieces of advice, selflessness and commitment has brought me this far. You that is claiming to be the most gorgeous and sophisticated woman, what have you been able to achieve. Hey were you for once thinking I was going to jilt my wife and bring you in as my wife? After what you did to your husband, you think I was going to fall for your charms huh? Let me tell you this, if I don’t know how the North looks like, I will take a visit to the zongo township to satisfy my curiosity. You better start packing your things before your time elapse tomorrow because I won’t add a cedi to the amount I paid.

Mrs Twum Boafo: Oh so all those promises and assurances was for you to get in between my legs erh? You deceived me to leave my husband and now you are saying something different. My God will punish you and your entire generation.

Reynolds: Hahahaha which politician goes about campaigning after elections has been conducted. I thought you were smart after you lectured me on your educational background but as you decided finally to move in with me, I realised you were just one of the materialistic gold diggers. About your God punishing me, I will say I am the punishment your God unleashed on you when you when he got to realise you are a greedy b***h. Don’t you ever call my phone again to disturb me because I will be busy enjoying my life and marriage, honestly you were not that sweet as I presumed, you were very boring and lazy in bed and I pray your husband never forgives you for the stunt you pulled up. (walks out of the hotel room)

Mrs Twum Boafo: (talking to herself) Herh I have worked myself arithmetic, this idiot promised me heaven and earth and I foolishly fell for it because the offer he was promising me was so juicy. How do I go back to Twum Boafo and who will escort me to beg him after dry cleaning my uncle and all the elders in my family. Hmmm greediness lies next to death, I will summon courage and go back to Twum Boafo, afterall we have not officially divorced and I know Twum Boafo still needs me in his life. Tomorrow I will first go to the family house and see how they will also receive me. I have really learnt my lesson in a very hard way.

Back at the President’s Study:

President R. Mensah: Everyone should excuse me, I want to have a word with my senior over here.

Man: Is everything alright Mr president?

President R. Mensah: Senior Alex I am very worried as at now, I am very empty as I stand here. The woman some minutes ago threatened me, she has given me just 72 hours to get our daughter back or else she will step out to search for our girl.

Man: (smiles) My brother worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but never brings anything positive. If you worry she is not here, if you don’t worry too, she is not here.

President R. Mensah: You seem very confident and not bothered, is there anything I should know senior Alex? I am considering on cancelling my trip to Sierra Leone so that I can monitor things that takes place over here. My family should be first in any step I take in my life, I shouldn’t be seen behaving unconcerned.

Man: Cancelling your important trip won’t change anything, when you do that you exhibit weakness. Ghanaians have come to love you because you walk your talk, if you say you trust me and the security agencies then have trust in us to deliver. One thing that people don’t know is that, I was the second in command when we drew the plan to capture Sadam Hussain. I spearheaded the marine team that gunned down Osama Bin Laden. I have handled missions that was far deadly than this one so please relax. I don’t like to work under tensed environment, I have gathered some credible facts that will go a long way to remedy this problem. The facial recognition test I did has given me a tip off, I am waiting to hear of the demands the people make then I can go to work fully. My word to you remains resolute and intact.

President R. Mensah: So you want me to cast my hopes on you that, you will bring my daughter back to me in good shape?

Man: Precisely so Mr president, wherever those social delinquents are, I Major rtd. Akoto Alexander will smoke them out, bring them to justice and hand your daughter over to you peacefully.

President R. Mensah: (cell phone rings) Senior Alex the leader of the gang is calling again.

Man: Answer and do well to tag along with him so that the needed information I need can be gathered.

President R. Mensah: (on phone) Hello I have been expecting your call after our first encounter.

Caller: Well I will go to the point straight at once. About 29years ago, your foolish father who was a judge at the supreme court by then imprisoned my father to life imprisonment without appeal for an attempted coup d’état he wasn’t part of. Your stupid father made my father waste 29years of his life for nothing, my mother out of fraustration died when she was hit with premature labour. My once respected family became a family of ridicule where everyone was pointing fingers at us all because you greedy father took bribe and decided to imprison my father without a lawyer during his trial at court. Because of your father’s greedy intention, my siblings and I were robbed and deprived of father love and upbringing. My elder sister had to sleep around just for her take care of we the young ones. My elder brother dropped out of school to labour just for him to see the rest of us through school, along the line, he was lynched because he stole money to pay for my hospital bill when I was diagnosed of pneumonia after sleeping outside in the cold during the evening. I and my family have waited for years to avenge and now is the perfect time so you see I have got nothing to lose?

President R. Mensah: My brother am so sorry for what happened to your family 29years ago, two wrongs has never made a right. I was never happy with the things that went on about 30years ago. I am president now because I want to write the wrongs right and make amends to some people and families that got affected. I feel your pain my dear brother but you involving my little girl in this is totally unacceptable, it is against her human rights and the little girl might go through series of trauma that will take year to heal and ……..

Caller: (cuts in) And what you fool? Let this be your last time of addressing me as your brother, did your greedy father consider some things when he slapped my father with a life imprisonment sentence? Where were you when 3 hospitals bluntly refused to take care of my pregnant mother who was in labour just because she was the wife of Lieutenant General Afutu? Where was human rights when my elder brother was lynched and my elder sister was sleeping with elderly people just to put food on the table?Where was that thing called human rights when we were thrown out of my father’s house? Don’t try to explain yourself because it makes me much angry, now listen to my demands and note it down because if you delay I will be left with no option than to eliminate your daughter and send her butchered body to you as souvenirs. I hope I am clear on that?

President R. Mensah: (swallows saliva hard) Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! It’s transparent clear my brother.

Caller: Are you that daft? I told you not to addressing me as your brother because you don’t answer to the name Afutu. Now listen to me because I won’t repeat myself, by noon tomorrow, I want my father to be released from prison.

President R. Mensah: It will be arranged right this moment.

Caller: I wasn’t done you block head, I earlier said demands and not demand. The second one is a huge compensation around 50 million dollars and I need it in cash, I prefer 100 dollar notes. The third one is for you to give every existing Afutu family member with a diplomatic passport then the fourth demand, you hold either a press conference or another nation address to wipe away the bad name my honourable family was tagged with. Lastly you dare not try to come after me or any of my accomplices if not we will strike and strike very hard. All these demands must be met within the next 72 hours if not prepare to do a funeral for your only daughter, your time starts the moment I end this phone call.

President R. Mensah: But how do I meet your demands within 72 hours? 50 million dollars is not a small sum of money to come by. Also I can’t hold any form of media interaction where I can speak about your father, it is against the constitution and it will be seen as an indictment on the constitution of this land.

Caller: Ain’t you the president? Should I be the one to teach you how to go about things? I didn’t lay my demands down for you to bargain with me like we are in the marketplace. 30 minutes after my demands has been met, your daughter will be released and if you try anything funny you will love me for my actions. (cuts the call)

President R. Mensah: Hello!! Hello!! Hellooooo!! Damn this fool has cut the call on me again, how does he expect me to raise 50 million dollars within 72 hours?

Man: Mr president please calm down and give us the requisite information we will need to work on this important case.

President R. Mensah: Hmmmmm the abductor is the son of one Lieutenant General Afutu and he said my late father sentenced his father to life imprisonment for some attempted coup d’état some 29years ago. Infact in a nut shell he is avenging for the things that happened to his father and family after his father was imprisoned. He is now demanded for 50 million dollars, diplomatic passports for every member of his family, an open apology to his family then lastly he said if I send men after him, he will pull a surprise on me that will shake the entire country.

Man: Thanks for the head-on Reedolf, with this information you just gave I know where to start my investigations from. I will Google about the said Lieutenant General Afutu and pick up much informations from there. Mr president as he gave you 72 hours to meet his demands, I am also giving you 70 hours to bring your daughter back to you in one piece. First and foremost, let us pretend we are on the same platform with him by making arrangement to release his father and giving him a proper medical attention at the police hospital, I know he will be monitoring and following us closely. I will be working with some police detectives who will serve as backups for me so please relax, if he calls you back again, tell him you have ordered for the release of his father and further instructed that he is given a thorough medical checkup at the police hospital. Also let him know that his money and the diplomatic passport is being worked upon. Give him your word that if he and his family members avail themselves for the documentation of the diplomatic passports tomorrow, no one will confront or trail them back to their hideout. I will find a way of shooting a micro tracking device on the car they brings to the place and also I will put a tracking chip in his passport so we can monitor his movement.

President R. Mensah: Senior Alex are you sure about this? Won’t they smell a foul play here?

Man: Mr president please dont under estimate my counter-terrorism approach, asking if I am sure with my approach means you doubt me and what I can accomplish.

President R. Mensah: Am sorry if I am sounding that way, I believe anyone in my shoe will act that way or even do worse. That girl is my only child for Christ sake, I need someone to revive me if this is a dream I am having. (others move in)

Man: It is not a dream my brother, please get some rest for what is ahead is greater than what we have encountered. Inspector Bediako please see me outside when we are done here, I have some important information for you and please any information that your men come across, please do well to laise up with me. We don’t find ourselves in any form of competition, we are working hand in hand as a formidable team. Also I want you to get me the files of all the detectives and officers working on this case, I don’t want any snitch leaking our information to our detractors.

Inspector Bediako: I will do that and even avail them before you tomorrow morning for assessment and verification.

Man: That will be awesome comarade. Mr president if there is no more further questions and information giving, I will opt for us to call it a day.

President R. Mensah: I think that will be all for today gentlemen and ladies. Please when you go on your knees to say a prayer, please say one for me and my family.

Chief of Defence Staff: (stands up and salute) Permission to fallout sir.

President R. Mensah: At ease soldier and permission granted. Do well to get me results before the 72 hours that I was given elapses.

Chief of Defense Staff: As our senior man has promised, we will deliver for you to see that out security system is not as porous as some people think in this country. (salutes and walks out)

Man: Reedolf I will be here before 6 tomorrow morning, please don’t forget everything that we spoke about. Wherever your little girl is, we will bring her to you safely, I entreat you to worry less and be strong. (hugs the president)

President R. Mensah: Thank you very much senior Alex for the love and support you have shown to my family. Let me walk you to your car as I bid those at the hall farewell. (they walk to the hall together and bid the well wishes good night)

Do you forsee any chances of the president’s daughter being rescued back home safely?

Did Mrs Twum Boafo deserve what happened to her?

What awaits the abductors and the president?

Will Detective Akoto be able to honour his words and put joy on the faces of the first family and Ghanaians?

To be continued

ALL EPISODES