What Limann Said After His One-Year In Office

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Category: Elections & Governance

Created on Friday, 10 January 2014 00:00

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What Limann Said After His One-Year In Office

December 31, 2013 marked 32 years overthrow of President Hilla Limann by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

Daily Graphic reproduces an exclusive interview granted to GBK Owusu, then editor of the Christian Messenger in 1980.

GBK Owusu: Exactly a year ago you and your People’s National Party won an overwhelming majority in the general elections and you were sworn in as President of the Third Republic. What do you consider to be your achievements and challenges within these 365 days in office?

DR. LIMANN: Let me first highlight the difficulties that we encountered when we took office so that you can better appreciate what we have done or achieved in the last 12 months. You are, perhaps, aware that a trade blockade had been organized against Ghana because of the events of 4th June and, particularly, after the public executions of 26th June.

Our supply of crude oil dried up because our traditional suppliers were unwilling to ship any more crude oil to us on credit, particularly, given the unstable conditions of June-September last year. The blockade also led to goods which had been ordered before June being diverted from our shores to neighbouring countries which, in most cases, did not really need them. The economic situation which had long been very poor before 4th June, 1979 therefore became even worse than ever before because of the anarchy of the period.

{sidebar id=10 align=right}Again, Ghanaians, end the world had been informed that a lot of money had been collected from defaulters but when we assumed office only a paltry sum was accounted for, to us very tardily. Indeed, even up to date no proper comprehensive accounts have been made to us. Those who plagiarized our campaign speeches by shouting from roof tops about honesty, probity, responsibility and accountability, have not practiced any of these themes in office and ever since.

The supply of local foodstuffs was also greatly affected by the events of June 1979 because many farmers were afraid of molestation and so did not bring their commodities to the buying centres thus, causing serious shortages. Even more importantly, agriculture was neglected during the revolutionary fervor so that farms which should have been planted during June-September were left untilled and unplanted.

Worse still, the security situation was very precarious. Although the AFRC had left the political scene, some soldiers had felt that they had not accomplished their mission or looted enough. In fact, many had gained nothing and therefore also wanted to stay on to complete the “house-cleaning exercise or have their turn to harass and loot.” The Border Guards also embarked on “Operation finish hard” for themselves because they feared they might be disbanded but there was no justification for that suspicion or fear.

These were some of the challenges we faced when we took over. In the face of all these problems, we managed to solve the oil problem within two months of our assuming office and the flow has been uninterrupted since then, except that occasional shortages have been experienced due to transportation problems which we are working hard to solve. The trade blockade has virtually been dismantled through our efforts in convincing our trading partners of stability at home. Some items like bread, maize and agricultural inputs are getting back on the markets in increasing quantities. The security situation has improved considerably. We have signed quite a number of loan agreements which are aimed at reviving the productive sectors of the economy. So we have used the first 12 months in office to lay firm foundations for the future which undoubtedly looks bright for Ghana.

Incidentally, the PNP won an absolute majority on only two in Parliament but an overwhelming victory indeed at the Presidential poll – those who did not expect us to win are therefore still dazed and confused hence, their continued arrogance towards us and the sovereign electorate.

GBK OWUSU: When you assumed office as President, you promised to continue the “house-cleaning” initiated by the AFRC. Could you tell me what “cleaning” you have done so far and continue to do as you promised?

DR. LIMANN: You might not have noticed it but I had long insisted on accountability and honesty very much earlier than 4th June, 1979. There was therefore no question of continuing with the “house-cleaning” exercise since I had resigned my appointment after 14 years of service to try to do just that, among other things. It is a matter of carrying out a pledge.

I believe that a lot of education is needed if the “house-cleaning” exercise or moral regeneration is to succeed. Events have shown that if there is no genuine change of heart, most people will only comply with the law when they fear the big stick. It is my policy as a constitutionally elected President, to persuade people to obey our laws. Of course, the recent action in using the police and some army personnel to check trade malpractices also clearly demonstrates that I shall not hesitate to use strong measures to get compliance with the law without necessarily harassing the public at large as the AFRC did.

Educating the people to refrain from evil, unpatriotic practices is the best policy since it will yield greater and more permanent results. In this regard, part of the problem can also be solved by the courts which have to be vigilant and firm so as to ensure that adults who think that they are above the law or do not want to obey it are appropriately punished. This will be the contribution of the judiciary to the “house-cleaning” exercise. In the last analysis, I count on the general public even more to make it a point of exposing all trade malpractices that come to their notice since the ordinary people are the losers when public affairs and businesses are mismanaged.

The various probes of banks, institutions and individuals as well as Parliament’s vetting of Ministers of State and other public officers before they are appointed form a significant part of the cleaning up exercise.

GBK OWUSU: Although your party has not declared its stand on which ideological bloc it belongs to, observers however, believe that since you have promised to continue the work of the late Dr. Nkrumah, you automatically belong to the East. Is it true?

DR. LIMANN: The late Dr. Nkrumah belonged to nowhere but Ghana and Africa. Those who keep harping at the PNP belonging to one ideological bloc or the other have neither bothered to listen to our words nor followed our policies.

I have said over and over again that my ideology is Ghana and her salvation. I have also repeatedly sad that I will carry out the good works of Dr. Nkrumah. Do you have to be communist, a socialist or a capitalist to grow more food to feed the growing population, import the needed machinery and equipment to resuscitate our ailing economy or attract investment to develop this most viable economy? Ideological bickering at this time will not help anybody or do any of these things now or at any other time. All African countries have realized and accepted this as a fact of the modern world and as a result of their past bitter experiences. People should stop flying kites or erecting scarecrows that cannot frighten anyone.

GBK OWUSU: The country’s economy is in shambles. What measures have you adopted to revive it?

DR. LIMANN: Our two budget statements, the Action Programme on Agriculture and other pronouncements of my government adequately provide the information you want, and I therefore invite you to read them up carefully. If you are not convinced by them, then let me add that we have laid the foundations for reviving the economy by paying some of our debts and showing willingness to honour all others, thus regaining the confidence of the international community and also by other sound economic measures we have taken. We have started receiving loans which are directed into the productive sectors of the economy. We believe that those areas with spillover effects will bring the economy back on an even keel. Our two-year agricultural programme, which is the first phase, forms part of our short-term programmes. We also have medium and long-term programmes designed not only to get us out of the present mess, but for eventual take-off and economic emancipation.

GBK OWUSU: Recently, the leader of the Popular Front Party, Mr. Victor Owusu and the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr. KwakuBaah, were reported to have said that they would not cooperate with the PNP because of ideological differences. Would you like to comment on this statement?

DR. LIMANN: As a policy, I do not like to make comments based on press reports since a word left out here or there could make all the difference between what the person quoted has actually said and what is reported. Having entered this caveat, I want to repeat that my ideology is saving Ghana. If the two gentlemen say they do not want to help in saving Ghana, then that is their problem. Of course, this is a free country and all are welcome to their own theoretical or even practical political philosophies. By the same token, I also want to be left alone in my practical, non-theoretical approach to our very pressing national problems. Ideological quarrels as I have said,will not solve any of our urgent problems. No ideology feeds hungry workers, peasants, fishermen, chief, children and their mothers. Only unrealistic intellectuals derive some satisfaction from theories and ideologies. I have personally read and even closely studied for examinations and for my thesis most of the classics on political ideas, doctrines and ideologies from Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, the church Fathers through the Middle Ages to the Second World War. I therefore, have a very clear idea about what I have been saying on the issue of ideology.

GBK OWUSU: (a) Why do you choose to be a non-denominational believer? (b What is your opinion about the activities of Christians and Muslims in the country today?

DR. LIMANN: (a) Religion is a rather personal matter. Ghana is a free-for-all country in religious matters and I therefore do not want to discuss or pass moral judgment’s on them.

The various organized religious bodies in Ghana have done a lot in the past and are doing even more now. I hope that they will intensify their efforts in the face of out present moral degeneration.

(b) The two religious creeds mentioned are helping a lot in our national reconstruction. The education system we have today would not have been what it is but for the help of the churches. Again, a lot of hospitals had clinics have been set up in the country by the churches to improve the health needs of the people. In agriculture, a lot is being done by them and I hope that they will do even more in this field. We are a plural society and tend to abhor fanatics and exclusivist movements. In any case, the world has long moved away from religious intolerance and prying in the beliefs and convictions of individuals.

The churches should take up even more seriously the problem of the moral and social degeneration from which the country has greatly suffered during the past decade or so. In particular, they should speak out against double standards, trade malpractices, social injustices and smuggling. They will be helping the country immensely if they do this. They have done a lot but a lot need to be done in this direction.

GBK OWUSU: In your opinion, has the mass media generally been constructive or destructive in their deliberations?

DR. LIMANN: The words “constructive” and “destructive” are relative terms. What I might consider constructive or destructive might not necessarily correspond with yours. So I will not use either or the two terms. What I can say is that, like all our institutions, our media personnel also need to buck up. We need indepth coverage of events. For instance, a lot of officials talk about lack of foreign exchange whenever they are confronted with poor services and our reporters take their word for it. I do not want to cite any specific cases but I am sure that you can think of many areas where improvisation would be the answer to the problems posed. Can I give you an assignment? Try and find out why our trains, especially the coaches, are so dirty. The answer will be very revealing. I have also repeatedly appealed to the media to visit deteriorated or even abandoned projects which were once functioning fairly satisfactorily so that they can more usefully highlight the problems facing the country and thereby help arouse the collective awareness of our plight and the need for all of us collectively to tackle the problems with courage, determination and hope for a better future than the recent past and the present. I renew this appeal through you and hope it will be heeded and taken up seriously as part of the contribution of the press towards out national recovery.

GBK OWUSU: Do you still stand by your statement that you will flood the market with goods?

DR. LIMANN: A slight correction needs to be made before I respond to your question. I have never used the word “flood” in relation to goods because I know what the term means. I do not think you or anyone else expect me to “drown” or “flood” Ghana in goods.

What has happened in this country is that since the mid-1970’s we looked on helplessly while stocks got depleted, one commodity after the other. The coup de grace came last year when in the three-month shopping spree period stocks meant for a much longer period were all sold out at gun point. Before 4th June, 1979, I spoke about “getting adequate supplies of goods into the system so that people do not waste so much time looking for petit thing” at the expense of productive work. This is, perhaps, what was taken to mean that I had said I would “flood” the markets but even though I never used that term, I saw no need to deny it since this is how the press summarizes things into catchy titles or interprets what the public wants. I simply took account of it for the realization if possible, of what was really said during the election campaign, even though many factors have changed drastically since the events of 4th June, 1979 – we had started campaign much earlier, that is, from the beginning of the year.

It will be difficult to build up enough stocks of any commodity to ensure adequate supplies all the time. Rather than take panicky measures, what we have been doing is to lay the foundation to a steady flow of goods of all types. The results should be forthcoming if our plans are not disturbing by any more other unforeseen and uncontrollable factors at home and abroad.

GBK OWUSU: It is rumoured that your relationship wit Flt. Lt. Rawlings has deteriorated. Why is this so?

DR. LIMANN: From the way you have framed your question, you appear to have accepted the rumour to be true. Anyway, the answer to your question is that I do not have any personal quarrel with any one, Rawlings included. I believe that all men have their entrances and their exits and it is important for all Ghanaians to recognize this.

GBK OWUSU: Do you hope to contest the 1983 Presidential Election?

DR. LIMANN: The prerogative for choosing PNP candidates for Parliamentary/Presidential elections lies with the Party Congress. If the party nominates me again in 1983 I shall certainly accept and run again. There are many projects in our Manifesto which I would very much like to pursue, but in this, as in many other things of nature, a good leader should follow the collective good sense and assessment of his party rather than lead it to dictate to it so many years in advance. In short, this is a matter to be determined by our performance, by the party and by the Ghanaian public at large and not by me who am only at their disposal and service, publicly or privately.

I did not lobby, shoot or poison my way to become candidate and will therefore not do so in 1983. I did not resign to become President but join hands with others to help save our country from further decline or total destruction. I can do this, as many others are doing, in any capacity far from rules which formerly did not allow me to speak out.

Source: Desmond Bress-Biney | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Discipline in Economic Management: The Key to Sustainable Growth and Prosperity

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Category: Business & Finance

Created on Friday, 22 November 2013 00:00

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Discipline in Economic Management: The Key to Sustainable Growth and Prosperity

Speech Delivered By: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia At the:

ALHAJI ALIU MAHAMA MEMORIAL LECTURE

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

ACCRA

Mr. Chairman, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of the Republic of Ghana

Honourable Ministers of State Honourable Members of Parliament Chiefs and Traditional Leaders

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Representatives of other Political Parties

Members of the Media Distinguished Invited Guests Fellow Ghanaians

Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalamu Alailkum and Good evening!

I would like to thank all of you for making the time from your busy schedules to be present at this inaugural Alhaji Aliu Mahama Memorial Lecture. I am very humbled to have been asked by the Foundation to deliver this first lecture. In fact, when the request came, I thought there must have been some mistake as I felt someone else more qualified, perhaps a statesman like our Chairman, should be the one giving this lecture. I am truly honoured for the opportunity.

I would like to thank the Aliu Mahama Foundation and the family for organizing the anniversary celebrations to honour our former Vice-President who was also a humble, generous and decent human being. I had a very personal relationship with Alhaji and he treated me like a son. He was determined to do all he could to support me as he had done for numerous others. We campaigned together in the 2012 presidential election campaign until he was taken ill. He was a first class gentleman and all who met him would attest to that. He also had a good sense of humour.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, tonight I will be talking about an issue that was very close to the heart of H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the issue of discipline.

Discipline can be defined as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior or using punishment to correct disobedience. For Alhaji Aliu Mahama, a society without discipline is doomed to failure. He always lamented about how we as a people are always so inclined not to follow laid down rules or codes of conduct. In the area of sanitation for example he often wondered how long it would take us to have as clean an environment as in many advanced countries when the practice of open littering, urination, defecation and occurred with such regularity without public disapproval.

For Alhaji Aliu Mahama, it was clear that the discipline that we seek would require a change in attitudes through public education, investment in infrastructure, rigorous enforcement of planning regulations, and a National Identification database to assist in planning and law enforcement.

Mr. Chairman, I now want to turn my attention to the issue of discipline in economic management. Discipline in economic management has three elements:

• having a clear vision of what a government or a leader wants to do

• the discipline to follow through on implementing the vision and

• the fiscal and monetary discipline to manage the implementation of the vision

Fiscal discipline basically means spending within your means over a period of time. We know that any individual who consistently spends above his or her means would end up in trouble, like the infamous Abankaba. It is no different for a country. Monetary discipline on the other hand involves the central bank matching the money supply with the level of production or foreign exchange reserves in a country. Excess printing of money results in inflation. Going back into history, so important was maintaining monetary discipline in England that by 1121, 900 years ago, when there was a noticeable decline in the quality of England’s silver, all the Mint Masters in England (those who “minted” the money, equivalent to central bank governors) were assembled and punished by having their right hands cut off! . This was a rather draconian method of monetary control but it speaks to the historic importance attached to monetary discipline in some countries.

Mr. Chairman, developing countries have huge gaps in sectors such as roads, water, energy, education, health, agriculture, etc. The problem that governments face is one of insufficient financial, institutional and human capital resources to solve these problems. Governments therefore have the onerous responsibility to manage the resources of the country to meet the aspirations of its current citizens as well as future generations. While it is clear that accomplishing these goals require fiscal and monetary discipline, the lesson from history is that the temptation to abandon discipline for political expediency is very high.

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1957-1966

Mr. Chairman, at independence, the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) under the leadership of President Kwame Nkrumah espoused and pursued an ideology of socialism, advocating the collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. The CPP inherited from the British, a healthy amount of foreign exchange reserves of $273 million, (the equivalent of $2.275 billion today). In addition, there was virtually no external or domestic debt and Ghana’s population was only 6.5 million. To put this in perspective, in 2008, Ghana’s gross international reserves were $2.03 billion, with a total debt stock of GH¢9.5 billion ($8billion) and a population of some 23.0 million. The CPP did not therefore face the typical economic pressures faced by all other Ghanaian governments upon assuming government. I think the CPP is the only government in our history that has not said “The country is broke” when they came to power. They had no reason to.

The CPP quickly set about implementing Nkrumah’s vision of state-led industrialization. Fiscal policy was therefore expansionary. Expenditure on education, health, and physical infrastructure such as schools, roads, dams, hospitals, electrification and so on dramatically increased from their colonial levels. The inherited foreign exchange resources financed development projects such as:

• Tema Harbour

• Cape Coast University

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,

• Accra-Tema Motorway,

• Akosombo dam,

• Black Star Line,

• Construction of numerous schools and hospitals,

• Ghana Medical School

• Okomfo Anokye Hospital

• Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

• State-owned enterprises like Ghana Airways, Tema Food, GNTC, State Hotels etc Complex, GIHOC,

• State farms

Nkrumah’s development plans soon confronted the strict arrangements for monetary discipline contained in the West African Currency Board. Mr. Chairman, at independence, the Gold Coast was operating with the colonial international economic arrangements. The British West African Currency Board (WACB) was constituted in 1912 to control the supply of currency to the British West African Colonies. The exchange rate of the West African Pound to sterling was fixed. Under this regime, government could not just print money without backing it with an increase in foreign reserves. This framework kept inflation barely noticeable. In fact, at the time of independence in 1957, Ghana’s inflation was less than 1 percent and a year later was zero. There was no exchange rate depreciation to worry about against the pound sterling.

Nkrumah however wanted a banking system that would complement the CPP’s government-led development strategy. It should be noted that the Bank of Ghana was established in 1957 when the Bank of Ghana Ordinance was passed by the British Parliament. The Ordinance was designed to protect the central bank from political interference and prevent the use of the Bank’s and the country’s resources indiscriminately. The Central Bank in 1957 was designed to enforce monetary discipline in a manner akin to the WACB arrangements.

By 1960, the Convention Peoples Party was becoming increasingly frustrated with the apparent autonomy of the Bank of Ghana. In fact, this frustration became more strident as Government finances were coming under severe pressure and the foreign exchange reserves were declining. The Government deficits were rising and unlike the earlier years when foreign exchange reserves were relatively plentiful, by 1960, the option of using foreign reserves to finance the deficit was limited. Government also exhausted its bank balances and started borrowing from the banking system. The Government of Ghana began to issue Treasury Bills in 1960. Exchange controls and import licensing were introduced in 1961 under the Exchange Control Act to limit further loss of foreign exchange reserves.

A Bank of Ghana Act of 1963 was passed to break from the monetary discipline that was imposed by the WACB arrangements. Dr. Nkrumah wanted it all. He wanted a central bank that could print money as needed but at the same time he wanted to have a fixed exchange rate for the cedi. He was basically defying the laws of economics and it was only a matter of time before the center could not hold.

Nkrumah’s ambitious development program took its toll on the economy. Many of the state-owned enterprises were operating at a loss and adversely impacting public finances. The fiscal position also deteriorated as Government spending increased from 9.5 percent in 1957 of GDP to 25.8 percent of GDP by 1965. The government budget balance deteriorated from a surplus of 14.5 percent of GDP in 1954 to a deficit of 6.4 percent of GDP by 1965.

The external reserve position deteriorated significantly between 1957 (when net reserves stood at $269 million) and 1966 when they stood at (-$39 million). Ghana, with so much in foreign reserves at independence, was broke by 1965.

The deteriorating economic and political situation was used by a group of military and police officers, (National Liberation Council) as an excuse to stage a coup d’etat and overthrow the CPP on February 24, 1966.

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1966-1972

Mr. Chairman, on coming into office, the NLC immediately embarked on an IMF supported stabilization program aimed at improving the adverse balance of payments, cutting the budget deficit, reducing the government sector, and stimulating private enterprise. There was a reduction in absolute investment, tighter control over import licenses and a devaluation of the cedi. The objective of the stabilization was largely achieved. The balance of trade moved into surplus and the current account and the government budget deficits were reduced. Inflation fell from an average of 18.0 percent between 1964-66 to a single digit average of 9.0 percent between 1967-69.

The NLC announced a transition to civilian rule with general elections to be held in 1969. The Progress Party won the 1969 elections under the leadership of Dr. K.A. Busia and inherited an economy struggling to recover from the fiscal excesses and debts of the Nkrumah era. Busia’s vision and philosophy was very different from that of Nkrumah. Dr. Busia’s vision was founded on the principles of free governments, representative governments, multiparty democracy, free press, the rule of law and principles of democratic accountability.

The Busia Government made significant strides with its rural development agenda in a short period of time but by 1971, the economic situation was aggravated by a dramatic drop in cocoa prices resulting in a balance of trade deficit. The government responded with a devaluation of the cedi by 42.0 percent in December 1971 and cuts in government expenditure. The attempt to impose fiscal discipline was not allowed by the military to work. The devaluation and economic difficulties provided the pretext for a coup d’etat on 13th January 1972 by the National Redemption Council in 1972 under Colonel I.K. Acheampong.

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1972-1983

Mr. Chairman, For Ghana’s economy, the period between 1972 and 1983 under the NRC, SMC, AFRC and PNP governments was characterized by a dramatic economic decline underpinned by indiscipline in economic management. This entailed a decline in GDP per capita by more than 3 percent a year. The main foundation of the economy, cocoa, was on the decline. Central government revenues which amounted to 21 percent of GDP in 1970 fell to only 5 percent of a smaller GDP in 1983. The revenue collapse increased the reliance on the banking system to finance expenditures. Between 1974 and 1983 the monetary base expanded from 697 million to 11,440 million cedis. The loss of monetary discipline accelerated inflation, which increased from 6.5 percent in 1969 to 116.5 percent by 1977 and 122 percent by 1983, all in the midst of a regime of controlled prices.

In the meantime, successive governments continued the policy of overvaluing the cedi by maintaining a fixed exchange rate in the face of high inflation. Governments responded with import controls which fell disproportionately on consumer goods. A kalabule or informal economy evolved and the black market thrived. It is not surprising that this decade, 1972-1983, represents the worst economic performance in Ghana’s history.

The Supreme Military Council was overthrown by another coup d’etat in 1979 by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) under the leadership of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. After four months in office, the AFRC handed over power to a democratically elected government of the Peoples National Party (PNP) under the leadership of Dr. Hilla Limann. Dr. Limann inherited very difficult economic circumstances. The country was once again broke. Attempts to resuscitate the economy included negotiations for an IMF loan. The IMF insisted that the government devalue the cedi. Cognizant of what had happened to the Busia government, the PNP refused to devalue the cedi. For the IMF, a refusal to devalue equaled a lack of commitment to fiscal and monetary discipline and the IMF also refused to grant the much needed loan. The economy deteriorated amidst internal power struggles within the PNP. The PNP government was overthrown in another coup d’etat, by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings in December 1981, this time under the banner of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). The PNDC accused the PNP of economic mismanagement and corruption.

Mr. Chairman, between January 1982 and November 1983 the PNDC was characterized by socialist revolutionary policies. The business community, large scale farmers and professionals were the regime’s declared enemies. Economic policy was interventionist and anti foreign capital. Price controls, import duties and tariffs were imposed on a wide range of goods.

Citizens Vetting Committees (CVCs) were empowered to investigate people “whose lifestyle and expenditure substantially exceeded their known incomes”. Specifically, anyone with more than ¢50,000 ($1,250 at the prevailing black market exchange rate of some ¢50/$) had to appear before the CVC to explain how they acquired it. The wealthy became the targets of a vindictive Public Tribunal system.

Not withstanding all these supposed “anti-corruption” measures, the economy turned for the worse and it soon became obvious that the populist socialist policies were not sufficient to stabilize a monetary system or grow an economy. Inflation reached 122.8% at the end of 1982 as more money was printed to finance government budget deficits. Fiscal indiscipline and bad policies were again adversely affecting the economy.

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1983-2000

In its 1983 Budget, the PNDC moved Ghana away from Kwame Nkrumahs’s socialist economic philosophy towards Busia and Danquah’s capitalist free market philosophy that the government railed so much against at its inception. The PNDC proceeded to implement an IMF supported Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

One of the most important reforms of the SAP was to allow a gradual liberalization of the market for foreign exchange. The official exchange rate was adjusted in stages from ¢2.75/US$ in 1983 to ¢90.0/US$ by January 1986. In February 1987, the official exchange rates were unified at ¢150/US$. To bridge the gap between parallel and official exchange rates, foreign exchange bureaus were established in February 1988, leading to the virtual absorption of the parallel foreign exchange market. The cedi exchange rate therefore became market determined.

A major plank of the SAP was the rehabilitation and provision of physical infrastructure to help improve productivity. The economy responded positively and output increased. GDP growth, which was negative and declining in the three years before the SAP, recorded a remarkable recovery to register an average of some 5.0 percent per annum between 1984 and 1991.

Macroeconomic stability was also restored between 1984 and 1991 and the stability was not attained at the expense of growth. Inflation declined from some 122 percent in 1983 to 10.0 percent by 1991 reflecting fiscal discipline.

Mr. Chairman, The economy, between 1983 and 1991, benefited from a disciplined implementation of the government’s vision along with the fiscal and monetary discipline to accompany its implementation. However, the economic policy framework which had brought about macroeconomic success in the 1983-1991 began to unravel with the transition from the PNDC to the NDC after the 1992 elections. The economic and structural reforms slowed just as the gains of the market reforms became evident. Fiscal and monetary policy were not firm, and the public sector’s borrowing led to a large build up of external as well as domestic debt, with an increased dependence on external donor inflows. The core problem of the lack of fiscal and monetary discipline in economic management that had plagued successive governments between 1957 and 1983 had reared its ugly head once again.

In the run-up to the 1992 elections, government expenditure increased dramatically as tax administration weakened. Notwithstanding the decline in government revenue, government expenditure increased at a rapid pace in the election year. As a result of these developments, the overall government budget deficit, which had declined to 1.3 percent of GDP in 1991 increased sharply to 9.4 percent of GDP in 1992.

In the run up to the 1996 elections, fiscal indiscipline reared its head again. As in 1992, there was significant erosion in the government’s revenue base, including a shortfall in petroleum revenue. The shortfall in petroleum tax was the result of the suspension of the automatic price adjustment formula as the elections drew closer. Again, notwithstanding the revenue shortfall, expenditure was maintained at about the same levels as a percentage of GDP (some 30 percent of GDP) as had been the case since 1993. The fiscal stance in 1996 resulted in an overall budget deficit of 9.5 percent of GDP (the same as in 1992). In response to the policy slippages, the IMF and World Bank suspended support to Ghana as they had done in 1992.

The vulnerability of the Ghanaian economy in the face of persistently high fiscal deficits and declining foreign exchange reserves was to be exposed when after the economy was hit in 1999/2000 with falling prices for Ghana’s two main exports, cocoa and gold and rising prices for oil. The excessive fiscal expansion in the run-up to the 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections tipped the economy into a cycle of inflation and currency depreciation. In the short span of one year ending December 2000, the cedi, lost 50 percent of its value vis-à-vis the US dollar. The country’s gross international reserves were so depleted that it could not cover a month’s imports.

The debt burden of the economy increased dramatically during the structural adjustment period, with external debt/GDP ratio rising from 27 percent of GDP in 1984 to 103 percent of GDP by 1994 and rose further to 182 percent of GDP by 2000. The country was having difficulty servicing its debts.

It was against this background that the December 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place and were won by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor, ably supported by H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

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2001-2008

Mr. Chairman, under the leadership of President Kufuour (2001- 2008), Ghana made significant strides. Without the benefit of oil production, economic growth increased from 3.7% in 2000 to 8.4% in 2008. In the process, the size of Ghana’s economy increased from some $5.1 billion to $28.5 billion, a six-fold increase. Even in the face of a global economic and financial crisis in 2007/8 (with oil prices reaching a record high of $147/barrel) economic growth in 2008 rose to 8.4%. Ghana was transformed during the period of the NPP’s tenure (2001-2008) from a low income HIPC economy to a lower middle income economy on the frontiers of emerging market status. We were ready to take-off and had left the first gear a long time ago!

The stabilization in most of the macroeconomic indicators between 2001 and 2007 was achieved by strictly limiting the central government’s borrowing requirements. This involved a lot of discipline on the part of government. The Debt to GDP ratio (thanks to the successful HIPC completion) was reduced from 182% in 2000 to 32% by 2008. These developments resulted in a crowding-in of the private sector as bank lending to the private sector increased together with bank deposits.

Government finances also improved, especially between 2001 and 2005. The government budget balance as a percent of GDP declined from 8.6 percent of GDP in 2000 to 2.0 percent of GDP by 2005. In Ghana’s recent economic history 2004 is the only election year in which economic discipline and stability was maintained. The fiscal deficit to GDP was 3.2% in 2004. The budget deficit however increased to 6.5 percent of rebased GDP in 2008. Fiscal indiscipline had again reared its head in an election year. The fiscal slippage in 2008 was the result of government subsidies of utilities, election year wage increases.

Exchange rate stability also returned to the foreign exchange market between 2001 and 2007. The exchange rate depreciation vis-à-vis the US dollar was 4.5 percent over the year 2003, and 2.2 percent for the year 2004, 0.9 percent in 2005, 1.1 percent in 2006 and 4.8 percent in 2007. Between 2004 and 2007, the cedi depreciated by an average of 2.25 percent against the U.S. dollar. Placed in the context of the historic instability of the cedi and the 2000 experience of some 50.0 percent depreciation, this level of stability of the cedi was remarkable. The period between 2001-2007 recorded the lowest depreciation of the cedi in any seven year period since exchange rates were market determined and demonstrates that it is possible to have very stable exchange rates with disciplined economic management. The deterioration in the fiscal situation in 2008 resulted in an exchange rate depreciation of 20.1%.

---

2009-2013

Mr. Chairman, the elections of 2008 brought in a government of the NDC under the leadership of Prof. J.E.A. Mills. The NDC inherited an economy growing at 8.4% without the benefit of oil production. With crude oil coming on stream, the economy grew by some 15% in 2011 as a result of oil production. The non-oil sectors of the economy, in particular agriculture, industry and services are still growing slower than they did in 2008. In 2012, real GDP growth was 7.9 percent (including oil). It is clear therefore that notwithstanding the production of oil, the non-oil sectors are experiencing declining growth. There is a noticeable slowdown in economic activity and both business and consumer confidence have weakened. The economic slowdown has meant that unemployment is getting worse. We all know of school leavers and graduates who are having great difficulty finding a job in this economy. Youth unemployment remains high and increasing and there has been no better Ghana for our youth in the last five years. Mr. Chairman, this is worrying because we seek fiscal and monetary discipline not for their own sake but to create an enabling environment for job creation.

Mr. Chairman, at the end of 2012, Ghana’s budget deficit was a gargantuan GH¢8.7 billion, amounting to 12.0% of GDP using the rebased GDP numbers. This is the highest recorded budget deficit in Ghana’s history. The GH¢8.7 billion deficit would have been able to finance seven years of free secondary school education.

From Nkrumah through Acheampong, Rawlings and Kufuor, no government has incurred this level of budget deficit. The crux of the problem is that government spending in 2012 increased astronomically to 34.5% of GDP even though government revenues amounted to 16.1% of GDP (a gap of over 100%) for the year. The government abandoned all fiscal discipline in an attempt to win the 2012 elections.

Mr. Chairman, this NDC government is the first government in the history of Ghana to have access to oil revenues and yet is finding it difficult to pay its bills because of the indiscipline in its management of our public finances. Even meeting statutory payments like GETFUND, NHIS, DACF as well as salary payments to workers has become problematic. The cost of doing business has increased and confidence in the Ghanaian economy has waned with high interest rates, a weakening currency and increased utility prices. The Free maternal care, school feeding and national health insurance programs to protect the poor and vulnerable inherited by the NDC government are having major challenges, to put it mildly.

What is remarkable about this state of the economy is that it is occurring at a time when the government has had access to more financial resources in terms of tax and non-tax revenues as well as borrowing more than any other government in Ghana’s history.

Mr. Chairman, the rate of growth of public debt is a matter of concern. Ghana’s total public debt has increased from GHC 9.5bn in 2008 to GHC43.9 billion as at August 2013 (an increase of 357% in less than 5 years)! Mr. Chairman, the NDC government has borrowed the equivalent of $20 billion in just the last five years! What is worrying is that they tell us that this is only the first gear! Can you see or feel that $20 billion dollars has been pumped into this economy in the last five years? Where are the projects to show for the $20 billion? Just imagine the transformational effect if every region were given $2 billion for development projects.

Mr. Chairman, what is sad about this situation is that the government appears to have misunderstood its own capacity to borrow by blindly looking at the debt to GDP ratio without taking into account the fact the GDP was rebased (i.e. statistically increased by 60% from 2007) without an attendant increase in foreign exchange liquidity.

In this situation, taking comfort from a debt/GDP ratio of less than 60% would be misleading. For prudence, the government should be applying an adjustment factor to the traditional debt/GDP measure to take account of the rebasing that took place. Despite warnings in this regard, the government proceeded to borrow at an alarming rate. Today it is obvious that the indiscipline of its borrowing is taking a toll on the economy.

With such large scale borrowing, government is crowding out the private sector which is unable to borrow to grow their business. Risk free Treasury bill rates are around 23% and bank lending rates are on the rise because of excessive government borrowing. Lending rates are now some 30 percent. Electricity and water supply have been erratic and inadequate, shooting up the cost of doing business. It is therefore not surprising that businesses are having a hard time in Ghana right now.

After being in denial for the last couple of years, the true state of the economy is now obvious for all to see “fiili fiili”, as they say in my neck of the woods. The propaganda has finally given way to reality and it is not a pretty sight.

How did we get here? Ladies and Gentlemen, with regards to government finances, we recall that at the end of 2008, the government budget deficit to GDP ratio stood at 6.5% (after the rebasing of GDP). This outcome was described by the NDC as bad fiscal management. By the end of the election year 2012, the budget deficit had reached some 12% of GDP (after rebasing of GDP). This is double the deficit in 2008 which the NDC described as reckless! Interestingly, Mr. Chairman, today the NDC government’s objective in the medium term is to get to a budget deficit to GDP ratio of 6.5%, the same as was the case in 2008, which they called reckless! This is what is called reverse gear, not first gear.

Single Spine Salary Implementation and the Economy

Mr. Chairman, the NDC government, in the face of growing labour unrest, has tried to blame the economic meltdown being experienced on the implementation of the Single Spine Salary System.

The refrain from Government is that wages and salaries of government workers account for over 70% of government revenue so workers should endure economic hardships or pick the next available flight out of the country. What are the facts?

At the end of 2008, the Government wage bill amounted to GHC1.98 billion, representing 41.3 percent of total domestic revenue of GHC 4.8 billion and 46% of tax revenue. By the end of 2012, after 99% implementation of the single spine salary system, the government wage bill jumped by some GHC4.6 billion to GHC6.6 billion. While the government wage bill increased by some GHC4.6 billion between 2008 and 2012, total government revenue also increased from GHC4.8 billion to GHC15.5 billion over the same period. The increase in domestic revenue by GHC10.7 billion was more than twice the increase in the government wage bill. Indeed, by the end of 2012, the government wage bill following the implementation of the single spine salary system was 42.9% of total domestic revenues. This is not significantly different from the 41.3% in 2008. Furthermore, the 2013 budget forecast that the wage bill in 2013 would represent 35% of total domestic revenue by the close of the year. The current economic difficulties can therefore not be attributed to the single spine salary system which had been 99% implement at the end of 2012. In fact, this government was touting its “unprecedented” economic achievements, including the implementation of the single spine salary system only last year.

So when did the problem arise? The acute fiscal difficulties the government is facing is directly related to the massive deficit of GHC8.7 billion (12% of GDP) incurred in 2012.

This massive over expenditure has left the government cash strapped and unable to even finance statutory expenditures. Some workers have not been paid for 22 months! Mr. Chairman, I also understand five years after you and Alhaji Aliu Mahama left office, the government has still not paid you your entitlements.

Mr. Chairman, the data available therefore shows quite clearly that the blame for the current economic difficulties lies squarely in the area of government economic mismanagement and should not be blamed on the wages of workers. After all, workers did not decide to distribute V8 land cruisers and other goodies to try to win the 2012 elections, neither did workers decide on an unsustainable path of accumulation of public debt. Workers did also not make the decisions on GYEEDA, SUBAH, SADA, ISOTOFON, WAYOME, AAL, etc. In trying to reign in the fiscal deficit, government has imposed taxes on almost everything, including condoms and cutlasses and I am sure more taxes are coming in the budget to be read next week. Government has also increased utility tariffs, water tariffs, petroleum prices etc. Unfortunately, when as a result of poor economic management workers demand higher salaries, some politicians conveniently turn around to accuse them of being unpatriotic or greedy. After the government does the “kukrukukru” with the economy they do not want the workers to do the “kekrekekre” to protect their standard of living!

INDISCIPLINE AND THE PERSISTENT DEPRECIATION OF THE GHANA CEDI

Mr. Chairman, what has been the cost of this persistent fiscal and monetary indiscipline by successive governments since independence? We can think of this in terms of the impact on economic growth, employment, interest rates, inflation, etc. I will however focus on its impact on the exchange rate of the cedi over the years. Mr. Chairman, my concern looking at the developments in the cedi exchange rate since independence is that the cedi has been on a continuous one direction slide. The only question is how fast the depreciation is for different governments! Let’s look at some numbers. At independence, Ghana was part of the West African Currency Board using British Pounds, shillings and pence. The exchange rate was the equivalent of 73 pesewas to the US dollar. By 1965, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah introduced the Cedi. The exchange rate at this time was ¢1.04/$. By 1983, the exchange rate was ¢52.6/$. By 1992, the exchange rate was ¢520.8/$.By 2000, the exchange rate was ¢7047/$. By 2008, the exchange rate was GH¢1.19/$ (¢11,900/$) in 2008. By October 2013, the exchange rate was GH¢2.20/$ (¢22,000/$) with all indications that it could decline further by the end of the year. At this rate, the exchange rate could be GH¢4.4/$ in another 4 years.

Table 1. Cedi-US Dollar Exchange Rates (1965-2013)

Year Exchange Rate ¢/$

1957 0.73

1965 1.04

1983 52.6

1992 520.8

2000 7047

2008 11,900(GH¢1.19)

2013 (October) 22,000 (GH¢ 2.20)

Mr. Chairman, the price of fiscal and monetary indiscipline by successive governments since independence is that cumulatively, between 1965 when the cedi traded at ¢1.04/$ and October 2013 when it is trading at GH¢2.2 (¢22,000)/$, the U.S. dollar has appreciated relative to the cedi by some 2,000,000%! . The value of the cedi has been decimated in the process, losing 99.9999% of its value relative to the US dollar. For a small open economy like Ghana, this trend is worrying and should be worrying for all Ghanaians. Our economy is highly import dependent and these massive these massive depreciations in the currency end up piling more hardships on Ghanaians as the cost of living increases.

Mr. Chairman, going forward, government would be applying automatic price adjustment formulae for pricing utilities and petroleum products. However, the exchange rate is a significant component of the pricing of these products and services. It means that other things equal, if the exchange rate depreciates, we can all expect to pay more for utilities and petroleum products. These in turn impact the overall standard of living and the cost of doing business. Workers under these circumstances would continue demanding wage increases to maintain their standard of living. What is worrying is that if we continue with the way the economy is being managed, we can expect even more depreciation of the cedi and higher commodity, utility and petroleum prices in the future. Can we continue this way? Can we ever industrialize and create jobs with these levels of continued depreciation of the cedi?

Mr. Chairman, this persistent rate of depreciation of the cedi must be looked at against what is happening to other currencies in the global economy. Take for example, the US dollar and the British Pound during the same period. At the end of 1965 the dollar- pound exchange rate was $1.590/GBP and by the end of 2012 it was $1.614/GBP, a cumulative pound appreciation of some 1.5% over a 48 year period. This compares with a 2,000,000% appreciation of the dollar against the cedi over the same period. Between 1983 and 2013, the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate under the currency board arrangements of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has remained constant at HK$7.80/US$. The question we must ask ourselves is how come these economies with fixed and floating exchange rate systems are able to maintain such durable stability of their exchange rates? Are we willing as a country to do what it takes to attain and maintain such exchange rate stability?

Mr. Chairman, technically, having a stable exchange rate is not difficult to do. In the case of Ghana, no matter what exchange rate regime is adopted, there is a critical requirement by governments of a commitment to fiscal discipline beyond the electoral cycle. Are the politicians willing to abide by this discipline regardless of the impact on our electoral fortunes? More importantly, are the voters going to demand this discipline from politicians? The passage and enforcement of a Fiscal Responsibility Act will be important in this regard if it is supported by political will. A Fiscal Responsibility law will require governments to declare and commit to a fiscal policy that can be monitored. It will include fiscal rules (including rules governing election year spending), provisions for transparency and sanctions ( including sanctions on the Executive). It would mean for example that governments cannot by law spend above a certain limit relative to revenues. Fiscal indiscipline and the resulting fiscal excesses are ultimately paid for by ordinary citizens who have no place at the decision making table of the politicians. It is therefore important that labour, civil society and all other stakeholders make a push for the passage of a fiscal responsibility law as soon as possible. In this context stakeholders can also debate whether the exchange rate regime that we are operating is optimal or whether we should move towards a currency board arrangement like Hong Kong and live with the discipline that would entail.

Discipline to Implement the Vision

Mr. Chairman, discipline as the key to economic growth and development also entails a discipline to pursue a clear vision and the discipline needed to manage the already inadequate resources honestly. What is interesting is that all the political parties in Ghana have laid claim to commitments to protecting the poor and vulnerable as part of their ideologies. To what extent have these commitments been honoured? It is instructive to examine the record of some democratically elected governments and their ideologies.

Nkrumah was for example was a socialist. This meant government led development strategy. Nkrumah’s development plan left a legacy including -

• free education,

• free medical care,

• State-owned enterprises like Ghana airways, Tema Food Complex, GIHOC, GNTC, State Hotels, State farms etc.

• Workers Brigade

The record shows that there is no doubt about the CPP’s socialist credentials.

Mr. Chairman, Ideologically Busia was a believer in market capitalism but wanted to build a democratic welfare state where each is his brother’s keeper.

To realize this vision, a number of initiatives were undertaken by the Busia government.

• A new ministry of Social and Rural Development was created to seek the welfare, training and employment of youth. The National Service Corps, Youth in Action and a Voluntary Work Camps Association were formed.

• A new Ministry of Housing was established to facilitate access to housing by workers. The Bank of Ghana set up a loan scheme from which workers could borrow to build their own houses. Contributions of 2.5 percent were made from salaries of between N¢4,000 and N¢6,000 and 5 percent from salaries above N¢6,000 to a Social Security Fund for the construction of low cost houses for people with housing problems. Low-cost houses were built in all the nine regions in Ghana.

• To encourage rural development, the government established a Rural Development Fund. This was funded through a levy of 40 new pesewas from the salary of every worker whose salary was ¢34.00 and above paid into the fund. This fund was used to provide the rural areas with good drinking water, through the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation, Latrine pits, markets and health posts.

• ¢6 million worth of underground sewerage pipes project was laid in Accra towards the proper disposal of sewerage.

• Under the Department of Rural Water Development, three major city supply plants for water were established for Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi.

• secondary schools and clinics were built across the length and breadth of the country and the administration introduced Experimental Schools on pilot basis, which is now called Junior High School

• free text books in all the schools in the country.

• free ‘Achimota’ sandals to pupils in middle schools.

All this was done in 27 months!

Mr. Chairman, The NPP government just like Busia’s PP government believed that there is the constant need in a nation like ours to cushion segments of the society and ensure that they are carried along in the country’s quest to develop. As a result of the many interventions and programmes, poverty declined from some 40% of the population in 2000 to 28% by 2008 along with significant increases in access to healthcare and education enrollment.

The 2001-2008 period also saw a significant increase in social spending aimed at protecting the poor and vulnerable in society. This was reflected in initiatives such as the:

• National Youth Employment Programme

• The School Feeding Programme to provide food to pupils in basic schools

• Capitation Grant to make education affordable and accessible

• The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to provide accessible healthcare to the population.

• Free maternal care for all pregnant women under the NHIS.

• Introduction of a Metro Mass Transit transport service for urban areas to provide subsidized transport for commuters and a free bus ride for basic school pupils in Ghana.

• Introduction of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme under which welfare grants are paid to the extreme poor.

Mr. Chairman, the NPP inherited a HIPC economy but after 8 years in office it has all of these concrete accomplishments to show. One cannot help but also notice the irony of the “free-market” oriented NPP government implementing policies that were to some extent more social democratic than the NDC government.

The NDC reinvented itself as a Social Democratic Party in 2003 seeking to “marry the efficiency of the market with the compassion of the state with all efforts geared towards protecting and supporting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, and the marginalized and have-nots in society. Consistent with this philosophy, the NDC promised a Better Ghana with policies such as:

• One-time health insurance premium

• Pay licensed teachers a professional allowance of 15% of basic salary

• Pay technical-vocational teachers a professional allowance of 10% of basic salary

• Pay teachers in deprived areas an additional allowance of 20% of basic salary

• Assume water and electricity bills of second cycle schools

• Double TOR’s capacity toward processing Ghana’s oil

To what extent has the NDC’s covenant with Ghanaians to deliver on its social democratic vision been realized over the last five years? Has the NDC had the discipline to implement its manifesto promises?

The NDC is supposed to be a Social Democratic Party. But what type of socialism is this that imposes such hardships on workers and ordinary Ghanaians. What type of socialism is it that oversees the weakening of social safety nets such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Maternal care, School Feeding, and National Youth Employment Programme? At least in Nkrumah’s socialism one saw a vision that he was committed to and attempted to implement with free education, healthcare, industries, workers brigade, state farms etc.

Mr. Chairman, the socialism being practiced by the NDC is more in words than in action. In action, it can best be described as “Akonfem Socialism”. Akonfem socialism” is this new brand of socialism where the government officials engage in “chopping” the meat to the bone. Rather than focusing on serving the people, our Akonfem socialists focus on coming up with schemes to steal money from the people. This is why we have the creation of schemes such as GYEEDA, SADA, SUBAH, WAYOME, WATERVILLE, ISOTOFON, AAL, where the state has been defrauded of billions of Ghana cedis which could otherwise have been used for productive development expenditure. This is only what we know about. This is not what Ghanaians expect from the party of “Probity and Accountability”!

The Subah Infosolutions contract where the government is literally giving away hard earned taxpayers money under very dubious circumstances may just be the tip of the iceberg. With this level of corruption, the economy will not move and it is not surprising that after inheriting a legacy of a much stronger economy, the government says it is still in first gear after five years!

Mr. Chairman, the challenge we face today as a country is how to deal with corruption in the public sector. As a country we have vetted people by CVCs, tried people by public tribunals, jailed people, shot people at the firing squad etc. The situation has become so dire that a “citizen vigilante” like Martin Amidu and journalists like Manasseh Azure and Anas Aremeyaw taking up the fight against corruption rather than government. We appear to be losing the battle against very powerful forces. So what should we do?

Mr. Chairman, if you look at the canker of corruption, it is clear the over 95% of corruption takes place in the areas of award of contracts and the procurement of goods and services by the public sector. In my humble opinion the surest way to deal with this problem is to take the responsibility to award contracts and undertake procurement out of the hands of the public sector and politicians and rather give it to an independent body with a value for money secretariat (under parliamentary oversight). The independent body should be made up of reputable professional local and international procurement institutions and experts (and representatives from civil society). This is the model that was used in the execution of projects under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) such as the N1 Highway. The MDAs or even the Presidency had no role in the award of contracts for MCC projects. Once this type of model is put in place, public officials and politicians will focus on policies and service and not on their ability to make millions of dollars through dubious contracts and procurement. This is an idea that we can discuss on its merits on a multi-partisan basis and come up with a workable solution.

Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, the author H. Jackson Brown jnr. has stated that “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There is plenty of movement but you never know if it is going to be forward backward or sideways”. This is essentially the story of Ghana’s economic development. We have been moving like an octopus on roller skates because of the lack of discipline in our economic management.

As H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama would say, “It is all about whether we are ready to submit to discipline or not”.

Mr. Chairman, I submit that it is time for us together to do the right thing for our economy.

May the soul of H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama rest in peace.

Assalamu Alaikum

Source: Dr Bawumia

Muhammad and slavery

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Category: Religion

Created on Monday, 09 December 2013 00:00

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Muhammad and slavery

The Prophet Muhammad did not try to abolish slavery, and bought, sold, captured, and owned slaves himself. But he insisted that slave owners treat their slaves well and stressed the virtue of freeing slaves.

“Corruption Crippling The Nation” - Oti Boateng

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Category: Elections & Governance

Created on Monday, 18 November 2013 00:00

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“Corruption Crippling The Nation” - Oti Boateng

{sidebar id=10 align=right}Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, has said corruption in all sectors of the economy was crippling the nation.

He said the situation should be a concern to all well-meaning-Ghanaians and help fight the social canker before it got out of hand.

“We should on no account compromise on these corrupt practices because the corrupt tendencies are killing this nation gradually,” he said.

Daasebre Oti Boateng said this when he chaired the 12th graduation ceremony of the All Nations University College (ANU) in Koforidua on Saturday.

He said the situation could be controlled if every Ghanaian especially professionals learn to do away with self aggrandizements.

Professor William Otu Ellis, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), commended the university on its infrastructural development, the number of programmes on offer, programme content and richness, systems, research output, students’ numbers and social status.

He also commended the University for establishing a tradition to organize two graduation ceremonies in a year just as the KNUST does in an attempt to award certificates to students who complete their course of study.

Professor Ellis said tertiary education the world over was undergoing transformation and one’s ability to adapt and master soft skills could determine the success or otherwise of one’s endeavours. He urged the university to use the formative years to develop all internal structures so that when they attained the status of a full university it would find itself adequately prepared to run its own affairs.

Dr Samuel Donkor, President and Founder of the ANU, said the university was celebrating another achievement of innovation, excellence and quality higher education and promised to continue to strive for excellence in teaching and research in business, engineering and technology.

He said the All Nations University was excelling beyond expectations, with all programmes enjoying full accreditation by the National Accreditation Board and would continue to place emphasis on academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment focusing on total personality development.

Dr Donkor said research remained a vital national and global prosperity, adding that it was an important indicator of the commitment of a university towards revitalizing communities.

Ms Helen Adwoa Ntoso, the Eastern Regional Minister, said the government was highly concerned about challenges of private universities, hence the step to task the Ghana Education Trust Fund to come out with modalities for supporting private tertiary institutions in the country. A total of 243 students graduated.

Source: GNA