Former Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has hinted that his political career in not over.
The former Vice President made the statement when he chaired a Revolutionary Lecture in Accra Thursday May 31, 2018, ahead of the marking of the June 4 Revolution.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur said, “I started as an economist I was dragged into politics, I don’t know if I’m there or I’m going home but to borrow the words of President Rawlings it’s not over, it’s not over,’’ he stated.
He declared his backing of the principles of probity and accountability that are perpetually espoused by former President Jerry John Rawlings which form the foundation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stressing that “they are not over”.
The revolutionary lecture series which was borne out of the experiences and the philosophy of Mr. Rawlings and the revolutionary transition Ghana had gone through since June 4th 1979.
He also agreed with Professor kwesi Botchwey that the fundamental structures of the economy needs re-engineering.
The former Finance Minister under the JJ Rawlings’ administration, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, delivered a lecture on Ghana’s economic and social situation prior to 1983. It was followed by a review of the economic reforms from 1983 to 1992: Issues, Responses and Outcomes.
According to Professor Botchwey, although the country has recorded a slight improvement in macroeconomic indicators signifying some level of growth, it’s not yet time to celebrate as there are still vulnerabilities in the economy that have the potential of stifling Ghana’s quest to attain its development goals.
Professor Botchwey, therefore, called for a conscious effort to expand the revenue base of the country to sustain the gains.
He said as a nation, citizens should not jump up and celebrate the small change in the economy because the fundamental structures have not been changed as Ghana is still a commodity importing based economy.
The former Vice President cited a situation in the first Parliament of the Fourth Republic when the NDC, with an overwhelming majority of 90 percent in the Legislative House, voted against its own government’s budget because it was considered to be too harsh for the country at the time.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur, who is an economist, academic and former Deputy Finance Minister and later Governor of the Bank of Ghana, recounted the heady days of Ghana’s economic and social situation prior to 1983, through to the economic reforms from 1983 to 1992 and noted that the NDC surmounted the challenges and stood to the test of its principles of probity and accountability to the people.
The former Vice President urged members of the NDC to put the disappointment of the 2016 general election behind them, continue to hold on to the principles of the party and intensify the campaign to regain power in 2020, adding, “it’s not over”.
The lecture on Thursday was the second in the series of lectures dubbed, “The Revolutionary Lecture Series” in honour of the experiences and philosophy of former President Jerry John Rawlings and the revolutionary transition Ghana went through in the 1980’s.
Organized under the auspices of the Office of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the NDC as part of activities marking the annual celebration of the June 4, 1979 uprising, this year’s lecture was under the theme: “Revolutionary economic trends, Ghana in focus: Past present and the future.”
The second speaker on the day was Professor Kusi, who spoke on the topic “Ghana’s Economic Growth and Development in the Democratic Environment – Issues, Responses and Outcomes, and a rethinking of Ghana’s development on a sustainable basis”.
The event, held at the National Theatre in Accra, was attended by leading members of the NDC, socialist groups, political partners and civil society organisations (CSOs)
The crowd observed and listened to the speakers and panelists as they took the house down the history lane on matters regarding Ghana’s economic situation over the years.
Some of the participant during question time sought to find out how the values of the June 4th Revolution; probity, accountability, truth among others were being upheld in today’s democratic governance and the way forward.
This year’s lecture attracted former President Rawlings, stalwarts of the NDC; past and present including Dr Kofi Portuphy, National Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, E T Mensah, former Speaker of Parliament – Doe Adjaho, Dan Abodakpi, Alex Segbefia, Vice Chairman of the African Union – Ambassador kwesi Kwartey, Koku Anyidoho and Elvis Afiyie Ankrah.
