The political leadership and governance under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo is in a political dilemma after the appointment of elephant-size ministers and presidential staffers going to end almost eight years in power has nothing to drive home. Don’t be surprised at the snail pace the government is working with, on all the flagship programmes, is likely there is not going to be any successful completion of these major abandoned projects under the International Monetary Funds (IMF) debt management programme.
The domestic debt management programme role out by the finance minister Ken Ofori Atta and the high corruption case reported have put the government in a bad light. Above all Ghana Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 7.1 USD mn in Dec 2021. Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 308.1 USD mn in Dec 2021. The country’s External Debt reached 29,185.2 in Nov 2022.
The country’s Nominal GDP was reported at 19.1 USD bn in March 2023. Ghana is in a debt crisis. Despite having had significant amounts of debt cancelled a decade ago, the country is losing around 30% of government revenue in external debt payments each year. Such huge payments are only possible because Ghana has been able to take on more loans from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which are used to pay the interest on debts to previous lenders, whilst the overall size of the debt increases.
The New Patriotic Party and the government likely going to end the eight-second term with respect to the checkered election conducted under the watch of Madam Jean Mensah in the 2020 elections, which was contested at the Supreme Court is another political cloud the government is managing with a divided mind of weak leadership to ensure successful economic stability for all is very challenging.
Don’t forget and be reminded that our courts are already packed, only God knows, the judgment in the wisdom of the president, while there’s a backlash of opinion on these appointments.
The government agenda leading us to the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections with its own casualties and political baggage is creating a lot of tension within the presidency and within the leadership of the New Patriotic Party.
In another leg, the days ahead of you us is very tough and challenging since any action or decision you take has its own political consequences. In effect don’t destroy the party before you leave office by your gentleman dictatorship style. Just be reminded that the New Patriotic Party suffered from internal voter aparthy on the grounds of “Skirt and Blouse” in the past and the race for the party leadership going forward has already divided the party line of the flag bearer race. (Bawumia and Allan)
The last straw that broke the caramel’s back was the fallout of the leading member of the party Alan Kojo Kyeremanten from the presidential race, which is creating political news headlines and affecting party cohesion going into the 2024 presidential elections. Is there going to be a new political party? Let’s wait and see the days ahead of us, which is politically pregnant with tension and divided loyalty among the supporters of the NPP at the grassroots level.
Please kindly look sharp Mr President, if care is not taken in sharing your good will with respect to the party and the established candidate of the flagstaff house it will be very difficult for the NPP to come back to power.
Don’t forget that, there is a firm belief within some sections of Ghanaians and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that; you won’t win the 2020 elections in a fair contest, while at the same time, the internal “Skirt and Blouse” cards is likely going to metamorphose into another political relic that may consume the success and the future fortunes of the party.
Politically, political patronage, friends and government in addition to the size government you work with which to some extent has not deliver as expected when you justify loudly from the rooftop saying you in harry to create sound economic development for all, which turns to be huge debt portfolio inadvertently with COVID-19 and its social and economic ramification have made Ghanaians poorer dates from 2016 under the NDC government.
Mr. President are you in for the soul of the party or the reckless economic policies we are in now, without any direction and result oriented key performance index (KPI) where it has become difficult for citizens to search for your achievements rather to feel it, wherever we go is missing in all of your sloganeering projects.
I believe by judging how the new parliament battle it out in electing the speaker, in addition to deliberations and cooperation in forming committees; I am of the opinion that, slogans are not going to work going into 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections campaign.
I think let’s just manage the old very well by trying to lock horns with major loose ends to fine tune to some of the projects such as one district one factory, one dam one village, and your hospital infrastructural projects. Mr. president just focus on these projects mentioned above, the rest will be provided by Ghanaians themselves, since the pressure from the party foot soldiers and the vigilantes is at its peak already with intimidation and attacks in just ended super delegates conference; is likely going to destroy or damage the brand of the party and the country going into 2024 elections.
Story by: AYM DEKU-KUKAH / Ahotoronline.com
Email: kukahalexander7@gmail.com
