Improving Ghana’s democracy: Revamping the local government base

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Folks, I have said it several times that until local government improves to prop up our democracy, we will continue to lag behind and be content with the mediocrity that has characterized this 4^th Republic.

There is much hue and cry about the Electoral Commission’s inability to conduct district-level elections this year to put in office Assembly men and women.

Parliament has already summonsed Dr. Afari-Gyan to appear before it to clarify issues. Even before he does so, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, is warning of serious administrative crisis at the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies if government fails to resource the Electoral Commission (EC) to organize the district level elections.

(Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/March-7th/administrative-crisis-looms-if-ec-fails-to-conduct-district-elections-mp-warns.php)

The problem, to me, goes beyond the so-called administrative lapses or fears that the CEOs of the Assemblies might do things their own ways to endanger local government.

The NPP's Akufo-Addo returns to Ghana: Still, the battle is the Lord's

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Folks, the NPP's Akufo-Addo has returned to Ghana after staying away for six months after the Supreme Court had sealed his doom as the defeated Presidential Candidate at Election 2012, his petition against his defeat having been torn into shreds and discarded as an act in desperation.

His return this night is uneventful in itself, clearly because it happened at the time that we all knew he would be returning home after the NPP's national delegates congress had been shifted from March 1 to April 12 .

And we know very well the reason he gave for not returning home before March 1. Now that he is home before the April 12 congress, can he say that he will keep to himself and not dabble in the very internal politics that he had raised as his reason for postponing his earlier planned return? Over to him.

Is Barack Obama biting off more than he can chew?

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Folks, the United States has for many years now prided itself as the only SUPERPOWER of the world (especially after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed at the impact of Mikhail Gorbachov’s “perestroika’ and “glasnost”, vain attempts to offset the hugely negative impact of the arms race and the devastating consequences of the Cold War).

In its pride, the US has done things all over the world and boasted of its capability to continue doing so till thy kingdom come. It has made no secret of the potency of its military-industrial complex, entering countries and systems and doing anything that its superior arms would allow it to.

Stealing Akufo-Addo’s Policy on Free Senior High Schools?

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Folks, there is a new wave of calumny against President Mahama following his announcement last Tuesday that his government would soon introduce a progressively free Day SHS education even as it turns attention to improving infrastructure.

He has just been reported as saying that the fee-free education will be extended to cover boarding schools too. Now, the NPP must really feel threatened, apparently because the wind in its political sail is being blown away by this strategic move by the government.

Fee-free SHS at this time means disarming the NPP and reducing its electioneering campaigns for Election 2016 to rubble even before that time comes. No new buzz-word for it!!

Why must “Biggest opposition leader be part of Gov’t”?

Tuesday, February 28, 2014

My good friends, I will say it loud and clear here that Ghana does not need any "Shadow President".

Folks, throughout my many years on this earth, I haven't ever come across any suggestion regarding governance as idiotic as this one put forward by Prof Agyeman Badu Akosa:

"We propose that the leader of the opposition must have a decent role in the governance of this country and must be accorded a status befitting of shadow President. The position must come with a home as elegant as the Australian House and provided a staff strength of between 20 and 40." 

Why making all kinds of promises is bad for governance

Thursday, February 27, 2014

My good friends, we have been quick to condemn our politicians for basing their political stunts on nothing beyond the making of all kinds of promises just to be voted into office.

We have been particularly unhappy that these promises are often made without any due consideration being given to existing economic realities but are bandied about just for political expediency in the hope that the unwitting segments of the electorate will buy into them and grant the politicians their wish.

Indeed, all politicians operating in Ghana in our time are guilty of making such “huhudious” promises. Some have been lucky to be given the nod while others have been spurned but are not yet tired of playing that trump-card.

Matters Arising: President Mahama’s “State of the Nation Address”

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Folks, President John Mahama has given his second “State of the Nation Address” to Parliament and assured Ghanaians of “better days ahead in spite of the current socio-economic challenges facing the country”.

According to him, pragmatic measures being taken by government will soon yield fruitful results.

Hurrah to the President for being so optimistic even when his opponents are on rooftops undercutting him and dismissing his address a re-hashed version of the one he had presented last year. Or that it is full of promises that are likely not to be fulfilled and will add to the lot for which he is being ridiculed.

The Ghanaian sphinx, one might be tempted to label it. Better late than never!!