October, 2023

In about two weeks on the 4th of November 2023, the governing NPP is going again to their National Delegates Congress to elect a Presidential candidate to lead the badly limping governing NPP Party into the political battlefield in 2024.

The ten-man contest in the Special or Super Delegates Conference on 26 August 2023 was reduced to five Presidential candidates, namely Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Kojo Alan Kyeremanteng, Dr. Akoto Afriyie and Francis Addai Nimo.

According to now Independent Presidential candidate, Kojo Alan Kyeremanteng, the processes and/or decisions taken by the National Council of the Party before, during, and after the exercise were ‘unmeritorious and unconstitutional’, leading to his exit from the ongoing Presidential race and the NPP Party.

Now the four aspirants will battle it out on November 4, 2023. It is likely the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (‘economic strategist’) and Kennedy Agyapong (‘showdown’) will lead the race again with Dr. Bawumia tipped to win the candidacy.

I have always maintained the position, that the current crop of Presidential aspirants of the NPP shows that the Party has no viable Presidential materials to lead the country, considering that they are all part and parcel of the rots of this unpopular and insensitive Akufo-Addo-led regime on various fronts.

Whoever the NPP Delegates finally select on November 4, 2023 (be it Dr. Bawumia or Kennedy Agyapong), none of them has the much-needed people management skills and presidential experience as compared to former President John Dramani Mahama who is a visionary leader and the Flagbearer of the NDC Party into the 2024 General elections.

As for ‘showdown’ Kennedy Agyapong, his questionable emotional intelligence (EQ) coupled with his history of unguarded, inflammatory utterances and unappealing demeanor has significantly reduced his presidential chances. Dr. Bawumia, on the other hand, who was supposed to be the ‘economist strategist’ of the NPP has proven to be highly unreliable and unable to fulfill his ‘superior’ economic measures as the current chairman of the economic management team (EMT) under this Akufo-Addo-led regime.

The weak fundamentals of this regime of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President (EMT Chairman) Bawumia have been badly exposed by the poorly performing dollar-cedi exchange rate as well as the poor economic indicators of the country under their watch. It is, thus, not surprising that Dr. Bawumia has now become an ‘IT guru’ while being loudly silent on the economy as the ‘economic strategist’ of the NPP. Although Dr. Bawumia is a Presidential material, he is a highly tainted Presidential material who has lost his credibility and not shown any form of better competence than the previous government led by former President Mahama.

Indeed, Ghana neither needs any ‘showdown’ leader like Kennedy Agyapong nor the ‘economic strategist’, Dr. Bawumia, whose economic prowess also is being questioned by Ghanaians including Kennedy Agyapong. The inconsistent Kennedy Agyapong once praised badly performing Dr. Bawumia in 2020 for electoral gain. There is even a simmering tension between the camps of Kennedy Agyapong and Dr. Bawumia and none of them is a viable Presidential candidate to lead Ghana after Nana Akufo-Addo’s poor governance style.

Considering the economic, social, and environmental mess caused by the governing NPP Party under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia, a visionary and selfless President is badly needed to clean the mess and rebuild the Ghana that we all want.

Having done it before, former President Mahama is the right person with the right set of leadership acumen and vision for sustainable development of the country come December 7, 2024.

Views expressed by Dr. J.-B. Naah. This article was also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanweb.com

The unexpected substitution of the Minority front bench in Parliament generated a mixed bag of criticism against and commendation for the NDC’s new national leadership led by Chairman-General Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and the Chief Scribe, Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.

The venerable Hon. Haruna and Hon. Mutaka exhibited sterling leadership qualities on the front bench representing the voices of the Minority Group of the NDC for the past six years.

It is, thus, understandable that such a sudden substitution has created a storm in the teacup by some bigwigs and regular members of the NDC. The timing factor, as a crucial part of the arguments against the Party’s decision to substitute the Minority leadership, nearly won the debate in my opinion. In the end, all comrades within and without the country rallied behind the NDC Party’s decision and created a beautiful scene to the admiration of the majority of Ghanaians.

The NPP wanted to take advantage of some dissenting voices to divide the NDC’s front but that was unsuccessful.
A coach worth his/her salt knows which players and when to make changes to the playing team to win important games. Thus, thumbs up to ‘Coach’ Chairman-General John Asiedu Nketiah and his team who knew when exactly to make a tactical substitution after carefully studying the political play in Parliament for the 7th December 2024 D-day of our democratic practice.

Chairman-General John Asiedu Nketiah exhibited the qualities of a winning coach who knows exactly when to make changes to his team although that decision was unpopular and unpleasant to some comrades, especially those who argued in the line of the time factor.

The new Minority leadership led by Hon. Dr. Casiel Ato Forson is living up to expectations so far. Having served notice to the Majority Group side of the House by the Minority Leader Forson, the Minority side should continue to hold the current government accountable to the people of Ghana.

Despite some of the 136 NDC MPs disagreeing with the Minority leadership substitution by the Party hierarchy, the show of maturity, unity, and support for the new Minority Leaders by the Minority side of the House is highly commendable.
The composure of Hon. Haruna and Hon. Mutaka after the needed substitution in Parliament is equally worthy of commendation!

Kudos to all NDC supporters for letting bygones be bygones in terms of the substituted Minority front bench. Unity and hard work are vitally crucial for NDC’s victory in 2024.

Kudos also to ‘Coach’ Chairman-General Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his ‘technical team’.

Views expressed by Dr. John-Baptist Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

It is regrettable to witness how low Ghana has sunk under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime after Ghanaians were virtually hoodwinked to vote him as a better Presidential candidate and the NPP Party into power in 2016.

There were those social commentators and opinion leaders in society who were highly critical of the erstwhile Mahama-led government’s efforts then to invest in the future with visionary developmental projects and running a responsive government.

Interestingly and curiously, such loud voices have now gone dead silent under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime.
I have been wondering if the visible failures of this government are glorified in the face of the reality on the ground. I am tempted to hold such a view for obvious reasons.

This governing NPP government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia has not only taken Ghanaians for granted now but also engaged in glorifying itself in failures on various fronts. Here is why!

ECONOMIC FRONT
As a presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo complained of increasing national debt, economic hardships, and corruption, and promised how to deal with such developmental challenges when voted into power together with his vice President, Dr. Bawumia leading the Economic Management Team.

Apart from the above-stated complaints, Nana Akufo-Addo then made categorical statements to the effect that Ghana was sitting on a lot of money and those NPP persons who might have thought of making money in his government would be disappointed.

Other comments like moving from taxation to production and other mouth-watering promises, which are struggling to either survive or are simply abandoned now such as the struggling FSHS program, the dead NABCO program, etc.
Nana Akufo-Addo in opposition talked about the mismanagement of the economy under Mahama’s regime, which has led to many Ghanaians suffering. Mr. President Akufo-Addo, where is the money in the land when you came to meet in the office, and yet Ghanaians are even facing excruciating pains?

On the economic front, President Akufo-Addo abysmally performed, which is diametrically opposed to his colorful political speeches and mouth-watering promises, which can best be described as white elephant promises.

CORRUPTION FRONT
When it comes to the discourse of corruption fight in the country, President Akufo-Addo has indeed been fought and defeated by corruption itself.

Although Nana Akufo-Addo promised a lot while in opposition to fighting corruption by using the ‘Anas’ Principle’, it is even during his regime that the Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is more silent with his work than before and lost a key fellow Journalist, Ahmed Suale through broad day murder.

The former Special Prosecutor, Hon. Martin Amidu had to resign his post and nicknamed President Akufo-Addo the ‘mother Serpent of Corruption’ after Amidu attempted to conduct some investigative assessment on the botched Agyapa deal. The other tag for President Akufo-Addo as a ‘Clearing Agent’ of corruption is not enviable either.

There are countless instances of corruption in this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime, which strongly confirms that corruption is rather flourishing or poorly fought under his leadership.

SECURITY FRONT
As soon as this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime was in place, the Invisible Forces of the NPP Party visibly noticed signs of insecurity with the casing away of a judge in a Kumasi High court.

A mention can be made of the brutal Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which was a war scene in just a by-election. Among other insecurity situations, the killing of Ahmed Suale, who was working for the Tiger PI company, happened under this Akufo-Addo-led government.

The general insecurity situation in the country under this government cannot be deemed any better than before. The World Press Freedom Index has rated Ghana very low, which is highly unfortunate.

ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT
The phenomenon of the galamsey operations in the country has become worst under President Akufo-Addo’s regime after he put his presidency on the line. The Prof. Frimpong-Boateng Anti-galamsey report said it all and suggested ‘presidential Galamseyers’ who were directly thwarting the efforts of the government to seriously fight this environmental and human cancer.

The worsening galamsey menace can be equated to an ‘environmental murder’ as aquatic, terrestrial species are destroyed with careless abundance, and human lives are also badly affected and will have long-term socio-ecological consequences. Once again, President Akufo-Addo has lost the galamsey fight big time.

CONCLUSION: WHERE ARE THE WISE ONES WHO ARE SILENCED NOW?
Although President Akufo-Addo has been performing unsatisfactorily on various fronts mentioned above, there is deliberate silence on the part of those who were so critical of the previous Mahama-led government. Almost nothing seems to be working properly in Ghana nowadays under this government.

The questions remain: Where are those wise ones now in our society? Why are you not speaking with the same intensity and vigor about the uninspiring governance of this Akufo-Addo-led regime? President Akufo-Addo’s regime has disappointed many Ghanaians. Therefore, such loud silence on the appalling performance of this government is a glorified failure, and Ghana deserves better leadership.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

Former President Mahama is not only a huge human asset for the NDC Party for victory in 2024 but also for Ghana as a whole. Let me expatiate the reasons for this assertion of mine. But before I do so, I must state that there are a lot of lessons for young politicians in particular to learn from Mahama’s political rise to the Presidency and his second-coming ambition.

First, for me, President Mahama’s loss in 2016 epitomizes the lesson of a stone that is rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone in the end. And patience is key in life! Second, President Mahama’s last presidency placed Ghana first before Party interest, as evidenced by monumental infrastructural development in the nation during his tenure. Third, the lesson of accepting defeat with humility and calmness is highly visible in President Mahama’s two successive defeats to allow our dear country to run uninterrupted under President Akufo-Addo’s regime now.

There is no denying the fact that H.E. John Dramani Mahama (as he is fondly called JDM) is a gargantuan asset to the NDC Party and Ghana. Here is why! During his presidency, JDM discharged his heavy presidential duties creditably well, having honed his ‘presidential’ skills from being an Assemblyman, an MP, a deputy Minister, Minister vice President and then President. Although he was hugely vilified during Dumsor, by countless industrial unrests and corruption-related matters under his regime, President Mahama kept his eye fixed on the crystal ball of contributing his quota to durable nation building, committed to fighting corruption and enablement of free speech, as a democratic state like ours requires.

In our Fourth Republican dispensation, JDM is the first ‘casualty’ of First Term President after President Akufo-Addo claimed victory in 2016. He is also the first former President who is constitutionally qualified to attempt a second-coming to the Presidency after his First Term. President Mahama’s performance and achievements are visible for well-meaning Ghanaians to recognize now even after he left office over six years ago. The appalling performance of this current NPP government led by President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disappointed many Ghanaians who thought President Akufo-Addo had the magic touch to Ghana’s developmental challenges and could turn things around.

Rather, President Akufo-Addo only promised so much in 2016 and now delivering so little in the areas of corruption, protection of the public purse, nepotism, creation of durable jobs for the teaming youth and overseeing seemingly misplaced priorities (e.g. National Cathedral). Ghanaians are now appreciating JDM’s genuine efforts better! In principle, President Mahama has nothing to lose if he does not come back to the Jubilee House. However, having displayed sterling and rich political experience and total commitment to serving Ghana, JDM still has a lot more to offer Ghana and his Party. He still has an enviable national appeal to the majority of Ghanaians, and this was evidenced by over six million votes pulled by JDM in the 2020 General elections, which was short of presidential victory though. His good works are still loudly speaking for themselves and for the NDC Party (as a whole) in opposition.

Former President Mahama has indeed learned from his mistakes as a human being and he will do strategically, operationally, and tactically well in terms of governance in his second-coming. The NDC should jealously protect the hen (JDM) that lays the golden eggs! The second-coming of JDM to the Presidency come 2024, if he is given the nod by his Party and then Ghanaians in the General elections next year, will be worthwhile to afford him another opportunity to accomplish his unfinished plans for Ghana.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

The first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, left an indelible mark in the annals of Ghana’s democratic dispensation despite ruling Ghana for 6 years. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s image has gone beyond the shores of Ghana and he still lives in the minds of Ghanaians through his visionary leadership style and enduring developmental projects that have proven to be critically useful for Ghana’s development trajectory.

These futuristic developmental projects of Dr. Nkrumah like the Akosombo Dam, Tema Habour, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Adomi Bridge, factories, and industries, etc. qualify him as a generational thinker of his time.

As they say, great leaders stand on the shoulders of equally great leaders to excel in servant leadership. Thus, former President Mahama stood on the shoulders of late former Presidents, H.E. Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and H.E. John Evans Atta-Mills of the Fourth Republic. He discharged his ministerial, parliamentary, and presidential responsibilities creditably well.

Former President Mahama has the semblance of the qualities of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and I refer to him as the ‘Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Jr.’ in our present-day Ghana. Here is why! Like Dr. Nkrumah, former President Mahama possesses great personality traits like an effective communicator and a generational thinker during his time as the fourth President of the Fourth Republic. He has openly expressed his admiration for Dr. Nkrumah, and his strong belief in social democracy as many other Ghanaians do.

In Ghana today, President Mahama is the most experienced politician, with enviable visionary leadership acumen compared to others wanting to lead Ghana in the 2024 presidential election. Whilst in office like Dr. Nkrumah, former President Mahama undertook durable developmental projects in the areas of education, health, rural electrification, women empowerment, and long-term industrial development. The impressive infrastructural development under his main 4-year presidency has earned him the name the ‘Nation Builder’.

Key examples of infrastructural development projects worthy of mention include the E-blocks to accommodate the ever-growing free Senior Secondary School (FSHS) numbers, Quaternary Hospital – the University of Ghana Medical Center including other hospitals and polyclinics, and other innovative programs. Although former President Mahama left office in 2016, these projects play crucial roles in the development of the country. For instance, the E-blocks and hospitals built under former President Mahama’s regime have proven to be the ‘messiah’ during the hasty implementation of the FSHS by this current Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government and the advent of the SARS-COV-19 pandemic respectively.

Former President Mahama demonstrated a commitment to fighting corruption and corruption-related matters under his regime. He held his appointees like Hon. Abuga Pele, Youth Employment Agency Boss, Hon. Victoria Hammah, deputy Communications Minister, etc. responsible for their actions or inactions. Unlike what we are experiencing now in this country under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government, Mr. Mahama made corruption an unattractive venture to engage in. Unlike Presidents Nkrumah and Mahama, we are now witnessing all kinds of corruption including hoarding cashing saga at homes, etc. under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime.

Former President Mahama has been one of the most vilified Presidents of Ghana. He was accused of incompetence, corruption scandals in the case of Ford Gift, buying imaginary houses for himself, and slay queens in Dubai. These vile accusations never saw the light of day after he left office in 2016 because of his innocence. The Opposition NPP wanted to make former President Mahama irrelevant in Ghanaian politics but that rather made him a national hero after the poor show of his predecessor, President Akufo-Addo. One of the most admirable strengths of former President Mahama is his calm and collected demeanor amid such worrying accusations. He indeed walked his talk!

Former President Mahama’s national appeal is unquestionable. It is not surprising to see the NDC delegates giving him a 99% endorsement in May 2023 to be their Presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections. His agenda of inclusive development and rebuilding Ghana from the failing Akufo-Addo-led government will be realized when Ghanaians vote Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC back into power next year. The misrule of Ghana under the ongoing Presidency of Akufo-Addo indeed amplifies the sterling leadership trait and futuristic plans former President Mahama has for Ghana.

It will not be surprising to see the second comeback of former President Mahama to contest for President in the upcoming 2024 general elections. Former President Mahama is indeed ‘Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Jr.’ of Ghana as they both have admirable and futuristic commonalities as I espoused above. Ghanaians will decide the faith of his second comeback and the NDC Party come next year in December.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

The continuous escalation of the sufferings of Ghanaians for the past 6 years and counting under the Nana-Bawumia-led regime is gravely concerning to many in the country and beyond. I strongly believe that Ghana is indeed in a dire economic and governance hole! Thus, this government needs to take more pragmatic and genuine steps rather than short-term and eye-pleasing measures.

It is often said that when you are already in a hole, you don’t continue to dig but you rather stop digging and try to come out it. This is what the Nana-Bawumia-led government should do right now to address the largely self-inflicted problems in the country.

Before this government came to power in 2017, it has raised the expectations of majority of Ghanaians with promises on measured borrowing, sustainable jobs for the youth, flagship projects, corruption flight, etc. However, this government delivered below expectation since 2017 and Ghanaians are rather experiencing excruciating hardships now. For instance, the 1) unsustainable debt levels, 2) ballooned expenditure envelop at the presidency, 3) inadequate capital investments/sustainable jobs, 4) failed galamsey fight and 5) struggling promised flagship projects are having negative rippling effects on livelihoods of Ghanaians right now.

In the midst of above-cited troubling economic and social circumstances, the application of the nudge theory is extremely necessary. Let me explain why!

The nudge theory is based upon the idea that by shaping the environment (also called choice architecture); one can influence the likelihood that one option is chosen over another by individuals. The concept of nudge theory was introduced by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein1 and has recently come to prominence in the last decade to influence behaviour. A key element of nudge theory is giving an individual the ability to maintain freedom of choice and to feel in control of the decisions they make.

Honestly speaking, government’s attempt to shape policy choice options for citizens to buy in are largely ineffective or at best highly repulsive. For instance, the Rambo style of recently passed e-levy coupled with opaque accounting of president’s expensive international travels, ‘fat’ government size with no major reshuffles over 6 years now, unbridled borrowing by the Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, leading to his censure and the domestic debt exchange programme for the IMF staff-level arrangement have exacerbated the plight of Ghanaians.

The government of Ghana should have honestly focused on demonstrating measurable commitments to reducing borrowing and discretionary expenditure to sustainably manage both the domestic and international debt levels. With respect to the e-levy passage, the Majority in Parliament arrogantly pushed it through to the dislike of many Ghanaians, leading its poor performance to rake in the needed revenue for government.

Therefore, the use of nudge theory by government will help to assuage the sufferings of Ghanaians by deliberately shaping transparent and convincing policy options or taking actions with direct citizens’ involvement. This will voluntarily attract majority of Ghanaians and positively change their behaviours to assist in the restructuring of Ghana’s worrying debt situation now. Any mounting of additional income taxes coupled with worsened hikes in inflation of goods and services as well as petrol prices will not help the already precarious situation in the country. I hope the government listens to this unsolicited advice.

Views expressed by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

References
1. Thaler, R., & Sunstein, C. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.