By Abdul Razak Bawa
Even the uninitiated can attest to the fact, which is also sacrosanct that, former president, John Agyekum Kufuor, is the most successful leader of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition.
In fact, I think for that tradition to have any relevance in contemporary politics, Kufour’s name should be added to make it complete.
Former president Kufour, was not only referred to as the gentle giant because of his physique, but his astuteness politically. He was a political giant, a man, who mastered time and was able to live a legacy, the type that has made men, who came before him immortal.
He was one of the success story of the fourth republic. One was proud to call himself or herself a Ghanaian, wherever he or she finds himself or herself. Kufour led the country on the path of prosperity.
He bequeathed a united country to his successor, a country that was not built on the lines of family and friends.
Unlike president Kufuor, who was tall and for that matter had foresight, his successor for the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is short and shortsighted.
Ghana in the last six years, has seen politics almost and always overshadowing issues of governance and public development. A country with so much potential, which was a beacon of hope for the African continent, has now become a laughing stock among its peers.
Mention corruption and Ghana is ranked among the worst. Mention the performance of the local currency, the cedi, and it is the worst performing currency in Africa and only better than the Sri Lankan currency in the world.
Mention press free freedom index and our dear country is in the league of the worst performers. Akufo-Addo, touts himself as the one who led the repeal of the criminal libel law, what he fails to acknowledge is that, it was under the direction of President John Agyekum Kufuor and so if anyone should take credit, it should be the president, not a minister.
Ghana has been downgraded by all the rating agencies to junk status, such that, the country is no longer attractive in the international market, the reason for the debt repayment suspension and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
But how did we get here, it was simple, we were lied to and we believed the lie, because it was told over and over again.
In the lead up to the 2016 general elections, candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made some far reaching pronouncements, which was his covenant to the good people of this country.
He said among other things that, he was going to protect the public purse, in there is the fight against corruption, and that during his presidency; corruption is going to be alien to Ghanaians. He went ahead to send a word of caution to his potential appointees that, anyone who wants to make money should go to the private sector.
For emphasis let me quote him “If your goal in coming into government is to enrich yourself, then don’t come. Go to the private sector. Public service is going to be exactly that; public service!”
He accused his predecessor of running a family and friends government, and promised that he will not operate a family and friends government. But what we see now, has never been witnessed in the history of this country, where every facet of our national life, is being controlled by his kiths and kinsmen.
I am too old to steal, was one of the tired clichés we heard in his campaigns, until he became president. Stealing has now become state policy, where his appointees are competing among themselves, as to who can steal more than the other. The Auditor-General’s report for 2022, is enough testament to that. In just six years, this country has been raped beyond recognition.
Akufo-Addo promised not to borrow and that ye te sika su, naso ye bre to wit, we are sitting on money yet we are suffering.
The Bank of Ghana’s January 2023 summary of Economic and Financial Data, indicates that Ghana’s public debt stock stood at ¢575.7 billion at the end of November 2022, about 93.5% of Gross Domestic Product.
The debt stock increased by ¢108.3 billion between September and November 2021, indicating that the country’s debt was unsustainable. This triggered a debt restructuring in which the Domestic Debt Exchange is expected to end on January 31, 2023.
According to the data from the Central Bank, the external component of the total public debt shot up to $29.2 billion (¢382.7 billion) in November 2022, equivalent to 62.1% of GDP. This was from $28.4 billion (¢271.7 billion) in September 2022 and $28.3 billion in December 2021.
Every quote, every promise Akufo-Addo made, he had gone back on it. This is a man who begged Ghanaians to try and indeed we have and we now realize the mistake we have made.
I am not a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but I feel for its members, who are hopeful of Breaking the 8. It is obvious that, the way things are going, it can never be possible. Rather what they should pray for is that, their candidate is not humiliated at the polls.
Akufo-Addo, have had his way all his life and so running the presidency like his personal or family property comes naturally to him. He listens to know one but himself. The cry of many Ghanaians about the state of affairs only falls on deaf ears.
Akufo-Addo is the reason Ghana is suffering third rate infrastructure, dilapidated public schools and decrepit health institutions. He is the curse behind Ghana’s degenerative underdevelopment. He is the very sickness of our body politic.
It is a bitter truth that Ghanaians can no longer wait for miracles to happen under this government after having waited for six years without any positive results.
If Akufo-Addo, seems to be doubting my write up, I will advise him to take a walk through Central Business District or Central Kumasi just to test his popularity. A good leader has no need of being feared by the people, they say.
Akufo-Addo, has spent the last six years playing the blame game, leaving governance behind and pretending to fight corruption. Ghanaians voted for him with the hope of enjoying great leadership, but the reverse is now the case as things are not in any way getting better.
While Ghanaianswait for him to fulfill this promise, those who had jobs are being fired on a daily basis as some companies are laying off staff due to the harsh economy.
Under this government, countless private companies in the country, have folded up as a result of the current economic situation brought about the administration’s reckless borrowing to consume, which never existed during the previous administrations. Can we still expect Akufo-Addo to perform better than John Agyekum Kufuor, your guess is as good as mine.
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