The Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr. John Kwakye, has called for Ghana’s political contestants to be assessed based on the same standards used for politicians in the United Kingdom (UK). This, he believes, will raise the level of quality expected from Ghana’s leaders.
Dr. Kwakye’s suggestion comes after a new report in the UK found that most voters believe stronger mechanisms are needed to ensure politicians follow the rules. The report, co-authored by Alan Renwick, Meg Russell, James Cleaver, and Ben Lauderdale, found overwhelming support for stronger independent regulators, with a majority wanting an independent regulator to be able to launch its own investigations into alleged ministerial wrongdoing.
The research, which surveyed over 4,000 people representative of the UK voting age population, found that four out of five respondents believe the current system needs reform to punish politicians who do not act with integrity.
In Ghana, the presidential candidates have been making promises ahead of the 2024 general elections. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has promised to ensure 100% Ghanaian ownership of mineral resources if elected into power. He believes that the current framework of Ghana’s mining sector creates the perception that Ghanaians do not have full ownership of the country’s minerals.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has also promised to run his administration with not more than 60 ministers and deputies if re-elected as president in 2024. He plans to assemble and operate the leanest but most efficient government under Ghana’s fourth republic.
Dr. Kwakye notes that these policies are good, but wonders whether the candidates will deliver if elected. He asks, “The presidential candidates seem to be proposing good policies: economic transformation, lean Govt, fiscal discipline, simplified and low taxes, natural resource ownership and value-addition, maximising the use of our resources and capacities, etc. But, will they deliver?”
Dr. Kwakye’s call for Ghana’s political contestants to be assessed based on UK standards is a bid to raise the level of quality expected from Ghana’s leaders. By holding them to higher standards, he believes that Ghanaians can ensure that their leaders are accountable and transparent in their actions.
