Address by His Excellency Odoi-Sykes

Unedited Notes for an address by His Excellency Mr. Samuel Arthur Odoi-Sykes, Ghana High Commissioner to Canada at the Celebration of Ghana?s 47th Independence Anniversary on 6th March 2004, in Toronto.

?GHANA?S TURBULENT JOURNEY OF 47 YEARS??

? March 6, 1957

Ghana ? First Black African State to gain independence from colonial rule. Impetus to continental struggle for self-rule.

? ROUGH & PAINFUL JOURNEY

Like most other African countries, Ghana?s journey of 47 years as an independent country has been rough and painful.

? REPUBLIC ? 1ST JULY 1960: One Party Socialist State ? 1964

1966-1992 - Alternation between Military and Civilian Regimes

? 1992 - Birth of the current 4th Republic. Ghana was then 36 years old with about 14 years Civilian and 22 years Military

? Retardation of Ghana?s Development

Prolonged periods of military dictatorships have been a major drawback to the political, social and economic development of Ghana since independence. They frustrated the orderly progress and improvement of democratic governance of the country, and frittered away many precious national years with empty revolutionary slogans and spurious gimmicks.

? 4th Republic: 1992-2000 (8 years)

NDC was voted into power in 1992 under Mr. Jerry Rawlings following his 10 years military rule

So Rawlings had a rare and unprecedented period of over 18 years to contribute to the solution of Ghana?s myriad problems ? Weak Economy; Low Economic Growth; Weak Currency; Corruption; Unemployment; Poverty; Declining Social Services ? Health, Education, etc. Indiscipline; Insecurity. The Record of the (P) NDC for almost 20 years is there for all to see and judge.

? NPP: 2001-2003

The incumbent NPP government under President J.A. Kufuor won the polls in December 2000, and was sworn into office on 7th January 2001. So Kufuor and the NPP have been in power for 3 years.

? Performance of the NPP in 3 Years

On the whole the performance of the NPP in 3 years is assessed by impartial observers to be quite satisfactory ? The macro economic indicators confirm this assessment.

? Management of the Economy has been efficient and effective. There is greater financial discipline and a clear sense of direction.

? Economic Growth of under 5% is still Weak and Low

? Lack of high economic growth accounts for continued High Unemployment.

? The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) programme is effectively tackling the problems of poverty

? Developments are taking place in all Districts and Regions with funds generated from the HIPC ? irrespective of their political allegiances.

? Harsh and Unpalatable Decisions have had to be taken in the long-term health of the economy, and the ultimate welfare of the people. Such acts are not mistakes. A leader whose primary or main object is to ensure his own well-being or survival will shy away from harsh but necessary decisions, and drift along the line of least resistance.

? Democracy, Good Governance, Rule of Law & Fundamental Human Rights Kufuor?s government is committed to these principles, which are in actual practice in the country.

? Kufuor?s Legacy

I repeat that the greatest legacy which President Kufuor will bequeath to Ghanaians are Individual Liberty and Freedom of Expression, which have now become the Ghanaian way of life, and are taken for granted.

- Now Ghanaians are free to say what they think and do what they believe in, within the law, without the fear of secret arrests and detentions.

- Now every Ghanaian lives without fear or threat of disappearing, or being deprived of his personal liberty without just cause.

- Kufuor?s regime marks a renaissance of Freedom and Democracy in Ghana, a regime of Tolerance and Civility in words and deeds.

? SECURITY, LAW & ORDER

The Security situation has greatly improved with the strengthening of the Police Service and other law enforcement agencies. Ghana needs Peace and Security to develop.

- Armed Robbery has been tremendously reduced.

- Serial Killings, which haunted all Ghanaian women across the country, for years, and kept them indoors after 6 p.m. during the previous regime, have been stopped by the NPP government. Anyone who claims that he knows the perpetrators of those heinous killings must assist the Police to arrest and prosecute the killers. If he fails or refuses to do that then he must be lying.

? CORRUPTION

- Rumours and Allegations of Corruption against the government.

- Corruption is a universal phenomenon in all-human societies. In Ghana it will be found in all sectors of the society, high and low, and not peculiar to government members of politicians.

- President Kufuor?s declaration of Zero Tolerance for Corruption is not a mere slogan but his article of faith. It means that he will not compromise on corruption or condone it. He has not reneged on it.

- There is no evidence of state-sponsored Corruption. Proven allegations of Corruption have been appropriately dealt with; however, there is no way to take action on rumours or unsubstantiated allegations.

- Corruption must be condemned by all well-meaning citizens of Ghana.

- It is a vicious canker that can destroy our society. Whistle blowers must not be discouraged or shunned, because they can assist to hold the canker in check.

- ?PEER REVIEW? UNDER NEPAD?

- The Kufuor government feels so confident about its record of governance that it has offered Ghana as the first of the 53 members of the African Union for vetting in April on Corruption, Human Rights, and other issues under the ?Peer-Review? mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa?s Development (NEPAD)

- Any serious or sincere accusers of the government of Corruption have a special opportunity to substantiate their allegations to the independent Peer-Review team which would hold discussions with opposition politicians and civil society in April, to make a recommendation of Ghana to the African Union.

? 2004: December 7 (Election Year)

The government has promised to give every assistance to the Electoral Commission to conduct Free and Fair and peaceful elections on December 7.

- All political parties should concentrate on issues, and campaign to convince the electorate to vote for them by their tract records

- No party should resort to Threats, Thuggery and Insults in its campaign and Cheating in its election strategy.

- Threats, Thuggery or Machoism and Insults do not win votes

- I am confident that Ghanaians will look at the track records of all the parties, in government and out of government, to make a choice