``Ghana`s example of good leadership should make us all happy´´ ---Says Ambassador Grant Ohemeng Kesse

Ghana`s Ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr Grant Ohemeng Kesse granted an exclusive interview to our Associate Publisher, Musah Ibrahim Musah in Berlin during which the Ambassador dilated on the challenges facing his country as well as the progress made so far as it celebrates its jubilee anniversary this year. Excerpts:

Musah: Your Excellency, what do you consider the major achievements of Ghana 50 years after independence?

Ambassador Kesse: Well, as you may be aware, we were the first country to obtain our independence from our colonial masters and the wind of change at that time affected most of the African countries also to fight, also to gain their independence. Infact, most of the countries depended upon Ghana and they looked at Ghana as their guide, so at least if we hadn´t gained anything at all through us, most of the other Africans have also been able to gain their political independence. Secondly, we have gone through some chequered history. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah got our independence for us in 1957, in 1966 there was a coup (d`etat) and then later on we had a civilian government Busia`s government which lasted for 27 or 30 months. Later on there was a coup and then Limann`s government also came. And it was not until 1992 that we really started democratic government and since 1992, especially from the year 2000, it is well-known all over the world that Ghana have been practicing good governance, there is democracy and also there is considerable improvement in our economy. Let me site a few examples, before the year 2000, the bank interest rate was 52 percent, now it is around 22 percent and hopefully, it would go down. Then also inflation was at 32 percent, now it is around 10.6 and from our calculations, at the National Development Planning Commission, it should have been a single-digit by now. But we have no control at the price of oil and so it is now 10.6 or so. Secondly, too, there was a time you could not speak your mind. The press could not even write or say anything, now people are free and they can speak their mind. Then also even if you take the efforts made by Ghana in resolving the problems in Cote d`Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and in our neighbouring countries, that is also an example of our good leadership and as you may also know, at the last African Union Conference, President Kufuor was unanimously elected the Chairman of the African Union which is also a plus for the country. So, we have gone through some chequered history, but one can confidently say that we know where we are going and we know that we`ll get there. So that at least should make us all happy.

What leaders would you credit with building a modern Ghana that we know today?

To start with, we have the Big Six. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr J.B. Danquah, William Ofori-Attah (Paa Willie), Ako Adjei, Obetsebi Lamptey, and then Akuffo Addo and we have Paa Grant, who sponsored these people. Then in the history of Ghana, we also have some of the Chiefs who really stood up against dictatorship. And we can mention the Asante Chiefs, Prempeh I, Prempeh II, we can mention Nana Ofori-Attah I, Nana Ofori-Attah II, Nana Sir Otsibu Darko, and then some of the Chiefs. Then when we come to even the ex-servicemen, Sgt. Adjetey and others, they have all contributed their quota towards the attainment of independence and also the development of Ghana.

If you look at the history of Ghana, what events do you most regret, which you wish had never taken place?

Well, I´ll mention the Coup d´etats, because, if anything, they have drawn us back. Unfortunately, what happened was that as soon as there is a Coup, we abandon whatever is going on. You look at the silos which were built by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. They were meant to store cocoa and also some food. First, so that in case of shortage of food, we can fall on the reserve food stored in the silos. Secondly too, you use it as a means of dictating the price of world goods like cocoa. But then after the Coup, it was abandoned and the drawings were taken away. So some years ago when we wanted to go back and rennovate it, we couldn`t; which is unfortunate because it looks as if whenever there is a new government, we forget whatever the previous government has done and we want to come in with our own new programmes so that the people would say this is what we have done which is unfortunate.

What happened to Ghana`s Tourism Development Plan which was launched here in Berlin by the Jerry Rawlings government. What is the state of the Plan today under President Kufuor?

Well, we are still working on those plans, but you know, it takes quite some time. You look at Germany, US and some of these countries, it has taken them sometime. Infact, recently, I know that some studies have been going on in connection with our tourism. The problem is, the potentials are there but they are latent. The potentials are there they need to be matched up with proper infrastructural facilities such as good roads, descent accommodation and so on.

What challenges do you see as most pressing for your country?

The most challenging problem for Ghana is our economy. You know, around 2000, the capital income was around 400 dollars. Our aim is to be a middle income country by 2015, that means about 1000 dollars per capita income. We are gradually working towards it but, as I said, there are factors which are not within our control. If the price of oil should go up there is very little we can do about it. Currently, power (electricity generation) is our basic problem. We have been depending upon the Akosombo dam and when the water level goes down, it becomes a problem. So what the government is doing is, one, last month the President met the Presidents of Nigeria, Benin and Togo and through this sharing system we are going to get some power from there. Then also you know the Bui Dam plan has been on the drawing board for over 30 years and the Chinese government has come in and they are giving us a grant for the development of the Bui Dam. By the middle of this year we should be able to to have enough electricity which will last for the next 15 years whilst we look round for other sources of power.Because of this power shortages some of the firms have been closing down which is leading to unemployment and so on. So this is a major challenge which we have.

Is your government considering other sources of power generation such as solar energy, giving that water levels for hydro-electricity generation kept on dropping and the Bui Dam may face similar problems?

Yes according to the policy of the Ministry of Energy, renewable energy sources are also part of the programme. In fact I myself since I came about eight months ago, I have met about six firms that deal with wind mill, solar energy and other renewable sources of energy. I`ve had discussions with them, I also had contact with the Ministry of Energy and we are even working on it. I know my colleagues in China and also in Israel are also working on that. So, apart from the hydro energy the government is working very fast on other sources of energy.

His Excellency President J.A. Kufuor has criss-crossed the globe since he came to office in 2000. Has his efforts been rewarded?

I would say very, very very well rewarded. Because, one, when we declared HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Country) most countries which came to our aid did so because of the confidence which they have in President Kufuor, and because some of them have met him in person before he became the president.Secondly, I talked about the Chinese involvement in the Bui Dam project, it is through the visit to China that he came into that agreement with them, and it is not only the dam, there is good relationship between the two countries. For the African games in 2008, we are building four stadia. We are renovating two, Accra and Kumasi and then we are building one in Sokondi-Takoradi and one in Tamale. We went on tender and a Chinese firm won and they are working on it. Apart from that, even Germany here, Germany is our second highest trading partner, you know what that means. You go to the construction site, you go to NGOs, GTZ for example they have been in northern Ghana they are dealing with water and sanitation and then the environment and there are other organisation which are dealing with good governance and so on from Germany. And almost everywhere you go, they talk about President Kufuor`s qualities.

Finally, Your Excellency, can you give a guarantee that the 2008 elections in Ghana are going to be free, fair and peaceful?

Well as far as I know Ghanaians I am more than sure that the 2008 elections would be very peaceful. We have set down the programme, the rules and regulations and even changing from military government to civilian government, if that was possible, then I can`t see any problem in 2008.