In a bold proposal aimed at expediting Ghana’s economic recovery, Haruna Alhassan, a finance expert with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has urged the country’s major political parties to announce their key ministerial appointments ahead of the December 7 elections.

Alhassan believes this proactive approach will enable voters to make more informed decisions and ensure that the new government can immediately address the nation’s economic challenges.

Speaking at the 13th edition of the CSJ Leadership Dialogue Series on July 12, 2024, themed "Ghana’s Economy from 2025 – 2028: The Hard Choices," Alhassan stressed the need for efficiency and readiness by the next government.

“The road ahead will be tough. Tough, rough, and bumpy,” he stated. “The time we spend in forming new government in Ghana can be very long. In my opinion, the new government should be ready before January 2025, and given the enormity of the situation, we really do not have time to waste.”

Alhassan also focused his discussion on the known delays in appointing key government officials in Ghana, a process that typically takes three to six months.

He suggested that both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should disclose their prospective ministers before the elections to allow voters to evaluate their capabilities in managing the country’s affairs.

“There’s every need for us to have a government that will be ready to hit the ground running from day one,” he asserted.

Drawing parallels with the United Kingdom, Alhassan noted how swiftly the new Prime Minister formed a 25-member cabinet within 24 hours of election results.

He urged the NDC and NPP to follow this example.

“Of course in Ghana, we go through a process of nomination, vetting, and all that before they can be sworn in to begin work...a determined government should be able to find ways to have people ready to deliver from the get-go,” he stated.

Alhassan also pointed out that early announcements of key positions, such as the Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor, would give Ghanaians a clearer picture of which party is better equipped to tackle the economic crisis.

“It would be novel if the two leading parties can tell Ghanaians who they will be running their governments with if voted into power. Who would NPP be putting in charge of the economy? Who would the NDC be putting in charge of the Central Bank? Let people know. Let people decide whether they have confidence in that person even before they vote your government into power,” he emphasized.

During the virtual event broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom, businesswoman Georgina Danso also shared insights on how businesses are coping with the current economic climate and what the next government needs to do.

“The next government has its work cut out... It is no mean feat what they would have to deal with. What we generally need is a conducive business environment because the business community in Ghana has lost a lot of trust in the government,” she stated.

Danso also mentioned that the next government must inspire confidence through decisive actions rather than mere rhetoric.

The current administration, led by President Nana Akufo-Addo, has faced significant economic challenges, including rising costs of goods and services, a depreciating local currency, and a sluggish economy.

While the government attributes these issues to external factors like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic, many independent analysts point to domestic issues such as high borrowing, corruption, and mismanagement.

Alhassan’s proposal aims to ensure that Ghana’s next government can immediately address these issues with a competent team, ready to implement solutions from day one.