Inside Politics: Is NPP Better Or Worse Than NDC?

According to General News of Tuesday, 5 June 2007, NDC Presidential Candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has for the first time since he started working towards the electoral victory of his party in the 2008 elections, made it emphatically clear that he knows for a fact that Ghanaians would give him the nod to be the next president.

The former Vice President, Prof Mills who is known to exude humility in his approach to politicking, told his captive audience when he interacted with teachers and non-academic staff of the Great Lamptey Mills School around the Gaskia Cinema at Zongo Junction, that it is very obvious that Ghanaians are currently up to their brow with the gross inefficient rule of Kufuor and his NPP government and that come December 2008, there is no way he and the NDC would not be given the mandate to restore hope to the people of Ghana (www.ghanaweb.com, June 5, 2007).

The report which is from the office of Professor Mills was full of political innuendos but failed to address issues facing the country. The report even went on to say that “Indeed, one of the teachers, who is a known staunch supporter of the NPP, after the interaction with Prof Mills, pledged his total support for the professor and promised to swing whatever support he can swing from the NPP to the NDC”( (Office of Professor Mills).

Prof Mills is reported as saying, “I know I will win that is why I have decided to intensify my new style of campaigning to not only acquaint myself more with the issues, but to also look the people in the eye and promise them an honest and humble leadership that would seek first the interest of the have-nots before seeking the interest of those who have”

Another interesting remark captured in the report was that “his (Atta Mills’) presidency would continue from where the NDC left off as regards the establishment of the GETFUND which was meant to cater for educational infrastructure at the tertiary level in both the private and public universities. However the report failed to tell us how the NDC fared under the said program. We would be grateful to Mills if he could be more specific on the implementation and or achievements of the NDC under the GETFUND scheme rather than sheer promises.

If I am not mistaken, the flag bearer of the NDC so far has not been able to convince us that his party, the NDC is reformed or has dropped the threats and vindictiveness in pursuit of a new agenda for the country. At least, this is not forthcoming in the campaigns of the NDC leadership as compared to Kennedy and the bunch of those who are seeking the nod to lead the NPP in 2008

The call for Presidential Debate in 2008 is crucial giving all these nuances. It is not fair to the electorate or the candidates to be denied the opportunity to sell ones ideas or to the electorate to test the honesty and integrity of these candidates. Prospective presidents must be giving the opportunity to answer questions pertaining to their “Promises” which I believe should be a Plan of action rather than political demagoguery.

Prof Mills as per the report accuses Kufuor and his NPP government of gross inefficient rule. This is confusing, since Ghana government white paper report claims that Ghana's external debt has dropped to just 22 percent in 2006 from about 120 percent of GDP in 2000 under the NDC legacy? Is the opposition, NDC trying to throw dust in our eyes when Mills does not support his claim with tangible and convincing facts and figures -(At least in comparing NDC to NPP)?. Well to be fair to the incumbent let us examine the evidence at hand:

As this author has no other authoritative source of information, he would rely on the latest 2007 IMF Executive Board report*. For the purposes of those who would like to read for themselves the reference of the article is herein provided as- IMF Executive Board Concludes 2007 Article IV Consultation with Ghana Public Information Notice (PIN) No. 07/64, June 4, 2007

Executive Board Assessment On May 18, 2007, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Ghana. The report attests and affirms the following:

I. Executive Directors commended the Ghanaian authorities for their continued implementation of sound economic policies and structural reforms, which have contributed to strong economic growth—the highest since the early 1990s—sizable disinflation, and a vibrant and resilient private sector. This favorable policy setting now provides Ghana with a unique opportunity to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, provided the expectations of rapidly rising income are managed skillfully.

II. Directors supported the package of policy measures put in place by the authorities to address the fiscal slippages that developed in 2006,-(i.e., plans to reinstate the utility tariff regulation system with a commitment to full cost recovery and to accelerate divesture)- and a few Directors felt that there might even be scope for a stronger fiscal effort.

III. Directors supported the authorities' plans to introduce a fiscal responsibility law and their consideration of shifting to a total public debt-to-GDP ratio as fiscal anchor.

IV. Directors welcomed the recent decline in inflation to single digits

V. Directors commended the central bank's progress in building capacity for inflation targeting, and encouraged the continued strengthening of the environment for effective inflation targeting (A few Directors noted that further enhancing the central bank's communications strategy will also be important.

VI. Directors welcomed the authorities' focus on structural reforms critical for higher growth. Public expenditure tracking surveys and the new value-for-money unit to vet public investment projects should help deliver public services more efficiently.

VII. Directors supported plans to scale up private sector participation in infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships…

VIII. Directors welcomed the soundness of Ghana's banking system and the authorities' record on compliance with the recommendations of the 2003 Financial Sector Assessment Program update. However, they underscored that rapid financial deepening, while important to support private sector-led investment and growth, requires continued supervisory vigilance and enhancement of the regulatory framework legal and management frameworks.

IX. The joint Fund-Bank debt sustainability analysis indicates that the risks to Ghana's external debt distress are moderate—albeit closer to the lower risk category—but the strong economic growth on which this outcome depends will require sustained solid policy performance. X. Directors considered that the ex-post assessment (EPA) provides a balanced analysis of Ghana's program engagement with the Fund since the mid 1990s. Directors supported the EPA's message that Ghana's success is largely embedded in the strengthening of Ghana's institutions allowing for effective ownership of the reforms.

XI. Directors considered that the Fund should continue to support Ghana's efforts to strengthen the institutions and implement structural reforms crucial for maintaining macroeconomic stability and achieving its development goals. In this regard, they welcomed the consideration being given by the authorities to modalities for future engagement with the Fund, possibly in the context of a Policy Support Instrument.

Indeed, we are all aware of some of the misplaced priorities of the NPP and some of the financial lost to the economy from lack of foresight or the political will to confront them ahead of time such as the current energy crisis. Notwithstanding can we truly say that the NDC is a viable alternative to the NPP?

My answer is an emphatic “NO.” Of all its short comings NPP has delivered better government in 7 years than the NDC in its 11 plus 8 years of leadership. At least think of the freedom and peace many enjoy in Ghana today. History will confer on Kufour one of the greatest in terms of bringing freedom of expression and ideas (though they are not really valued or hardly considered). Were it not for Kufour, Ghana, no doubt would have followed suit to the political instability and turmoil around us-- in Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, to mention a few. Kufour may not have lived fully to his promises but he has no less provided some positive ingredients for the next government. What Ghana needs therefore is not change of political party but a leader with the skill, vision and above all the INTEGRITY to continue from where Kufour would leave off in January 2009.

Foot note: *This is how the IMF report is generated: Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities.