The core function of a government is to govern the citizens of its country. It sets and administers public policy and exercises executive, political and sovereign power through customs, institutions and laws within a state.
Ghana currently has a Republican type of government, with Mr. John Dramani Mahama as the president. This president and his National Democratic Congress government are supposed to use the authority vested in them by the people of Ghana for the good and welfare of all Ghanaians.
In 2008, the NDC having been in the political wilderness for eight years were very hungry for power. They spent all their time, energy and resources devising ways and means to wrestle power from the then ruling New Patriotic Party. To their own surprise and amazement, and unprepared to rule, suddenly found themselves with power. The new government quickly descended into mass dismissals as experienced public and civil servants with perceived ties to NPP were chased out of their offices and replaced with standard seven boys.
The departing NPP government had brought real reforms in areas such as education, healthcare, civil liberties, infrastructures, roads and highways. They left behind a stable economy, a functional democracy and improved social services.
The NDC has taken a country that was on the right path and destroyed it. The greed of the president, his ministers, political appointees and party functionaries is unprecedented. There is corruption and thievery in higher levels of government, mismanagement of the economy, myriads of problems and the president has no clue how to solve these problems.
Mahama and his government have a deficit of values, responsive only to their own interests and none to the national interest. Nothing interests them except their own silly emotions. They are living in affluence from ill-gotten wealth while the millions of their countrymen languish in abject poverty.
President Mahama and his NDC have no values. It is a corrupt regime of create, loot and share as it’s core value. There is divide and rule, nepotism, bigotry, cronyism, tribalism, incompetence and diabolical deeds. They have collapsed the economy and created a monster, dumsor. The rot of Mahama and his cohorts is endless ; Gyeeda, Dumsor, Sada, Waterville, World Cup chop chop, Isofoton, Asongtaba, dubious sale of Merchant Bank, Subah, the umbraer jet scandals, collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Capitation grant and the School feeding program – Then there is Woyome, Construction Pioneers and many other dubious judgment debt payments. Mahama runs the worst corruption fiefdom.
Leaders must produce results. President Mahama suffers from analysis paralysis. He has no clear vision. He himself does not know where the country is drifting to.
He has been ignoring needed change. He ignores people with the knowhow who come up with ideas to make Ghana better. They are insulted and called all sorts of names. Workers are either not paid or paid in time, but when they complain, the hangers on at the seat of government attack them like wolves.
President Mahama is a poor example of execution and accountability. He has failed to punish corrupt government officials, and so he is corrupt or perceived to be corrupt. He rewards sycophants who sing his praises.
Any president without vision will fail. As president, Mr. Mahama should align the country with a clear and achievable vision. The president has failed because he lacks vision.
President Mahama is callous, unkind, and an uncaring president. The needs, wants and wishes of Ghanaians are ignored. He is like a corrupt leader who cheats, lies and steals. He puts his own interests and that of the NDC party ahead of national interests.
President Mahama is evil. He has committed atrocities against a section of Ghanaians who are perceived to be his enemies because they did not vote for him. He uses this pain as an instrument of his power.
Mahama is a waste, a complete disaster. The demise of the late President Mills gave us this embarrassment, and the next administration (God Willing) will have to spend years and billions of dollars to repair the damage Mahama and his cohorts have caused.
But what must President Mahama do to make a successful president ? So far, he has been a mess, a total failure. Here is my take.
First of all he has to have a vision. The single most important canker in Ghana is corruption. He must fight and uproot all sorts of corruption, and make sure State institutions work. He must be the chief law enforcement officer to make sure corrupt officials are punished to serve as a deterrent.
Secondly, he must have the will and courage to implement his own vision. He should appoint technocrats and experienced people, not family and friends to help develop and influence policy.
Thirdly, he must focus on few major goals at a time. He should not tackle all the country’s myriads of problems at once.
Fourth, he must surround himself with people who will be willing to tell him the true state of affairs, not sycophants who will be singing his praises for their stomach’s sake. He needs solid straight forward advice.
The president must lead and serve at the same time. He has to partner with workers, the jobless, the poor, the sick, the hungry and the rich. He must eschew tribalism and pull all Ghanaians together. He must listen and not label critics as enemies. He must show that being the president is a noble challenge and public trust. Thank you Mr. President. I hope you are listening.
Felix Gyabaa-Mensah
Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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