Political Leadership is a “social contract” with citizens. For which reason, Leaders are bound by social contract with the people who elected them to be their Leaders to provide the needs of society to better the lot of the citizens through social development goals that would have direct impact on the sustainable livelihood development of the people. So, in the “social contract” theory, a proponent of John Locke’s political thought posits that in governance power is civil, so civil power [Political Power] and civil society [people’s power] correlates. They correlate because government must meet the needs of citizens who elected them at the point of need because it is the people’s power that establishes a political power. This is a deductive of “social theory of need principle of governance”
Therefore, pointing to this narrative of political leadership and assessing President John Mahama Tenure in office within 120 days, it could be said that the President John Mahama led NDC government have reset the tone for good governance and economic prosperity of the Ghanaian people. His government policy direction especially reducing the size of government, ensuring fiscal discipline and consolidation of government revenue and expenditure, addressing budget deficit and most of all the curtailed profligate expenditure by the Executive have so far has brought relief and comfort to the Ghanaian people within the shortest possible time in government, whiles he seeks to address more challenges confronting the Ghanaian people in the Agricultural, Educational, Health, Energy, Tourism, Industrial and manufacturing sectors and tackle Unemployment. So, JM government social contract with the people enshrined in the Manifesto promises of the NDC Party for which reason he was elected by the masses is seeing the light of day and his stewardship and economic policies being implemented now resonate well with the Ghanaian people. This is Leadership par Excellence.
The erstwhile Nana Akuffo Addo government subjected Ghanaians to economic hardship, social repression, political oppression, institutionalized corruption and high unemployment rate. Under the NPP government, Ghanaians witnessed bad governance, economic mismanagement, profligate expenditure by the Executive and deep seated corruption within the government. So, Scores of citizens gave up on the Nana Akuffo and NPP government and for these reasons, the NPP government was voted out of power to pave way for good governance and economic prosperity of the Ghanaian people. The confidence and trust Ghanaians reposed in J.M and the NDC party is paying off in all sectors of the economy. The Reset Agenda is on.
Notable of these key achievements is the immediate repeal of obnoxious taxes such as E-levy, gaming tax, emission tax and tax waivers on port duties as promised. There has been Tax rebate on vehicles and heavy duty equipments for agricultural and industrial purposes to lessen the tax burden on citizens and business community. Fuel prices have reduced significantly, 5 consecutive times in the pricing window; the Ghanaian Cedi have appreciated tremendously against the dollar [13.20 per dollar] and against other major currencies of the world. According to Bloomberg, a financial news portal, the Ghana Cedi is the best performing currency in the world now. Inflation has seen significant reduction to about 21.2% from 22.4%. The establishment of GoldBOD to avert gold smuggle is one greatest achievements of the JM Government. Ghana’s Small Scale gold export in few months has yielded dividends to the state accruing revenue of $52.7 billion to the state.
On Good Governance, President John Mahama has demonstrated Leadership by example. Forfeiting 6 months of his salary to a medical trust fund “Mahama Care” and urging his Appointees to do same is a sign of good governance. In the Code of Conduct to all appointees, JM has bared all his Appointees from engaging in mining and from buying state properties. Further, President Mahama has also bared all his Appointees from accessing government scholarships of any kind. In the Tourism sector, the “Blackstars Experience” project is on to boost the tourism sector. On Social Development and Social Intervention policies, the Free Sanitary pad policy has taken off. The Energy sector have seen significant improvement with government doing its best to address the energy challenges confronting the nation especially leveraging on the huge debt JM government inherited from the past government. The National Apprenticeship Programme and the Coders project that sort to provide millions of jobs to the Ghanaian people have also taken off as promised in the NDC Manifesto. The Women’s Development Bank to support women in businesses has taken off. His fight against corruption is non-negotiable as he has instituted inquires into corrupt practices of the erstwhile NPP government. Inquiries into National cathedral scandal, PDS, Illegal printing of money by the bank of Ghana as well as criminal charges against Kwabena Adu Boahene, former Director General of National Signal Bureau and investigation of Ken Ofori Atta the former Minister of Finance by the Office of Special Prosecution on charges of financial misappropriation and causing financial loss to the state are all ongoing. His government has also instituted investigations into the killing of a seasoned journalist Ahmed Suale which the past government failed to do, the killing of 8 innocent citizens during the 2020 elections in Tachiman South Constituency as well as Ayawaso West Wuogon by elections brutalities. The Aluta Continua project to fight Galamsey is on with the commitment to repeal the LI on mining in water bodies and forest reserves.
To conclude, I reiterate that the stewardship of President John Mahama within 120 days in Office has proven that the NDC Party is the best managers of the Economy. The political, social and economic policies implemented so far resonates with the Ghanaian people. The Economy has seen drastic improvement which has brought comfort and relief to citizens and business community. The sustainable livelihood development of the people has been impacted through social development goals and interventions of all sorts to address economic hardships and social repression. To wit, it is the hope and desires of the citizens of Ghana that the John Mahama led NDC government achieves its mandate to do more in the coming years to meet the hope and aspirations of the Ghanaian people through good governance and Economic Prosperity. For which reason, Ghanaians must remain resolute to give the needed support to JM and the NDC government to lead us to the heights of economic freedom and social justice.
JM Toasu!!
Article by:
Dr. Michael Richmond Smart-Abbey
{Public Policy and Political Analyst, Governance and Security Expert} Columnist: Modern Ghana News Website, ICA TV News and Evening Tribune News Paper}
Contact: [email protected]
