Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that Ghana’s real crisis is that President Akufo-Addo doesn’t have a clear vision and he hasn’t put together a plan to achieve a vision.

According to him, no country has been transformed based on “ad hoc speeches and knee-jerk reactions” by its leaders. He revealed that countries are transformed when their leaders assume office with great vision and a plan or a co-ordinated programme to achieve that great vision.

Reacting to President Akufo-Addo’s nation’s address on the economy, Mr Ablakwa stated that this is the reason Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides in Article 36(5) that Presidents shall within two years after assuming office present to Parliament “a co-ordinated programme of economic and social development polices, including agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels and in all the regions of Ghana”.

“Ghana’s real crisis is that President Akufo-Addo doesn’t have a clear vision and he hasn’t put together a plan to achieve that vision.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Mr Ablakwa indicated that it is most “disappointing” that President Akufo-Addo is yet to submit to Parliament his co-ordinated programme of economic and social development policies for his second term.

He noted that even though the President has a few weeks left to comply with the two year timeframe, what this situation actually means is that “President Akufo-Addo has virtually squandered the first half of his second term as he has governed without a vision” and a coordinated programme.

“Any wonder Ghana is in crisis? This will also explain why despite universal global challenges, Ghana has some of the most abysmal economic performance indicators anywhere in the world.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Presentation of co-ordinated programme to parliament

The North Tongu legislator acknowledged that President Akufo-Addo did a much better job in his first term when he presented his co-ordinated programme to Parliament within 10 months. He further highlighted that it is his “well-considered view” that Article 36(5) of the Constitution be urgently amended to mandate all Presidents to present their vision and co-ordinated programmes to Parliament within a maximum period of 2 months after they are sworn into office.

“If you don’t have a bold, transformational vision, you have no business running for President. Ghana cannot continue to waste valuable time and waste precious lives in the process; we must catch up with the rest of the developed world.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Mr Ablakwa revealed that it is “disconcerting” that his usually reliable sources within Akufo-Addo’s Cabinet informed him that Cabinet is waiting to consider a draft of the President’s co-ordinated programme later in November. Clearly, he stated that even in this “late hour and in the midst of a debilitating economic crunch”, the President is not ready with a clear vision and a workable plan for the consideration of Parliament, and most importantly for the “economic salvation” of the country.

“It is tragic how Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana is now in such a sorry, hopeless and visionless state. Enough of the try and error. President Akufo-Addo must present his vision and his co-ordinated programme of action to Parliament now!”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa