Franklin Cudjoe, Founder and President of the IMANI Africa Policy Think Tank, has defended the organization’s focus on certain institutions, stating that it is a deliberate strategy to hold accountable those entities that have a significant impact on the country’s development.
According to Franklin Cudjoe, IMANI Ghana expends so much energy and effort on scrutinizing the work of public sector institutions because, unlike some other observers, IMANI Ghana does not believe that a significant transformation of Ghana is possible without a root and stem overhaul of the public sector.
As such, he indicated that IMANI Ghana’s constant criticism of the conduct of certain public institutions is, therefore, the result of disappointment rather than scorn.
“We believe strongly that were these institutions to be offered strong leadership and direction so that they can focus on rule of law, competent and minimal bureaucracy, and the transparent provision of public goods, such as security of life and property, sound regulation and the enforcement of quality standards, Ghana would be much better off”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Furthermore, the IMANI Ghana President emphasized that without effective public sector leadership, the oft-repeated phrase ‘private sector as the engine of growth’ will remain a hollow mantra, devoid of tangible progress, and fail to drive meaningful economic development.
Moreover, he stressed that weak public sector leadership not only misses opportunities for growth and development but also creates obstacles for the private sector and civil society, ultimately hindering the progress of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers from all walks of life
He further stated fundamental human psychology dictates that scrutiny and criticism, though necessary, are insufficient motivators for good behavior, indicating that additional incentives and positive reinforcement are essential to fostering a culture of excellence.
Moreover, Franklin Cudjoe observed that targeted, specific, and sincere praise can be a potent motivator, often even more effective than criticism, in encouraging and empowering individuals who are already on the right track
As such, he emphasized that IMANI Ghana praises state institutions on the right path to shine a light on positive developments, erect powerful role models for the guidance of the rest of society, and serve as a sharp contrast to behaviors considered detrimental to the country’s progress.
IMANI’s Attack On EC Justified
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe lamented that the current leadership of the Electoral Commission (EC) has unfortunately earned a notorious reputation for its questionable conduct, characterized by shady dealings, reckless wastefulness, and clandestine maneuvers.
He stressed that the SALL debacle, which infamously disenfranchised the communities of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe in the Oti Region, in the 2020 parliamentary election, is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the EC’s recent questionable actions, with even more egregious offenses lurking beneath the surface.
As such, he declared that the Electoral Commission’s unscrupulous behavior “shall not be praised”, and rightly so, as the criticism it has faced from IMANI Ghana in recent times is thoroughly justified and well-deserved.
Franklin Cudjoe, a longtime critic of the Electoral Commission, has recently accused the body of perpetrating flawed procurement processes and mismanaging funds during the previous elections, further fueling concerns about its transparency and accountability.
According to him, the Electoral Commission’s procurement process for purchasing Biometric Voter Devices (BVDs) and Biometric Voter Registrations (BVRs) in 2020 was deeply troubling, as it resulted in a staggering waste of taxpayer funds, with the process costing significantly more than it should have.”
“They tabulated scores for bidders and made sure the winner won by arithmetic gymnastics through saying something like 85+13= 106”.
Franklin Cudjoe
However, the Electoral Commission (EC) has dismissed IMANI Ghana’s allegations of procurement breaches, insisting that it adhered to the requisite legal procedures in acquiring the necessary equipment for its operations, and maintaining that its actions were in full compliance with the law.
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