Political analyst Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for explicitly committing to tackle corruption, specifically galamsey, in its party manifesto, demonstrating a clear stance against the practice.
Dr. Boateng also expressed his disappointment and concern that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been noticeably silent on the issue of corruption, particularly galamsey, and failed to include any commitments or plans to address it in their manifesto.
He praised NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama for taking a bold and unprecedented step by vowing to hold accountable and prosecute individuals involved in galamsey, including those who may have been complicit or involved in his government, if he is elected President.
“The NPP, uncharacteristically, is quiet and that is disturbing because political corruption is a major challenge that Ghana is confronted with. At a critical juncture like this in Ghana’s political history where corruption is a major challenge, then manifestoes should address it in a head-on fashion”.
Dr. Amakye Boateng
Dr. Boateng further emphasized that effectively addressing poverty requires the development and implementation of policies that prioritize job creation and unemployment reduction, as these measures are crucial for driving economic growth and improving living standards.
He noted that while both political parties may present attractive policies on paper aimed at stimulating economic growth and creating jobs, the actual implementation and effectiveness of these policies are often lacking.
Dr. Boateng stressed that it is essential to look beyond the typical policy promises and instead identify the political party that possesses the vital ingredient of political will, which is often the missing link, to effectively implement their policies and drive meaningful change.
“Critically, do you have what it takes to put together the team that you think is the one that you want to work with? Look at which of the two, former President Mahama and Dr. Bawumia, in their respective political parties, would have the free hand to pick individuals that he would want to work with”.
Dr. Amakye Boateng
He suggested that Dr. Bawumia’s relatively recent affiliation with the NPP is a limitation, as he lacks the established influence and control within the party to effectively push for and enforce his desired actions and decisions.
Dr. Boateng questioned Dr. Bawumia’s ability to exert authority over his appointees if he becomes President, given his potentially tenuous position within the NPP, which may limit his capacity to enforce discipline and ensure loyalty.
Effective States, Not Manifestos, Key To Progress
Furthermore, Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng emphasized that development is not achieved through manifestos alone, but rather through the actions of effective states.
Dr. Boateng pointed out that effective states are distinguished by visionary leaders, and, referencing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, he emphasized that a President with exceptional leadership qualities has the potential to transform Ghana into a high-performing state.
He asserted that at this critical juncture, the policies proposed by political parties must be not only well-intentioned but also practical and implementable, with a clear roadmap for execution and tangible outcomes.
“We were all taken through Nana Addo’s leadership; the policies were good. Look at the droughts we are experiencing. We were told that dams were going to be built, we were told that provisions were going to be made to take care of these issues, it never got started, and it never got done”.
“The President pledged his presidency on galamsey [and] he couldn’t do it. So that weakness is what we examine to find who among the two could really muster the courage and much needed political will and look at his political party and tell them ‘we are not doing this, we are doing that’”.
Dr. Amakye Boateng
He suggested that Ghanaians should find it straightforward to choose between John Mahama and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as the distinction is clear between a leader who has demonstrated the capacity to lead independently and one who may be constrained by internal party dynamics.
Dr. Boateng pointed out that in a democratic system, elections serve as a means for citizens to hold politicians accountable, either by re-electing them as a reward for their accomplishments or voting them out as a consequence of their shortcomings.
However, he noted that there is a lack of mechanisms in place to ensure that political parties follow through on their campaign promises and implement their manifesto policies effectively.
Dr. Boateng argued that establishing guidelines to enforce manifesto policies would be counterproductive, as it would infringe upon the Executive President’s necessary autonomy to govern effectively.
He suggested that such guidelines would unduly restrict the President’s power, hindering their ability to make decisions and take actions necessary for successful leadership.
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