Financial Analyst, Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey has advised Ghanaians to treat the issues regarding the SML deal as a matter of national interest, indicating that how the government deploys national resources should go beyond politics.
He stated that the deal is of national importance, hence the President should make the outcome of the report available to the public without undue delays. He noted that though people cited in the report must be given time to respond, the release of the report should be prioritized.
Moreover, he indicated that the SML deal should not be used as a tool for politics either by the government or any other entity.
He indicated that the former administration’s release of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) report should serve as a precedent for the President to do the same.
“I understand that the Presidency is studying the audit findings but we need to balance that with the public interest. The report should be shown to the people of Ghana quickly to bring some closure. A lot of Ghanaians hold the view that this contract was shady and a shot in the foot by the government”.
Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey
Furthermore, Dr. Wisdom Dogbey noted that the public’s distrust of the deal with SML stemmed from the fact that financially, SML does not generate enough revenue to warrant a contract of such magnitude.
He argued that given the public perception of the deal, the President’s decision to release the findings of the audit instantaneously would promote transparency and allow the people to understand how public contracts are awarded.
Moreover, he advised Ghanaians to demand accountability from elected leaders concerning how the national resources entrusted to them are managed, arguing that making the report available ensures that government departments and agencies involved in the deal are held accountable for their various roles.
Dr. Dogbey opined that the prompt release of the audit findings could also prevent widespread corruption that can cause harm to the country’s economy.
He noted that the President has a unique opportunity in this situation to restore public confidence and trust in the government by releasing the report. “As to whether the President will grab this opportunity or not, your guess is as good as mine”, he noted.
Electoral Transparency
Capitalizing on transparency and trust in the government and its agencies, Dr. Wisdom Kwame Dogbey indicated that the Electoral Commission’s decision to make voter registration more inclusive by increasing the number of registration centers is in the right direction.
He noted that the voter registration process is of utmost importance in the country’s democratic process, suggesting that the EC must create some sort of sensitization initiative to encourage citizens to participate in the voter registration exercise.
“Everyone is entitled to vote for as long as they are citizens of the nation and they have their voices heard, they must be heard. We need this inclusivity as an essential element for our representative democracy and I expect this to be the top agenda for the IPAC meeting that is scheduled today”.
Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey
Dr. Dogbey opined that the registration exercise helps maintain the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system, arguing that identifying and verifying the eligibility of voters, helps prevent fraud, multiple voting, and other forms of electoral malpractices.
He stated that conducting an inclusive registration not only ensures transparency but also ensures a free and fair election that is reflective of the will of the people. He suggested that the voter register must be up to date and include all eligible voters to ensure that no eligible voter is alienated or disenfranchised.
Conclusively, Dr. Dogbey lauded Ghana’s democratic achievements over the years, indicating that the country’s ability to have successive peaceful and smooth transition of power is a hallmark of a stable democracy.
He noted that a concise voter register that reflects the population of the people will ensure credible election outcomes acceptable to all that will safeguard the country’s stable democracy.
READ ALSO: New Study Shows BoG’s Traditional Tools Ineffective Against Inflation
