17th April, 2017
AN OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT
OF PRESIDENT NANA ADDO’S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE
By Iddi Muhayu-Deen
Today marks exactly 100 days of the inauguration of His
Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo and His Excellency Vice President Alhaji
Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia into office. Today marks 100 days of the CHANGE Ghanaians
voted for. On this milestone occasion, the Ghanaian people surely have cause to
reflect on the CHANGE they voted for. The Ghanaian people have cause to assess
the performance of the Nana Addo government even though everybody reckons that
‘100 days’ is too short a time for any serious assessment of a government’s
performance.
For a government that has a 4-year mandate which translates
into some 1,468+ days, it would be “ridiculous” to suggest that there can be any
serious assessment of the government’s performance within just 100 days. In
other words, the government has spent less than 7% of the period it has to
govern and so, really, any such assessment at this period, would only be cosmetic
and for academic purposes.
That notwithstanding, this exercise has become part of our
subculture and so, I am also joining the rest of Ghana to do an objective assessment of President
Akufo-Addo’s first 100 days in office.
In the clear absence of a marking scheme, I would, for this exercise,
use the party’s 2016 manifesto; which document, contains the social contract
between the NPP and the Ghanaian electorates.
But before that, it is gratifying to observe that President
Akufo-Addo has made history by being the first President in this Republic who
has been able to successfully constitute the full complement of his government
within the first 100 days upon assumption of office. This enviable record is
surely worth mentioning and approbating. Now, let’s move on with our assessment
of the government’s performance using the NPP manifesto as our guide.
Let’s start with the ECONOMY
because it is the single most important and nonnegotiable aspect of the
Ghanaian life. Everything, you agree, starts and ends with the economy. If we
get our economy right, then automatically, every other thing would work for us
and we are good to go. On the other hand, if we get our economic fundamentals wrong,
then absolutely nothing will work for us.
The following points summarize the performance of the
Akufo-Addo government in the area of the economy, which is being headed by His
Excellency Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President:
The Ghanaian currency
(GH₵), which is the most important economic indicator has not only
stabilized but is actually making SIGNIFICANT GAINS against the dollar (US$) and other currencies in the forex
market. For instance, a dollar (1$) which went as high as GH₵4.85 in the early
part of the year, is today, worth less than GH₵4.10. This is an indication of
growing confidence in the Ghanaian economy and for that matter in our cedi.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Ghana has
significantly reduced its key lending, otherwise referred to as Policy Rate by as much as 200 basis
points to Commercial Banks in the country. The Policy Rate now stands at only
23.5%. This reduction is said to be the biggest cut in over 10 years.
Inflation has since January, been declining consistently. The inflation rate now
stands at only 12.8%, which is the
lowest since November 2013.
Ghana’s international or foreign reserve has in 100 days of
Nana Addo’s presidency, witnessed a significant appreciation from US$6 billion
to US$8 billion.
What this means is that, in 100 days, the Akufo-Addo
government has been able to lay down a rock-solid foundation for our economic
takeoff. That is, if we have not taken off already because as you can clearly
see, all the economic indicators are pointing to a positive direction. And this
is consistent with the NPP’s manifesto pledge of stabilizing the Ghanaian
economy and putting it on the path of growth and posterity.
OTHER 100 DAYS
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Abolishment of nuisance taxes in fulfillment of the NPP’s
manifesto promise. The taxes that have been abolished include among several
others, the following:
Ø 17.5% VAT on financial services
Ø 17.5% VAT on trading activities
Ø 17.5% VAT on domestic airlines
Ø 17.5% VAT on medicines that are not
produced locally
Ø Import duties on spare parts
Ø Kayaye tax
Ø Energy sector levies
Ø Special petroleum taxes
Ø Etc ….
Also, some of the seemingly overambitious campaign promises
of the NPP are also being realized within its first 100 days in office. They
include:
The establishment of a Zongo Development Fund with a seed
capital of GH₵219.00 million. In fact, this was preceded by the creation of a
whole Ministry, called the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development.
The famous 1-District-1-Factory Initiative, which is going to
be spearheaded by the private sector, has received a major boost in these 100
days of Nana Addo’s presidency with the allocation of over GH₵456.30 million in
the 2017 budget.
Government has also set-aside an equivalence of US$275.00
million in the 2017 budget to be allocated to each of the 275 Constituencies in
the country in fulfillment of the famous 1-Constituency-$1m pledge. Three
development authorities are being established to oversee to the disbursement of
this fund and for that matter the realization of this flagship promise.
The government’s PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS campaign, which
is expected to create over 750,000 jobs annually, has also taken off in earnest
with the inauguration of the national implementation committee. Again, implementation
sub-committees have been inaugurated in some of the regions. Of course, as we
all know, in the 2017 budget, an amount of $120 million has been allocated for
this project.
The Akufo-Addo government has in 100 days, significantly
dealt with the dumsor issue; something, the previous NDC government couldn’t do
in three and half years.
Government has increased the capitation grant to basic
schools by as much as 100% and this is evidenced in the 2017 budget statement.
Government has also released an amount of GH₵ 1.587 million
to settle all outstanding salary areas for teachers
Government has also advanced plans and preparations for the
smooth implementation of its flagship intervention in the area of education. I
am talking about the famous free SHS, which would takeoff in September this
year. An amount of GH₵400.00 million has already been allocated in the 2017
budget for this programme. Moving forward, the free SHS would be financed from
the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA)
and other domestic sources spelt out in the budget to make the programme more
sustainable.
In its quest to significantly boost agriculture, which is
undoubtedly the bulwark of our economy, government has in these 100 days,
reduced the price of fertilizer by as much as 50% in order to provide relief to
our gallant farmers. Government has so far imported 300,000 tonnes of
fertilizer to be distributed to farmers at this highly subsidized rate.
Government has within its first 100 days, increased the
budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports by over a 100% in
order to enhance sports development in the country. The sports budget has shot
up from GH₵21 million to GH₵45.8 million, which is unprecedented in the history
of this country.
Again, the necessary budgetary allocations have been made for
the complete restoration of teacher and nursing trainee allowance.
Government has given financial clearance for the employment
of over 11,000 nurses who have been sitting idle after completing their courses
from 2012 to 2016. Clearance has also been given in these 100 days, for the
immediate employment of all unemployed doctors in the system.
Government has also given approval for the payment of an
upward adjustment in National Service allowance from GH₵350.00 to GH₵559.04
constituting some 60% rise. This is the highest increment in NSS allowance
since its introduction in 1973.
From all indications, if I am to continue telling the story
of what this government has been able to achieve in just 100 days, I wouldn’t
finish anytime soon. But for want of time and space, kindly permit me to take a
break here. But before that, I am very quick to admit that, just as there have
been a lot of positives, there have also been some negatives in President
Akufo-Addo’s first 100 days.
Inarguably, the biggest challenge for this government in its first
100 days has to do with the excesses of some political “vigilante groups”
associated with the governing NPP. Their acts of lawlessness, regrettably, have
taken some shine away from the incalculable positives of the government of His
Excellency President Akufo-Addo.
I am however happy that significant arrests have been made
and prosecution is ongoing, which is giving true meaning to RULE OF LAW. We
didn’t see much of this in the past government. This government is also having
to contend with the debilitating galamsey menace, which is a generational
problem but has now assumed the greatest attention ever.
All in all, you would agree with me that the government’s
story so far, has been rosy and cozy. And if you consider the fact that the
government has been in power for ONLY 100
days out of the 1,468+ days or 4 years, then you can imagine how
significant this is. You can also imagine how refreshing the narrative would be
at the end of the government’s first 4 years in office, ceteris paribus.
In the nutshell, President Akufo-Addo’s first 100 days in
office has been 100 days of economic stability; 100 days of relief for all; 100
days of growth and development; 100 days of jobs; and ultimately, 100 days of
hope and prosperity for the Ghanaian people. I am happy to say, this is the
CHANGE majority of Ghanaians campaigned and voted for. Once again, Mr.
President, you have given me more than enough reasons to proudly say, I AM A GHANAIAN;
a citizen not a spectator.
Assalamu alaikum
Iddi Muhayu-Deen
#TellingTheGovernmentStory
#ForGodAndCountry
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