Delivering on the President’s mandate
To say that the country is going through challenging times is an understatement.
Per our constitutional provisions, the Executive authority is vested in the President of the Republic, who is voted into power on the basis of the promises and pledges he makes. Therefore, anytime things are not going well or are not favourable, the electorate has every right to hold the President accountable.
But it is also a fact that, by himself, the President cannot achieve or execute the mandate given to him by the electorate. That is why the powers of the President, as conferred on him under Clause One (1) of Article 58 of the Constitution, are diffused to functionaries under him or appointed by him.
Indeed, the President has the power to ‘appoint and disappoint’ and no one can question that authority, as it is vested in him by the Constitution.
That is why we agree with President John Dramani Mahama when he called on his appointees to hit the ground running because Ghanaians were tired of listening to fine talk from people in government.
Speaking at the swearing-in of 11 new ministers and deputy ministers yesterday, he said: "Let us roll our sleeves and get down to work," emphasising that the people wanted deliverables that would make their lives better and not the mere 'fine talk'.
Ghanaians, indeed, expect a lot from the government, especially the political appointees to whom the President has entrusted his authority to deliver. Elected officers or political appointees have four years to serve, as they have to face the electorate to answer questions of failure by being voted out or re-elected for a good job done.
Unfortunately, in our part of the world, many political appointees become tin gods and forget the reasons for which they are appointed. Apart from amassing wealth for themselves, their family members, as well as cronies, they become very arrogant and put on certain airs as if to say that without them nothing moves.
Such appointees even find it difficult to relate with the public and civil servants under whose ambit the wheel of government machinery runs.
The Daily Graphic believes that it is to such persons that the President directed his admonishment: "Your attitude, plus the successes you generate, will help our government and people overcome the challenging times that we face."
We believe that the government can succeed if its appointees exert a firm authority over their areas and also exhibit positive work values, are humble and modest in all their endeavours and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy which retards progress.
If the appointees are able to adopt such positive attitudes and humility to work and listen to advice, we believe they, and for that matter the nation, will succeed.
They must be reminded here again that they have four years to serve, while the public and civil servants have longer years to serve. Appointees must approach their duties with all the seriousness those duties deserve, bearing in mind the economic hardships that confront our country today.
Mr President, you have every right to hold them responsible for their acts of omission and commission because the buck stops on your desk.
Just remember the ballot box in 2016 and deliver on the Better Ghana agenda.
