Mixed reactions as Akufo-Addo’s administration marks 100 days
Yesterday, marked the 100 days the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led-New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration was inaugurated and assumed the reins of governance from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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Considering the 'historic' victory of the NPP at last year's polls, many civil society organisations and individuals used the occasion to assess the performance of the new administration.
Though 100 days may be too short a time to fully assess a government, and to get the full results of what the President and the NPP government can do to fulfil its transformational agenda for Ghana, some have lauded the President’s efforts, while others are of the view that a number of developments in the first 100 days of the Akufo-Addo/NPP administration give cause for worry.
Nonetheless, according to the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) it does present an opportunity for a new government to take stock, build on the positive steps and achievements and also correct the mistakes it has made as well as address the governance challenges facing the country.
Tax cuts
Meanwhile, many people have lauded the Akufo-Addo government for living up to its promise to cut taxes as Finance Minister Mr Ken Ofori-Atta announced government's decision to abolish about eight taxes in his maiden budget.
The government also announced the re-adjustment of four other taxes in 2017 to improve the climate of doing business in the country.
They include; the abolition of one per cent special import levy, abolition of 17.5 per cent VAT on financial sevices, abolition of 17.5 per cent VAT on selected imported medicines and initiating steps to remove import duties on raw materials and machinery
Others are the abolition of 17.5 per cent VAT on domestic airline tickets, abolition of five per cent VAT on real estates, abolition of excise duty on petroleum, reducing special petroluem tax rate from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent and abolition of duties on importation of spare parts.
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The rest are abolition of levies imposed on Kayayei by local authorities, replacing the 17.5 per cent VAT on Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) traders to a flat rate of 3.5 percent and reducing National Electrification levy.
CDD-Ghana
From its stand as a democratic governance think tank, CDD-Ghana is of the view that instances of NPP-affiliated vigilante groups’ forceful takeover of state assets and public facilities (including toilets, tollbooths, school feeding programmes, etc.) and the unlawful seizure of vehicles of members of the previous administration have cast a dent on the hitherto smooth transition process.
Worse still, acccording to CDD-Ghana, the failure of the government and law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with the NPP-affiliated vigilante groups, mainly the Delta and Invincible Forces, that invaded sensitive government instutitions such as the Passport Office and the Ports and Harbour Authority in Tema appears to have encouraged the recent brazen attacks on the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator and a circuit court in Kumasi, by the so-called Delta Force.
In a statement, CDD-Ghana, , commended the teams of both former President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC and that of President Akufo-Addo of the NPP for working out a relatively smooth and peaceful transfer of power.
“We commend President Akufo-Addo for the speed with which he assembled his team of ministers and deputy ministers for the take-off of the new government. We also applaud efforts made by the President to explain the rationale behind the nomination of specific individuals for the respective ministerial positions. This practice suggests the willingness of the President to subject his own logic and reasoning to broad scrutiny - a healthy development for Ghana’s nascent democracy, if sustained,” CDD-Ghana stated.
It further commended President Akufo-Addo for giving impetus to the fight against corruption by allocating a substantial GHC 1.2 million to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to implement activities under the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).
Freeze on vehicles
It also lauded the President for the declaration to put an indefinite freeze on the purchase of new vehicles and completely terminate the standing policy that allowed government appointees to purchase their official vehicles.
CDD-Ghana said it deemed those decisions as symbolic steps towards promoting good public financial management. In respect of the latter policy, the Centre recommended that President Akufo-Addo/NPP government pass a comprehensive law on the disposal of all public assets.
CDD-Ghana, however, said it was highly disappointed by President Akufo-Addo’s decision to appoint 110 ministers.
“It flies in the face of the President’s own declared commitment to protect the public purse as well as its longstanding good governance advocates’ campaign for meaningful reduction in the size of government and resultant government spending. We believe that the appointments of so many politicians to manage the state bureaucracy will further deepen its politicisation and undermine its authority,” CDD-Ghana stated.
“We are also disturbed by the continuity in practice after electoral turn-overs whereby the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and senior managers of public agencies and parastatal institutions are summarily removed or asked to ‘proceed on leave,’ and to hand over to an acting CEO. Such actions are inconsistent with good corporate governance practices; they foster politicisation of the public service as well as political exclusion, and undermine the fight against winner-takes-all politics.
Govt on right footing
The Dean of Graduate Studies of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Dr Eric Oduro-Osae said the President’s government had set the right tone for success after its first 100 days in office.
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The governance expert said the swift manner in which the government went about its appointments was commendable.
According to him, despite the incidents of attacks by some vigilante groups associated with the party, the Akufo-Addo-led government has started well.
The government also scored high marks for making his appointments to the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in time.
The president has come under intense criticism since the appointments. While some have argued that the decision will lead to bureaucracy, others believe that it will only worsen corruption.
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President Akufo-Addo defended his decision saying the unprecedented problems confronting Ghana demanded a large government.
“I don’t believe that my government in the Fourth Republic has a big number in view of the swollen challenges,” the President said in an interview with the Daily Graphic and Ghana Television.
The President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, criticised the appointments saying it showed he failed to insist on "meritocracy."
"They have also been honest with Ghanaians by way of having some of their manifesto promises featured in the budget though they are yet to prepare their development plan.
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"In all I think they have gotten all the governance indicators right, except for a few excesses...there is more room for improvement, they are on course and some of the challenges they faced are normal," he said.
100-days dented
Controversial Lawyer Maurice Ampaw, believes the conduct of Pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante groups, Delta Force and Invincible Forces have taken the shine out of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s 100 days in office.
According to him, he sympathises with the President that members of his own party in the name of associations like Delta and Invincible Forces have conducted themselves in a manner that has cast a slur on his reputation and achievements.