Should Ghana Be Under Military Rule

2012 presidential candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey is calling for a return to military rule as the surest way to accelerate the development of the country.

He believes if the nation was under military rule, rampant corruption in the country would not be in existence for the nation to experiencing economic challenges. 

The leader and Chairman of the GCPP, Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey believes a return to military rule will instill some discipline in Ghanaians who steal the country’s resources for their personal benefit and that of their friends.

He also took a swipe at government for mismanaging the economy. According to him, Ghanaians are feed up with the current economic hardship bedeviling the country which he said keeps worsening by the day as he puts the blame squarely at the doorstep of leadership.

Dr. Henry Lartey in an interview said the leadership needs to think about an innovative way to deal with corruption to save the country.

“Leadership is not rulership. Leadership is not kingship. Leadership is when you have creative mind. Leaders need to think on their feet and bring out sterling ideas to change lives”, he said.

He also cited the rising cost of transportation, accommodation, food among others, resulting from the sharp fall of the cedi against the major international currencies as a major problem that needs to be tackled.

Dr. Lartey said the present economic doldrums are having adverse implications on the salaries of workers, which demands an immediate intervention from the central government. “Ghanaians are facing difficult times; I think urgent steps are needed in solving these problems,” the 2012 presidential candidate asserted.

He lamented: “Sadly, the managers of our national economy have chosen to ignore the advice of the local professionals and many other brilliant suggestions that have been put forward by civil society organizations. Instead, those in charge of our economy have chosen to rely on the economic policy advice of experts at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.”

He reiterated the need for a policy of domestication that his late father, Dan Lartey preached as the long term solution to the country’s economic woes. “Eat what you grow. Grow what you eat, stockpile and export. Domestication can end the dollarisation of Ghana’s economy,” Dr. Lartey said.

“We have to earn more from our exports such as oranges, pineapples, pawpaw, mangoes as well as other fruits and vegetables by value addition. Ghana cannot rely on cocoa alone for a lifetime at the expense of other products”, he advised.

He said: “We should encourage the large production of rice, maize, palm oil, rubber and sugarcane for the production of sugar”, and warned that: “If we don't promote domestication to change our current import and export orientation, then the light at the end of the tunnel will continue to elude us”.

He explained “When the total dollar value of a country's imports exceeds the total dollar value of its exports, the county has a trade deficit. This means the country is exporting fewer goods than it is importing. When a country's trade deficit increases, the value of that country's currency depreciates against the currency of its trading partner countries.”

Despite all these suggestions on how to deal with the problems of the economy, Dr. Lartey maintained: “A short-term solution to Ghana’s woes is returning to military rule.”

On how the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) is faring, he said the party has begun strengthening its structures at the grassroots level as part of the party’s preparations ahead of the 2016 elections.

IMF (International Monetary Fund) To Support Ghana’s Ailing Economy

The government of Ghana has directed the Ministry of Finance to open discussion with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to support Ghana’s ailing economy.

The Ghanaian currency, the Cedi has been continuously depreciating against most of the foreign currencies despite measures from Bank of Ghana to save it. 

In its annual review of the Ghanaian economy, the IMF in May warned that under current policies, the fiscal deficit would stay at about 10.2 per cent this year and 9.3 per cent in 2015, far below the official target.

If you may recall, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, 2012 running mate for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on March 25, 2014 at the Distinguished Speakers Forum organized by Central University College, stated: “Mr Chairman, in conclusion, I would like to repeat without exaggeration that the Ghanaian economy is in a crisis. It is time for serious action. If government does not take the right decisions and soon, then Ghana would likely have to approach the IMF for a bail out before the end of the year.

This statement however created various controversies and criticisms from government.

However, a statement issued and signed by Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah indicated that government has decided to go for an IMF bailout.

Read the statement below

President John Mahama met the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Economy on 1st August, 2014 at the Flagstaff House to reflect further on the range of issues affecting the Ghanaian economy.

The Committee’s discussions focused on measures aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, promoting growth and improving the living conditions of the people.

Arising out of the deliberations, the President reaffirmed the Government’s continuing commitment to a liberal Foreign Exchange regime that provides, among others, incentives for Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, as well as Foreign Investors to invest in Ghana.

The President further decided that as a matter of urgency, measures must be taken to stabilize the Cedi in order to bring about greater predictability to the business environment.

With respect to the energy situation in the country the President directed that urgent measures be taken to expedite the coming on stream of domestic gas supplies to provide cheaper fuel for power generation as well as minimize the foreign exchange burden of crude oil imports.

Lastly, the President directed that immediate initiatives be taken to open discussions with the International Monetary Fund and other Development Partners in support of our programme for stabilization and growth.

The Strong Opposition Party In Ghana Are Calling For A New Flagbearer

Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow, says he strongly believes Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is best qualified to be the President of the Republic and not only as flag bearer of the opposition party.

Speaking in relation to the blatant open declaration of support to Nana Akufo-Addo, the party’s 2008 and 2012 Presidential Candidate by some NPP Regional Chairmen and Members of Parliament (MPs), Ohene Ntow said, in his estimation, Mr Kyerematen is the only candidate with the charisma to make the dream of the NPP regaining power become a reality in 2016.   

The former NPP Chief Scribe, who expressed grave displeasure after reports emerged that some MPs graced the campaign launch of the twice defeated presidential hopeful and declared their unflinching support for him, described the brazen backing of Nana Akufo-Addo by the MPs as an infringement of the party’s constitution.

According to reports, the MPs, numbering about 107, claim their action is borne out of mounting pressure from their constituents who claim they will not vote in the 2016 general election if Akufo-Addo is not made flagbearer.

Additionally, delegates in the Upper East Region have unanimously declared their total support for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's bid.

All 37 delegates who will vote in the August 31 Special Electoral College, as well as over 500 delegates made this declaration at the Assembly Hall of the Bolgatanga Secondary Technical School, when Nana Akufo-Addo arrived in the region earlier this week to campaign. 

When asked by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was addressing delegates, to indicate by the show of hands the number of delegates who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo, the delegates leapt from their seats with spontaneous cheers of "Nana oo Nana", indicating a 100% support for Nana Akufo-Addo.

But Ohene Ntow, who also doubles as spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen believes this violates the party's own guidelines for the upcoming presidential primaries in October 18th and wants the party to take disciplinary action all those who have violated the guidelines.

Nana Ohene Ntow told the host of “Adeakye Abia” on Okay Fm that such lawlessness should not be countenanced by the leadership of the party.

He also pointed out that though the NDC rigged the 2000 elections, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor beat all odds to win the presidency, adding that Alan Kyeremanten is the right material for the party since he can end the bickering and discrimination within the NPP.

“I want to tell my party faithful and the delegates that it is not a candidate we need in NPP; we need a President and if we vote for Alan Kyerematen, he will not only become a candidate but rather a President because he knows the job and he is very humble to work with anybody irrespective of one’s Presidential allegiance within the party. He respects people and does not discriminate; he is the only person who can bring unity to end the bickering in the party…...it should be established that if winning elections is about big rallies and lot of noise making then NDC would not have won the 2008 elections and NPP should not be staying in opposition till now. It is true that NDC stole the elections but Kufuor won the 2000 elections despite the fact that NDC rigged that election too; that should tell us something as delegates who want power in 2016,