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Press Release
NPP
22nd
August 2013
“THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)
AND THE DEEPENING OF THE DEMOCRATIC CULTURE AND PRACTICE
IN GHANA”
A PAPER DELIVERED @ THE PARTY’S 21ST ANNIVERSARY LECTURE @
THE OSU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HALL ON THURSDAY 22ND AUGUST 2013
BY HON. PROF. MIKE OQUAYE
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Aims and Objectives of the NLM
The published aims and objects of the NLM reflected the
objectives of the UGCC and the democratic principles the party
has always stood for till today. The included the following:
• To quicken the achievement of self-government and help build a
prosperous, healthy, tolerant and God-fearing Nation;
• To secure due recognition of the economic, social and cultural
background of the respective regions of the Gold Coast and work
out a federal or any better form of Constitution to give the
country an effective voice in the regional and Central
Government of the country;
• To banish lawlessness, intimidation, hooliganism, disregard
for age and authority, suppression of individual conscience and
all traces of communism;
• To establish respect for efficiency, integrity and honest
labour;
• To honour, respect and be loyal to our traditional rulers and
uphold the best in our culture;
• To encourage good neighbourliness among the people of the
villages, towns and regions;
• To safeguard the interest of farmers and workers;
• To foster friendly relations between the Gold Coast and
Commonwealth and other democratic nations.
From the early 1950s Nkrumah justified his condemnation of
Western democracy with the argument that Ghana’s traditional
system has one chief and monolithic not pluralistic in all its
dimensions. But our leaders saw it differently. The Fante
Confederacy, Ashanti Confederacy, and the Ga State knew of a
system which contained States which are autonomous in many ways.
The head of the Union does not appoint the other chiefs. They
assume their stools through the lineage system. In the words of
Bowdich, the individual Ashanti chief “palatine privileges” even
though the Asantehene possessed rights of over-lordship in
respect of war service and other jurisdiction, through not in
landholding.
Diffusion of power and decentralized authority were the essence
of native administration. Notably, the Chief did not appoint the
members of the Chief’s Council. The members were all sub-chiefs
who came to the Council as of right, being heads of lineages
which made the township. Lands were owned by small chiefs
“odikros” and heads of families owned lands and governed in
their own mini-parameters. All roads never led to Rome as
Nkrumah wanted all roads to lead to Accra. On the eve of
independence, these were real issues. Our people wanted
diffusion of power or countervailing authority. Our opponents
did not understand. Curiously, today President Mahama and others
are calling for power-sharing. When we asked for regional
autonomy to ensure countervailing authority, they called our
leaders nation wreckers.
It should also be remembered that the NLM essentially wanted
guarantees to the liberty of the various regions/areas of Ghana.
They actually called for federalism or regional devolution or
any other arrangement that would recognize authority apart from
the Centre. Apart from the size of the USA, the federalist
arrangement was also to underscore the liberty of all who were
coming into the Union. Switzerland is a small nation with a
confederation Constitution which gives vast autonomy to the
Cantons.
In Ghana itself, it should not be forgotten that as part of the
pre-independence compromise, Regional Assemblies were
established under the 1957 Constitution which paved the way for
independence. Regrettably, within one year, Nkrumah had used the
CPP majority to dissolve the Regional Assemblies. Today, as we
struggle for the true decentralization, let us congratulate the
founders of our tradition.
The Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition in Government
Ghanaians complain that we do not have enough to show for our
independence since 1957. The answer is simple: The
Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition has only governed for ten years
and three months out of 57 years. President Kufuor put it right
when he blamed our plight on poor leadership. He echoed that
mentorship is crucial to good leadership. Of course he
remembered his own tutorship under Busia, Paa Willie and Victor
Owusu as Deputy Minister. I am firmly of the view that but for
the Acheampong interruption, he would have been President ten
years earlier, after systematic progression to Minister and then
President. Talents were wasted for several years as good
materials waited on the wings for 18 years of Rawlings PNDC/NDC
rule.
Let me make a little point about mentoring. President Kufuor is
on record recounting how Busia helped him get admitted to
Oxford. So, Busia’s eyes on him went far. President Kufuor did
same for some young people. Let us make serious mentoring a core
policy to recognize young talents, and groom them actively for
leadership.
The Busia Regime
The Busia era was a golden age of good governance to be guided
by the 1969 Constitution also known as the Akufo-Addo
Constitution. By the Preamble to the Constitution, the people of
Ghana resolved never again to allow themselves to be subjected
to tyrannical rule; and the Constitution ensured the sovereignty
of the people, the Rule of Law and guaranteed fundamental human
rights including FREEDOM of thought, expression and religion;
JUSTICE to all men in every aspect of their lives-social,
economic and political; RESPECT for the dignity of every
individual and EQUALITY of opportunity. The Constitution
provided that any activity of a person, persons, or group of
persons which suppressed or sought to suppress lawful political
activity of any other person or persons would be an unlawful act
and gave the Supreme Court power to grant injunctions against
offenders and punish them where necessary, even with
imprisonment. In the light of this similar arrangement a new era
of political freedom boomed and all opposition groups freely
organized themselves and freely criticized the government and
propagated their own idea.
The independence of the Judiciary was ensured and the
Constitution provided that the judicial power of Ghana should be
vested only in the Judiciary and no other body should have any
final judicial power.
The Busia Administration that ruled Ghana from late 1969 to
January, 1972, pursued a laissez-faire policy and upheld
fundamental human rights and liberties. Nobody was detained for
political reasons. Freedom of the Press flourished and the
Opposition spoke freely both in Parliament and through several
newspapers including the popular Spokesman. The government
rightly saw rural development as crucial to economic growth, in
that it would first of all lay the foundation for
self-sufficiency in food. Secondly, it would prevent the drift
of young men to urban areas in search for non-existing white
collar jobs. Thirdly, it would boost the cocoa industry, the
backbone of the nation’s economy by keeping the famers on the
land and making them happy and content.
A ministry for rural development was established. An integrated
waste management programme was commenced with Israeli support.
It was abandoned by acheampong and we are paying for the
consequences. Industries began to boom. Busia boldly tackled the
currency disparities through devaluation which was
misinterpreted by adventurers who deposed him by the gun. His
successors were to devalue thousand times over the years.
The Kufuor Administration
The Kufuor government displayed an excellent record of good
governance. The separation of powers and the independence of the
Judiciary and Legislature were respected. The Media never
experienced such freedom. The Criminal Libel Law was repealed.
The Rule of Law prevailed and fundamental human rights were
respected. Corruption was tackled through institutional reforms.
Good governance earned Ghana US$547 million from the US
government through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Which
government earned such a colossal amount free of charge for
Ghana for doing things right?
A few areas will be emphasised to showcase the
Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition on wheels under the Kufuor
administration.
Law and Order
Major reforms of the legal system were undertaken under Kufuor.
These include:
• Reducing significantly the delays in trials by automating the
courts (Fast Track Courts) Some stood against this for personal
reasons. Today we all see the good effect;
• Using law as a tool for development by supporting the creation
of commercial courts and the Business Law Division of the
Attorney General's Department;
• Using law as a tool for the promotion and protection of
fundamental human rights and freedoms. For example, the right of
freedom and expression by repealing the Criminal Libel Law;
• The Judiciary, Military, Police and all law enforcement
agencies have received the highest ever budgetary support to
fulfil their mandate. Recruitment and service conditions
received quantitative and qualitative boost.
We did the following for the Military
• The 37 Military Hospital was expanded and considerably
refurbished. Today it provides about the finest medical services
to both the military and civilians alike.
• A second Military Hospital was planned for Kumasi and a loan
secured.
• The construction of the Burma Hall, the Ministry of Defence
Building and the provision of a number of new residential
buildings in all garrisons and the rehabilitation of old and
dilapidated residential buildings have all gone a long way to
boost the morale of soldiers.
• An amount of US$60 million was provided to ensure that all
Peacekeeping Missions are provided with sufficient equipment. An
additional facility of US$100 million provided to equip the
army.
• Two planes bought to equip the Air Force and the Navy to
ensure national security. We went for value for money. Those who
condemned us have bought more planes and refused to do tender or
value for money before purchase.
• Adequate preparation made for release and resettlement of
soldiers through training.
Economy
We are the people who boldly embraced HIPC and came out with
flying colours. Our opponents condemned the move and walked out
of Parliament. But NDC MPs soon saw the excellence in us as they
ate humble pie and joined the band wagon for HIPC projects.
Upon assuming office in 2001, we inherited a tattered economy–
GDP growth rate was 3.7%; Inflation stood at 41%; On the
interest rate front, the Bank of Ghana Base rate was over 50%
with the 91-Day Treasury Bill Rate at 40.5%. Total Debt as a
ratio of Gross Domestic Product stood at 189%. International
Reserves stood at US$ 253 million, adequate for three weeks of
import cover.
Under Kufuor inflation was brought down to 18% by 2008 in spite
of the serious rise in global oil and food.
By 2008, the interest rate front, the Bank of Ghana Base rate
stood at a mere 17% while the 91-Day Treasury Bill rate declined
to 24%. This made it possible to expand total credit to the
private sector from 12.5% of GDP in 2000 to 28.4% of GDP in
2007. With the cost of borrowing reduced significantly, the
private sector was in a better position to access credit to
expand their businesses.
We improved our external reserve position from US$ 253 million
in 2000 to US$ 2.3 billion (equivalent of three months cover) as
at year end 2007. There was no oil then! Given oil, we say that
Ghana should give us the administration and free SHS is
possible.
One problem with the NDC from 2009 is that they did not know how
to manage such a gargantuan economy with oil money on top. All
they could see was, create, loot and share. It was not for
nothing that in our time, Banks were inviting people for loans.
And the domestic gas people were tooting car horns for people to
come for gas in front of their gates. You know the difference?
It is qualitative management of limited resources.
Through the bold HIPC arrangements, which resulted in an
external forgiveness of some US$ 5 billion and the restructuring
of the maturity profile of our external debt, Ghana's total debt
service declined from 15.6% in 2000 to 4.9% by year end 2006.
The greatly reduced debt burden on the economy released
significant amounts of scarce foreign exchange resources, which
would otherwise have been used to service these debts, for
construction of roads, hospitals, schools and meeting other
social needs of our people.
The ultimate proof of our superior management of the Ghanaian
economy has been our ability to grow the economy, in nominal GDP
terms, from US$ 3.9 billion in 2000 to US$ 16.3 billion in 2008.
In this process, per capita income in 2008 was nearly US$ 600 as
compared to a little over US$ 300 in 2000. As a result, poverty
levels were cut by over a third – from 39% of the population
in1998/1999 to 28% by 2006/2007.
These spectacular successes engendered that invisible factor
which is vital in economics- confidence in the Ghanaian economy.
It made possible the significant inflows of foreign direct
investment, particularly in the banking, energy, and oil and gas
exploration fields. Pensioners, workers and beggars all began to
feel a difference in their lives. This is why people are moaning
today.
Developing Rural North
The NPP Government initiated the Northern Rural Growth Programme
(NRGP) with a budget of US$103 million. It was to cover 32 out
of 34 districts of the three northern regions of Ghana with the
aim of improving the living standards of rural residents.
The NDC re-named the project and have nothing to show today
apart from less than 100 guinea fowls.
Industry
In industry, the Kufuor government supported the export sector
with more aggressive export promotion activities. For example,
from 2002, the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF)
invested nearly ¢700 billion in export promotion with 28% going
into agro-processing. We also reduced corporate tax from 35%.
These taxes have not only increased but now ones have been
imposed on cutlasses and condoms. These were all done in the
government's pursuit of making the private sector the major
force behind the growth of our economy. As a result of these
reforms, the country was adjudged as one of the top ten
countries with the most reformed economy in the world to do
business in. Ghana was recognised as a fully fledged "emerging
economy" with the concomitant record inflows of foreign direct
investment (FDI). Our middle income status was recognized and
our President later given a global prize.
Education
We have reformed the structure and content of basic education to
include 2 years of kindergarten. The School Feeding Programme,
Capitation Grant and free Metro Bus rides for children brought
children into the classroom and improved Girl child Education.
In 2008, enrolment in public basic school stood at almost 5
million compared to 2.7 million in 2000. Pre-School enrolment
doubled. Primary school and Junior High School enrolment
increased by 50%. Senior High School enrolment more than doubled
(See table below).
Level No. of Schools Enrolment
| |
2000/01 |
2007/08 |
2000/01 |
2007/08 |
|
| Pre-School |
5,976 |
11,140 |
649,677 |
1,258,483 |
|
| Primary |
11,916 |
13,247 |
2,477,990 |
3,622,724 |
|
| JHS |
6,133 |
7,267 |
804,419 |
1,224,964 |
|
| SHS |
474 |
493 |
204,000 |
454,681 |
|
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Teachers at the basic school level were
paid five times more than what they were paid in the
year 2000.
Enrolment in public universities more than doubled –
from 40,670 in 2000/01 to 88,445 in 2006/07. Enrolment
in polytechnics also rose by more than 50% in that
period from 18,470 in 2000/2001 to 28,695 in 2006/2007.
Level No. of Institutions Enrolment |
| |
2000/01 |
2007/08 |
2000/01 |
2007/08 |
% increase |
| University |
5
|
6 |
40,670 |
88,45 |
117% |
| Private Univ |
4 |
16 |
1,667 |
18,278 |
996% |
| Polytechnic |
10 |
10 |
18,470 |
28,965 |
55% |
| Professional Ins. |
3
|
3 |
2,013 |
4,350 |
116% |
Health
The NPP Kufuor-led Government introduced the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2003 to replace the inhumane
"cash-and-carry" system under the NDC. The NHIS was first mooted
in 1970 by the Progress Party under Professor K.A. Busia who
constituted a committee headed by Dr. Konotey Ahulu to study the
concept and make appropriate recommendations. The NHIS, by 2008
covered about half the population (11.3 million Ghanaians). The
NHIS provided free healthcare for children below 18 and the
elderly over the age of 70. Over 6 million children and 400,000
elderly also benefited from the service. All pregnant women also
had free maternal care. Under the NHIS, HIV positive individuals
also received highly subsidised anti-retroviral medicines.
The introduction of the NHIS led to a three-fold increase in
hospital attendance in some areas.
The NDC walked out of Parliament when the programme was being
debated. Soon, they were grabbing the benefits.
Energy
Bui Dam, which was the dream of Governor Guggisberg in the
1920s, became a reality under the NPP government. President
Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin at the site in August 2007.
The recent oil discovery in our deep waters off-shore was not by
accident. We struck oil because of the sound policies of the NPP
government. The oil had always been there but the 19 years of
(P) NDC rule could neither create the conducive investment
climate nor the managerial direction for the oil to be found.
The NPP government restructured and refocused the work of the
GNPC and provided the conducive business environment to attract
committed investors to our off-shore oil fields.
Fighting Corruption
Corruption constitutes a social canker and must be dealt with.
The NPP believes that corruption is not combated with mere
slogans but by comprehensive policy measures and action. By
December 2000, the NDC had given up on the fight against
corruption. The President at that time told Parliament that
"government on its part has extended an invitation to the World
Bank to conduct a diagnostic study on corruption in Ghana and
how it can be mitigated if not eradicated" (Hansard 13th January
2000, Col. 112).
The NPP government fought corruption with policies including:
• stimulation of transparency and freedom to write about actions
of officials following the repeal of the Criminal libel Law
• enhancement of the Procurement Act to check abuse in public
procurement
• maintenance of probity and elimination of payroll abuse
through the Financial Administration Act and Internal Audit Act
• Unprecedented empowerment of the anti-corruption agencies,
CHRAJ, Police, Serious Fraud Office (SFO), and the courts.
Others
Ghana went beyond 750,000 metric tonnes in cocoa production
through good policies injected into the industry which our
political opponents condemned.
A three thousand tractors supply was arranged from India. A
Tractor Assembly Plant was commenced in Tema. It is now
abandoned because the NDC government will not appreciate the
vision.
The Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition and the Electoral Process.
The essence of the political game and the competitive process
inherent in politics have an ultimate goal-to win elections and
have the opportunity to implement one’s political vision or
agenda.
In 1951, the British held elections to enable Africans practice
the game and prepare for self government. The CPP won over the
UGCC and Nkrumah became Leader of Government Business.
In 1954, elections were held again with one aim: the British
would hand over to the winner. Our tradition contested the
elections as Ghana Congress Party (GCP) and lost heavily. All
our leading politicians failed tragically except Busia.
In the Ashanti Region ( which then included Brong Ahafo) Busia
won a lone seat for us, beating C.E. Donkor with only eleven
(11) votes. Victor Owusu, Joe Appiah and others were with CPP
and won seats for them.
This tragedy could have sounded the death knell of the tradition
but for the fact that the CPP’s dictatorial tendencies began to
show. The CPP scorned the famous farmers and put the cocoa price
at 72 shillings a load while the world price had shot up
tremendously. The Party picked its 1954 candidates from Accra
and disregarded internal party democracy, thus creating the
well-known CPP rebels. These people had helped win the 1951
elections for the CPP and now they were being shown the essence
of socialist “democratic centralism”. Nkrumah had threatened the
chiefs of Ghana and treated them with contempt. He was becoming
a socialist despot .
Hence, the National Liberation Movement (NLM) reared its head
led by Baafour Osei Akoto. The demand for federalism was a
power-sharing cry which came out of suspicion. The colonial
government would not have minded the NLM but for death in an
accident of the CPP Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya. In the ensuing
bye-election the NLM won overwhelmingly. The opposition demanded
that the CPP had lost its mandate and that if a fresh election
was held, the CPP would lose.
The colonial government called a fresh election and the CPP won
72 out of 104 seats. Hence, Nkrumah became Prime Minister and
led Ghana at independence.
The Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition did suffer electorally. In
fact, at one point, when we were abysmally down, S.D. Dombo gave
us a lifelime by allowing Busia to become Opposition Leader
though he (Dombo) had won more seats through the Northern
People’s Party (NPP),
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