Many are called

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been in office for close to one and half years.  He has made many appointments including over 100 ministers.   Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Board Members, Chief Executives among many others have been hired and appointed to various positions and they are expected to help him succeed as President.

The President ultimately takes the praise and blame for the success or failure of his government.  As it is said, “The buck ends here” (that is on the leader’s desk).  He took the Oath of Office at the Black Star Square on January 7, 2017 to lead this country without ‘fear or favour’ as President for the mandatory four years.  Ghanaians voted for positive change in 2016.  Let Nana Akufo-Addo and his appointees justify the trust put in them by the people.

There has not been any Cabinet or Ministerial reshuffle or dismissal since he took office.  Appointees in other positions have not suffered any serious casualties.  Many have been called but not all would survive to the end.  A leader is as good as his team and vice versa.  The best example is in football where coaches and players have to justify their inclusion as members of the team.

President Nana Addo is in his second year in office, close to one and half years.  He and his colleagues in the NPP criticized and campaigned strongly against the previous government of Mahama and the National Democratic Congress for “incompetence”.   Former President Mahama in a seemingly retaliatory tone is saying the current administration is “Super incompetent”.  True, true or a joke?  Time will tell, as the adage goes.

Ghana does not lack human and natural resources.  But after sixty one years of independence, the country is still struggling to survive as a truly independent sovereign state.  The dreams and visions of yesteryears, from independence through the various regimes of civilian and the military have not yielded much result.   President Akufo-Addo is now operating with the slogan, “Ghana beyond Aid”.

The President seems to be doing some things differently from his predecessors and therefore one hopes this will yield more positive results.  However there are still many debilitating old habits around in our national life, and unless the President acts quickly to tackle these challenges, not much progress would be made under this regime too.  These old habits include, Attitude to work, Bribery and Corruption, Complacency and Favoritism.

One looks forward to efficiency in delivery of essential social services.  Acquisition of passports, driving licenses, land documents and registration of companies shouldn’t still take ages to get done.  Connection of electricity and water to homes, offices and factories shouldn’t take centuries, with all the lackadaisical attitude by some of the staff of the Utility companies.  Sanitation is still a problem; traffic jams are challenges all over; crime is still a force to reckon with; healthcare delivery leaves much to be desired; kiosk dwellers and slums are on the increase.  Myriad of issues are daily highlighted and discussed in the media.  People are frustrated and impatient with inertia and age-old problems getting worse.

The men and women around the President like all human beings, would have their own “agendas” apart from the “Group Agenda”.   Some will work for the common good while others, “saboteurs in sheep clothing” will work for their selfish interests.  William Shakespeare made us to know that Julius Caesar was uncomfortable with some people like Cassius who were getting too close to him.  Later, we hear him lamenting, “Et tu Brute?” (And you too Brutus?), you are among the traitors and conspirators !!  It was too late for him.

There should be fewer travelling for conferences and other seemingly useless ventures.  People are still “Creating, Looting and sharing”.  Where are the buses and yet some people were going to order for more buses.  There is too much talking by politicians and some social commentators.  Let’s adopt, “Operation MALT (More Action Less Talking)”.  Time flies.  Time and tide waits for no man.  The French say, “The more things change, the more things remain the same”.   Unfortunately in Africa, in most instances, things get worse with change.  May it not be so with Nana Addo’s government!!!

Jesus during three years of ministry on earth had twelve disciples.  President Akufo-Addo has chosen 110 ministers with their deputies to help him execute his 4-year mandate.  Many appointments have been made and many more would be made by him.  Are they truly the ‘Golden Team’ to take Ghana beyond Aid and lead us to honour and prosperity among the comity of nations?  Would the end indeed justify the means?  The President says he is in a hurry to get things done.  Is it a case of, “Easier said than done”.  Time will tell!

By:Akwasi Agyeman-Dua