Mahama's Hope City

In a previous article, Leaning Forward with the Elephant, I indicated my preference for the NPP's organizational team to run the country as I felt then and still feel now that the technical and professional bench that constitutes the New Patriotic Party is better suited for the country at this stage in its development.

However, John Dramani Mahama is the head of state and barring a decision by Ghana's Supreme Court to the contrary, he will serve out his four year term. Personally, I consider him the President until further notice.

Top on his agenda is the 'creation' of a Hope City, a metropolis which will serve as the business and financial hub of Ghana much like Manhattan is to the United States. This idea in itself should not be hailed as ingenious (2nd coming of Prof Allotey) by supporters of the president neither should it be dismissed outrightly by critics.

Rather, it should be viewed in the context of a sitting president, the fourth successive John of Ghana's Fourth Republic embarking on what he sees as his contribution to the country's ongoing development and rightfully so in the name of the 'Better Ghana Agenda.

'Should he get it completed, it will bring a great deal of progress to Ghana's developmental structure, ease the much complained about traffic -jam in Accra-central, and facilitate our current economic growth. Even if he is unable to finish this project by the end of his term of office, I will hope that whoever comes after him would, or will be completed should he get a second term.

There are many more merits the President's Hope City will have; least of which would be an inflow of cash both local and foreign from tourism. In addition to building this city, a railway line could be constructed to transport people and products to and from around the country to Prampram where rumor has it could be the potential site for this venture.

Employment will also increase given the amount of construction which would be undertaken to get this city completed including shops, fast food joints and restaurants, and office buildings which would be opened.

The contract for this city, which has already been awarded to the Agams Group should not be frowned upon for somebody was bound to win it anyhow; better a local company than a foreign one, not that I have any problem with outside companies with contracts in Ghana, but the probability that the local company would and should be scrutinized is much higher than the other.

Being a Ghanaian owned group too, it is fair to bet that most of the spending for raw-materials and parts will be bought from other Ghanaian companies who in turn may increase their personnel to deal with high demand thereby leading to an increase in the purchasing power of individuals in the country which will result in economic growth.

For the whole country to benefit from this gigantic undertaking, the sub-contracts and many of the other smaller jobs which may come along should be spread around and given to other people who may not necessarily be affiliated to the NDC or know anybody who knows somebody.

Both the NPP and NDC are guilty of such cronyism and it is about time it stops for the sake of the 'Better Ghana Agenda,' and beyond. This will also ensure that the entire nation feels a part of it which in turn may contribute some goodwill to the President. God knows Mr. Mahama could do with a great deal of brotherliness and 'good Ghanaian love' from the way his first few months have gone; with almost every major market (Kantamanto, Makola #2, Kumasi Central Market etc) or business souk catching fire.

At this rate, we may need Okomfo Anokye himself to come pacify the gods in order to get some relief from these fires, after all, given the number of churches and spiritual abodes which have sprung up at every corner of the country and the amount of prayer meetings that come with them, one would think some respite would have come a long time ago. The sights and sounds of Atuguba's court beaming from almost every T.V set or radio does not look to be vanishing anytime soon either.

The Agams Group, given its rumored proximity to power, could also aid the President amass this goodwill by not awarding these smaller contracts to subsidiaries of their parent company. Ghana is for all of us and any spoils that 'rears its head,' should be enjoyed by the majority of us if not the entire nation instead of a few well connected folks parading the halls and corridors of government buildings.

The cost of doing business, especially the cost of undertaking this project should be looked at very carefully and streamlined to bring out the best city at the lowest cost possible with quality infrastructure without having buildings sitting on waterways; hugging roads and rails and deteriorating within 10 years of erection; causing havocs and leading to unnecessary deaths like Melcom in Achimota. By the way some of us are still waiting for some accountability in the famous words of Ex-President Rawlings.

When lower-level aides would demand huge amounts of dollars just to introduce potential investors to ministers of states, it is quite easy to see why the cost of doing business in Ghana, even without the sky-high bank rates being a factor would be that expensive.

This has ensured that mostly foreign investors and wealthy Ghanaian citizens are the only ones benefitting from Ghana's ongoing developmental agenda. It is a calamity and with swift precision, the President should fire anybody who is found liable to this sort of behavior just like he did the airport security personnel after the recent cocaine saga.

Lastly, I would hope that the road to Prampram and its environs are not the only places going to be given attention under this administration. I am sure the President is well aware of the fact that his supporters together with his critics (some of whom are NDC faithful) and the whole Ghanaian citizenry will be watching with eagle eyes. Cheering when needed and pointing out mishaps when they occur.

I also hope that this project will not consume his entire presidency and in the words of Barack Obama, 'he could walk and chew gum at the same time'. The North (Northern Ghana) really needs development and very badly as I write.

Ghana is not just a union of southern towns and cities and it is about time government and other private investors took some interest in that part of the country. Bringing the Manhattan Project to Greater Accra is a great idea but the real Hope-City should be in the North.