Make Tenure Of Govt Seven Years -Adei

The President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) and Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has called for the amendment of the Constitution to increase the tenure of the government from four to seven years.

He said that would reduce the cost and energy spent on who would rule Ghana and save the nation from the disruptions associated with installing a new government every four years, as well as allow for a strategic longer frame management of the economy.

Professor Adei, who was speaking at the 16th National Marketing Performance Awards in Accra on Saturday night, also proposed the provision of two vice-presidents for the country.

The Graphic Communicatons Group Limited was adjudged the Best Media Organisation for 2004. Twenty-two individuals and organisations were also awarded.

The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was the guest of honour.

Professor Adei said the four-year term for a government was inadequate because two years of it were used for the appointment of ministers, district chief executives and other appointees and for strategising on how to win power or consolidate it, leaving only two years for serious government work.

He said the media and politicians dissipated a lot of energy on politics, at the peril of national development. On the provision of two vice-presidents, Professor Adei said Ghanaians should not look at the cost and that it would be good for Ghana.

The GIMPA Rector said agitations for a president and a vice-president hailing from either southern or northern Ghana or certain tribes were high, irrespective of the competence and other necessary ingredients that characterised efficient management of the economy.

“Currently, we are behaving like ostriches. Democracy has its downside, in that some significant minorities may feel alienated. I believe that while one cannot create a vice-presidency for each group, a president and two vice-presidents will ensure that most Ghanaians, in looking up to the leadership, will feel represented in it,” he said.

Professor Adei called on the three arms of government to create a Ghana in which peace, unity and prosperity would be the hallmarks.

He said individual business houses needed a good national framework to succeed.

Vice-President Aliu Mahama said Ghanaians who tarnished the image of the country for selfish gains were doing a deserve to Ghana and urged them to desist from such acts.

He said while the government had created the enabling environment for prosperous businesses, the private sector had failed to respond to it by taking advantage of the opportunity.

The Vice-President called for innovation, creativity and trust for a stable economy.

He said countries which were not happy with Ghana opting for the HIPC initiative now applauded Ghana. The Vice-President advised Ghanaian firms to attach much importance to marketing.

He urged CIMG to help enhance the capacity of Ghanaian exporters.

The Vice-President said effective and relationship marketing gave companies a competitive advantage, adding that the consumer had become sophisticated and discerning.

Mr Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, the Managing Director of Tropical Cable and Conductor Ltd, was adjudged the Marketing Man of the Year, Mrs Bella Ahu, the Executive Director of Trafix Catering, was named the Marketing Woman of the Year, with Mr Desmond Lamptey of the Ghana School of Marketing emerging the Marketing Student of the Year 2004.

Peace FM's morning show, Kokrokoo, was the Radio Programme of the Year, while Scancom Limited, operators of Spacefonareeba, emerged the Marketing-Oriented Organisation of the Year.

The Hospitality Facility of the Year award went to the Mole National Park, ICT Company of the Year was Millicom (Gh) Ltd, operators of Buzz GSM service, with the State Insurance Company (SIC) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines being named the Insurance Company of the Year and Airline of the Year respectively.

Asanka Locals International Chop Bar won the Chop Bar of the Year; Nescafe Crem 3 in 1, Product of the Year; Golden Web Ltd, Agro-based Company of the Year; PolyGroup of Companies, Manufacturing Company of the Year with Barclays Bank (Ghana) Ltd picking up the Bank of the Year award.

Guinness FES- Product Ad won the Outdoor Advert of the Year, Cadbury Bournvita - Nourishment Brain was adjudged the TV Advert of the Year, Interplast's Atongo-International Plumber advert won the Radio Advert of the Year, Charter House's It takes Two won the TV Programme of the Year, with Melcom Ltd being named the Retail Outlet of the Year.

The Motor Firm of the Year award went to Toyota Ghana Ltd, while the Petroleum Company of the Year award went to Shell Ghana Ltd.