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24.12.2017 Opinion

2017 under review – the good, the ugly and all that! – Part One

Richard Kofi Boahen, the WriterRichard Kofi Boahen, the Writer
24.12.2017 LISTEN

The year 2017 is gradually drawing to a close and in a matter of days it shall exit us to make way for 2018, which in my view, shall be full of God’s blessings, mercies, goodness, love and grace that surpass and transcend all human understanding.

2017 began on a confused note for some and a joyous note for others but which-ever way one found himself at the beginning of the year, we can at least be grateful to the Almighty God for bringing us all of us to this far hoping to experience greater and positive things in the years to come, especially in 2018 which is just around the corner.

This year began on an interesting note as there was a spill-over of the outcome the 2016 general elections in terms of people either still in the celebration mood and so felt in their hearts a new day dawning on their lives or still counting their loses after the heaviest defeat by all standards ever recorded in the history of Ghana’s fourth republican era – relatively young John Mahama losing heavily to current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by over one million votes. What a wow!

January 2017
Even before his official inauguration on January 7, the then President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo found it necessary to name his backroom staff. His Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and all others who would virtually ensure the effective day-to-day running of the Flagstaff House (formerly called the Jubilee House). Most of the names that came up were well known already by the public while a few others were relatively new to some of us but all the same, the President did very well by constituting his backroom staff ahead of his inauguration. It positively impacted on the inauguration ceremony, the beginning of government business and the effective conduct of the affairs at the presidency.

Saturday January 7 was the D-day and all roads led to the Black Star Square where the biggest inaugural ceremony ever held in the fourth Republic was being held. The colourful ceremony brought the whole of Africa and the rest of the world to Accra. Attendance was really impressive by all standards.

President Akufo-Addo hit the road running right away with the nomination of the first batch of Ministers of State for consideration and approval by Parliament. Parliament, I must say, did very well by kick-starting the vetting process in the same month with all the seriousness required. It was quite hectic, considering the number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers they had to vet and approve.

On Friday January 20, 2017, Parliament began vetting the President’s nominees for some key ministerial portfolios. Among those who were first to be “screened” were Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Marfo, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul and Kan Dapaah, National Security Minister.

While the vetting process was on-going, the President on Tuesday January 24 2017 named all the ten Regional Ministers. A day after, he out-doored David Asante-Apeatu as the Acting IGP as John Kudalor bowed out of office as the IGP.

Still in January, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia paid two surprise visits to some state institutions. He first touched base with the Registrar-General’s Department in Accra to among others, ascertain the challenges facing the department. Later in the month, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia visited the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

The Vice-President also chaired a consultative meeting in Accra on Thursday January 26, 2017 on the National Identification Project. In attendance were officials of the National Identification Authority, the Birth and Death Registry, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Statistical Service, the National Health Insurance Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the National Development Planning Commission, among others.

President Akufo-Addo was also in Bamako, Mali in January to attend the Africa-France Summit.

Just before January ended, the first batch of 12 ministers vetted and approved by Parliament were sworn-in by the President. The President then left for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 28th African Union Summit of Heads of State. Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorko Botchwey, who part of the Ghana’s advance party to the summit, missed the swearing-in of the first batch of ministers and so the President swore her in, in far away Addis Ababa.

Also in January 2017, the Institute of Development Studies and the Department of Environmental Science; both of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in collaboration with WACAM, an advocacy group launched two reports on the adverse effects of the operations of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) on the lives of people living around the mine in the Asutifi North district of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The reports titled "Assessing the Social and Economic Effects of Mining on Women Affected by Newmont Ghana Gold's Operations" and "Exposure to Toxicants in Environmental Contaminants Within Newmont Ghana Gold Limited - Ahafo Mine: Human Health Risk Assessment Approach" were put together after a research work which was carried out in 2016 with financial support by the Ford Foundation.

Among others, the research work assessed the social, economic, environmental and health implications of Newmont's operations on people.

February 2017
It came out in February that a whooping seven billion cedi (Gh.c 7 000 000 000) hole had been left by the NDC government.

“In preparing for the budget we realized to our shock that expenditure amounting to seven billion cedis was made by the previous government but never disclosed”, citibusinessnews.com quoted the Vice-President as saying.

The $512m dubious ‘Opuni’ COCOBOD deals involving about 51 contracts that were sole-sourced during the transition period also came to light in February.

Meanwhile, the Police administration announced a major shake-up within its ranks which saw DCOP Kofi Boakye move from the Ashanti Region as the Regional Commander to the national headquarters as the Director of Research and Planning. There were lots of movements from one place to the other by some senior members of the service.

In that same month, the President announced the appointment of Lt. Gen Obed Boamah Akwa as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Perhaps the biggest news in February was the declaration by the President that the much talked-about Free SHS policy would start in 2017. The President was speaking at the 60th anniversary of the Okuapeman SHS at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region. The announcement was actually made on Saturday 11, 2017.

The election of regional representatives who were to serve on the Council of State took place on Thursday February 16 across the country. Reports from the various regions suggested that the elections were keenly contested for.

King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco was in Ghana in February for a 3-day official visit. He was here to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and discuss possible areas of mutual benefit to both countries.

On Tuesday February 21, President Akufo-Addo delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address to Parliament during which he made his intentions clear by stating that he was in a hurry to fulfill his campaign promises.

“I have heard it said that I am behaving like a man in a hurry. Mr. Speaker, I am, indeed, in a hurry. The times in which we live demand that we all be in a hurry to deal with the problems we face”, he said amidst cheers from the chamber of Parliament.

Also in February, Ghana got its first female Cabinet Secretary in the person of Ambassador Mercy Yvonne Debrah-Karikari. Her appointment took effect from February 14, 2017 (Vals Day! shiee what a wow!).

March 2017
March took off with the much awaited Asempa Budget which was delivered by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Thursday March 2, 2017. For the first time in the history of Ghana, the budget was greeted with wild jubilation by market women, kaya-yei girls and spare-parts dealers at Abossey-Okai and the Suame magazine, among others.

It was a budget statement that resonated very well with the masses and I think it was a plus for the government’s economic management team. Nuisance taxes were abolished; capitation grant for basic schools was increased by 100% while the Free SHS policy also received its fair allocation in the budget.

Then came our 60th anniversary celebrations on 6th March which was another momentous occasion and as expected, we all joined in the commemoration of our independence from colonial rule.

As part of the celebrations, President Akufo-Addo and the Christian fraternity joined hands to commence construction works on a National Cathedral.

Still in March, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorko Botchwey paid a visit to South Africa to have a first-hand information on reported attacks on some foreigners in that country. She met with South African authorities who assured her of maximum security for Ghanaians and other nationals.

The President concluded on the selection of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in March and it was the first time in the fourth Republic that a President has been able to name all his Ministers and Deputy Ministers within the first quarter of the year.

On Monday March 20, 2017, the NPP marked the One Year anniversary of the passing of its former National Chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey who passed away in London on 20th March 2016.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly endorsed a former Ashanti Regional Minister, Osei Assibey Antwi, as its mayor with an emphatic victory which saw him securing 99.2% of the total votes cast.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also in town to hold some discussions with President Akufo-Addo. Tony Blair was clear in his mind after his meeting with our President that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has the interest of Ghana at heart.

Just as March was about ending, the Universal Merchant Bank was all over the place for making available a whopping $100m in support of the One-District, One-Factory policy of government. The Board Chairperson of the Bank, Betty Zormelo, made this known when management paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House (formerly called The Jubilee House).

Part Two of this write-up summarizes key events from April to December 2017. Your feedback is warmly welcome. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.

Richard Kofi Boahen ( [email protected] )

Richard Kofi Boahen
Richard Kofi Boahen

Bono, Bono East and Ahafo CorrespondentPage: RichardBoahen

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