CDD-GHANA Lauds Think Tanks

Prof. E. Gyimah-Boadi, a founding member of the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-GHANA) last Friday, indicated that Ghanaians are gradually accepting the think-tank ideology due to the immense contributions they are making in the country in recent times.

This was to counter the long held perception by some sections of the public about think-tanks being pro-government and channels for making profit and hence shouldn't be taken serious.

“People say we get up, put two or three people together and call ourselves think-tanks,” he said, but added that “the government and some institutions now rely on researches from some think-tanks to formulate policies.

“The media also has acknowledged our usefulness and now engage us in interviews and discussions.”

Mr. Gyimah-Boadi made these comments at a 'Night For Founding Fathers' organised last week Friday, to commemorate CDD-GHANA's 20th anniversary which commenced in July 2018 and would end in May 2019.

The programme, which was attended by the media, was organised to pay homage and honour to the brain behind the formation of the Think tank, for the unflinching support towards the promotion of democracy, good governance and economic openness in Ghana and Africa.

The program was also used to reflect on work done by the organisation and to recommit itself to the mandate of promoting democracy, good governance and inclusive development in Ghana and Africa.

The founding fathers honoured were; Prof. E. Gyimah-Boadi, Dr. Baffour Agyemang–Duah and Prof. William Asiedu Yeboah.

Prof. Gyimah-Boadi, who was also a former Executive Director of the organization, said the work  of  think-tanks are to engage in deeper researches in sensitive aspects of the economy to better the society, because politicians are always fond of playing with those sensitive aspects of the economy.

“We are facilities dedicated to analysing government projects, conduct research, raise red flags when necessary and embark on advocacies,” he noted.

He, however, stated that he understands those who hold negative perceptions about think-tanks because the activities of some of them are for their own economic gains and not the country as they portray.

He acknowledged the fact about think-tanks being too many in the country and also perpetuating falsehood, in contrast to their core mandates, but stated that people should not lose hope because the best will always stand out, adding “With time the best will be sieved from the chaffs”

Dr Agyemang Duah, on his part, stated that “there can never be an effective advocacy without the media”. He said his outfit has cultivated a good relationship with the media since its inception in 1998.

He recounted how difficult it was to have effective advocacy in the 1990s when the group emerged, due to the limited number of media outlets.

But thanks to democracy, the space for private media has expanded and the libel law has been repealed, he said.

Touching on the negative sides the media poses, Dr. Baffour Agyemang–Duah stated that there have been instances where the media has willfully and deliberately dragged them (think-tanks) into trouble, citing the 2000 elections as an example. Notwithstanding these short comings, he said the media can never be taken out of their work.

Mr Franklin Oduro, the Deputy Executive Director of the organization, who touched on the reasons for honouring the brains behind the Think tank, said that the recognition was in the right direction because the Center had attained an enviable position as a leading think-tank in democracy and good governance in the country and beyond, due to the immense contributions by these founding fathers.

He said the Center is widely recognised for its strong capacity for research, analysis and advocacy towards good governance and inclusive development.

Mr Oduro stated that the group has chalked much success and remained committed to their vision of supporting and promoting the development of a free, peaceful and well-governed society based on the rule of law, justice, integrity in public administration and equal opportunity for all.

Recounting the history of CDD-GHANA, Mr H. Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Think tank, said when the group commenced operations two decades ago, Ghana's democratic project under the Fourth Republic was only five years old and the prospects for democracy were still uncertain.

He said the group has emerged as a leader in the generation and dissemination of high-quality public opinion surveys and other relevant data for effective advocacy and policy-making in Ghana and across the continent.

“We have led in the mobilisation and organisation of civil society voice and activism on key national issues through the building of effective national coalitions and networks and have provided important technical and analytic input for relevant public institutions and committees of Parliament.

We have championed decentralised and inclusive local governance. We have also championed the cause of the marginalized and vulnerable in society, he said.

“In the area of elections”, he continued, “we have worked tirelessly and consistently to enhance voter participation in elections and improve the credibility of our elections.

Above all, we have, as an organisation, nurtured and opened up career paths for scores of democracy, governance and social accountability enthusiasts, analysts and advocates of good governance and inclusive development.”

He said due to the success the organisation has restructured its programmes into five new segments: Political and Constitutional Governance, Social Inclusion and Equity, Economic and Corporate Governance, Justice, Peace and Security and Civil Society to continue to champion their core existence.

“In addition to our five programme areas, the Center will continue to implement two special projects: the Afrobarometer project which collects public opinion data on political and socio-economic issues in more than 35 African countries, currently headquartered here at CDD and our Regional Initiatives like the West African Election Observers Network (WAEON) and other Africa-wide initiatives of the Center,” he said.

Other activities include a series of public lectures in Accra and three other regions in collaboration with STAR Ghana, an engagement with the private sector, a stakeholder recognition day, the launch of a fundraising campaign, and the adoption of an institution and advocacy on penal reforms.