Cutting Presidential Convoy Necessary, But Must Be Tactful

During his recent five-day visit to the Ashanti Region, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's convoy was drastically reduced, compared to previous occasions, as the ministers, deputy ministers, chief executive officers of state, and members of Parliament who accompanied him were placed in two State Transport Company buses.

The essence, as we have gathered, is to reduce the long convoy and save cost, as fewer vehicles will, subsequently, reduce the intake of fuel for the trips.

The Chronicle is, indeed, fascinated at the bold attempt by the Presidency to cure the long-lived phenomenon, where one internal trip of the President drains the state coffers.

It is for this reason that The Chronicle, for a moment, felt, for once, a President has decisively dealt with an issue which erodes the confidence of the people when it comes to protecting the public purse.

But, it appears we may have to tread cautiously, because Security Analyst Mr. Adam Bonah has described as 'risky', the decision by the Presidency to bus ministers and government appointees, as the President tours the Ashanti Region.

The security analyst believes that no one should be a security analyst to know there is so much risk to put all ministers and government appointees following the President in one vehicle, a position The Chronicle identifies with.

Mr. Bonah argues that though the STC is the best in transport services, but, that notwithstanding, it is not safe, and rather recommends a cut in the number of people who move with the President.

The Chronicle, again, finds wisdom in the call to reduce the number of people who follow the President, and we would emphasise that if state officials have no direct activity during presidential visits, they should stay back in their offices.

The President of Forum for Equity, a human rights non-governmental organisation, Mr. Prince Bagnaba Mba, is also saying putting ministers and members of Parliament in buses on presidential convoys is a risky venture.

Mr Mba said it might work well in cities and not in rural communities, where roads are mostly unmotorable.

The human rights boss is suggesting to the President to rather put about four ministers and MPs in each 4×4 vehicle to ensure uniformity and safety on the roads, as buses could not go at the same pace with the 4×4 vehicles on untarred roads.

Mr. Mba points out that though, as a country, we have to reduce costs, but it should not be at the compromise of the lives of government officials.

To us, at The Chronicle, the arguments above lend credence to the fact that democracy is expensive, and the government should either be prepared to grab the bull by the horns, or devise workable and sustainable methods, and not a reduction in Presidential convoys.

For now, the Presidency has given an indication of its willingness to curb the long presidential convoys and its accompanying stress on our limited resources.

Let the security and governance experts fashion out the best way to go about it in the interest of the country.

The Chronicle believes we have hands capable enough to ensure that we get the best out of the new directive from the Presidency on its convoy.