2005: What's In Store For us?

As Ghana enters a new year tomorrow, her citizens are looking forward with great expectations from the leadership of President Kufuor.

Tonight, Churches throughout the country will pray for a prosperous new year at the usual all-night church services that are held to usher in a new year.

President and Mrs. Kufuor, devout Catholics, are expected to join the congregation of the Christ the King Church in Accra where they normally worship, for the traditional ?Watch night? service.

For the President, who was re-elected with a 52.75 per cent of the popular votes, and the rest of the country, the significance of the coming year is very well appreciated, considering some of the events expected to take place during the year.

The expectation of many Ghanaians that Positive Change Chapter Two translates positively into their pockets in the areas of employment and job creation and higher wages and salaries, is not in doubt.

There is also the expectation that non-performing ministers and government operatives will be removed from office without any fear or favour.

On the international front, Ghana?s reputation is high. The role played by Ghana under President Kufuor in attempts at restoring peace to ?hot spots? in the West African sub-region, in particularly La Cote d?Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Liberia, are key reference points by the political experts.

The experts believe that it was in recognition of such efforts that within a relatively short period of four years, President Kufuor has been elected to serve two terms, as the Chairman of ECOWAS. While some refer to him as ?the gentle giant, others see his gentleness as a fault.