Decentralization of government, my biggest achievement - Rawlings

President Jerry John Rawlings has described the devolution of power from a centralized government to a decentralized system as one of the fundamental changes chalked during his tenure of office.

He also listed the current accelerating of integration process in the sub-region as another feat, though he admits, things have been slow. President Rawlings said these when he spoke to the "International Herald Tribune" and gave his assessment of Ghana and contemporary Africa today. He said government is no longer a distant mystery, adding, "Hundreds of thousands of ordinary folks now take part in planning, determining priorities and monitoring social infrastructure development projects". President Rawlings stressed that it was a personal choice, Ghana made to develop good governance from the bottom up rather than impose a thin superficial layer of governance from above. He said Ghana has regained international respect as an example of peaceful development and to Ghanaians, the maintenance of peace and stability in an often, troubled continent is of great significance.

The President called for more work to be done to realize the objectives set out by the founders of the sub-region. "At this time of globalization, it is vital that West Africa should form a well integrated economic bloc, and our concerns manifesting by the 'fast-track' approach, instituted by Ghana and Nigeria last year".

President Rawlings said the objectives of a "borderless" and single monetary zone, was endorsed at the ECOWAS 25th Anniversary Summit in Abuja in June. He indicated that peace in West Africa is necessary for the success of ECOWAS, saying Ghana's peacekeeping goal in Liberia and Sierra Leone undertaken at considerable cost to the economy, is to achieve stability in the region. President Rawlings said he was happy that the international community has now taken interest in the conflicts. "Fortunately, the international community is now taking a rather belated interest in those conflicts". On the forthcoming general election, President Rawlings was upbeat, noting "this will be the first time that a Ghanaian head of state has stepped down at the end of his constitutional term of office". He stressed the need for the elections to be conducted in a peaceful and calm atmosphere to ensure fairness and transparency, "if we are to consolidate our new tradition of stability and continuity in governance through the electoral process."

He said opposition parties will obviously emphasize anything negative, as they are doing already, blaming the government for the economic difficulties, "but I have confidence in the good sense of our people to understand the factors responsible for our present difficulties".