Editorial: One Year of The Mills Administration in Ghana

This Month marks the first year anniversary of the assumption of office of the NDC government in Ghana led by President John Evans Attah-Mills. We wish to take an overview of the performance of this government over the past one year.

Attah-Mills and the NDC government came to power in January 2009 after winning a closely-contested elections in December 2008. They had earlier being in power for an eight-year period from 1992-2000. They therefore came back to power with some wealth of government experience and the expectation was that they will hit the ground running on day one. However, we can say with all certainty that the first year of the Mills’ NDC administration has been characterized by confusion, indecision, in-fighting among its various factions and a number of actions which have had the effect of creating more tension and disunity among the Ghanaian population.

The first two months of the government’s life was engulfed in an apparent power struggle between the faction led by the NDC’s founder, and former President Jerry John Rawlings and the other faction consisting of the President, his Vice and their supporters. It was really confusing in January, February and March, 2009 as to who was ruling Ghana as the President’s executive orders and directives were publicly repudiated by Jerry Rawlings who was apparently trying to get the government to run on his terms. President Mills seemed to have found his rhythm towards the middle of the year and showed on a number of occasions that he was in control.

The behaviour of the members of the President’s team and other actions of the government were also directed at dismantling everything, good or bad, that the previous government had initiated or done. Persons who had been hired to work in certain institutions and projects during the eight-year administration of the previous government were suddenly fired. Some employees were forced out of their jobs as if Ghana did not belong to them as well. In effect, the announced policy and actions of the Mills government has been one of vengeance and repudiation of everything done by its predecessor. They have engaged in very naive, short-sighted and dangerous moves which have had the effect of sowing discord and creating tension in the country.

As at year’s end, the Mills government had not backed away from this vengeance politics. We are yet to see any real positive achievements of the government over the past year. As President Mills enters the second year of his administration, we wish to caution him and his government that they were elected to serve the whole country and all of its citizens regardless of political, ethnic or religious affiliations. They should do away with the politics of division and politics of vengeance and strive to heal the already opened wounds of the nation. The challenges of today’s world requires level-headed leaders who will strive to rule with the support and cooperation of all its citizens. Any actions, omissions or commissions that are likely to create disunity and instability should be avoided at all cost.

The nation is watching and we are watching. We hope we will be able to give a better balance sheet of the government’s performance at the end of the year 2010.

Source: Ghanaian News Canada, www.ghanaiannews.ca