Gov’t Machinery Must Be Overhauled – Kwesi Pratt

Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., believes now is the moment for sober reflection by members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and re-strategizing on how to make the lives of Ghanaians better and not basking in the euphoria of the landslide victory chalked by President Mills at the just ended delegates’ congress in Sunyani.

He has therefore advised the NDC to focus on the mandate given to them by Ghanaians and build on the new momentum from the congress.

“The President needs to focus on the mandate that was given to him before he leaves office...if this momentum is managed well, then he will be able to succeed in 2012. But if he is not able to do that then he should forget it. It all depends on how the NDC focuses attention on important issues…lack of access to good drinking water, quality education...,” he said.

Prior to the historic NDC presidential primary, the Insight newspaper Editor had posited that; “at the end of this congress, everybody will know their smoothness level. Nana Konadu should not back out…”

At the end of the Sunyani contest, Mr. Pratt, who was contributing to a panel discussion on PeaceFM’s “Kokrokoo” programme said, “this congress has really established everybody’s smoothness level and it is indeed significant.”

He charged President Mills to undertake an overhaul of his administration’s machinery if he truly wants to win the 2012 elections. According to him, there are some under-performing officials in his government and it is high time they were done away with.

“He (President Mills) needs to realize that most of the people he is working with are not up to task, and they are rather influencing those genuinely working. This is the time for a major review of government’s policies and programmes…This is the time he needs to take measures to strengthen his team for those who need to be on the reserve bench to be on the reserve bench and for those who will work to work…,” he said.

The outspoken senior journalist was of the opinion that the NDCs party structure needed to be reviewed so that the highest level of discipline in the party can be maintained. To him, the former First Lady’s decision to contest for the flagbearership position of the NDC helped in unearthing some teething problems within the NDC and also brought to the fore the need to strengthen some structures of the party.

“The party (NDC) needs to be restructured if they want to win in 2012...There should be a major overhaul of government machinery…,” Pratt said.