Include ’competent’ opposition members in your government - Lecturer to Akufo-Addo

A research fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Professor Ransford Gyampo has urged President Akufo-Addo and subsequent Presidents of the country to implore the skillset and expertise of “competent” members from the main opposition political parties in the country.

“The President, all Presidents must be encouraged to reach out to the main opposition parties in the search for competent people to help govern the country," the lecturer and research fellow stated.

He made this call during his presentation at a roundtable discussion organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs on Wednesday, June 21.

Speaking on the theme “Winner-Takes-All Politics in Ghana; The case for a review of the Appointing powers of the President”, Prof. Gyampo condemned the system where a sitting government refuses to implore the knowledge and expertise of competent persons in some opposition parties despite their awareness.

According to him, the country would have experienced more development and growth if this system was adopted and implemented such that governments and ruling presidents wouldn’t have to reject persons whose contributions will be very valuable to the growth and progress of the country.

Citing an incident in 2014 where the NPP refused to allow Osafo Maafo (now Senior Minister) attend a national economic forum held by the NDC who believed he was apt with skills to help the government solve the economic crisis of the country, Prof. Gyampo urged that opposition parties to avail themselves when called on by a sitting government to serve.

“In 2014, something bad happened to Ghana, when the NDC convened a National Economic Forum and thought that the economy wasn’t doing so well but somebody like Osafo Marfo has the brains to help, they invited him and Osafo Marfo said it that he had been invited and he will attend. Soon after the party issued a statement saying that don’t go, that was a great disservice to Ghana”, he stated.

Prof. Gyampo emphasized the importance of having a shared goal towards National development and cautioned that opposition parties who are approached for such services avoid interpreting it as “a lack of personnel to govern and a bankruptcy of ideas on the part of the ruling party”.

Rather, he said, “it must be interpreted as a call and an opportunity to serve the country and promote national cohesion.