Kwesi Botchwey discards presidential ambition

Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, a former Minister of Finance under former President Rawlings’ regime, says he has discarded the dream to become the President of Ghana. According to him, he has now resolved to concentrate on his private works and to reflect on what he can do to contribute to the development of the country.

“I have thought about it some years back, but for now I am not nursing that ambition,” he told a Joy FM when he was asked about his political future. Prof. Kwesi Botchwey was highly tipped to lead Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah’s Democratic Freedom party (DFP) as its prudential candidate in 2008, but he turned down the request at the last hour.

Touching briefly on the performance of President John Evans Atta Mills, he commended him for doing reasonably well, but was quick to say a lot needed to be done. He said though President Mills’ government has managed to reduce inflation and improve upon the economy, the country still has problem with unemployment.

According to the former Finance Minister, whenever he travels across the country, he notices the number of people struggling for survival. Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, who is said to be a member of President Mills’ Economic Advisory team, however, noted that good things are about to come under Mills’ presidency. “We need to be targeting high level of growth and we need to have a benchmark for growth, and people will begin to see change,” he said and called on the opposition parties to offer objective criticisms.

He called on the political parties to integrate the party’s foot soldiers into their party’s policy and philosophy to avoid unnecessary acrimony. “Party Foot soldiers should understand party’s philosophy to the extent that we can avoid acrimony,” he said.