Speech by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nuom

“AGENDA FOR CHANGE: IT IS TIME TO ACT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY” Statement presented by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom on October 27, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media:

Introduction

Thank you for accepting my invitation to attend this press conference. You will recall that my last press conference was held on April 1st during which I recommended a stimulus package for the Ghanaian economy. At that press conference, I said that “…in Ghana we seem to be sitting on our individual stools, stuck in our individual corners, talking sometimes, but doing precious little to change our collective fortune as a nation.” I said then that getting the nation to come out of the global economic crisis stronger is not a spectator sport. It requires action.” It was my attempt to catch the attention of business, political, religious and academic leaders so that together we can act and not just sit by while other nations work to strengthen their competitive positions in the world and protect the prosperity of their citizens.

I have waited a few months to see what the authorities would do. I want to place on record that no stimulus package of any type has been offered to support the Ghanaian private sector to enable our people to cope and come out of the crisis in a stronger competitive position. What we have all heard is that we are about to get billions of dollars from the IMF, the World Bank, the Chinese and others to improve macroeconomic stability, support the Cedi, etc. I have not heard anything about creating employment through increasing the productive capacity and expanding the market competitiveness of our domestic business enterprises. The negative consequences of doing nothing are very visible for all to see.

In April, I offered some suggestions to improve our chances for a better standard of living and a great future for our children and their children. It was a call for action on the part of our country’s political, religious, social and business leadership. I still believe that this is the time while the global crisis is still on, to find a way to enable Ghanaians to gain control over the domestic economy by government adopting nationalistic policies in the management of the nation’s development agenda. I wish to place on record again that the policies that have been announced since January 2009 will not put the economy in the hands of Ghanaians any more than has happened since we entered the Fourth Republic in 1993.

Agenda for Change

Today, I wish to begin a series of interactions focused on the Agenda for Change. I am launching an initiative that I hope will encourage Ghanaians from all walks of life to be interested in promoting the implementation of fundamental change in our society so that our people can live a better life than they are experiencing now. I intend to collaborate with other forward looking individuals and organizations to ensure that this effort is sustained. This is not about a political contest. It is an initiative to promote the Ghanaian interest.

In 2008, all the presidential candidates in the final weeks leading to the elections came around to talking about change of one type or the other. The NPP’s Presidential Candidate held steadfastly during the early stages of the campaign to running on the record of the Kufuor Administration. But he was compelled by circumstances to define what he would do differently to effect transformational change in the Ghanaian economy and in the lives of our people. The NDC’s campaign tried a “Sankofa” theme which did not work. That party worked hard to focus on hitting against what it called “…a culture of impunity and corruption” and promoting a sense of “I care for you” but got nowhere. They too were compelled by the gains being made by the CPP’s change message to commandeer the change agenda. But while President Mills and the NDC party campaigned for change, the CPP with me as the candidate entered the race with a solid, well-prepared manifesto and a considered ten-point agenda called “Change You Can Feel In Your Pocket”. We backed this up with the slogan, “Yeresesamu” which we designed after extensive consultation with a cross-section of Ghanaians.

To me and the CPP, “Yeresesamu” was not just a slogan. It was an expression of the people’s disappointment in blame-game politics, winner-takes-all governance, mediocrity in government that breeds poverty in all its forms and a concentration of disproportionate power in the hands of one person, the President of the Republic among other important matters. The CPP did not win the 2008 elections. But the people’s desire for change prevailed.

In 2008, the Presidential Candidates talked about changing the Constitution to empower Parliament, bringing more power to the District Assemblies by accelerating the decentralization program, ensuring the industrialization of the country and putting Ghanaians at the commanding heights of industry, overhauling the system we use to educate our children and so on.

We need more than campaign promises and slogans. The changes that will propel the country to a higher level of performance require something more than politics as usual. They require a positive attitude and the will to empower and encourage all Ghanaians to make the contributions their mind, experience and expertise will allow. They require a leadership that inspires confidence, hope and the willingness to change. When I look around, these essential ingredients are missing.

I could sit by and watch the NPP and NDC political football and maybe even hope that the Mills Administration gets so consumed about the NPP that they do nothing positive to change the lives of all Ghanaians for the better so that I can gain political advantage in 2012. To me that would not be the patriotic thing to do. Our first Patriot, the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah would not sit and wait. So my purpose is to re-ignite the change debate that was started in 2008. I am here to refresh the Change Agenda and keep it alive. Ghana deserves the change that was promised in 2008.

I am doing so knowing that as a citizen, I must feel a strong wind of change to know that it is here. I want the change that will bring a better Ghana. I want change we can all feel in our pockets. I want a President who is “…father for all Ghanaians”. I want to do well in my chosen field because I am a Ghanaian living in my own country. I do not want to go hungry in my own country because I come from Elmina, or because I am a Catholic or because I am a member of the CPP.

Specific Change – the Legislature

Today, I want to focus on one important area of our national life that we cannot do without if we want a vibrant, multi-party democracy. This area of change we need has to do with the legislature – Parliament. As it stands now, the institution we call Parliament is weak and unable to serve as an effective pillar of checks and balance to the Executive. If we are quarreling about the Vodafone agreement it is because the Presidency was able to ambush Parliament and rush it to pass a bill most members did not have time to read and understand. Parliament did not have the opportunity to engage technical experts to give it needed advice.

This in large part is due to the fact that the current Constitution robs it of independence and muscle. In particular, Article 78 (1) of the Constitution says, “Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament”.

I have been a Member of Parliament and a Minister of State before. So I know of which I speak. This feature in our Constitution is inimical to the interest of all Ghanaians. It promotes and perpetuates the culture of impunity and makes our Presidents walk over the legislature. Worse, it enables the approval of bad agreements and contracts. An independent legislature would not sit by and be denied offices, human resource and other facilities needed for the effective performance of its job. An independent Parliament will not allow Chairpersons of its Sub-Committees to be seated behind Ministers of State in its own House.

Because of this provision in the Constitution, many people go to Parliament not to be law-makers, but to “catch the eye of the President” to be made a Minister of State. The public has also raised the profile of MPs who are made Ministers. If you are not a minister, you are considered, “only an MP”. No one considers that being the Chairperson of a Parliamentary Sub-Committee is something powerful or important.

Furthermore, Article 108 of the Constitution says, that “Parliament shall not, unless the bill is introduced or the motion is introduced by, or on behalf of, the President –

a) Proceed upon a bill including an amendment to a bill, that, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of the following – i. The imposition of taxation or the alteration of taxation otherwise than by reduction; or ii. The imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana or the alteration of any such charge otherwise than by reduction; or iii. The payment issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana of any moneys not charged on the Consolidated Fund or any increase in the amount of that payment, issue or withdrawal; or iv. The composition or remission of any debt due to the Government of Ghana; or

b) Proceed upon a motion, including an amendment to a motion, the effect of which, in the opinion of the person presiding, would be to make provision for any of the purposes specified in paragraph (a) of this article.

This article makes Parliament toothless, keeps it in perpetual poverty and reliant on the largess of the Executive. It makes it lack initiative and forces it to do the bidding of the Presidency. As such, the President is made all powerful and can get its way all the time. I am calling on all members of Parliament to rise up and work to change these provisions in our Constitution so that they can be empowered to do a credible job. I am calling on independent organizations such as the IEA, the CDD and others to continue to promote change that will strengthen the legislature. Finally, this matter rests at the doorstep of President Mills. He promised to set up a committee to recommend changes to the Constitution. It is time for him to deliver on that promise. It is my hope that the next Parliament that is sworn into office in January 2013 will not be as dependent on the Executive as the one in office now.

Conclusion

The “Yeresesamu” brand of change was not just a slogan to propel a political party to power. It was the embodiment of the need of our people to feel real change in all facets of our society. I do not feel the change. When I feel it, I will know it and I will also acknowledge it. It is my hope that President Mills does not think that he has a lot of time on his hands as many of the changes we need, will take time to be researched, public opinion sought and legal matters resolved before implementation is even considered. He must act with a sense of urgency to bring about the change that will make all of us experience a “Better Ghana”.

Should he fail to make this happen, I promise that I will be there, God willing to lead the “Yeresesamu” campaign in 2012 with more vigour, renewed strength and a stronger base to attract more voters. One thing I know for sure is that many Ghanaians farmers, fishermen, lawyers, business men and women, workers of all types, students all want change they can feel.

I am asking everyone to join the change bandwagon wherever you may be. I will make this presentation a monthly event to dwell on a specific area. Today it is the legislature. The next time it will be on education or decentralization. It is my hope that our media partners will help by conducting their own research, investigation and prepare stories that will inform the public and at the same time encourage policy makers and our leaders in business, politics, civil society and religious organizations to work for change.