UN boss right about 'slogan politicians' - Lecturer

An observation made by the United Nations human rights expert, Philip Alston that Ghanaian leaders are only interested in slogans is apt, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Isaac Brako, has said.

According to him, in the past years, especially, in the Fourth Republic, political leaders have made campaign promises that they failed to implement when they eventually won power.

Speaking at the end of a 10-day fact-finding mission to the Greater Accra, Northern, and Upper East regions, Mr Alston said: “Ghanaian politicians are immensely fond of, and very good at creating slogans to describe complex but appealing programmes. But there is little doubt that the appetite for such slogans has already far outrun the capacity for realistic implementation.”

“The challenge going forward is for the Government to choose its real priorities, make sure that social protection is among them, and to be more transparent about potential costs and possible funding sources,” Mr. Alston stressed.

He added: “Ghana is at a crossroads and must now decide whether to continue existing policies that will further enrich the wealthy and do little for the poor, or to make fiscal adjustments that would lift millions out of poverty and bring them into the agricultural economy in ways that would contribute significantly to economic growth.”

Sharing his views in an interview with Accra News’ Agyen Barima on Thursday, 19 April, Dr Brako said: “He is right with his comments. In the fourth republic, we have seen that all politicians make promises only to come to power and fail to fulfill these promises.

“We were in Ghana when a presidential candidate promised one-time premium payment for national health insurance but never mentioned it when he became the president.

“All the presidents that have come failed to fulfil all their promises, and, so, he is right, our leaders are just interested in slogans.”

He added: “We are just into the second year of President Akufo-Addo’s tenure, and, so, we wait to see how he will also conduct himself in office.”