Former minister says government should accept criticism

Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a Minister in the erstwhile Kufuor government, has appealed to Ghanaians to accept criticisms and regard it as part of democracy.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, who was a Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West, said Ghana’s development could move faster if people in government would accept criticism in good faith.

He said this at a forum on peace organised by the Mfantseman Students Union at Saltpond as part of the Ghana Peace Campaign 2012 under the theme ”peace, before, during and after 2012 elections – the role of the student”.

He said criticism was part of democracy and urged government not to regard critics as enemies but to use criticism to assess its performance and make amends when necessary to move the nation forward.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng said the 1992 Constitutions gave too much power to the President and that was dangerous to national development and called for amendments to take away some of those powers and give them to institutions.

He appealed to Ghanaians to take a second look at the “winner takes-all” in governance to see what could be done about it.

Mr. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West and Deputy Central Minister, said there would be peace before, during and after the upcoming elections and Ghanaians should not allow partisan politics to divide them.

Mr. Ernest Abekah Baidoo, Mfantseman West Parliamentary aspirant for the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), urged politicians to bequeath peace to the future children by protecting the peace in the country.

Nana Baa VII, Nyimfahen of Nkusukum Traditional Area and Chief of Akyemfo Nankesedo, appealed to Ghanaians to do nothing to disturb the peace in the country.

Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs and a Member of Council of State, expressed happiness that the youth organized forum because they are perceived as agents of destruction and urged them not to allow politicians to influence them to cause chaos.