Politicians to tell electorates how they would fund proposed projects

Kumasi, Aug. 19, GNA - Dr Charles Ackah, a researcher and economist at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon on Tuesday called for provision to be made in future for aspiring presidential candidates to provide budgetary detail of programmes they intend to carry out when elected into office. He explained this would help the electorate to stay informed about how such individuals intended to steer the affairs of the nation and embark on development projects.

"Members of the public would then not be taken for granted by some politicians", he said, adding that a presidential candidate should tell the people how a project would be carried out and where he would get the money from.

Dr Ackah was speaking at a media literacy project sponsored by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development for selected journalists in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions.

The workshop was aimed at promoting issue-based reporting and updating practitioners on some social-economic issues designed to enhance their performance ahead of the December election. Touching on some economic issues, Dr. Ackah called on the legislature to review and amend existing mining laws, and negotiate for better terms to improve the standard of living of the people.

"The three per cent royalties that is currently being paid by mining companies to the government is woefully inadequate for any meaningful development.

"Our resources are being sent away, we need to make the best out of the deal. With the oil find, we need to go for proper negotiation to maximize what we get from the resource," he said.

Giving an overview of governance deficits and issue of abuse of incumbency, Mr Franklin Oduro, Programmes Officer, CDD, observed that the abuse of incumbency undermined electoral competitiveness and fairness.

He also called for the election of district chief executives to promote accountability.

The programme officer said the presidency exerted too much power over the executive and the judiciary, and called for a change towards this development as they all have their independent roles to play as stipulated in the constitution.

Mr Oduro also expressed concern about the phenomenon where chief executives of various agencies who perpetually acted or permanently acted in their positions, saying such situation would not augur well for the nation's democratic process.

He pledged the Centre's unflinching support and commitment to the media in the discharge of its constitutional obligations. He called on journalist to arm themselves with the right kind of information to enable them ask the right kind of question, and win the respect of politicians. 19 Aug 08