[Naijanet] KUFOR AND THE CHALLENGE OF NEW GHANA
jojo
Kufuor and the challenge of 'new' Ghana
Just back from Ghana's run-off presidential election where he watched the
opposition triumph over the ruling party, Staff Correspondent COLLINS OBIBI
writes on the challenges before a new Ghanaian leader after 20 years of JJ.
Rawlings in the saddle.
Kufuor (right) and Coosie Tanoh
Electoral officer attends to voters at a polling station
IN Ghana, the opposition party, represented by Mr. John Agyekun Kufuour, ever
critical, in fact antagonist to the ruling government, won last Thursday's
presidential and was declared as such. Although there were pockets of election
incidents, they were the type that may not receive mention in some other land,
thus making foreign observers sing a song of free and fair election, and the
people of Ghana inclusive of government and the electoral body, chorus
halleluiah.
John Agyekum Kufour, Ghana's own come back 'kid'
THE newly elected President of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufour, greatly
enamoured by his own education in some of the world's best institutions of
learning, has experience in business, politics and administration.
Born on December 8, 1938 in Atwima Nwabiagya, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, he
attended Prempeh College, Kumasi 1959, Oxford University, London where he
studied politics, philosophy and economic up to masters degree level. He did a
Bachelor of Laws in the same institution and was called to the Lincoln's Inn
in 1964.
He returned home to practise as a lawyer in Kumasi and from 1967 - 69, he was
City manager and chief legal officer of the Kumasi City Council.
He was in the 1969 constituent assembly that drafted the constitution for
return of the cuntry to democratic rule. That same year, he won election to
represent Atwima Nwabiagya constituency in the parliament. He was subsequently
appointed deputy foreign affairs minister.
Kufuor's blossoming political career was put on hold by the military coup in
1972. He was put in detention by the military for over a year.
At the return of party politics in 1979, he was appointed a member of the
constituent assembly which prepared the constitution for the country's Third
Republic. He helped to found the Popular Front Party (PFP), and was elected
again into the parliament.
Once in the legislature, Kufour became a senior member of the PFP's
parliamentary opposition group and served as its deputy leader and foreign
affairs spokesman.
He was selected in this capacity to accompany President Hilla Limann to the
OAU Summit in Freetown and was a member of the parliamentary delegation that
visited the USA in 1981 for talks with the IMF and World Bank on rescheduling
Ghana's debts and other related issues.
When Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings struck in December 1981, he was again
clamped into detention, but later released to join the government to bolster
its image and acceptability. He quit that government by July 1982, and rallied
to start political activities at a time it was very risky to do so.
He was an active member of the Dangua Busia Club which served as the rallying
point for all those that shared the ideals, hopes and aspirations of the new
Ghana of peace, unity and freedom. The club metamorphosed into the NPP when
the ban on politics was lifted in 1992.
He contested for nomination as presidential candidate of the NPP IN 1992, but
came third. By 1996, he won the party's ticket and also rallied all the
opposition candidates behind him. But he could not upset Rawlings at the
polls. He got a good 40 per cent of the votes.
By year 2000, Kufour has become more of a colossus, beating incumbent vice
president, Prof. John Attah Mills, to become the president-elect of Ghana.
It is a triumph for everybody in Ghana: The people's will and Kufour's
tenancity of purpose. It is also a triumph for Rawlings for redeeming his
country from the abyss of decay that was quite paramount in the early 1980s
when he emerged on the political scene, restoring peace and order, and
conducting a free and fair election even when the outcome from the begining
did not seem to favour him. Indeed, it is a triumph for the civil society, for
democracy in Ghana, Africa and the world.
The result of Thursday's second round presidential election gave Kufour,
candidate of the main opposition party , New Patriotic Party (NPP), and his
running mate, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the mandate to rule Ghana for four years. He
polled 3,631,263 or 56.9 per cent votes to defeat his opponent, incumbent vice
-president and candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Prof. John Evans Attah Mills who got 2,750,124 or 43.1 per cent of the votes.
Kufour called the victory Winning of fulfilling. He was to further tell The
Guardian: "You win , you feel achieved."
The triumph of the people's will without let or hinderance, and preparations
for the handover of the reigns of power to Kufuor on January 7 have crowned
efforts of Jerry John Rawlings' president of Ghana who came to power in 1982
with a promise to sanitise the system, to make the former Gold Coast work
again.
The sanity and orderliness that have hallmarked Rawlings 19-year rule are
quite manifest. Results of the elections, for instance, were known less that
24 hours after the balloting and was officially declared within 36 hours of
the conduct of the election. As in the first ballot, every party was satisfied
with it.
Again, within hours, a few hours indeed of the declarations of the results,
Mills accepted defeat, congratulated Kufuor and pledged loyalty to the
government he would head come January 7.
Rawlings, though pained by the outcome of the elections (he wanted his deputy,
Mills to succeed him) still found consolation in the fact that the people's
will triumphed, and quickly acknowledged Kufuor as the president-elect and
sent goodwill messages to him.
In a ceremony marking the anniversary of the1981 coup that brought him back to
power Rawlings said : "Let me seize the opportunity to congratulate Mr. J
Kufuor on his election. I wish him well. My government will do everything
possible to make the transition smooth."
Prior to the first round of elections on December 7, Rawlings had assured the
people on the handover, and not minding their political differences and the
many toes he had stepped on, presented each of the seven contestants to the
highest position in the land as capable.
In a speech on the eve of that election, he had said that whoever won by
genuine means, "no one in this country or elsewhere can say no to such a
president, that way he becomes our president, be it Prof. Mills,Dr. Mahama,
Mr. John Kufuor, Mr. Dan Lartey of 'Domestication' or any of the others."
It is Rawlings's preparedness to be a man of his words, indeed, his posturing
in recent years which contrasted with his high-handedness in the early years
of his reign when indeed Ghana needed firm leadership that has made him a man
of history.
Kufuor recognises him as such. In accepting his election a few days ago,
Kufuor said of Rawlings: "My thanks go to His Excellency, President Rawlings
who at the end of his mandated term under a democratic constitution, has
presided over this historic election."
A good turn deserves another. Kufour made his own pledge which his ability to
stand by in the years to come would either open old wounds and re-enact the
culture of cutting down Ghanaian statemen in their prime or rest a chapter in
the country's history.
He said: "I reiterate my intension to accord President Rawlings all the
respect and support that is due to an ex-head of state. I will ensure that he
is treated as I would like to be treated at the end of my term of office."
Rawlings had on his second coming on December 31 1981 ordered the execution of
some past leaders and former heads of state, including Dr. Hilla Limann who
won the election he (Rawlings) supervised in1979 when he first overthrew the
military regime and stayed in office for a few months. He clamped many into
jail in1981, including Kufuor who was then a member of parliament.
The abduction and murder of three high court judges and a retired army officer
in1982 by unidentified persons still constitutes a grudge many people hold
against Rawlings.
Also, it was Rawlings who in the council chambers once beat up his
vice-president.
Many people in Accra are quick to produce a compendium of these and similar
acts of Rawlings 19 years rule in Ghana. They believe have tarnished his
legacy. They are also prepared to push that he be made to account for such
'sins.'
It was against this background that Rawlings allowed the elections to take
place, allowing Kufuor to contest and win and be declared winner, and pledging
to hand over power to him.
It was also against this background that Kufuor, who also has another grouse
against Rawlings for making him guit Rawlings' government in1982 after using
him and a few others to gain national acceptance by including them in the
government of national unity made his pledges.
Indeed, a civil society is being built in Ghana. And the next few years will
determine whether the gains made under Rawlings will be consolidated or the
hands of the clock drawn backwards.
Felicitate with Kufuor. But he needs prayers too. Little wonder he told his
countrymen and women while accepting their mandate: "I ask all of you for your
prayers and support for the incoming government and myself."
Expectations are high on Kufuor's presidency. On two main fronts, namely the
economy and fundamental human rights, the people expect immediate significant
changes. Many are quick to point out that corruption is still a malaise in
Ghana and should be uprooted right away.
Kofi Thompson, an Accra resident, for instance, said of this: "Ghanaians,
above all, expect Kufuor to lead a government that will not be corrupt. He
must deal ruthlessly with any member of his government that is found to be
abusing his position for personal gain at our nation's expense."
Given Kufuor's background as a complete civilian, it is expected that the
issue of human rights abuses will completely abate. But the economy presents
the greatest challenge to anyone who wishes to govern Ghana.
Not yet able to identify products and services that have international appeal
and from which to make money to fund the long list of imports,Ghana's economy
wobbles.
Cocoa and gold, two major items of international trade are currently having
rough times in the market.
Agriculture is underdeveloped and still at subsistence level. Unemployment and
under employment combine to humiliate the average Ghanaian and make life lose
meaning to him. Minimum wage is still one dollar, a policy that places labour
at the mercy of employers.
A former parliamentarian and businessman in Accra said in answer to a question
by The Guardian: "Little wonder they say we have about 20 million magicians
living in Ghana," a reference to how the entire population manages to survive.
"The ordinary man is not happy.He cannot even earn one dollar a day. He cannot
pay school fees, house rent, or medical bills," the former parliamentarian
observed.
Many also expect a reduction in taxes. In fact, it is said that the
introduction of value added tax a few years ago contributed significantly to
the rejection of the ruling party at the polls.
Some others frown at the use of expatriates for jobs Ghanaians are qualified
to handle.
But Kufuor has promised to face the poor state of the economy squarely. In
fact, his party manifesto is anchored on improving the wealth of the nation.
This he hopes to do by expanding and opening up the economy to private
investors, including foreigners. He also believes in joint ventures with
willing entrepreneurs.
"We want to create a haven of investment," he told The Guardian.
He also hopes to use the instrumentality of ECOWAS to improve trade and
bilateral corporation with other countries, particularly Nigeria.
Come January 7, Kufuor will take over the Osu castle, Ghana's seat of power.
But it can only be guessed which side of the mouth he will speak from when he
comes face to face with the enormous challenges that ruling modern Ghana
presents.
New momentum in Ghana
THE victory of Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor in the re-run presidential polls in
Ghana on December 28 has brightened the prospects of democracy and stability
in the West African sub-region. The first election three weeks earlier was
indecisive as neither Kufuor nor his close rival, Professor John Evans Mills
had the required votes to win. Kufuor will now succeed President John Jerry
Rawlings who has been in office for 19 years, the longest tenure for any
leader since Ghana attained independence from Britain in 1957 under the
presidency of the revered pan-Africanist, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Kufuor's election is historic in several respects. It brings to a happy ending
a long-drawn political struggle for a post-Rawlings administration. There is
always a problem with transitions in Africa and that of Ghana was awaited with
anxiety. The ruling party, the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) was
desperate to have one of its own succeed Rawlings. He himself did not disguise
his support for his Deputy, Professor Mills. It is significant that Kufuor's
opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) went ahead to clinch victory with 569 of
the votes despite the forces of incumbency that were at play in the contest.
The performance of the opposition signals a positive development for Ghanaian
democracy. Kufuor, 62, had contested against Rawlings in 1996. His party
reorganised itself for the second attempt and has reaped the rewards. There
are useful lessons in Kufuor's tenacity for African politicians. Too often,
many abandon the option of the good fight and resort to anti-democratic
methods to protest their defeat. What the NPP in Ghana has proved is that a
disciplined opposition party with a well-focused leadership can recover and
defeat a ruling party.
The challenges before the new president are immense and he is acutely aware of
them. The country's economy has been in trouble for a long time in spite of
Rawlings strenuous efforts to help it out of crisis. World prices for the main
exports ñ cocoa and gold ñ have been on the decline for a decade. The rising
costs of fuel import have depleted external reserves. Inflation is running at
about 35 per cent. Under an IMF-World Bank regime, the national currency, the
cedi, has been recklessly devalued. A $6 billion external debt yoke compounds
the economic situation. Revamping the economy will be Kufuor's priority. He
has to attack inflation and bring government spending under control. There are
also the problems of corruption and cronyism facilitated by Rawlings'
longevity in office.
The president-elect has pledged that he would not prosecute his predicessor
for human rights violation and has advised aggrieved individuals to seek
redress in the courts. As he said, there is a lot to do and would rather
concentrate attention on restoring hope and confidence to Ghanaians. Outgoing
President Rawlings, now 53, has time enough to account for how he ran the
affairs of a country which was once the envy of many in the world. When he
came to power in 1979, he was adored as a messiah to rescue Ghana from
dictatorship and corruption. He overstayed his welcome and in the twilight
years of his tenure, he succumbed to the same foibles he came to combat two
decades ago. Yet Ghana under Rawlings was a peaceful and stable country.
Public utilities work and the 18.5 million people are served with good
infrastructure. For nearly two years, there has been no major power outage.
The people are more self-confident today than they were a decade ago. Rawlings
will be remembered for this.
Ghana's successful transition is worthy of emulation in a continent noted for
sit-tight leaders, dictatorship and political upheavals. Kufuor's feat adds to
an emerging trend of the triumph of the popular will at elections. It happened
in Senegal last March when incumbent President Abdul Diouf was defeated by a
long-time opponent, Abdoulaye Wade. Gbagbo's victory in Cote d'Ivoire a few
months ago brightened the prospects further. The same story of successful
democratic transition can be told of Nigeria, Mali, South Africa and Botswana.
This story ought to be the norm in Africa: a story of an orderly transition
that can guarantee stability and prosperity.
Ghana: Kufuor's presidency and great expectations
By Collins Obibi, Staff Correspondent
PREPARATIONS are in top gear for Sunday's transfer of power to a new set of
helmsmen who last month, secured the people's mandate to govern Ghana for the
next four years.
At the foreseable epochal ceremony, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, 63 years, lawyer,
businessman, main opposition party candidate and winner of last week's
presidential election will take over from Jerry John Rawlings, a flight
lieutenant who seized power in a coup d'etat in 1979. He handed over to
democratically elected Dr. Hilla Limann but returned in 1981 and has since
ruled the West African country. He transformed into a civilian president in
1992.
The 200-member parliament would also be constituted. These would also
precipitate changes in the hierarchy of administration in the 10 regions and
local districts. The new executive exercises the authority to appoint
representatives at these levels to ensure effective implementation of
government policies and programmes in the areas.
The elections which started on December 7, ended on Thursday last week.
Kufuor, candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) defeated incumbent Vice
President and candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC),
Prof. John Evans Attah Mills.
The second round was necessitated by the inability of any of the seven
presidential candidates that contested the December 7, polls to secure the 50
per cent plus one vote required by the constitution to win the presidential
election.
The duo who polled the highest number of votes went into the second round,
while the five that trailed behind were dropped. These included Dr. Edward N.
Mahama of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), George P. Hagan of the
Convention People's Party (CPP) and Mr. Daniel A. Lartey of the Great
Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP). Others were Mr. Charles Weseko-Brobby of
the United Ghana Movement (UGM) and Mr. Goosie O. Tanoh of the National Reform
Party (NRP).
The five rallied behind Kufuor to ensure Mills' defeat to pave way for a
change of the Rawlings era which majority of the population in Ghana clamour
for.
In the second round therefore, Kufuor and his running mate Alhaji Aliu Mahama
garnered 3,631,263 or 56.9 per cent of the votes as against Mills 2,750,124 or
43.1 per cent.
Kufuor won convincingly in six of the 10 regions and secured over 40 per cent
of the total votes in two other regions. The six regions are: Western,
Central, Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti and Browg Ahago. The two are Northern
and Upper East; while the other two where he was thrashed are Volta, Rawlings'
home region, and Upper West.
The NPP also secured 99 seats in parliament, the highest by the parties,
followed by the NDC ñ 93, PNC ñ 3, CPP ñ 1 and independent candidates ñ 4.
For Ghana, it is the dawn of a new day. For the first time, in its post
colonial history, one elected government would complete its tenure, conduct a
rancour-free election to hand over to a successor.
The elections that yielded a Kufuor presidency and the new parliament with an
NPP majority have been declared as peaceful, free and fair by most people who
participated in or observed them.
Already, joyful sentiiments are being expressed in and outside Ghana. United
Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian says he is elated by the
conduct of the elections and the outcome.
Similar sentiments have been expressed by governments of other countries and
world leaders.
Analysts have said a Kufuor Presidency more than Rawlings' would bring to the
fore the permutations, calculations and intrigues that characterise Ghanaian
politics. Also, that his tenure which to many could be said to be the real
taste of democracy by Ghanaians in decades will put to test the country's new
found cohesiveness and civility.
Kufuor's ascendency to the helm of leadership throws up quite a number of
issues which hold the ace to Ghana's future. At issue, for instance, is the
place and role of Rawlings, given the circumstances of his coming to power and
events that trailed his 20-year tenure.
There are also issues of the economy and peoples' welfare, politics and
Ghana's relationship with international financial institutions and foreign
financiers of its programmes and projects and how far they can go in
influencing policies in the country.
Kufuor was a leading member of the Danquah-Busia Club known to share the
ideals of the late Dr. K. A. Busia who, in 1971, pursued the Aliens Complaint
Act that saw the repartriation of non-indigenes, and stained relationship
between Ghana and some countries including Nigeria. Rightly or wrongly, the
NPP, of all the other parties, is easily linked with the old Progress Party
(PP) which Busia led.
Again, Kufuor is Ashanti, and many people from the over 50 tribes in Ghana
accuse the Ashanti of having a domineering attitude.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges Kufuor would face and which has become
an issue of hushed discussions is his relationship with the military. Unlike
Rawlings, he was never a soldier. Having tasted power, the Ghanaian military
is still fascinated by it.
Understanding Ghana today and predicting the shape of events to come connote
x-raying the man Rawlings. If the saying is true that history is kind to those
who make it, then Rawlings can be assured that he would receive a
compassionate treatment.
He may not have been the most benevolent. In fact, his 20-year rule of Ghana
recorded many unsettling interjections, but it is interesting that he is
capping it all too well by peacefully relinquishing power. Not necessarily in
the style of the fad that the end justifies the means, but more in the manner
that he who perseveres to the end shall be justified.
Twice, Rawlings wrestled power from the government of the day in Ghana and by
Sunday, January 7, when he hands over power, he would have gone down as having
made a statemanly contribution to power transfer in Africa. Rawlings handed
over to two democratically elected presidents at different times.
His first appearance on the political turf was in 1979 when he sacked the
military regime of the era, but allowed the transition programme which that
government enunciated to run its full course and then handed over power to the
winner of that election, Dr. Hilla Limann.
At the time he struck on June 4, 1979, it was obvious Ghana was headed for a
deep crisis. The military regime of the time, needed a cover to perpetuate
itself in office. A referendum was designed to secure what seemed like the
people's mandate to run a diarchy. But, things went awry.
In March 1978, a national referendum was held to determine the suitability of
the hybrid system of government dubbed "Union Government", that would have
created a military-civilian constitutional government. But the concept, which
was propagated by the Supreme Military Council (SMC) was surrounded by
controversy.
The final result which was declared by the electoral commission was widely
disputed by the civil society. It gave the figure of those in support of the
union government as 60 per cent while those that opposed it as 40 per cent of
the voters.
There was a palace coup d'etat in 1978, and the new government was compelled
to organise multi-party elections. Rawlings struck and overthrew that
government. He allowed to hold, parliamentary and presidential elections
slated for June 18 and second round presidential ballot on Monday, July 9,
which Limann won.
He had said on coming to power in 1981 that: "The PNDC is determined not only
to punish those who have looted the nation's coffers, but also to make the
necessary institutional changes that would prevent a recurrence of these
lapses."
And on another platform, he said: "The medicine is bitter, but it is
necessary."
He was to add another which appeared to have confirmed his long stay in power
and what could be seen today as its benefits: "The revolutionary process in
which we are now involved is like planting a tree. Without faith in the
future, nobody plants a tree or undertakes a revolution."
He capped it up: "Populist nonsense must give way to scientific sense, whether
popular or unpopular."
He lived to his words, arraigned past heads of state including Limann and
executed them. Still less than seven months in office, three High Court judges
and a retired army officer were abducted and murdered in questionable
circumstances.
Kufuor had a feel of Rawlings' high-handedness when he (Rawlings) clamped him
in jail after the coup. Kufuor was later released and integrated in his
government, but the two could not work together, forcing Kufuor to quit few
months later.
Ghana may not have been an isolated case, but the economy has witnessed severe
strain. Cedi, the country's currency is not worth more than the paper it is
printed on, exchanging for over 6900 Cedi to a dollar. Unemployment and
underemployment is high and the purchasing power is ridiculously low. The gap
between the rich and the poor continued to widen, yet Rawlings remained in
power, transforming from a military head of state into a civilian president in
1992.
The constitutional amendment he effected to usher in the constitutional rule
in 1992 pegged the President's tenure at a maximum two terms of four years
each. It is the observance of this provision that threw-up Kufuor as the new
president-elect.
Insinuations have been made on the kind of treatment that would be meted on
Rawlings who stepped on many toes, including Kufuor's whom he clamped into
jail on coming to power in December 1981. Many are yet to forgive him for
killing some former heads of state and few key government officials on coming
to power.
This, more than any other act has haunted him to date as many whose kith and
kin were involved are still aggrieved.
But Kufuor says he in not prepared to re-open old wounds. For presiding over
the historic election, Kufuor gives Rawlings credit.
On if he would heed the calls to probe Rawlings, he said: "I reiterate my
intention to accord President Rawlings all the respect and recognition that is
due to an ex-head of state. I will ensure that he is treated as I would like
to be treated at the end of my term of office."
In an interview with The Guardian, he restated this, saying that his
administration would devote so much time on wealth creation matters and would
scarcely have time to probe the past administration.
Whether Kufuor will maintain this stand or bow to mounting pressure to bring
Rawlings to book remains to be seen.
But Kufuor will be weary of the military, Rawlings' first constituency.
Rawlings is believed to have survived for 20 years because he knew the
military turf and how to tread it.
Ghana's history has been replete with military incurssions which first
occurred on February 24, 1966. A way out of the dilemma of military threat to
the new government in Ghana, many inside sources suggest, is that Kufuor may
infiltrate their ranks with his kinsmen from Ashanti still in the system.
It is instructive that the build-up to last week's presidential elections took
ethnic dimensions, thus wittingly or unwittingly, ethnicity became a
contentious issue in the elections.
How Kufuor plays the ethnic card laced with the domineering tendencies would
play significant role in the shape of politics in the country henceforth.
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