President John Mahama gave account of his stewardship over the last 12 months at a well-attended press conference at the Flagstaff House Sunday.
Everybody acknowledged that 2013 was a difficult year largely because of the election petition that slowed down the country?s development process.
Some have argued that that alibi is lame since the government machinery was in place and the government carried out its mandate as prescribed by law. However, we know that some of our donor partners and investors adopted a wait-and-see attitude, not being very sure of the outcome of the election petition.
In such uncertain circumstances, the country could have become ungovernable if President Mahama, whose leadership ?was being challenged at the court, had not been very firm and stayed focused on governance and security issues.
The Daily Graphic agrees with the President that the major achievement of 2013 was our collective resolve to sustain the peace and stability of the country despite the election petition at the court.
Many people may disagree with the President?s choice of his team and how the issues of governance were dealt with but he said, ?I am the coach and I decide the team and who to drop at what time.?
Although all the issues agitating the minds of people may not have been asked by the journalists and the questions asked may not have been answered to the satisfaction of all, it was not for want of trying.
Constant interactions with the media enhances accountability, transparency and open governance since the President submits to a barrage of questions about his stewardship.
Such engagements give the electorate the opportunity to assess the performance of the government.
It is also good to hear the President recommitting himself to the Better Ghana Agenda because although a campaign slogan, the desire of ?all, irrespective of their political persuasion, is to live under a government that delivers to their expectations.
We urge the President to live up to his pledge of growing the economy and creating equal opportunities for all Ghanaians to improve themselves, irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious backgrounds.
We accept the position that the President as ?coach? of his team hires and fires his ?charges? but concerns of a section of the public that some of the appointees do not address the needs of the electorate must be looked into.
The next election in 2016 is not very faraway so if the government desires a renewal of its mandate, it must work to the expectation of the people.
The Daily Graphic appeals to the President and his team to step up the fight against corruption; initiate the necessary interventions to grow the economy to create more wealth and jobs, as well as reduce the economic burden on the people.
Mr President, your mandate to rule is no longer in dispute, but we urge you to stay committed to your pledge to create equal opportunities for all.
Happy anniversary, Mr President. We wish you a tenure that delivers prosperity in concert with the people of Ghana.
Daily Graphic Wednesday, 08 January 2014 07
