*The _Big Push:_ A Promising Agenda Marred by Avoidable Mistakes…_Mansa Musa writes_ ✍️*
_From now onwards, ndc will have to carry the people along. This is attainable by being transparent in all endeavours-free advise_
Many moons ago, a nice gentleman living in London asked me a question, it may have been in either 2022 or 2023. In a private conversation, he asked, “_Mansa, tell me in a few words, what makes governance good, effective, and efficient?_” I replied with just one word: *TRANSPARENCY.* I explained that, above all else, transparency brings clarity and truthfulness.
Most citizens will accept even the most difficult situations arising from government policies if they have been involved and informed transparently from the very onset. So first of, government should have explained to the nation the need to use sole-sourcing for a selected projects to speed up construction process. They didn’t and now they go explain taya. For obvious reasons I will not disclose the name of that gentleman who is now an MP though he may come to bear me out after reading this. This is not me trying to adopt a “wise after the event” posture, nor am I virtue-signaling tc prove my wisdom.
*Instead of celebrating the Big Push, the NDC is performing firefighting duties. They have themselves to blame.*
This piece aims to highlight avoidable mistakes the NDC government is commiting. While in opposition, the NDC took a principled stand, promising governance based on probity, accountability, and integrity, steeped in transparency and Ghanaians believed them. However, governance is not a passive activity so realities practical governance demand certain radical solutions, however one would have thought that in government, the ndc, this ndc would abide by the style of governance promised to Ghanaians, in both substance and in principle
This is why the potential lack of commitment to probity in awarding contracts avoiding open, competitive sourcing was problematic enough, doing so in secrecy and getting caught and being exposed by the opposition, is diabolic, a worrisome act dishonesty, simply very bad and difficult to defend. It seems no one in cabinet meetings questioned the use of sole sourcing, nor did they consider the potential political repercussions. If, as it appears, no one cautioned against the use of sole sourcing, especially in such a covert manner, failing to apply transparency even when necessity might have dictated otherwise. This is where the wisdom I shared with my friend, who is now an MP, comes in.
*It is okay to be crafty when in government, but not at the expense of potentially loosing public trust.*
If anyone had suggested in cabinet that the government be open about the urgent need to pursue the Big Push Agenda, and that, perhaps, 40 to 50% of contracts would be sole-sourced, we would not be discussing how contracts were awarded today. Today, we as Ghanaians should be encouraging and commending the government’s efforts at providing massive capital investment projects. To this, I say this NDC government deserves whatever discomforting attacks coming from the NPP.
*The _”we are doing less harm than they did,”_ The attempts at whitewashing acts of dishonesty should cease. Stop treating us like fools.*
The Big Push program, if well implemented, will surely push Ghana forward and further into the realms of progressive modernity. Yet, this profound initiative is somehow pulling embarrassment out of the jaws of success. This is happening mainly as a result of falling into that “power obstructs sound reasoning” syndrome. It is a folly, but it is becoming obvious that power is being allowed to become disruptive. It is still unbelievable that no one seems to remind cabinet of the need to adhere to and commit to sound principles. For this, I hold no brief for this NDC government.
*NDC government, you’ve been caught pants down. Own up and do that wrong no more.. _Animguase maakye_*
Reflecting on history, and remembering how Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah suffered at the hands of the UP tradition when he decided to focus on infrastructure, this NDC should have anticipated this hawkish attitude from the npp, waiting to pound on any misstep by the government. They should have expected the descendants of the UP to act this way toward an otherwise excellent program of upgrading and initiating quality infrastructure on a massive scale across the land. This NDC government, which we were made to believe had learned valuable lessons from their previous gig (2009-2016), should not be firefighting accusations of inconsistency, dishonesty and insincerity, not at this time, a bit too early. A word to the wise. NDC, you are warned.
_From now onwards, ndc will have to carry the people along. This is attainable by being transparent in all endeavours-free advise_
Many moons ago, a nice gentleman living in London asked me a question, it may have been in either 2022 or 2023. In a private conversation, he asked, “_Mansa, tell me in a few words, what makes governance good, effective, and efficient?_” I replied with just one word: *TRANSPARENCY.* I explained that, above all else, transparency brings clarity and truthfulness.
Most citizens will accept even the most difficult situations arising from government policies if they have been involved and informed transparently from the very onset. So first of, government should have explained to the nation the need to use sole-sourcing for a selected projects to speed up construction process. They didn’t and now they go explain taya. For obvious reasons I will not disclose the name of that gentleman who is now an MP though he may come to bear me out after reading this. This is not me trying to adopt a “wise after the event” posture, nor am I virtue-signaling tc prove my wisdom.
*Instead of celebrating the Big Push, the NDC is performing firefighting duties. They have themselves to blame.*
This piece aims to highlight avoidable mistakes the NDC government is commiting. While in opposition, the NDC took a principled stand, promising governance based on probity, accountability, and integrity, steeped in transparency and Ghanaians believed them. However, governance is not a passive activity so realities practical governance demand certain radical solutions, however one would have thought that in government, the ndc, this ndc would abide by the style of governance promised to Ghanaians, in both substance and in principle
This is why the potential lack of commitment to probity in awarding contracts avoiding open, competitive sourcing was problematic enough, doing so in secrecy and getting caught and being exposed by the opposition, is diabolic, a worrisome act dishonesty, simply very bad and difficult to defend. It seems no one in cabinet meetings questioned the use of sole sourcing, nor did they consider the potential political repercussions. If, as it appears, no one cautioned against the use of sole sourcing, especially in such a covert manner, failing to apply transparency even when necessity might have dictated otherwise. This is where the wisdom I shared with my friend, who is now an MP, comes in.
*It is okay to be crafty when in government, but not at the expense of potentially loosing public trust.*
If anyone had suggested in cabinet that the government be open about the urgent need to pursue the Big Push Agenda, and that, perhaps, 40 to 50% of contracts would be sole-sourced, we would not be discussing how contracts were awarded today. Today, we as Ghanaians should be encouraging and commending the government’s efforts at providing massive capital investment projects. To this, I say this NDC government deserves whatever discomforting attacks coming from the NPP.
*The _”we are doing less harm than they did,”_ The attempts at whitewashing acts of dishonesty should cease. Stop treating us like fools.*
The Big Push program, if well implemented, will surely push Ghana forward and further into the realms of progressive modernity. Yet, this profound initiative is somehow pulling embarrassment out of the jaws of success. This is happening mainly as a result of falling into that “power obstructs sound reasoning” syndrome. It is a folly, but it is becoming obvious that power is being allowed to become disruptive. It is still unbelievable that no one seems to remind cabinet of the need to adhere to and commit to sound principles. For this, I hold no brief for this NDC government.
*NDC government, you’ve been caught pants down. Own up and do that wrong no more.. _Animguase maakye_*
Reflecting on history, and remembering how Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah suffered at the hands of the UP tradition when he decided to focus on infrastructure, this NDC should have anticipated this hawkish attitude from the npp, waiting to pound on any misstep by the government. They should have expected the descendants of the UP to act this way toward an otherwise excellent program of upgrading and initiating quality infrastructure on a massive scale across the land. This NDC government, which we were made to believe had learned valuable lessons from their previous gig (2009-2016), should not be firefighting accusations of inconsistency, dishonesty and insincerity, not at this time, a bit too early. A word to the wise. NDC, you are warned.
