Oboade Notse King Odaifio Welentsi III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressing the press
Oboade Notse King Odaifio Welentsi III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressing the press

Greater Accra chiefs propose path to progress

The Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has issued a clarion call to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to assemble a team of highly qualified and successful leaders to drive Ghana's change agenda.

The House's statement comes at a critical juncture in Ghana's history, as the country grapples with an economic situation that requires bold and decisive actions to get the economy back on track.

The economic situation is characterised by challenges including high government debt, particularly the energy sector debt, low revenue mobilisation, corruption, high youth unemployment, low wages and salaries, and inefficient state-owned enterprises.

The education sector has its own challenges, one major one being the feeding of students in senior high schools (SHSs).

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It is commendable that to address the situation that nearly entered a crisis state, President Dramani Mahama has, at the National Thanksgiving Service held in Accra last Sunday, asked the Chief of Staff to work with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allocate and evacuate some of the food that is currently held in warehouses in Tema that was imported into the country to address the drought situation that hit the northern parts of the country last year, to feed our students as a stopgap measure.

Indeed, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) had asked for the postponement of schools’ reopening as a result of the lack of food to feed the students. But the GES insisted that schools should reopen on January 3, 2025.

These few issues indicate the enormity of the challenges that confront the economy currently.

The message from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs is a recognition that the country’s economic problems cannot be solved by austerity measures alone.

We note the House's emphasis on national unity and inclusivity.

In a country where political divisions often run deep, the call for diversity and the inclusion of women, youth and minorities in critical areas of public service is a timely reminder that the country’s progress depends on the collective efforts of all its citizens.

As the Nungua Chief, Oboade Notse Odaifio Welentsi III, so eloquently put it, "We must see each other as fellow Ghanaians on the same journey to make this country a better nation for ourselves and our children."

It is on this basis that the Daily Graphic considers the House's statement as highlighting the importance of constructive opposition in the country’s democratic process.

We urge the opposition in Parliament — in this case the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament— and other opposition parties outside Parliament to offer constructive criticism and suggestions and support the government to succeed for the benefit of the larger Ghanaian society.  

Our advice to the government on the other hand is to take criticism in good faith and not to reject good suggestions that can help in the rebuilding efforts just because they came from an opposing party.

We must all recognise that the country's progress depends on the ability of all stakeholders — including the government, the opposition, the governed and all citizens — to work together towards a common goal.

Ghana is currently navigating a critical period in its history, and the statement by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs reminds all of the need for collective action and responsibility.

It is a call that must resonate across party lines, ethnic divisions and geographical boundaries. 

As Ghanaians, we must heed this call and work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and our children.

The Daily Graphic can boldly say that with the background of the first batch of the three ministerial nominees, the President is on course to give the country some of the best human resources to form his Cabinet.

We believe the call by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs will add an impetus for the President to continue to give Ghana the best possible brains that would take the bull by the horns and introduce policies that would help the country surmount its current challenges.

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