A promise of ‘exciting times ahead’
It’s unfortunate that the plagiarism controversy linked to President Akufo-Addo’s inaugural address somewhat tarnished the extremely inspiring message he delivered at the Independence Square last Saturday, January 7, when he was sworn into office as the fifth President of the Fourth Republic.
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It was a stirring speech whose outlook fully merited President Nana Akufo-Addo’s own conclusion: “I see exciting times ahead.”
It’s also regrettable that the media has given little attention to the very pragmatic acceptance speech the new Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, gave in Parliament House in the early hours of that same day after his election. Among other concerns he highlighted the low representation of women in Parliament, now 35 women MPs-elect, as “very disturbing” and indicated his intention to support measures to correct that.
What was particularly striking in the two addresses were their common threads, notably that Parliament is to become much more vibrant, a Legislature that will exercise diligently its mandated oversight role over the Executive.
Members of Parliament, too, may soon be able to initiate laws; that function will no longer be the preserve of the presidency. President Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party, now has the majority in the 275 House with 169 members against the 106 of the National Democratic Congress now the minority.
The speeches also underscored the determination to keep eagle eyes on the nation’s funds, ensuring value for money and accountability; and to enhance democratic governance.
President Akufo-Addo: “It is time to make sure that we have a true separation of powers between the various arms of government. Our Parliament must grow into its proper role as an effective machinery for accountability and oversight of the Executive and not be its junior partner.”
The Speaker: “The controversy relating to private members bills should be resolved. It is tragic that currently, it appears to us that Members of Parliament cannot initiate legislation independent of the Executive … This should change.
“We learnt the practice from the UK Parliament … But over the years the British Parliament has developed means of allowing private members to introduce legislation. Recent studies I have made show that there are a number of procedures whereby Private Members may initiate bills ….
“The promotion of good governance requires a parliament that can effectively perform the three cardinal functions of representation, oversight regarding the executive and law making. Our ability to control public expenditure will be good service to our people ….
“It cannot be business as usual,” Prof Oquaye said.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that although Ghana is set on an attitudinal change campaign, it should start from individuals, through “our attitudes and practices”. Ghana should now be identified with even higher standards: “We … will not settle for ‘Third World’ or ‘developing world’ standards.”
But probably what resonated most were his pledges to protect state resources, the affirmation of his campaign promise to reduce taxes; and critical support to be given the private sector to boost job-creation.
“We are counting on a vibrant private sector to drive growth and create jobs …We will reduce taxes to recover the momentum of our economy … Ghana is open for business again ….
“We must restore integrity in public life, state coffers are not spoils for the party that wins an election but resources for the country's social and economic development ….
“Money is to be made in the private sector, not the public and measures will be put in place to ensure this ….
“I will call for responsibility and I will live it as well … I see exciting times ahead ….
The plagiarism row arose when it emerged that some paragraphs in President Akufo-Addo’s inaugural speech were quotes by former American presidents, Bill Clinton and George Walker Bush, but used without attribution.
It instantly went viral on the Internet, giving Ghana the wrong kind of international attention instead of the deserved commendation for the exemplary change of government.
Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the presidency, immediately issued a contrite apology:
“I unreservedly apologise … It was a complete oversight and never deliberate. It is insightful to note that in the same speech were quotes from J.B. Danquah, Dr K.A. Busia, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the Bible which were all duly attributed and acknowledged.”
However, there were calls for Arhin’s dismissal from some quarters. The Ghanaian Times of January 10 also reported that the Minority in Parliament has demanded that the President should withdraw the inaugural address from Parliament’s records, which the NPP has rejected.
Others were of the view that Arhin should be pardoned for this ‘first offence’, that everybody deserves a second chance.
The following insight was offered on a Social Media platform:
Copyright laws allow people to use other person’s work 70 years after their death without attribution. These statements were first used by Woodrow Wilson, (the US President 1913 – 1921) who died over 70 years ago. President Bush used it in 2001 without crediting him, so it is not wrong for Akufo-Addo to use same without acknowledging original author. By law it is not plagiarism.
Perhaps Eugene Arhin was not aware of the above as he didn’t mention it in his apology.
The Internet is now awash with ‘fake news’, but on January 9, ‘Asempanews.com’ reported that: “President Akufo-Addo has no plans to dismiss anybody or take disciplinary action” over the matter. “But our source says the President has … verbally (cautioned) Arhin and other members of his communications team.
“It appears this would put the case to rest since the President has no intention of revisiting the matter.”
I fully identify with the importance of giving credit to authors. It is very distressing to have one’s work used without attribution.
However, to those calling for his dismissal, I suggest that there must have been a good reason why the President decided to make Arhin Communications Director despite his alleged lack of formal media training.
And maybe those reasons tie in with a saying submitted on the same Social Media platform cited earlier: When someone does something wrong, don’t forget about all the things they did right.
If the Asempa report is true, perhaps one can conclude that President Akufo-Addo has been guided by the many things Arhin has done right.
But undoubtedly the controversy is a wake-up call to the new administration of the need for constant, comprehensive meticulousness.