Open letter to President-Elect Atta Mills

Dear Mr. President-Elect:

Congratulations on your election as the president of Ghana. You earned the presidency the right way; by appealing to the good sense and better angels of all Ghanaians instead of our prejudices and fears. Now the real work begins. Solving Ghana’s enormous economic challenges will require an all hands on deck approach. Now more than ever before, all inclusiveness should mean more than a slogan.

It should mean reaching out of your comfort zone and tapping the best Ghanaian minds wherever you can find them: NPP, CPP, PNC, DFP etc. This should be a genuine effort and not a cosmetic one. PNC’s Dr.Mahama should play a prominent role. He is a fine man and a patriot. He would make a fine addition to any cabinet. So should Dr.Nduom. Nduom is exceptionally competent and still has a role to play in our national life. Even your opponent for the presidency, Nana Dankwa Akuffo-Addo is an asset to the nation. Please don’t ostracize him. His is a fine mind full of bold ideas and vision.NPP’s Kwame Pianim as well as many genuinely patriotic and competent Ghanaians who are NPP members should also play a role in your government.

Your first order of business, Mr. President-Elect, should be to unite the country. Our country is deeply polarized along ethnic and political lines. Ghana, Mr. President-Elect, is aching for unity. I suggest that your first trip outside of Accra should be to the Ashanti and Volta Regions. Please assure Asantes and Ewes that we are one people. That we will all have a place at the table. That our differences don’t make us enemies. We are one family. There is not an Ashanti Ghana. Nor is there an Ewe Ghana. There is the republic of Ghana.

Finally, Mr. President-Elect, please treat Mr.Kufuor and his administration fairly. Don’t embark on a witch hunting spree. Accord him all the respect and courtesies due a former president. Do not withdraw his courtesies and privileges under any circumstances. If you do, it would come back to haunt your government. Do not also ask senior civil servants and chief directors allied to the present government to proceed on leave wantonly. Ghana needs their expertise too. Let them serve Ghana. Thank You.

I wish you all the best in your turn as the captain of the ship of state. Sincerely,

Leonard Quarshie leoghana@yahoo.com