TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

… By William Sarpong

President J.E.A Mills has disclosed that the NDC Government would insist that the past NPP Administration account for their stewardship as it would also be expected of the NDC when their term of office is over.

President Mills made this pronouncement at a durbar organized for him at Bolgatanga at the end of his two day visit to the Upper East Region. According to President Mills, what is right would always be right and what is wrong would also be wrong, adding that what is right does not suddenly become wrong because there is a change of government.

He indicated that no politician in the country can pretend that they do not know that every government would have to account for its stewardship, maintaining that at the end of every government’s term of office, it is mandatory for it to account to the people what they were able to do with their resources.

“Therefore, Atta Mills and his government will insist that the NPP administration account for their period of stewardship,” he stated. President Mills said, the way they expect to be called upon to account for their stewardship at the end of the NDC administration’s period of office, they would insist the NPP does same.

“Let me say that the fact that a government was booted out of power does not excuse it from failing to account to the people for its stewardship. This is an acceptable law and we would insist to the letter,” he stressed. He however indicated that the NDC government would do this with regard to due process, saying they want to make sure that they applied the rule of law and that at the end of the day, whenever the people give their decision, nobody will have the opportunity to dispute it.

President Mills also hinted that a lot of investors want to come into the country, remarking that he knows that Northern Region is particularly attracting and due to that, the NDC government has set up the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority because they want to fast-track development at the three Northern Regions.

He however noted that there can be no development without peace, but said since his team arrived at Bolga, they have had talks with the opinion leaders of Bawku to try and find out how they can deal with the conflict problems in the area.

The President further disclosed that from the discussion he has had with the opinion leaders so far, he has been left with no doubt that they would want NDC Government not to be involved in the chieftaincy affairs but want the NDC Government to respect the truth.

“I want to assure the parties that Atta Mills and his government will make sure that wherever the truth lies, we would abide by it.”

He therefore told the people of Bolga that they should know that we are all one people and the fact that we belong to different ethnic groups is a matter of choice for we were all born into the ethnic groups and therefore we should take it as a means of our coming together and living peacefully as Ghanaians. President Mills reminded the people that this is time for development, and for progress, but not the time for division, bitterness and strives, adding that it is a time for changing and moving in the right direction. “We would not allow ourselves to be diverted from our course, we will keep on. We would persevere because we know that at the end of the day with your support, hard work, and truthfulness, selflessness and sacrifices, we in Ghana will see a better Ghana. A better Ghana where there would be jobs, a better Ghana where there would be no discrimination, a better Ghana where we would be united and a better Ghana where people can go to sleep in peace.” He stated that even though his government has been in office for just five months, there is an indication that the country would be moving forward in the right direction.

President Mills therefore thanked the Chiefs and people of Bolgatanga for their prayers and support during the 2008 election that has brought NDC to power.