*18 August 2011*

*Regrets*

Following the controversy surrounding certain comments I passed about a member of the ruling NDC on my private facebook page, in response to accusations that had been made about IMANI Center for Policy & Education in the mass media, I have consulted with professional colleagues, friends and family, and concluded that the best thing for me to do is to express my unqualified regrets for the benefit of Mr. Felix Ofosu Kwakye and anyone else who may have been offended by my choice of words.

I need however to also clarify that I maintain two accounts on facebook, a private page and a public one. And in keeping with the conventions associated with the use of facebook (https://www.facebook.com/terms.php), I have always considered exchanges on my private facebook page as limited to informal interactions with a closed private circle.

Notwithstanding the fact that I have always held myself to the same standards in private and in public, the informality and spontaneity of facebook mean that most comments are not premeditated. I hope that any uncharitable words I may have used in connection with this matter will not be construed to mean that I have a low opinion of anyone, least of all members of political parties or public institutions.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Franklin Cudjoe

Executive Director, IMANI

*RECENT CONTROVERSY INVOLVING IMANI - GHANA*

Our attention has been drawn to a public controversy surrounding comments made by the Executive Director of IMANI, Mr. Franklin Cudjoe in a private electronic forum, in reference to a member of the National Democratic Congress.

On behalf of the Trustees and Fellows of IMANI Center for Policy Education (IMANI), I would like to assure the general public that the organisation’s Board of Trustees treats this matter very seriously.

We conclude that insofar as these comments have now appeared in the public domain and a fair number of Ghanaians appear to have taken offence, it is important to issue a public statement of regret on behalf of IMANI, in particular also because the discussion now appears to be focussed on IMANI as an institution.

Mr. Cudjoe has acknowledged to us that these comments were made in spontaneous reaction to what was manifestly an uncharitable, and unfounded, allegation against the character and track record of IMANI. He was driven by passionate concern for the image of IMANI. In the circumstances he overreacted.

We hold the view that it would have been best were these comments not made at all. But we accept his explanation that he had no intention to subject Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu to public opprobrium or to reduce his stature in the eyes of members of the public. In the circumstances, this is what has, unfortunately, happened.

We are therefore taking this step to state our regrets on IMANI’s behalf to the general public. Per the regulations of the Ghana Social Welfare Department and the 1963 Companies Code, which collectively govern the conduct of civil society institutions like ours, there is a presumption that senior officers of incorporated bodies shall aim to work in accordance with the norms of our society which at all times encourage courteous and charitable communication, even in the heat of disagreement.

In view of Mr. Cudjoe’s determination to prevent this matter from blotting IMANI’s impeccable reputation, I would like to reaffirm the strong confidence the Board of Trustees has in his leadership.

He has led this organisation over the course of the last 7 years, during which period it has climbed up the international rankings to the present situation where it is considered one of the world’s 20 most innovative think tanks, according to a study by the United Nations University and the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. In 2009, the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine ranked IMANI amongst the top 5 most influential think tanks in Africa. Perhaps, in recognition of these feats, the World Economic Forum awarded Franklin Cudjoe with one of its most prestigious fellowships in 2010, a honour that has been reserved over the years only for the likes of the Founders of Google, DataBank, and former world leaders like the Rt. Honourable Tony Blair.

IMANI is committed to the promotion of the philosophy of free markets, independent & competent national institutions, and human dignity & freedom, within the context of a democratic and peaceful society. It seeks the views of experts and mines the literature on a broad range of expert opinions that can advance these ideals and then share these findings with the media and the general public, in a language free of obscuring jargon and sectional prejudice, thereby contributing to informed debate and the democratic tradition.

IMANI would like to reassure all political parties that it treats their popular mandate with the greatest of respect. Whilst the tenets of the organisation make it non-partisan, and even though this prevents it from directly collaborating with any political party, it is always happy to make available its public interest research whenever such material may prove useful to decision makers in Ghana and beyond.

Based on its ideals and objective inquiries, IMANI develops long-term positions on a broad range of subjects. In Ghana, some of these subjects include: “social intervention programs” like the LEAP, the eZwich national payments platform, the issue of national identity management, and national affordable housing schemes.

Because it is not an academic research institute, required to produce specialist material, it can search across a wide range of sources for the best evidence of expert consensus on critical issues affecting the growth and prosperity of developing nations like Ghana. It actively seeks to influence government policy, and has engaged, in an atmosphere of respect and tolerance, with many government institutions since its founding in 2004. This country clearly needs an institution like IMANI to fill a critical niche and to close a worrying gap in national discourse.

We are happy that the management of IMANI, under the capable leadership of Franklin Cudjoe, are resolved now more than ever to contribute to the uplifting of public debate in Ghana and to impact the quality of national decision-making.

God bless Ghana.

Yours faithfully,

Sam Poku

Chairman, Board of Trustees

Contact: Marianne@imanighana.org