Indeed president prof. John Evans Attah Mills has performed creditably
well a constitutional duty bestowed upon him by article 67 of the 1992
constitution of the republic of Ghana.I must admit this years state of
the nation address is exceptional since the president took office in
January 2009.The address has indeed highlighted and disapproved the
notion that the Attah mills led government is a non performing
administration.
There have been few "murmurings'' when the address
was been delivered and one will clearly see the obvious disagreement
within the factions who made those noise.
The learned professor
disagreed with those who thought the nation was doing bad but rather
said "the state of the nation is good" comparing the state of the nation
to when he took over from the Kufour led administration and added that
it is "so far much better".
It is clear not to contradict the
prof,because i believe there has been a lot of improvements within the
last one year the Attah mills led government took over and that is not
to say that the Kufour led government did nothing but credit must be
given to who it is due.
Freedom of expression and fair criticism
was among other things i will also agree has improve but i found wisdom
in his advice that it should come or be balanced with responsible
citizenship.
One cannot admit the slow but progressive nature of
this government within the last one year without emphasizing on the
appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against all major currencies in the
world as far as the economy is concerned, and agriculturally, abolishing
the pair trolling practices on our major water bodies,solving the long
over due premix fuel problem for our fisher folks among other
indicators that speak for themselves.
Strikingly indeed is the
fact that the regime in which Napoleon made for himself 50 CENT like
chain as the highest national honor will be replaced with the old
Nkrumah like highest national award.Certainly the old prof. has been
kind indeed not to ask those awarded what used to be the highest award
to return them but to keep them.Could this be an indication of an
African leader with a different?.In an era where most Africa leaders are
either extending their mandate,imposing their choice of candidate on
the majority,leaving for treatment of severe illness without delegating
powers to their vice or dissolving parliament unconstitutionally,Attah
seems totally different,if Napoleon were to be anywhere nearer he will
indeed not be happy.Well done uncle Fifii i only hope you will continue
like this and even "most better" than this by putting all the mouth
watering future plans like the housing projects,decentralization agenda
and many others into action.Indeed go slow but sure!

NATHANIEL MENSAH
Ghana institute of journalism
niiequaye@yahoo.co.uk