As the leader of a small global group of professionals and academics for more than four decades, I am often asked in the USA what I think of the new government in Ghana. I am glad to summarize some ideas but will not put much fanfare around it.

I want to congratulate H.E. John Mahama for his decisive win and use this to warn Ghanaian leaders in general about what we all need to do to save our nation in view of the margin of victory! Ghanaian leaders should never take the youth of Ghana for granted again! In my humble opinion, here are a few hints of the needed job ahead for our new President:

1. Constitution Amendment to allow decentralized elected leadership for towns, districts, and regions for their mutual local development in a formula of alliance with other towns/districts/regions and the nation in cost-sharing of major highways, airports, shipping ports, rivers, and irrigation systems. (See the American Federal example).

2. National Development Plan with standards for healthcare, building & housing codes, and licensing of professionals in the educational, healthcare, and construction industries.

3. National Living Standards Goals to eradicate mosquitoes and reduce malaria deaths by banning open gutters and adopting underground sewage systems. Malaria is reported to kill 100,000 people per year, and we should tackle this problem now!

4. No More Loans until after national representatives discuss openly and agree on loan use and payment strategies.

5. National Standards and mandatory enforcement of annual financial disclosure of all public service elected and appointed executive personnel.

6. Reduce Bank Lending Interest Rates to below 10% for business and personal loans.

• Reduce total port duties and taxes to 15% or less.

• Reduce VAT, NHIL, and other taxes to no more than 10%, and all national budgets to go through open public debate and justification.

Watch as Parliament pays tribute to late Ghanaian boxing legend Clement Ike Quartey Snr