Most presidents usually use the first two years in office to get to know the ropes properly. President Mills is no exception.

In Ghana, where MOST citizens ( about 80% ) still secretly accept corrupt practices as the NORM, serious and honest presidents need more than two years to settle and implement meaningful and sustainable development projects.

All Ghanaians, irrespective of our political affiliation ( NDC, NPP, CPP etc ) should realize that no president can be effective if we do not change our attitude of trying to justify corrupt activities undertaken by members in our own parties.

There are many examples to show clearly that NDC members, who point out suspicious corrupt activities among their colleagues are threatened to SHUT UP. Failure to comply with the request often results in an attempt by the PARTY EXECUTIVE to soil the reputation of the whistle blower.

There are also many examples to indicate the NPP does not tolerate INSIDE CRITICISMS. Direct personal attacks are quickly launched against the whistle blowers. In some cases the critics are labeled as MENTALLY UNSOUND.

Many of these critics should rather be seen as the TRUE PATRIOTS of the party. They should be considered as heroes, who try to steer the party members away from selfish activities. Apparently, these critics have deep understanding of Social Justice. They really care about the welfare of the average Ghanaian Citizen.

There are many NDC members, who have amassed wealth through corrupt means and are now filthy rich. If our judiciary system had been working as it should, these white collar CRIMINALS should be in jail. However, they are parading as patriotic Ghanaians and criticizing others of being corrupt. God help us !!!

The same situation exists in the camp of NPP. Most Ghanaians know high level NPP members, who used dubious means during their time in power to enrich themselves and their relatives at the expense of the ordinary poor citizens. If true justice prevailed in our system, they should also be languishing in jail. However, they have been set free on technical legal grounds. They are now preaching to others about how to govern properly and honestly. God help us !!!

Hopefully as our democracy becomes mature, the appointment of judges, magistrates and other significant legal personnel will be based mainly on MERIT and not on political affiliation or political convenience of the party in power.

Ever since President Mills was sworn in - January 2009, there have been too many DISTRACTIONS to allow his administration to concentrate on matters of real practical

importance to the ordinary Ghanaian citizen.

These distractions were generated not only by his political opponents but also by his own NDC members, who were expecting political appointments that they did not get.

Other NDC members expected President Mills to use the AFRICAN STRONGMAN method of Justice ( Buga Buga bullying ) to jail all members of the previous NPP administration who were suspected of stealing state property through improper channels. Thank God that President Mills was and is still level-headed enough to avoid the "buga-buga" method to interfere in the Judiciary system. We are all aware that providing EVIDENCE in Ghana and other developing countries is one of the most difficult tasks on this planet ( Earth - especially in Africa ). Hopefully the Ghanaian voter still has the option to get rid of corrupt politicians at the pools. This is one area in which the Ghanaian attitude MUST change if real development and justice will prevail in our motherland Ghana. Let us start voting for HONEST and HUMBLE politicians who truly believe in social justice. Let us stop voting for CROOKS, who use money stolen from our own resource as well as from foreign suspicious fraudulent business operators to BUY OUR VOTES.

President Mills' GREATEST DISTRACTION so far was the NDC's process of nominating a candidate to contest the 2012 Presidential Election. If he had lost the nomination, he would have become a completely LAME PRESIDENT.

Allegations made against the President during the nomination campaign were just ridiculous. Attempts were made to soil the reputation of the President. Imagine the headline : "PRESIDENT MILLS IS ACCUSED OF STEALING OIL MONEY". How can one expect a President to have the peace of mind to concentrate on his agenda when statements similar to the above are being thrown all over the place?

Now that the nomination process has been settled decisively by a vote of 96.9% to 3.1% , President Mills should spend the remaining 18 months of his first term in office to pursue issues, which will encourage the true patriotic voters to give him the chance of a second term to complete his agenda.

What about dealing with the obscene practice of giving outrageous ESB (End of Service Bonus ) to politicians. This so-called "ex- gratia awards" should be adjusted DOWNWARD immediately. Both the Rawlings and Kufuor Goverments wholeheartedly supported this award.

I fully agree with Dr. Michael Bokor when he questions :

"WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE POLITICIANS IN PARLIAMENT OR THE

EXECUTIVE THAT ENTITLES THEM TO EX-GRATIA AWARDS BUT WHICH

THE GOVERNMENT DOES'NT DEEM TO BE APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC-SECTOR WORKERS AS WELL ?"

My suggestion to give President Mills a SECOND TERM in office is not based on the assumption that everything has been running smoothly since he took office. Some of his appointees are fully engaged in the "AFRICAN POLITICIANS' GAME" of illegally amassing wealth from all available sources ( depleting the national coffers, awarding non productive contracts just for the sake of collecting KICKBACKS etc. ). Technically we know that the president can be held responsible for these activities. Practically we know that it is impossible for a single person ( the President ) to know of all these activities. This is one area that the individual Ghanaian must change his/her ATTITUDE. Self discipline is crucial. Whatever your position is in your workplace, work diligently and honestly. If you are not satisfied with your wages, let your employer know. Supplementing your income with bribes is NOT the right step. Form powerful trade unions to negotiate living wages with your employer. Vote for people who care about the welfare of ordinary workers even when they do not belong to your own party. Vote for advocates of SOCIAL JUSTICE. Support honest whistle blowers in your own party. Do not allow the executive to harass these true patriots.

I strongly believe that change in Presidency in 2012 will not be in the best interest of the country. We need a President with certain qualities to stabilize conditions for the benefit of the ordinary citizen. President Mills has these sterling qualities. He may not be successful in bringing about a significant change in four years but definitely he will be able to implement some dramatic changes in eight years.

Rating African Leader in January 2011, President Mills was highly placed.

The rating was based on:

".RESPECT DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES, STIMULATE BUSINESS GROWTH, UNDERTAKE EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGAMMES TO LIFT THEIR POPULATIONS OUT OF POVERTYAND REFRAIN FROM PROVOCATIVE OR WARLIKE ACTIONS. THESE OUTSTANDING FEW LEADERS TEND TO BE BRILLIANTLY EDUCATED, HAVE STERLING CREDENTIALS ONE WOULD EXPECT OF WORLD LEADERS AND CAN USE DIPLOMATIC CHARM . )

Find below the first five leaders and the last three. For readers, who are interested in the FULL list, it is available in the Archives Section of Ghana web (Friday,21 January 2011).

1. Sir Anerood Jugnauth Mauritius 83.54 A+

2. Pedro Pires Cape Verde 78.91 A

3. Ian Khama Botswana 78.7 A

4. John Atta Mills Ghana 72.56 A

5. Hifikepunye Pohamba Namibia 71.07 A-

?

50. Teodoro Mbasogo Eq. Guinea 20. 72 Morgue

51. Omar Al-Bashir Sudan 15.67 Morgue

52. Isaias Afwerki Eritrea 12.14 Morgue

Let us all examine our personal and business activities critically to determine whether we are contributing to the development of our Motherland Ghana or we are part of the group engaged in drawing the country backward. Let us all hold ourselves to a little higher standard than our legal system demands. Let us not point accusatory fingers only at our politicians whilst we are busily involved in corrupt activities in our daily lives and use the excuse - everyone is doing it. This excuse is UNACCEPTABLE !!!

GOD BLESS GHANA !!!

Lsam@compusmart.ab.ca