Open Letter To The President Of The Republic Of Ghana � H.E John Dramani Mahama

Accounting is the systematic and comprehensive financial recording pertaining to business or refers to the process of summarizing, analysing and reporting these transactions (www.google.com).

Taking Ghana as a business entity, I personally welcome the idea of the first gentleman of the land, giving accounts of your stewardship in principle. In fact, the tenets of your party (PNDC / NDC) give room for probity and accountability to the citizenry.

Mr President, in the business of administering a country like ours under the fourth republican constitution, there has been 2 terms for NPP(2001-2008) and after you are done this year, NDC would have had four terms (1993-2000)and (2009-2016).

Governments under these regimes control the public purse and take major economic decisions which make or break the economy. Governments across board generate funds by taxes or borrow from domestic and international market to undertake various developmental projects in various constituencies, district, municipal/metropolitan, regional and Ghana as a whole. Therefore, government must be accountable to the citizens of the republic. If I may play the devil’s advocate, projects are financed with the citizenry’s equity or debt supervised by the government of the day.

Mr President, I would like to hear you tell us how the Ghanaian economy was when you took over in 2009 with facts and fingers of the various sectors of the economy and how it grew between 2009 & 2012. Again, tell us about the developmental projects undertaken during the 1st term of NDC (3) under late president H.E. Prof. J.E.A Mills because you were head of the economic management team thus Vice president during this period .

I and many Ghanaians who share similar beliefs want to know how much the NPP government left in terms of liquidity and debt. Also, you have to tell us how much the NDC government under H.E. J.E.A Mills of blessed memory mobilised through taxes and borrowings not forgetting how much was spent on infrastructural development.

Mr President, I and others who share in my opinion, embrace the idea of accounting to the people of Ghana. But we find it prudent to borrow Hon Deputy Minister of the Communications words, “vague, redundant and speculative” because your accounting to the people must move in tandem with an accounting for the money (apologies to Ato Kwamena Dadzie). We would be grateful if you, Mr. President can put the cost to the massive infrastructure development as Dr Omane Edward Boamah, Minister for Communication puts it.

Also government must tell us how much monies have been borrowed in the two separate terms (2009 - 2012 & 2012 - date) and how much we generated from taxes as well as other sources of income. It’s also important we know the cost of printing the green book, how many books were printed and who financed it.

I find it curious why party communicators, party executives and Mr. President will project 2012-2016 as the only period there’s been massive infrastructure development without letting Ghanaians know about 2009-2012 when NDC 3 took over. Does it mean that H.E. Prof Mills did nothing as H.E. John Mahama is reported to have said that NPP government did nothing in Volta Region? If he did, why is H.E. JM ignoring that period and not giving credit where it’s due when H.E. is reported to have said he’s been the luckiest vice president in the world because he was given the room to operate? Or is H.E projecting 2012-2016 just so he can retain power?

In accounting, the principle of full disclosure is important. I believe H.E. and the government printed the green book to tell the good people of Ghana how he and his government have used/managed our purse in giving us those projects in the book. By full disclosure we want to know how much it is costing Ghana to undertake each project in the book. The accountants always say, to every credit there must be a corresponding debit for the accounting entries to be complete.

Mr President, we are grateful and appreciate your gesture to account to us but as a matter of urgency, I feel steps must be taken to address the issues raised.