<<Print>>

His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has once again demonstrated beyond doubt his love and care for Ghanaians and his commitment to ensuring the economic growth of this nation. In his desire to ensure the economic integrity of the country, even at the risk of losing elections, President Mahama stuck to his guns and refused to accede to demands and pressure from workers to increase wages and salaries which would have thrown the country’s budget and economic gains out of gear.

He rather followed the laid-down principles in salary negotiations and after close to six months of negotiations between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and labour groups, he has adjusted workers’ base salaries by 12.5 percent. 

This decisiveness shown by President Mahama is unprecedented in this country since 1992 when the nation returned to democratic governance. Since 1992, election years have seen deficits widening as a result of uncontrolled spending by the sitting government; the Cedi going on a roller-coaster ride; and all economic gains chalked in previous years being eroded. This has always meant that the nation comes to ground zero after every election year. However, under President Mahama’s watch, and for the very first time since 1992, this election year has seen the Cedi stabilized, deficit curtailed, and even inflation fall. Projections of a 7 percent GDP growth in 2017 shows clearly the good work done by President Mahama and his government. 


For us, this is commendable and worthy of emulation by all successive governments. We recall how prior to the 2008 general elections, fuel prices were reviewed downward, hardened criminals freed from prisons, and other populist measures taken all in a bid to gain favours from the public for the then government. We believe if President Mahama was power-drunk and bent on hanging on to power, he would have given in to all the demands of organized labour, teacher trainees and nurses, and other interest groups. Posterity would, indeed, be kind to this gentleman whose belief in equality and fair play is beyond equivocation. 

Whilst at it, we, the leadership of Young Cadres would also want to congratulate the President for his firmness in appointing two heads of two state institutions as stipulated by the Constitution. Indeed, President Mahama’s appointment of the heads of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) demonstrates clearly that he understands and follows both the letter and spirit of the Constitution. He has shown, by this act that he is President of this country until the morning of January 7th, 2017 when he hands over to the president-elect. 

We would not want to engage in politics of equalization and remind all those calling for the head of President Mahama because he has simply done what the Constitution demands of him. But we have not forgotten how, with a stroke of a pen, appointments were made to state institutions like COCOBOD by President Kuffuor on the night of 6th January 2009; how President Kuffuor appended his signature to the humongous Single Spine Salary Scheme in his very last days in January 2009; and how a large number of judgement debts claimed by known New Patriotic Party (NPP) businessmen were paid eight hours to President Kuffuor’s exit from power.   

Nation-building is a process and the commitment of all governments is important in ensuring continuity in development for the nation. President Mahama has done a yeoman’s job by building a solid infrastructure and economic base whilst, at the same time, ensuring the integrity of the economy for his successor. We hope the incoming government will take up from where President Mahama left off and continue to build this country. 

We salute you Mr. President, you have been a blessing to Mother Ghana. God bless you. 

Signed: 
Bright Botchway 
General Secretary 
YCA 
(0249999145) 

Mubarak Watara 
PRO 
YCA 
(0244753143)