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The Africawatch magazine has announced that 18 Ghanaian politicians were graded F in a yet to be announced second Political Performance Index (PPI) for Ghanaian politicians. A statement from the magazine said only one politician scored A with eight others following with A- while nine officials earned a B+. The marking scheme covered the president, his vice, all ministers of state as well as their deputies plus regional ministers. �The index has been greatly expanded this year,� a statement read. �Besides the president and vice president, it will include all ministers of state, as well as deputy ministers and regional ministers. The speaker and all members of Parliament receive a grade, and the index expansion now even covers executives of political parties that have representation in Parliament, as well as presidential candidates. � �A total of 309 politicians were graded� 32 were awarded a B and 25 a B-. Moving down the list, 60 earned a C+, while 59 merited a C and 39 a C-. Near the bottom of the list were 40 politicians who found themselves with a D+ and 18 with a D, leaving an unfortunate 18 with the lowest-possible grade of F. �The PPI gives Ghanaians a dependable way of knowing which officials were working hard on their behalf � and which weren�t. It was an important step in the development of Ghana�s fledgling democracy,� Africawatch editor Steve Mallory said. �The index performs that monitoring duty. It ensures that Ghanaian politicians � entrusted with the destiny of the nation � are no longer allowed to rest on past laurels, mouthing platitudes. The index holds officials accountable to the people who elected them. � �To have a strong and effective democracy in Ghana,� Mallory states, �all aspects of governance in the country must be improved. People must feel that their elected officials truly represent them. This index can be part of that, of making a stronger democracy. � �Everyone is held to the same standards,� Mallory added. �The PPI is an attempt for Ghana to set the bar higher than ever before and encourage the best in the country�s elected officials. �The public scrutiny provided by the Political Performance Index can raise the bar for political officials,� Mallory continues. �They will listen more carefully, try that much harder, and may even lift their own personal and professional standards, which will then improve their political performance. �