Whilst commending the Government for organizing a program to account for its stewardship, the Honourable Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has posited that it was arrogant on the part of the Vice President, Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia to grade the deliverance of his government’s campaigns at 78%.
In an interview on the Happy Morning Show aired on Happy 98.9FM, he explained his position by stating: If you make promises and come into government, it is not a bad idea to account for your stewardship. It is a universal concept where all parties are involved as well as democratic countries around the world. What is quite arrogant is that you mark yourself and give yourself 78%, giving yourself an A”.
READ MORE: Okudzeto describes Bawumia’s posture at Town Hall Meeting as arrogant
He illustrated Dr.Bawumia’s stance at the town hall meeting by stating that “It is just like a student who sets his own questions, marks his own answers and grades himself”.
In his submission, he noted that such an approach to assessing one’s achievement in governance is “novel”. “That is not what usually happens. That does not bring credibility. It portrays arrogance and desperation in a way that you feel that if you don’t quickly mark yourself and an independent assesses you, it won’t go well. This means you have a certain fear and that has moved you to mark yourself”, he added.
He disclosed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will very soon put out a work with their substantive response. “And Ghanaians will know that even the claim of 388 promises are not true .There are more promises than that and the self-mark of 78% is not possible as compared to IMANI’s mark”, he added.
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He, however, proposed that the best way the incumbent government could attain a credible assessment was to lay bare their promises and what they have achieved out of their promises. Then, they leave the judgement to the people or independent assessors. “If it was an independent institution accessing you at 78%, that will carry more weight”’ he said.
The Town Hall Meeting
The Town Hall Meeting was the first ever Government Town Hall meeting that took place at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. The event which was themed: ‘Demonstrating Fulfillment of Our Promises’ outlined the Government’s achievements in three (3) years.
The Vice President in speech at the Town Hall Meeting disclosed that the Government has fulfilled 78% percent of its 2016 Manifesto promises. This ranks higher compared to the 72% grading by IMANI Africa.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah