Download PDF - Institute of Economic Affairs Ghana

can face the NPP because I haven't served with them. I can
challenge them.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom served with them and maybe they may have
some issues that he wouldn't want to talk about. I have nothing to
hide because I didn't serve with them. So I honestly thought that I
was the candidate to face the NPP. It didn't happen that way and I
didn't argue with it and I didn't quarrel. But when my party
rejected it, I went along with the party because always I tell people
I have lasted this long as the leader of the party because I know
what they want. But people think I am difficult, if I am difficult I
am difficult on their behalf not on my personal behalf.
Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, School of Communication Studies,
University of Ghana:
Dr Mahama I was really glad to hear you put corruption at the top
of your agenda because we all know the devastating impact of
corruption. But I am interested in a little bit more detail.
You talked about some of the measures – the Whistle Blowers Act;
but it has already been passed and I am wondering what it is about
the Whistle Blowers Act that you will do differently. You talked
about under-invoicing and there is the Procurement Act also that
has been passed. I am wondering if you have in mind some
changes to that Act. You talked about the Freedom of Information
Bill. That bill is being drafted as you know and I am wondering
some specific things that you will like to see in that bill.
But most substantially, I am interested in knowing your stand on
the assets declaration regime of Ghana because we all know that
is one of the more problematic anti-corruption measures that is
not properly constituted in Ghana and not been properly
implemented. So I am interested in knowing your thoughts on how
you will change the assets declaration to be more receptive to the
anti-corruption intent that it was meant for and also whether you
will declare your assets even before you become President.
15
Dr. Mahama:
I think the assets declaration is an easy thing for me because I was
just saying before you came in that I have done it before. When I
was a board member of the Department of Health of the City of
Chicago I was required to declare my assets.
Ghana has all the laws that we really need to run a clean,
transparent and accountable government; but it is a question of
implementation. You talked about whether I will do anything
differently about the laws. Usually it is not good to start tinkering
because they have not been tested. If they have been passed let's
see how they are implemented. After implementation it is then
possible to see where the loopholes are and tighten them. We are
not going to leave it for 10 years. We will look at it a year or two
after years of implementation and see whether it is meeting the
aspirations of the people of Ghana.
Dr. Gadzekpo:
Will you declare your assets
Dr. Mahama
Oh definitely; that is what I said is not a problem for me. I don't
have too much, so it is easy for me to declare.
Mr Ernest Owusu Aboagye, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana:
Dr Mahama, I want to know how you plan to empower the
pharmaceutical sector as a critical agent in the golden age of
increased productivity and what do you see as the sector's role in
developing a herbal-based pharmaceutical science in Ghana
Dr. Mahama:
To increase productivity, we must also favour our local
manufacturers because of the unbridled importation of drugs,
some of which are sub-standard. And unfortunately for us because
of the poverty level in Ghana, people consider price and not
quality. They buy the cheapest thing not caring very much whether
16