President and Chairman of Groupe Nduom (GN), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has noted that inclusiveness in governance is important for any administration.
To this end, he urged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stretch forth its arms to allow more competent Ghanaians into its administration.
According to him, an all-inclusive society or administration is where people are made to feel welcomed and comfortable, regardless of their religious, political, ethnic or place of origin.
Dr. Nduom said this on his weekly current affairs programme, Ghana, Great and Strong, which is broadcast live on all GN Media networks every Saturday from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm.
It was on the theme: “Inclusiveness, Is It A Reality, Or A Dream?”
In his opinion, inclusiveness allows for an administration to harness the minds and hearts and resources of all its citizens other than members of a ruling political party.
Dr. Nduom’s observations come on the heels of the recent appointment of the 2016 flag-bearer of People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Nasigri Mahama, as Ambassador at Large, by the Akufo-Addo administration, which appointment has attracted some form of bashing from the hierarchy of the PNC.
He contended that since all the political parties during the 2016 electioneering campaign promised all-inclusive government, including the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), there was nothing wrong with Dr. Mahama’s appointment.
The one important difficult point, he said, was the fact that Dr. Mahama did not see it important to inform or seek the blessing of the PNC party that he has led for several years.
For instance, Dr. Nduom recalled that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) promised to tap into the ideas of other political parties to develop the country.
He also recounted that the PPP in both the 2012 and 2016 polls said they believed in the Ghanaian excellence and prosperity and that they would create an inclusive society.
“So everybody knows that every now and then, some people find it necessary to come together for the purpose of winning election, and also for the purpose of governance,” he said.
He recalled that the CPP assisted former President Kufuor to win the 2000 elections during the second round.
And as a result of that, he said, he and others like Professor Hagan, and the late Kojo Armah were called to serve in Kufuor’s government.
He recalled that in his own case, in January 2001, when he was invited by former President Kufuor to serve the country through administration, he informed the CPP.
The then Chairman of the CPP, the late Professor Alhassan, in turn took the matter to the Party’s Central Committee and got it approved.
Unfortunately, members of the CPP later criticised him and some have till today not forgiven him for accepting that appointment.
“I took some bashing from both the CPP and the NPP, and even some people have still not forgiven me for accepting the offer no matter what I said that I wanted to work for Ghana and not for the NPP or CPP,” he said.
He indicated that one of the reasons for the formation of the PPP was to advance the cause of inclusiveness in Ghanaian society.
He explained that it is not only appointments by the President for people to become ministers of state or chief executive officers that are important. Our people should not also wait for such appointments before they offer their contributions to the development of the country. But it is important for the ruling administration to make sure there is abundant opportunity for everyone to contribute to national development and not just to party members.
According to him, currently, there is no inclusiveness in terms of structure, form or shape in this current NPP administration.
Nevertheless, he expressed the hope that their actions and aspirations would foster inclusiveness in business opportunity and other areas of national life.
“I hope so because I want the best for Ghana in terms of development but I find it difficult to see inclusiveness in this administration so far which is something we must deal with,” Dr. Nduom urged.
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