Ghana is such a beautiful country, beautiful citizens whose votes can’t be taken for granted. The nation just passed yet another successful election in December 7th 2016 and an Inaugural ceremony in January 7th. The major campaign message of the New Patriotic Party was the incompetency of the NDC to provide jobs, stabilize the nation’s currency and the exchange rate, the higher tax paid by companies, the Dumsor which had crippled our major businesses, caused redundancy and lay off of many workers, the massive corruption and many others.
Now campaign periods are over, the NPP has the mantle now, Ghanaians are looking forward to the NPP taking the nation to that Promised Land not necessarily flowing with milk and honey but the governance that would liberate Ghanaians of their previous economic hardship. Excuses won’t be taken by Ghanaians as reasons to hinder doing A or B, the nation only looks forward towards your abilities as you made it clear to them of your competence in the 2016 general elections; the most reason why the NPP had a vote difference of 1,044,244 in its favor. Ministerial appointments has already taken place and looking at the profile of personalities like Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo and let me quickly chip in this; SENIOR MINISTER Yaw Osafo-Maafo is 75 years old, and has had an exemplary career as a banker, consultant, politician and a statesman. He is a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, an Engineer and Project Analyst by training, and a fellow of the Ghana Institute of Engineers.
He started his career as an engineer at the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO). He went on to head and successfully restructure two major development banks – The Bank for Housing and Construction and The National Investment Bank. He has also worked as a consultant for international development organisations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) amongst others Yaw Osafo-Maafo was a Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda Constituency for 3 terms and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for 4 years from 2001-2005, a period which saw the dramatic turnaround of the Ghanaian economy.
His achievements were recognized internationally in 2001 when he was adjudged the best Finance Minister of the year in Africa by the Banker Magazine, a Financial Times Publication. Along with the Finance Minister of Canada, he was also named the Finance Minister of the Year in November 2001 by the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He served as Minister for Education and Sports from 2005 to 2006, a period which saw the implementation of significant reforms in education and sports sectors, including the introduction of the Capitation Grant. Ghana for the first time qualified for the World Cup following the reforms under his leadership. Ing. Osafo-Maafo has served on the boards of various financial institutions and corporates, and was the past Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the West African Bankers Association.
He was a founding Deputy Chairman of the Ghana Stock Exchange, and was instrumental in setting up Donewell Insurance Company and the Methodist University College Ghana. He also represented the Institute of Engineers at the Consultative Assembly that drew up the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. He is currently the Co-Chairman of the Transition Team, representing His Excellency the President, for the newly elected Government of Ghana.
He is married with four Children (Profile credit: Nana Kwadwo Akwaa/facebook). His appointment is perfect looking at his profile, I would say he is competent enough to execute his assigned duties and functions. However, it isn’t the profile Ghanaians are looking out for and neither is his past experiences and achievements ( they only count in getting this position), the nation is looking out for his capability to do it once more in this administration to make His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo proud and the nation proud as well for giving the NPP the opportunity to rule.
I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate all the appointed ministers and wish them God’s strength and ideas in executing their functions to place the nation at the level that it ought to be. The NPP however should learn from the mistakes of the previous government and always remember that the average Ghanaian is more discerning in terms of political issues and there are more elections coming up in the year 2020 and beyond. The major reason for NPP’s victory in the western region was greatly based on the promise to grant unto the westerners yet another region separated from the western north. To stay positive means the promises needs to be fulfilled and not mere political campaign messages. I believe in the strength of His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo in achieving all the set targets. And I believe as well that, indeed, this is going to be the era of competent governance to economically liberate us all as Ghanaians.