CDD-Ghana co-founder against the appointment of fresh graduates as ministers

Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, the current Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the John Agyekum Kuffour Foundation(JAK Foundation ) is kicking against the appointment of fresh graduates into key ministerial positions.

This, the Co-founder, CDD-Ghana observed will not inure to the country's benefit as the appointees lack the requisite experience and expertise to sanction the desired requirements.

He believes that it will not be proper for inexperienced graduates to promulgate laws in which they may lack the technical know-how to determine the scope and validity but would expect that citizens abide by same.

The United Nations Senior Governance Advisor with UNDP, Tanzania, and UNMIL, Liberia made the remarks in a statement at the 18th Annual 'Kronti ne Akwamu' Democratic and Governance Public Lecture at its Silver Jubilee Edition.

Themed, "In Conversation with CDD-Ghana:25 Years of Promoting Democracy, Good Governance and Inclusive Development, the Associate Executive Director was of a strong view that a new paradigm shift where democracy is brought to the doorstep of the district assemblies to groom leaders should be resorted to.

The renowned publisher bemoaned the fact that many untested people are given prominent political positions in the country which he stressed is not helping matters.

Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah maintained that the lack of experience and expertise in service is eroding the trust in public institutions and missing transparency due to the continual failure of policies in the country's body politics.

He further revealed that institutions are as strong and good as their leaders adding, "So leadership, leadership, and leadership is what I have been calling for".

"... of course, I have been calling for a review for a review of the 1992 Republican Constitution but I can now be happy that parliament has taken the initiative to form the Consultative Committee(CC) and that's why I appeal to Civil Society groups to throw their support behind them so that this can trigger the involvement of the executive and other stakeholders to ensure that views are conducted to have a strong constitution", he further submitted.

The Professor strongly believes that the time has come to revise strategy owing that young people are getting restless in search of decent employment avenues.

Given that he opined, "This calls for a better management of the economy and utilization of the country's resources.

Asked if democracy had failed the nation, he however was sharp to respond in the negative indicating, "It is failing if the human agency or political leadership do not take steps to improve the economy.

Governance, he reiterated, must be taken to the grassroots level for the tenets to be learned. 

Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair for the Ghana Center for Democratic Development and the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University of Ghana chronicled the achievement of CDD-Ghana.

According to her, the contributions of civil society organizations(CSOs) such as CDD-Ghana can never be overemphasized in shaping what is being practiced as democracy both in Ghana and the sub-region.

Being just five years behind Ghana's democracy, its footprint can be seen in several initiatives including the formation of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers(CODEO) to ensure the success of elections, training sessions for parliamentarians amongst others and still helping to reshape Ghana's democracy.

Meanwhile, outlining plans for the future of CDD-Ghana, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director, CDD-Ghana was optimistic that the Center's move to vigorously pursue the needed education for "local fundraising" to support the financial needs of the Center, will yield good results.

Additionally, he said initiatives to be pursued by the Center were at the chest of the Board and therefore could not be disclosed. 

He however said an understanding and corresponding support from Ghana will serve a greater good for the Center and the country at large.