The current NDC government, is the last hope for the sustenance of the Fourth Republic. This republic is the longest in Ghana’s history even though it is far from being the perfect. If things are not done right, it may fail and fall.
The First Republic witnessed a system whereby the president through Parliament is the law. It lasted nine years, with amendments as determined only by the president.There was no separation of powers. Powers were invested in the president. For example, on December 11, 1963, the Supreme Court announced a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’ on three CPP members accused of their involvement in the Kulungugu bombing.
Two days after the verdict, Kwame Nkrumah dismissed the Chief Justice and the two other Supreme Court justices on the panel. He rushed a bill through the House of Parliament, which gave him the power, in the national interest, to set aside any judgement in the country’s courts.
The Second Republican Constitution, introduced the country into a parliamentary democracy, which saw some limitations on the prime minister.
The Third Republican Constitution, which to me was the best, introduced separation of powers where no member of Parliament could be appointed in government. The Legislative stood on its own, completely independent of the Executive.
The Fourth Republican Constitution, introduced a hybrid form of governance where members of the Legislative form at least 51% of the Executive’s ministers and deputies. This last constitution was arranged to make the president have a hold on Parliament. With most ministers from the House, non-minister MPs can be made to tow the line of the Executive, in exchange for projects in their constituencies.
In most cases, confusion erupts out of the interpretation of articles in the Constitution and this effectively divides the country, with legal practitioners leading in the clashes among nationals.
All the same, most Ghanaians would prefer the Fourth Constitution to remain till the end of time, with the hope that it can be reviewed with amendments made. These will be the responsibility of politicians, particularly those in government.
One issue that stains all governments of this republic in the issue of corruption. And so, Ghanaians were very glad when H.E. John Mahama introduced Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL).
Unfortunately, ORAL was centred only on the eight-year duration of the past NPP government, targeting its appointees and others who were perceived to be corrupt. Nevertheless, the ORAL team did a lot of good work to arrive at a 52-page document on perceived corrupt practices of the immediate past NPP government.
While, the president is expected to deal with the issues in the document to retrieve about $20 billion for the state, a publication came out, stating that, the Attorney-General had dropped court charges against over seventeen Ghanaians, who were being persecuted during the NPP regime. They included, Dr. Ato Forson, our current finance minister; Collins Dauda, Stephen Opuni and Johnson Asiamah, the new governor of Bank of Ghana.
These were cases in which the NPP intended to recover the loot and discipline people for their gross misconduct.
But why should the NDC quench the flames of such important cases which involved its members? During the Mills/Mahama era, Agbesi Woyome, a financier of the NDC, was accused of stealing GH¢51.2 million ($36.3 million) by claiming money from the state that he never worked for. This was a high-profile crime.
When the case made its way to court during the Mills/Mahama administration, the Attorney-General, dropped the criminal aspect and made it a civil case. Then down along the way, she dropped the charges, so that Woyome could walk free.
It was during the Nana Addo administration, that Woyome started repaying the loot, slowly. At my last check, he still has GH¢37.6 million ($26.6 million) to repay.
Now if the findings in the ORAL report is true, which indeed it could be, for I have no prove to doubt them, it clearly showed that the Nana Addo administration, covered its appointees and others who looted the state of amounts of money that could make us never to visit the IMF.
Nana Addo was at one time called, theclearing agent, who preferred not to take action against any of his appointees less Ghanaians would perceive his administration as a corrupt one. But if indeed that was the case, then it was inappropriate and it showed the lack of courage for the then president, to always maintain his kraal clean.
For decades since the establishment of this country on March 6, 1957, there were many occasions where some of those in government who misconducted themselves were not punished.
Krobo Edusei was a cabinet minister in charge of Industry in Kwame Nkrumah’s government. In April 1962, his lavished lifestyle blew out in the open. There was this famous case of an $8,400.00 worth of golden bed purchased by his wife, Mary. There was his mini-castle mansion called Asante House, in addition, there were indications of Krobo Edusei owning properties in London and Accra worth $1.4 million, while his annual salary was $13,550.00. Kwame Nkrumah immediately fired him from government, but barely five months, on September 3, 1962, Krobo Edusei was back in government and he occupied the cabinet position of Minister of Agriculture. In other words, he was only suspended from government for a few months.
Fast forward to 2009 and in the Mills/Mahama administration. One fine gentleman and MP, Hon Mubarak Muntaka who was the minister of sports, allowed trouble to engulf him in the ministry, was found to have embezzled some funds. He was fired. Sixteen years later, he is put back in government, this time in the cabinet position as Minister of the Interior.
Also, Dr. Ato Forson of the NDC, was in court for some finance malfeasance issues during the NPP regime, but come the NDC, his case was not only dropped; he was given a top cabinet post as the Minister of Finance.
The value is the same,since each political party, when in opposition will not hesitate to throw missiles at government for the least thing done, but when in power, will be seen to do same.
During the last NPP regime, the government was descended upon when issues of sale of state lands, came up. Earlier in the Mills/Mahama’s administration, the late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey of the NPP was taken to court for acquiring state building. The verdict went in favour of Jake.
Then in 2025, during his vetting at the Appointments Committee, Mubarak Muntaka of the NDC, disclosed that he had acquired government land in East Legon, adding that there is nothing wrong for public workers to acquire state lands legitimately. The value is the same.
In 2023, a minister of state, Cecilia Dapaah reported the theft of a million dollars and some hundreds of thousands of other hard currencies by her household staff. Boom! Cecilia was labelled corrupt and before the case could be investigated, she had to resign on July 22, 2023. There is no law which places a limit on amount of money one can keep at home, but Cecilia was labelled as a corrupt woman, to have such amounts of money in her house. Notwithstanding the fact that her husband could earn a lot more than that, from the work he does.
Then in 2025, during his vetting, it came to light thatOkudzetoAblakwa is a tenant in a house in Airport Hills, Accra where rents range between GH¢17,500.00 and GH¢150,276.00 a month. Okudzeto receives GH¢15,000.00 a month as MP. He has an eight-year rental agreement. So, if Okudzeto cannot afford this rent as a public figure, then it could be his wife who is in charge of the rent.
Cecilia’s husband maybe the owner of those huge sums of money kept in their bedroom and Okudzeto’s wife may be in charge of the payment of the rent in Airport Hills. So, the value is the same.
Our 1992 Constitution needs serious review if this Fourth Republic must last centuries, but most importantly, I will suggest that Ghana enters into an era of constructive criticisms. It will help this country grow when governments are criticized constructively, with those in opposition coming out with good suggestions that could help government to achieve results. The current manner in which anything government does is rubbished and everything the opposition says is damned, is not helping.
What always happens is that when in opposition, political parties will do all they can to bring down government, but when in power they will do the same thing. We need to stop this.
In conclusion, may I ask when does a government’s term of office end? Is it after December 7 of the election year or on January 6, the day before swearing-in of a president?
On December 30, 2016, with only seven days left in office, H.E. John Mahama appointed Daniel Yaw Domelevo as Auditor-General. However, today, with the NDC back in office, in a letter dated February 10, 2025, the government of H.E. John Mahama is revoking all appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024, because it says it is not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles. So, what will happen if the NPP comes back and revokes all appointments and recruitments made from January 1, of the election year? Then the value will be the same.
Hon Daniel Dugan
