[ 2017-03-20 ]

Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah is a senior research fellow at IEA

Transition challenges due to breakdown of state institutions - Dr Ofori-Mensah «
A senior research fellow of the Institute for
Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah,
has observed that the transition challenges
encountered in 2017 are for the most part a
manifestation of a breakdown of state
institutions.

He has, therefore, stressed the need to urgently
address those transitional challenges as effective
management of political transitions remains
integral part of good governance.

IEA proposal

According to Dr Ofori-Mensah, the IEA has proposed
that the Administrator-General should submit
periodic (narrative and financial) reports to
Parliament to enhance the transition process in
Ghana.

He also called for the introduction of subsidiary
legislation that outlines the finer details
relating to the Administrator-General’s role and
the Presidential Estates Unit’s (PEU’s)
mandate.

The proposed regulations, Dr Ofori-Mensah stated,
should also empower the Administrator-General to
surcharge public officials for damaged or missing
state assets.

Accountability

He explained that that would help to ensure
accountability in the use of state assets.

The IEA, Dr Ofori-Mensah said, also recommended
that the government should block the sale of state
assets to outgoing and retiring officials and
introduce “midnight” law to address issues of
last-minute appointments, contracts and policies.

Background

According to Dr Ofori-Mensah, the Presidential
(Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845) is an initiative
of the IEA and the Ghana Political Parties
Programme (GPPP).

He said the law emerged in response to the past
transition challenges, which deepened political
polarisation and led to tension in Ghana’s body
politic. As a result, Dr Ofori-Mensah said the
Presidential (Transition) Act provided a framework
for the political transfer of power from one
democratically elected President to another, with
the aim of ensuring the transition challenges of
2001 and 2009 were not repeated.

Regime change

He observed that while the transition law
attempted to address a range of issues identified
in previous transitions, its benefits transcended
regime change, since accountability remained the
centrepiece of the law.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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