Ghana,Ghana, AA stepstep closercloser towardstowards Jerry John Rawlings, democracydemocracy inin AfricaAfrica a president who left an indelible mark on ON 3RD JANUARY 2009, THE FLAGS OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) FLOATED IN THE WIND TO CELEBRATE the country THE VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY. JOHN EVANS ATTA-MILLS IS THE SUCCESSOR TO JOHN KUFUOR, MARKING THE END OF EIGHT YEARS IN POWER OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP) OF JOHN KUFUOR. TODAY, GHANA IS AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WHICH HAVE FAILED THE DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION. IT TOOK, HOWEVER, TWO COUPS D’ÉTAT IN 1972 AND 1981, IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE TRULY INSTALLED IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF FORMER PRESIDENT JERRY RAWLINGS. The opposition candidate, John Evans Atta-Mills is the new president © JJ Rawlings Archival Library JOHN EVANS ATTA-MILLS TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2009, AT THE AGE OF SIXTY-FOUR YEARS. Born in 1947, JJ Rawlings was the head of Ghana from 1981 to 2001. ■ This is the second time in ten years that a head of state elec- The currency has devaluated in ted in Ghana transfers power to the opposition after an election. recent years; the implementation of In 1981, when he assumed the Elected with 50.23% of the vote, Mills won the presidency of the costly campaign promises will be a presidency of the state, the country country on his third attempt. A lawyer by profession and profes- delicate exercise in dealing with was in a very difficult economic period. sor at the University, his political journey was accomplished in international financial institutions There was high inflation, insufficient large part alongside former President Rawlings, to whom he was whose help is indispensable. exploitation of natural resources and battered public finances. He managed Vice President between 1997 and 2000. to win the good graces of the IMF and At the head of a nation split in two, major economic and H. E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills, implemented a vast comprehensive political projects now rest in his hands. President of the Republic of Ghana program of economic reforms from 1983-1984. Elected President of Ghana for the second time in January 1993, Rawlings announced the Fourth Republic. The view of the Minister of Finance, The political climate remained unstable and considerably worsened in 1994, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor following serious ethnic conflicts that threatened the authority of power. The Fiscal and monetary policy Meanwhile, the World Bank has granted Jerry Rawlings was forced to promise the country $535 million USD for general the holding of new elections. It took burden Faced with a banking sector opened too budget support, the transportation sec- place at the end of 1996 and of oil much and too early by the former govern- Mr. Kwabena Duffuor, tor (“Infrastructure is our major cons- consolidated the influence of the For years, the ment, K. Duffuor implements an austerity Minister of Finances traint," says K. Duffuor) and governance of strongman of the country: he was health of the budget in order to cope with growing in- natural and environmental resources. comfortably re-elected to the presidency, economy of Ghana was crucially depen- flation and slow the free fall of the Ghana his party, the National Democratic dant on the production of gold and cocoa. cedi against major foreign currencies. According to Dr. Duffuor, the inflow will Congress, retained an absolute majority In 2007, oil was discovered (West Cape He undertook to reduce the current bud- increase significantly the level of reser- in the Assembly. Three Points and Deepwater Tano) get deficit of 15% of GDP to 9% at the ves of the country, strengthen the cedi In December 2000, in accordance with this could help accelerate economic end of 2009. "The release of this figure is in and increase confidence in the economy. the Constitution that was ratified, he development. Indeed, its total income no way linked to the existence of a pro- It will also allow better funding of the could not present himself for the will increase, as revenue from oil gram with the IMF and does not depend on budget from external sources, thus redu- presidential elections. Marking the first will subsequently impact the next any conditions," says K. Duffuor. cing the domestic debt of government peaceful transition in Ghana, this and inflationary expectations. election saw the victory of the budget. The support of the opposition represented by John Kufuor The first phase of production of crude oil International Monetary Fund Development sectors and the versus the Vice President and protégé in Ghana, estimated at 120,000 barrels / In July 2009, the IMF Executive Board has use of oil revenues: of Jerry Rawlings, John Evans Atta-Mills. day, should start in the first quarter of granted a first loan of $597 million USD Improved infrastructure is essential be- These fifteen years of power were a 2010. However, the oil itself will not be to support the balance of payments and cause Ghana does lack roads in good pivotal period for the country. A true the only real financial benefit. One of the another $425 million USD to support the condition. Similarly, education, health and economic revival was established intentions of oil production is to reduce external reserves. This amount is "the lar- employment are three areas where the through the leadership of Rawlings who costs in the energy sector in order to gest funding granted in Africa," declared government wants to invest to improve converted to a market economy with increase Ghana’s exports. the help of financial institutions. Mr. Duffuor. the living standards of Ghanaians. This strategy participated largely to the political change. Emblematic symbol and moral authority, Ghana remains an exception within Rawlings has a large support from Sub-Saharan Africa because it continues Ghana at a glance Ghanaians because he never lost touch to experience political alternations without major clashes or ethnic tension. Capital Accra with voters in his country. As a true The recent visit of President Obama to Land area, (in thousands km) 239 km2 leader, he feels strongly and expresses Accra highlighted this peculiarity by the disappointment of activists of the referring to Ghana as the example to Population (2009) 23 487 019 National Democratic Congress, who follow for other African nations. The GDP per capita (2007) 306 World Ranking: 103/231 expecting rapid change instead noticed American president, wanted to highlight Life expectancy (2007) 49, 8% this great Ghanaian exception which Illiteracy rate (2007) 21, 1% things were moving slower than they according to him, justified his presence. might have wished, which was evident The fact that Ghana becomes a producer Parity Purchasing Power 1 245 USD during the first six months of the of oil from the end of 2010, with proven Human Development 5, 5 / 10 Presidency of John Evans Atta-Mills. reserves that now appear to exceed one Currency Ghanaian cedi (GHS) Voters, who wanted "sweeping changes", billion barrels, is probably unrelated to the sudden U.S. interest. If the occupant of the White House has changed since Official Language English are now facing a policy of small steps. 2008, the political cynicism which prevails remains the same. National Day March 6 Their impatience is being felt Religion 30% Muslim, 24% Christians, increasingly all over the country. Jean-Michel Metthey 38% local beliefs, 8% Other1 Directeur.