THE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS Evening Encounter With JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA An Institute of Economic Affairs/Ghana Political Parties Programme Collaboration The Evening Encounters were organised with support from the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana, was founded in October 1989 as an independent, public policy institute dedicated to the establishment and strengthening of a market economy and a democratic, free and open society. It considers improvements in the legal, social and political institutions as necessary conditions for sustainable economic growth and human development. The IEA supports research and promotes and publishes studies on important economic, socio-political and legal issues in order to enhance the understanding of public policy. Further information may be obtained from the Publication Officer: The Institute of Economic Affairs P. O. Box OS 1936, Osu Accra, Ghana Tel: +233 - 302244716 / 0307010714 Fax: +233 302 - 222313 Email: [email protected] ISBN: 9988-584-87-3 ISSN: 0855-3238 ©2012 Copyright by The Institute of Economic Affairs Printed in Ghana. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be published, used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews. PREFACE “Those who wish to govern must allow themselves to be subjected to probing questions by the people, to ensure that they understand their concerns and have the capacity to address them.” The Institute of Economic Affair (IEA) seeks to promote the consolidation of democracy, good governance and a free and fair market economy in Ghana and West Africa. The IEA carries out its work through robust research, national and sub-regional advocacy, roundtable discussions and multi-stakeholder interactions on issues of economic and governance policy. Two decades on, the Institute's research and discussion forums have influenced important economic and governance policies - and further shaped public thinking on a range of policy issues. Since the year 2000, The IEA has organized Presidential Election Debates ahead of each of the nation's Presidential Elections. In each election year, these debates have provided presidential candidates a platform on which to debate the policies and programmes that they believe will best serve the national interest. The Presidential Election Debates are gradually instilling an issues-driven approach to Presidential campaigns. The Debates offer the electorate information on the policy direction of each Presidential candidate's manifesto, with which to make informed choices. In 2008, The IEA created another platform to enhance the development of an issues-driven approach to national elections and promote accountable leadership in Ghana. This was through the Evening Encounter Series. In 2012, The IEA held another Encounter Series and it will remain a fixture in each election year. The Evening Encounters differ from Presidential Debates in that, while the Debates focus on the interaction between presidential candidates, the Encounters are based on the interaction between individual candidates and the electorate. Similar to the 2008 Encounter Series, the 2012 Encounters offered the four presidential candidates, whose political parties had representation in Parliament, a unique platform to provide the electorate with their visions and plans for governing the country. The Evening Encounters also provided representatives of key interest groups and a cross section of the electorate the opportunity to ask the respective candidates probing questions. Overall, by providing a public forum where each of the candidates can present their policies, and be challenged by members of the public, both the Evening Encounters and the Debates serve to enhance the level of accountability demanded from Ghana's potential leaders. This is particularly important with respect to the candidate who subsequently goes on to win the election. This publication provides a transcript of President John Dramani Mahama's presentation and responses at the Evening Encounter held on 18th October 2012. The IEA has similarly published transcripts of all the Debates and Evening Encounters of the other candidates separately. This publication focusing on President John Dramani Mahama recognizes that the commitments he made at the event constitute a contract that he made with the Ghanaian people in exchange for their support. As Ghana prepares for elections in 2016, it is hoped that the terms of this contract are not readily forgotten and that the public continues to understand the policy direction of this candidate. We hope that you find this publication useful. Thank you. Jean Mensa Executive Director The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) IEA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA EVENING ENCOUNTER (2012) File Name: IEA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA EVENING ENCOUNTER (2012) Moderator: Mr. Bernard Avle, Broadcaster Main Speaker: H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, NDC Presidential Candidate Other Speakers: Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra (Rtd), Visiting Senior Fellow at IEA Madam Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade and Industry IEA GHANA 1 IEA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA EVENING ENCOUNTER (2012) Moderator (Bernard Avle): Kindly let's be up standing and receive the President of the Republic of Ghana and the candidate of the National Democratic Congress, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. You are welcome President Mahama, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, viewers and listeners all over the country. Good evening and welcome to a historic night at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre for tonight's IEA encounter with the sitting president and candidate of the National Democratic Congress. Scripture says the horse is prepared for battle but safety is of the Lord. We want to start the program with an opening prayer. We are very privileged to have the Chairman of IEA's National Enforcement Body on the Code of Conduct for Political Parties who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, the Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante to lead us in our opening prayer. Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante: Almighty God and our heavenly father, we give You praise; we give You thanks for this day. A day You have set aside for us to have an evening encounter with your servant. We believe that apart from You, there is nothing we can do. Hence, we come before You in prayer asking that God, You will be with us, be with Your servant as he articulates to us his vision. Give us an open mind and open hearts and ears to perceive to understand what You have for us. We pray that everything we do here tonight will redound to Your glory. We thank You for this nation Ghana, for the leaders You have given us. And Father, we pray that You would continue to be with us as we make the effort to ensure that we do exactly what You want us to do to rule this country in peace; You would be present with your people. IEA GHANA 3 IEA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA EVENING ENCOUNTER (2012) And help us in all things to bring glory and honour to Your name. I commend his Excellency into Your hands, grant him grace, grant him your presence; the presence of mind to articulate. And Lord when You have done that; help us to give you praise and glory. Grant that people who will listen will be informed so that on the 7th of December when we go to vote we'll be making an informed choice of leadership. This is our humble prayer Father; hear us as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ Your son, Amen. Moderator (Bernard Avle): Tonight's program is an initiative of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Accra Ghana. We are very privileged to have among us a Visiting Senior Fellow of the IEA in the person of Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra (Rtd) for a welcome statement. Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra (Rtd): Your Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, the First Lady, honourable ministers of state, honourable Members of Parliament, your excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Ghana Political Parties Program, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this encounter with the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) His Excellency John Dramani Mahama who is also President of the Republic. Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we are indeed very pleased that you've all honoured our invitation to be part of this democracy-enhancing event. We are particularly delighted to host President, John Dramani Mahama who has agreed to be here in person to address the nation and provide answers to the concerns of the people of Ghana. Please allow me, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to also acknowledge the fact that this Evening Encounter is historic. As it IEA GHANA 4 IEA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA EVENING ENCOUNTER (2012) is the first time a sitting president of Ghana is participating in this event. It is our sincere hope that this will set a precedent for future incumbents to follow. Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have in our midst a cross section of representatives from various organizations such as the Ghana Mental Health Association, the Trades Union Congress, Ghana Registered Nurses Association, Ghana Medical Association, Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana and Ghana Federation of the Disabled. Others are Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, Network for Women's Rights, and Child's Right International among others. The more exciting news is that we have the eight-year-old peace ambassador, Angela Mensah, who has some questions to pose to the President of the Republic. Distinguished guests, electorate represented here by these organizations, we'll be seeking answers to questions bordering on education, labour, health, infrastructure, women and children and disability among others.