In a wide-ranging interview on TV3, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Member of Parliament for the Tamale South constituency, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has outlined the key priorities and plans of the incoming Mahama administration.
He emphasized that President-elect John Mahama is committed to upholding the rule of law and not engaging in excessive borrowing or quantitative easing that led to Ghana’s current economic woes under the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. Iddrisu stated that Mahama’s previous tenure saw zero financing from the Bank of Ghana, a practice he pledged would be maintained.
“President Mahama will uphold the rule of law in all his tenants. He will sit to govern and provide opportunities for a just society.”
On the NDC’s parliamentary majority, Iddrisu said President-elect Mahama will use this responsibly to undertake major constitutional, administrative and legal reforms, including a review of the 1992 Constitution. He revealed plans to establish a constitutional review implementation committee to fine-tune recommendations from a previous committee.
“President Mahama will undertake some major constitutional, administrative and legal reforms of the country. He will take advantage of that comfortable parliamentary majority to do what the Ghanaian people have asked for, that a review of the 1992 Constitution,” he revealed.
Addressing the economic challenges, Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged the high inflation, unemployment and debt levels, but said President Mahama will renegotiate the IMF deal and seek $2 billion in strategic investments to arrest the cedi’s depreciation. He criticized the NPP’s “reckless borrowing” and promised more responsible economic management.
“President Mama will naturally renegotiate the IMF external credit facility, and probably he would work to secure an investment of up to 2 billion US dollars,” he stated.
“President Mahama would not run Ghana with more than 23 ministries… He will not get the Bank of Ghana to invoke engage in quantitative easing and printing money to help government,” Iddrisu said.
Iddrisu also discussed Mahama’s plans to cut certain taxes, grow the digital sector, and complete good projects started by the previous government. He emphasized the need for accountability, citing concerns over the use of public funds for the National Cathedral project.
“President Mahama is committed to growing the digital sector of our economy. I anticipate that President Mahama will have a minister responsible for his 24 our economy with some budget to get it going and to get line manufacturing sector supported and strategic industry across the country that will generate employment.”
On the performance of state institutions, Iddrisu expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of election-related violence, but said Mahama will respect the independence of the judiciary and Electoral Commission. He called for decisive action against any criminal conduct during the polls.
“For instance, the persons who are involved in the shooting in Nyankpala have been brought to Accra. They should and they would face the full rigors of the law.”
The interview with Hon. Haruna on TV 3 provided a glimpse into the incoming Mahama administration’s reform agenda and commitment to addressing Ghana’s pressing economic and governance challenges through a combination of policy changes and accountability measures.
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh