Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has called for a change in leadership behaviour and the adoption of a national approach to governance, to facilitate faster economic transformation.
He said reckless leadership behaviour of ruling regimes, has largely heightened corruption and weakened the value of the cedi as against the major foreign currencies, inflicting hardships on the people.
Professor Adei made these remarks during the opening of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors’ 9th Week and 45th Annual General Meeting, anchored on the theme: “Good Governance For Effective Development.”
He observed that until the leadership crisis was resolved, war against corruption would remain a fruitless venture while implementation of reports of Public Accounts Committee and Auditor-General would continue to be a mirage.
He said change in behaviour of people in positions of trust was fundamental to good governance, and in pursuance of good economic policies to transform the lives of the people.
Professor Adei added that institutions and systems did not need change, but change in behaviours of leaders’ commitment towards national growth.
He wondered how leaders drove in “V8 vehicles” to communities lacking potable water, electricity, motorable roads and food, yet claimed that “money is not there,” to address such challenges.
He advised politicians to stop apportioning blame as to who committed what magnitude of mess, and rather focus on fixing real fundamental problems facing the economy, adding, “we want better governance and not relative corruption.”
Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said government was committed to good governance and was pursuing policies aimed at empowering local communities to prioritize their needs and demand better services.
He said government has, therefore, established a Social Accountability Unit at the Ministry, which has developed a simple financial management template to assist Assemblies submit easy-to-ready financial and budget reports.
According to him, the template would make it easier for both the lettered and the unlettered to understand the assemblies’ financial management reporting systems.
The Minister further said, a media network had been formed, and members trained on effective local governance reporting aimed at promoting accountability and transparency at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly level.