This is seemingly because of the governing New Patriotic Party’s inability to satisfy the needs of foot-soldiers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7XtomK38z4yQc2THkoY0PfikeCZIVjrT”]In its outlook report for Ghana spanning 2018 to 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit, however suggested that, there may be some exaggerations with respect to criticisms that met the incidents of political vigilantism instigated by pro-NPP groups.

The unit said there will be “tensions over the matter of public appointments, as there are not enough positions to go round, particularly at the grass-roots level. NPP supporters who expect rewards now that their party has won power, but have so far been disappointed, have caused unrest in the party’s electoral heartlands.”

“This has prompted claims from the opposition and civil society that the government is presiding over a breakdown in law and order. Such claims are exaggerated, but The Economist Intelligence Unit does expect outbreaks of low-level social unrest to persist,” the report said.

At the height of the public outrage to the acts of political vigilantism, the government set up a task-force to investigate and deal with the circumstances leading to such unrest by some aggrieved members of the governing NPP, especially in the Northern Region.

Warnings were also issued to Police units that reneged on efforts to arrest perpetrators of such vigilantism that has seen government installations barricaded and police stations raided by angry party youth.

In its further analysis, the Economist Intelligence Unit noted a lack of proactivity on the part of the NPP government which opened it up to widespread criticism.

“The connection between the party and the vandals is not always clear and so it is understandable that the NPP does not want to link itself too closely to the issue in the eyes of voters. However, such passivity lays it open to accusations from the opposition that it is failing to do enough to establish peace and will serve to keep political tensions elevated.”

No time to satisfy youth

In the Unit’s view, “the underlying causes of the violence will not disappear easily.”

“Economic prospects for Ghana’s youth are generally poor, and no government can change that fast. At the same time, no party can win an election without promising major job creation. Impatient job seekers, seeing public jobs handed out after the election, then feel excluded,” the report explained.

Acrimonious partisanship

In general, the “main risks” to Ghana’s stability in the coming years centre predominantly on its “acrimonious party-political landscape,” according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“We maintain our view that the highly competitive political scene will keep tensions elevated, which could lead to periodic unrest, although such unrest will not be serious enough to threaten wider stability.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lack of jobs for the youth will worsen political vigilantism – Report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is the prediction of the Economist Intelligence Unit, a specialist publisher in the UK.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HmLLc3YeywQ3Li5wTzUbCkGycZ4Pkq6T”]The Economist Intelligent Unit, which has operated for about 60 years, also warned that the local currency may suffer some external pressures that may cause the cedi to depreciate by next year.

According to the figures captured in its latest report, the cedi may suffer some depreciation by end of this year—2018.

The report cited the tighter monetary policy in the US from the latter part of this year into next year, and the renewal of political uncertainties associated with Ghana’s 2020 elections, as the basis for the prediction.

As at this morning, January 3, 2018, the dollar was trading at 4 cedis 42 pesewas to the cedi on the interbank foreign exchange market.

This is slightly higher compared to the 4 cedis 35 pesewas average recorded in 2017.

But for the early part of this year, the Unit is hopeful that revenue from Ghana’s oil and gas sector coupled with the confidence reposed with the country’s continuous ties with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will support the stability of the cedi.

Meanwhile, the Unit is hoping that Ghana’s inflation would reduce in relation to the Bank of Ghana’s target of 8 percent plus or minus 2, this year.

This, the report attributes to tighter fiscal policy compared with the profligacy in the previous five years, which inched inflation to about 20 percent between 2015 and 2016.

On Ghana’s programme with the IMF, the report stated that key priorities for the Fund in its dealings with Ghana before it ends in April 2019, will remain to enforce fiscal consolidation, as well as the restructuring of the debt-ridden, state-dominated energy sector, and efforts to strengthen the local banking sector.

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By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Cedi to hit GHs6 to a dollar by 2022 – Economist Intelligence Unit appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.