Vice-president John Dramani Mahama has said Ghana is now seen as a bastion and initiator of independence and democracy and, therefore, a role model for other African countries. The Vice-President, who was speaking in an interview with Ghanaian journalists on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the Western Australian city of Perth, said Ghana had pioneered in the achievements of independence, coup d'etats and would, therefore, take the bold step of achieving financial independence for neighbouring countries to emulate. He said Ghana, which chaired the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, would ensure that all member states adhered to the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, which are instrumental in implementing all the ethics for the development of member countries. Mr Mahama said Commonwealth Secretariat was stricter than any other group and could sanction all countries that went wayward and gave an assurance that Ghana would ensure that all Commonwealth rules and regulations were adhered to. According to him, Ghana again has embarked on a composite budget which will be used as a model for the entire continent and its success could be replicated in other African countries for development. Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, an expert in governance, said Ghana would continue to pursue issues that would encourage women participate in policies and development. He said with the appointment of women to meet the Commonwealth aspirations, Ghana was working around the clock on that issue and urged women organisations to engage in the electoral process, which the government has no control over. On the promulgation of the composite budget in Ghana, he said it was the first time in the history of Africa, and Ghana's success would remain a feat for others to pursue in the coming years. Dr Christine Amoako Nuamah, a government official, said the government would work hard in the coming years to achieve the goals of the Commonwealth on women's involvement in decision making throughout the country. She appealed to the Ghanaian media to focus on women issues to ensure that policy makers complied with the dictates of the people in a growing democracy.