A finance expert with the think tank Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has proposed a novel idea aimed at enabling Ghanaian voters to actively participate in reviving Ghana’s troubled economy.

Haruna Alhassan suggests that the next government must not take the usual three to six months to make key appointments.

He stated the importance of this approach, stating that it would allow Ghanaians to see which political party has the right people to manage the country’s affairs and address the urgent economic challenges.

Speaking at the 13th edition of the CSJ Leadership Dialogue Series on July 12, 2024, themed “Ghana’s Economy from 2025 – 2028: The Hard Choices,” Alhassan stressed the urgency.

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“The road ahead will be tough—tough, rough, and bumpy,” Alhassan remarked. He argued that the new government should be ready before January 2025 due to the current economic situation.

“We really do not have time to waste,” he added.

The Leadership Dialogue Series, a flagship civic education platform of CSJ, aims to nurture political participation and patriotic values through discussions with experts and prominent national leaders.

Mr Alhassan, a fellow of the Finance Pillar of CSJ and the keynote speaker at the event, highlighted the need for a government ready to act immediately.

He urged the two main political parties, the NDC and the NPP, to follow the UK’s recent example, where the new prime minister formed a 25-member cabinet within 24 hours of announcing the results.

Although Ghana requires a nomination and vetting process, Alhassan believes a determined government can find ways to ensure readiness from day one.

Announcing key appointments, especially for roles like Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor, would help voters decide which party is best equipped to solve economic challenges.

“It would be novel if the two leading parties can tell Ghanaians who they will be running their governments with if voted into power,” he said.

“Let people decide whether they have confidence in that person even before they vote your government into power.”

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Before Alhassan’s keynote address, Georgina Danso, a businesswoman in Ghana, discussed how businesses are navigating the current economic challenges and what the next government must do.

“The next government has its work cut out,” she said, emphasizing the need for a conducive business environment and the restoration of trust in the government.

Danso stressed that the next government must inspire hope in the private sector through action, not just rhetoric. “We are talking about a government that will actually take action,” she reiterated.

The current administration, led by President Nana Akufo-Addo since 2019, has faced rising costs of goods and services, a depreciating currency, and a sluggish economy.

While the government blames external factors like the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19, many independent analysts attribute the situation to borrowing, corruption, and mismanagement.