Kufuor's achievements far exceed failures - Boahen

Page 47: Daily Graphic, November 17, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of State at the Interior Ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, says the achievements of the Kufuor administration far exceed its failures.
"I agree that as human beings, we have had our shortcomings in government. However, the achievements chalked up far exceed our failures. I am convinced that there is still room for improvement," he said.
Nana Boahen stated that when he addressed Ghanaian residents in Praia, Cape Verde, after attending the ECOWAS Ministerial Conference on Illicit Drug Trafficking as a security threat to West Africa in that country.
The minister, who had since returned home, noted that Ghanaians abroad, who had recently visited home, would attest to the massive development projects going on.
"Without the slightest reservations, I can say that no government, since 1972, has been able to perform creditably well as the present government has done," he said.
Touching on elections, Nana Boahen said the government had no intention whatsoever of rigging the elections, but "will create a conducive atmosphere for free, fair and credible elections that must be accepted by all".
He said apart from the hue and cry that the government would rig the elections, it was the threat of an eruption of war by what he called "prophets of doom". ???? Not clear.
Nana Boahen gave the assurance that the government would not shirk its responsibility for the maintenance of law and order.
He said the government has also put in place security plans to deal appropriately with anybody or a group of persons who would want to subvert the democratic process embarked upon since 1992.
"The elections would be peaceful and it will interest you all to note that observers are coming from across the world. Ghana is seen as a beacon of hope for the entire continent and we cannot sacrifice this because of power," he stated.
Nana Boahen said all that the government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wanted was the mandate of the people to lead Ghana into the middle-income status by 2015," he said.
According to him, the Kufuor administration had laid a sound economic foundation for a take-off, and assured them that the proceeds from the oil find would be used for industrialisation to create more jobs.
He said the government had created a congenial and conducive environment for investment and, therefore, urged them to encourage genuine, law-abiding and proper investors to invest in Ghana.
Nana Boahen advised them not to engage in the drug business, either as couriers or sellers, since the law would not spare them when caught.
He told them that ECOWAS leaders were determined to go all out to fight the drug menace and would not spare anyone caught in the illicit trade.