Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Emmanuel Tornyi
Published on 2024-02-05 09:36:29
In response to pressure and protests from civil society organizations and the public, the government of Ghana has been compelled to halt certain policies and programs, bringing into question its ability to implement and follow through with reforms. Several initiatives have been suspended for a variety of reasons, and while some have been permanently set aside, others are currently undergoing reassessment with the intention of being reintroduced to Parliament for further deliberation.
One such policy was the controversial 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity, which the government decided to withdraw after strong opposition from organized labor and citizens who lamented that the tax would increase the economic hardship faced by citizens. The withdrawal of the tax was described as non-negotiable by organized labor, and they demanded the cancellation of the tax by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The government also made a U-turn and decided to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support an economic program put together by the government of Ghana. This decision represented a reversal of the government’s earlier stance of finding a way out of the economic crisis without resorting to IMF support.
In another instance, the government retreated from its decision to implement a pre-tertiary semester system at the basic education level, following intense scrutiny and opposition from various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and their unions. Similarly, the proposed construction of a $200 million parliamentary chamber faced strong public backlash, leading to its cancellation. The public demanded answers from Members of Parliament on why such an expensive project was considered a priority, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the project.
In a meeting with the LPG Marketers Association, the government revealed that it had reversed its previous decision regarding the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation module, after it was highlighted that the initial decision had effectively removed the marketers from the gas distribution value chain. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) was asked to reconsider the involvement of the LPG marketers association in the new policy and address their grievances.
These instances raise questions about the government’s ability to implement and follow through with policies, and highlight the power of public opinion in influencing political decisions. It also underscores the importance of public accountability and transparency in the allocation of public funds for government projects. The government’s tendency to reverse decisions in response to public pressure and protests may undermine its credibility and raise doubts about its commitment to effective policy implementation.
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