-Nduom

Story: Atta Kwaku BOADI

Renowned entrepreneur and businessman, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom has appealed to leaders of  the country to allow Ghanaians own the  economy.

According to him, it was unfortunate that leaders in “our part of the world tend to dislike and sometimes hate successful business men and women they think they cannot control”.

.  

Dr Nduom who is the founder and  president of Groupe Nduom, a multinational conglomerate noted that, today leaders  did not  understand that when a country’s citizens did  not control the key financial sectors of the economy such as banking, investment, insurance and pension, it was  doomed to suffer poverty.

“When a country loses control over the key financial sectors, other countries and foreign entities take control and independence is lost”, he said. 

The business mogul made this observation at a public lecture via zoom on Friday,  September 30, 2022  in Elmina in the Central Region.

Speaking on the theme; “The Independence of Ghanaians”,Dr Nduom also  touched on   work and happiness,  probity, accountability and transparency,  zero tolerance for corruption and   Ghana Beyond Aid.

He recounted how a former Ghanaian military ruler, the late General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong championed the Ghanaian ownership of what he called “the commanding heights” of the economy, he was onto something. 

According to  Dr Nduom it delivered concrete actions that were  still today giving benefits to the state and its people.  

“Operation Feed Yourself” was and remains a popular policy from the Acheampong era.  I know that there are some people who make the claim that the policy did not come from the late General himself but what does it matter?  We will achieve a lot as a nation if we do not care who takes credit for the good things we do”, he opined.

The business magnate further noted that for Ghana to gain control of the economy, the current or future administration must muster the courage to implement (not debate or discuss – we are beyond talking) the following:

1.  Take firm steps to ensure indigenous Ghanaian control (ownership) of the financial sector – banking, insurance, investment, pension and others at all levels.  This is a must.  No country has prospered in this world by relying on foreign-owned financial institutions or the World Bank or the IMF.  None. Gaining control of the commanding heights of the economy starts from here.  That is why Kwame Nkrumah to his credit made sure Ghana Commercial Bank, Agricultural Development Bank and other state-owned institutions were promoted and encouraged to support the indigenous enterprises.
2. All infrastructure contracts signed by the state must have a minimum 25% of value go to an indigenous Ghanaian and his/her enterprise.
3. All Cocoa roads and projects funded by COCOBOD must be given to indigenous Ghanaians and their companies.
4. Ban completely, the importation of chocolate, soft drinks, fruit juices, fruits, poultry and meats.
5. Ban the importation of rice and sugar.  
6. Immediately ban the serving of any imported food or drink at all state functions.
7. School feeding programmes must only use locally produced food and drinks.
8. All professional services agreements – architectural, technology, financial etc., must have at least 25% indigenous Ghanaian participation.
9. All new and renewed concessions for gold, bauxite, oil and gas, diamond, timber must have a minimum of 25% indigenous Ghana ownership.  
10. The digitalization agenda must be placed firmly, 100% in the hands of indigenous Ghanaians and their companies.
11. Give full rights and recognition to Ghanaians who by necessity have become citizens of other countries – to vote, be employed by the state and compete for elective offices.  It beats my imagination why we promote drafting football players born in other countries to Ghanaians but do not encourage professionals in other fields who have acquired citizenship in other countries to come and participate fully in the private and public sectors.  Ghana loses a lot by shutting these experienced and knowledgeable people out of high-level public-sector positions.  I should know.  I was one of them.

The full text of Dr Nduom’s lecture

PUBLIC LECTURE BY DR. PAPA KWESI NDUOM

The Independence of Ghanaians 

“Work and Happiness”

“Probity, Accountability and Transparency”

“Zero Tolerance for Corruption”

“Ghana Beyond Aid”

For three years now, I have stayed away from public speaking in Ghana.  There has been one exception.  I gave a lecture on the impact of COVID-19 on business on the platform of the Nduom School of Business and Technology (NSBT).  I considered that an academic undertaking.  This time, my lecture is aimed at practical public policy for the attention and consideration of current and future leaders in Africa and specifically, Ghana.  I am using Ghana as the stage to express what all of Africa needs.  

I am thankful to the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) for providing the motivation for this lecture in the form of the 10th Anniversary of its formation.  During the ten years, the PPP has stayed true to its independent posture and its insistence on inclusiveness.  It has promoted the advancement of the thought that it is only when opportunity is given to all Ghanaians without regard to religion, politics, gender and ethnic origin, will the country’s march to prosperity and development become accelerated.   

Over the years, Ghanaians have heard “the private sector is the engine of growth” with no fuel to make the engine move for the benefit of the people.  They have been presented with “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” and “Probity, Accountability, Transparency” and yet corruption is seen by citizens as the main barrier to their well-being.  Many leaders, in business and politics have put out their versions of “Ghana First” visions yet there is no common agenda to work with to make it come alive.  

Indeed, when the late General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong championed the Ghanaian ownership of what he called “the commanding heights” of the economy, he was onto something.  It delivered concrete actions that are still today giving benefits to the state and its people.  “Operation Feed Yourself” was and remains a popular policy from the Acheampong era.  I know that there are some people who make the claim that the policy did not come from the late General himself but what does it matter?  We will achieve a lot as a nation if we do not care who takes credit for the good things we do.

I know some people as soon as they hear or see the notice that I will be on a stage giving a lecture will immediately think, partisan politics.  Others straightaway think that I will use the time to throw mud at the ruling Akufo-Addo administration.  Wrong.  I have mounted this platform as a citizen who is alarmed at how widespread poverty is in Ghana and how far behind the country is compared to those countries it compared favorably with in 1957.  I am worried about the real possibility of the country going backwards due to the inability or unwillingness of leadership to muster the courage to implement a relatively simple change agenda.

The simple change agenda can be summed up in one word – Independence.  How do we achieve independence in all its forms including political independence?  

Independence is defined by several credible authorities as the state of being free of the control of some other person, country or entity.  As we all know, on 6th March 1957, the then Gold Coast achieved independence from Britain and changed its name to Ghana.  We assumed then that we would use that independence to manage our own affairs better and to the benefit of the new country’s citizens.  The leaders at independence talked about freedom to create wealth and prosperity for the people.  Kwame Nkrumah and his party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) talked enthusiastically about development and songs were written about “Work and Happiness”.  The people were hopeful and dreamt of a better life.

Sadly, Sixty-five years on, the citizens appear to be having nightmares, not dreams about the better life that seemed within reach at independence.  I am making the point that this is the result of the loss of the independence won in 1957.  Ghana clearly is not free from the control of other countries or foreign entities.  I ask you, is the country Ghana independent of China, Britain, Germany or the United States?  Ghana is a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank, yes.  Is it independent of these entities? Definitely not.  When our leaders urgently seek the approval of other countries, seek validation from their leaders and beg for the funds that flow from them and the international entities they control, the country cannot be said to be independent.  

We are fond in Ghana of telling ourselves that we sit on abundant natural resources such as gold, diamonds, oil, gas, bauxite, manganese etc.  But we have embraced poverty in all its forms – low income, poor health, low levels of education and the rest.  

I firmly believe that Ghana’s poverty is due to the reluctance of the country’s leaders to free “the people” and the nation.  In fact, the leaders are so afraid of the people that the perception is that over the years, they the leaders try to control what the citizens think, say and do.  When the people are not free, they don’t develop creative juices that independent thought enables.  Without the freedom independent thinking brings, citizens cannot innovate; and without innovation, a country cannot advance and create a prosperous people.

I have contested elections in Ghana so I know what happens on the ground during elections.  National contests have degenerated into a battle of promises and cash for votes.  No one has time to listen and engage in debates over ideas.  So, it has become easy for the leaders to run to the people when they want their votes bearing gifts, but run away from them after they get them the votes and win power. They don’t deliver on their promises, so they become frightened by the potential reactions of a disappointed and angry people.  

Unfortunately, it has become an open secret that leaders in our part of the world tend to dislike and sometimes hate successful business men and women they think they cannot control.  Especially the ones who appear to have a lot of wealth and cash under their control.  It is worse when those people control financial institutions.  They do not understand that when a country’s citizens do not control the key financial sectors of the economy such as banking, investment, insurance and pension, it is doomed to suffer poverty.  When a country loses control over the key financial sectors, other countries and foreign entities take control and independence is lost. 

This erosion of our independence is a major reason why the “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” did not achieve the intended results; and why “Probity, Accountability and Transparency” remains a slogan to today.  It is the reason why “Work and Happiness” continues to elude most Ghanaians.  I am convinced that this lack of control over our own country and its economy is turning “Ghana Beyond Aid” into a mere slogan.  If urgent steps are not taken, this national ideal will be in danger of not surviving when the current Administration leaves office in January 2025.

On July 31 2022, I wrote an open letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo.  The letter was initially published in the Today Newspaper and received a lot of coverage on TV, Radio, social media and was carried by the newspapers.  I received many messages from people from all walks of life inside and outside of Ghana.  Every one of them was in support of the contents of my letter.  The concern however was on whether those with the power to make change happen in the country would receive the letter with a positive spirit; and if anything positive would come of it.

I discovered that indeed there is a Ghana Beyond Aid Office headed by Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo.  I have asked myself how come I didn’t know about this office or that it even existed?  How many Ghanaians know that it exists?  How much in resource – people and money has been given to that office to make it work?  Am I the only citizen not feeling its impact?

In my open letter to the President, I wrote this:

“Ghana Beyond Aid is a vision put forth by your Administration.  You have articulated this forcefully and pushed it in presentations to Ghanaian citizens.  You have also stood your ground on this with foreign leaders particularly those from the western divide of global governance.  Many have hailed it and bought into it as a very necessary agenda.  

Recently though, the vision seems to be fading and does not find expression in formal presentations such as the budget and your own speeches at home and abroad.  It is time to light some fire under this vision and make it real.

To begin with, I support this vision for Ghana because it will promote self-reliance that would lead to greater prosperity of our citizens.  

I am a supporter of “Ghana Beyond Aid” without reservations.”

Over the years, Ghanaians have heard “the private sector is the engine of growth” with no fuel to make the engine move for the benefit of the people.  They have been presented with “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” and “Probity, Accountability, Transparency” and yet corruption is seen by citizens as the main barrier to their well-being.  Many leaders, in business and politics have put out their versions of “Ghana First” visions yet there is no common agenda to work with to make it come alive.  

Indeed, when the late General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong championed the Ghanaian ownership of what he called “the commanding heights” of the economy, he was onto something.  It delivered concrete actions that are still today giving benefits to the state and its people.  “Operation Feed Yourself” was and remains a popular policy from the Acheampong era.  I know that there are some people who make the claim that the policy did not come from the late General himself but what does it matter?  We will achieve a lot as a nation if we do not care who takes credit for the good things we do.

So, what are some of the changes that when implemented would bring the independence we need to make Ghana great and strong and its people prosperous?  I will focus on only two key ones today.

1.  Give power back to the people:  Amend the 1992 Constitution to broaden the leadership net and make the leaders more directly accountable to the people.  One of the reasons for the 1966 coup was to break the one-party rule of the CPP.  Those who led that coup claimed that there was no opportunity to participate in the democratic process without removing the then President Nkrumah and his system of governance.  But we have replaced the one-party state with one person rule under the 1992 Constitution.  One person, the president in Ghana has more powers than many presidents in the world including the president of the USA. 

This one person appoints one third of the members of all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, all Chief Executives, Regional Ministers, Ministers of State, and thousands of people who lead ministries, departments, agencies and state enterprises.  The President’s ministers sit in Parliament and influence its work and decisions.  This system does not work.  One human being does not have supernatural powers to know all and be all to everyone in the country.  The independence of the citizens has been put in the hands of that one person.  This must be changed so that the people elect their own Chief Executives and all Assembly Members directly by voting for them and by decentralizing the fiscal regime.  Why has this not happened when the people have told Constitutional Review Committees that the current system does not work and must be amended?  What are our leaders afraid of?

I have served as an elected Assembly Member, a Member of Parliament and a Minister of State and so I know that the system we are using does not work and will not deliver the development and independence of thought needed for Ghanaians to gain control over their destiny.

My experience in the private and public sectors worldwide tells me that if we do not amend the Constitution, no amount of financial engineering or restructuring will allow Ghana to gain control of its own destiny.  It also wouldn’t matter who is President or which political party – PPP, NPP, CPP, PNC, NDC is in power.

• Put Ghanaians in Control of the Economy: 

I am going back to the letter I wrote to the President for emphasis.  To gain control of the economy, the current or future Administration must muster the courage to implement (not debate or discuss – we are beyond talking) the following:

12.  Take firm steps to ensure indigenous Ghanaian control (ownership) of the financial sector – banking, insurance, investment, pension and others at all levels.  This is a must.  No country has prospered in this world by relying on foreign-owned financial institutions or the World Bank or the IMF.  None. Gaining control of the commanding heights of the economy starts from here.  That is why Kwame Nkrumah to his credit made sure Ghana Commercial Bank, Agricultural Development Bank and other state-owned institutions were promoted and encouraged to support the indigenous enterprises.
13. All infrastructure contracts signed by the state must have a minimum 25% of value go to an indigenous Ghanaian and his/her enterprise.
14. All Cocoa roads and projects funded by COCOBOD must be given to indigenous Ghanaians and their companies.
15. Ban completely, the importation of chocolate, soft drinks, fruit juices, fruits, poultry and meats.
16. Ban the importation of rice and sugar.  
17. Immediately ban the serving of any imported food or drink at all state functions.
18. School feeding programmes must only use locally produced food and drinks.
19. All professional services agreements – architectural, technology, financial etc., must have at least 25% indigenous Ghanaian participation.
20. All new and renewed concessions for gold, bauxite, oil and gas, diamond, timber must have a minimum of 25% indigenous Ghana ownership.  
21. The digitalization agenda must be placed firmly, 100% in the hands of indigenous Ghanaians and their companies.
22. Give full rights and recognition to Ghanaians who by necessity have become citizens of other countries – to vote, be employed by the state and compete for elective offices.  It beats my imagination why we promote drafting football players born in other countries to Ghanaians but do not encourage professionals in other fields who have acquired citizenship in other countries to come and participate fully in the private and public sectors.  Ghana loses a lot by shutting these experienced and knowledgeable people out of high-level public-sector positions.  I should know.  I was one of them.

Will this hurt?  Initially, yes.  The vacuum that will be created will motivate entrepreneurs to invest in local production to meet the demand.  Eventually, we will be a better country, one whose citizens can aspire to prosperity with confidence.  We will gain control of our own country and be better able to manage our own affairs.

I maintain that we the citizens have nothing to lose and everything to gain if these measures are implemented.

Finally, I am ready to join a national or international campaign to promote the adoption and implementation of this change agenda.

Thank you.