Kufuor blames vanity and vindictiveness for Ghana’s poor policy continuity

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has blamed vanity, vindictiveness and a lack of vision among successive governments for Ghana’s failure to sustain some of the socio-economic initiatives introduced by previous administrations.

He said the tendency of incoming governments to abandon policies and agreements initiated by their predecessors had undermined opportunities for investment, institutional development and long-term national progress.

Speaking in an interview with Evans Mensah on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr Kufuor cited the cancellation of an agreement his administration negotiated with Barclays International as an example of what he described as a failure to appreciate the long-term benefits of policy continuity.

“We got that agreement with Barclays International after three years of hard work. We opened offices at Airport City. We left office in 2008,” he recalled.

He said the government that succeeded his administration moved to cancel the agreement around 2009, reportedly citing concerns that it could facilitate money laundering.

“By 2009 or so, the government that succeeded mine came out to cancel the agreement. Perhaps they didn't see how we saw it and the disciplines that we had put in it. The excuse they gave was that they suspected that our agreement might lead to money laundering,” he said.

The former President argued that the decision to cancel the agreement may have been taken without sufficient consideration of the reasons behind his administration’s partnership with the international financial institution.

“I would only say perhaps they just didn't do their homework to understand why we went into that,” he said.

Mr Kufuor maintained that the arrangement could have helped Ghana attract foreign capital and encouraged greater financial discipline within government.

“I'm sure a lot of people even from Europe and so-called advanced parts of the world would have brought their capital here,” he said.

He added that the presence of such an institution would have required the government to maintain standards capable of sustaining investor confidence.

Asked why successive governments often reverse decisions made by their predecessors, Mr Kufuor pointed to personal and political considerations.

“The other too is some vanity. We want to show we perhaps are better than the people we are succeeding,” he said.

He also cited vindictiveness and the pursuit of political power as factors that could undermine the continuity of public policies.

Mr Kufuor argued that political office should not be treated as a means of personal advancement but as a responsibility entrusted to leaders by the electorate.

The former President said elected leaders must recognise that their authority derives from the people and should be exercised in the public interest.

“When they trust, they give it to you. They give it to you as a trustee to use it to manage to the betterment of all, inclusively,” he said.

He warned that leaders who failed to appreciate this responsibility risked becoming preoccupied with personal aggrandisement and political rivalries at the expense of national development.

“If you do not understand this as the cornerstone and you take the power, then you begin to get aggrandizement. You become like a lord. You may use lies, vindictiveness, petty jealousies and all. So keep on wallowing. You don't have vision. It's a huge problem,” he said.

He cited the success of the Kufuor Foundation's scholarship programme, which selects students online and mentors them through their university education.

"Since we launched this foundation, you'd be surprised. The panel of selectors, they've been good. They go in. I believe the applicants apply online. So it's not who you know. It's not Kufuor sons and daughters," he stated.

He noted that one of the scholars is now the President of the Comoros Youth Council in Britain, while another is pursuing a PhD at Oxford University and has been elected President of Christ Church students.

"It shows that one of these days these people are going to come back," he said.