Accra, Ghana, November 6, 2019//-A renowned Ghanaian economist, Professor John Gatsi has lauded the approach adopted by the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to gather ideas of the public for the formulation of the party’s 2020 manifesto.
Although some people especially members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have laughed at the decision of the NDC to call for views from the public, he said: “There is nothing wrong with the NDC collating ideas from the public for its manifesto”.
Prof Gatsi argued that manifestos have become important governance and development documents for political parties such that how they are designed and what they reflect should not be trivialized.
“ It is compulsory for political party manifestos to reflect the Directive Principles of State Policy. The best way to do so is to stratify the process including engagement with the people and all segments of society.
The engagement should be opened to all and everyone‘s contribution should be weighted equally important until modified or dropped during the analysis stage. The next phase is to ensure proper analysis of the feedback from the engagements before writing the manifestos. Then there will be some binding commitment to deliver.”
How manifestos are prepared
Prof Gatsi explained: “Manifestos are documents prepared by political parties indicating an appreciation of the needs, problems and aspirations of the country and how they plan to deal with such needs, problems and how to create opportunities in the interest of citizens”.
Manifestos are required to make emphatic position statements on specific national issues and sometimes global developments that have some bearing on domestic governance.
Trivializing the process, approach, content and what manifesto reflects undermines commitment to good governance”, Prof Gatsi who is also the Dean of the School of Business of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) told African Eye Report.
Put premium on the approach
Manifestos by political parties in some progressive economies are crafted within the framework of national development principles.
This approach ensures progressive governance culture. In the absence of national development plans or framework the following should guide the process of drafting a progressive and reflective manifesto: Manifestos should reflect the experiences and expectations of all people , educated or not educated, youths, farmers, teachers, nurses, men and women, employed and unemployed and above all those above the retirement age and businesses .
This approach he explained is important to correct the painful experiences of citizens. It is trite knowledge that failure to engage the people appropriately has led to the wastage of scarce national resources in which for example markets were built when the people needed health or other facilities the most thereby making some communities refuse to use those markets.
“Engagement of the people to formulate a policy framework and programs for development is therefore crucial and cardinal”.
Manifestos should also reflect the ideals…
Manifestos should also reflect the ideals and broad focus of the Directive Principles of State Policy of the country’s 1992 Constitution, he said.
Prof Gatsi advised that developing a manifesto should be taken as the most important aspect if a political party intends to improve the lives of citizens.
“The approach, engagement with the people and the how reflective the manifesto is regarding the directive principles of state policy in the case of Ghana can define whether or not a particular political party favors inclusiveness”.
In article 34(1) of the 1992 Constitution states among others that “ the Directive Principles of State Policy SHALL guide ALL citizens, parliament, …….political parties and other bodies and persons……….. in taking and implementing any policy decisions……”.
African Eye Report
