Kwesi Jonah: Mills’ rule of law clause dangerous

A political scientist, Kwesi Jonah, has dropped hints that the promise of President John Mills to apply the rule of law during his rule means the President could be nursing a prosecution of former ministers of state.

Dr Jonah stated that Prof. Mills could be under some influence from within his party to embark on some political witch-hunting.

Prof. Mills in his acceptance speech at his colourful inauguration ceremony in Accra on Wednesday said he would not use his reign to prosecute former members of government although he would uphold the rule of law.

The President's mention of "rule of law" in his public addresses since the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him president-elect on Saturday, has stoked perceptions that he might make priority the prosecution of former ministers in the opposition party when he resumes office.

But Mr Jonah in an interview with Joy FM on Wednesday said although the President had promised to be committed to the rule of law, vengeance must be remote if real national growth could be achieved.

He said the nation had reached a point which required deepened democracy and rule of law and not the fueling of political vendetta.

Prof. John Evans Atta Mills took his oath of presidency at the Independence square promising to be "President of all Ghanaians."

He said Ghanaians voted for change in pursuance of prosperity for themselves and posterity. Prof. Mills said his election as President meant a new direction for the country.

Although expectations of him have not been too high, many expect him to, at least, translate his campaign promises into action.

The World Bank has already greeted his presidency with a report painting a gloomy picture of the Ghanaian economy, saying that the macro-economic situation that the incoming government will inherit is "extremely worrisome," reports the Daily Graphic.

"In a January Report signed by the bank's Country Director in Accra, Ishac Diwan, and copied to the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Paul Acquah, it warned that the incoming administration would inherit high fiscal and balance of payment deficits that were unsustainable, given the current state of international financial markets," the paper said.

According to the paper a mid-December data provided by the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance, the World Bank also indicated that, "the country would have to spend 14 per cent of its total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to service its fiscal deficit, while the balance of payment deficit would be larger."