Bishop Dag Heward-Mills
A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko has kicked against a proposal by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills that opposition parties should be given a quota on contracts.
To ensure equitable and fair distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities, the Head Pastor of the Lighthouse Chapel International, delivering a sermon, asked the Mahama-led government to offer the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) followers at least 30 per cent of all business contracts.
But Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani told Parliament’s Appointment Committee on Thursday that no one should expect to win a contract from his ministry based on their political affiliations, insisting that contracts should be won on merits.
The minister’s view was shared by Dr. Aggrey Darko, who told Francis Abban on Joy FM’s Top Story that it would be “dangerous” for the government to thread that path.
Instead, Dr Evans Aggrey Darko suggested that contracts must be given on merit in accordance with the procurement acts.
“In a political situation that we find ourselves, what I think would be the way forward is the fact that we need to improve opportunities and make sure that the opportunities that exist in this country exist for all.”
He however conceded that the nation has allowed political parties to occupy all the political space and making all the decision, explaining the keenly contested in elections in the country. This, he said, is being used as a tool for the distribution of national cake where in most cases the winner takes all.
“The thinking of our government is that you don’t want to give your sharpest tool to your enemy. And by that, I mean they don’t want to resource the opposition to be able to match you boot for boot.”
Dr Aggrey Darko lamented the poor monitoring system in the country, which he said does not give the country value for money.
He further condemned the “paramount political patronage” in Ghana, a canker common in most developing in countries, “creating politics of the belly where principles are thrown to the dogs, and standards not properly followed”.