SIGNS OF GOOD THINGS (JANUARY 9)

SOME Ghanaians had expressed apprehension over the transition this year until President John Evans Atta Mills announced that his government would have no room for witch-hunting, political vendetta and the blame game.
Less than 24 hours after taking office, President Mills has demonstrated his readiness to live by that pledge by directing district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives who served in the NPP administration to remain at post until further notice.
When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration took over from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2001, the Kufuor administration ordered the then MMDCEs to vacate their offices and residences. Their end-of-service benefits also took a long time to be paid because, according to the NPP administration, the MMDCEs were being investigated.
Reports indicate that MMDCEs who served in the NPP administration, in anticipation of a similar action by the new government, vacated their posts and residences when the NDC was declared the winner of the presidential run-off.
The desire of the present government to ensure continuity in public service is commendable. Equally commendable is the effort by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), under the Ghana Political Parties Programme, to ensure the depolarisation of our society by initiating the process for the Presidential Transition Bill.
Reports from the NDC transitional team and that of the NPP team show that discussions are being held in a frank and firm manner, albeit with a few challenges, particularly on points of clarification of certain issues.
Since the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections were announced after the December 7 polls, many well-meaning groups, including religious and traditional leaders and civil society groups, have called for consensus building in the management of the country’s public affairs.
So far, the new leadership has demonstrated that a return to the rancorous nature of the transition in 2001 will only deepen the already polarised body politic.
Sometimes our actions during the transition period have exposed our lack of appreciation of the mere change of government through the sovereign will of the people.
It is unfortunate that some of our compatriots think that in this present dispensation that encourages change of government through the ballot box, instead of the bullet, we should treat members of any outgoing government like common criminals.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy that the Mills administration has decided that the present transition will be treated like a normal change of government, instead of a change through a coup d’etat.
We know that the days ahead will be more challenging for the government, particularly in the context where supporters of both the ruling and the opposition parties will try to push the agenda towards directions that will make it difficult for effective collaboration.
But we all owe it a duty to educate the rank and file of the political parties that the only hope for a united Ghana lies in accommodation and co-operation.
Never again should we return to the rancorous nature of the handing-over process in 2001 that, according to the IEA, “resulted in the development of deep-seated animosity between the two parties up to the present time”.