Does A Gov�t Become All-Inclusive Only If There�s NDC & NPP Representation?

Though the three arms of government are structured to serve as checks on each other, it is often said that the 1992 constitution of Ghana gives the Executive arm of government enormous powers which can be abused by the Presidency. Political connoisseurs are of the view that the authority invested in the Executive accounts for the fierce politicking which has characterized recent elections in the country and as a result, polarizes the nation and create recipe for chaos and anarchy, hence, the call for an �all inclusive government�. Perhaps, that is why the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Adjei, speaking at the 21st Anniversary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), pontificated that the tense situation in the country could be attributed to the winner-takes-all political environment and said from now onwards �let us share. This country belongs to all of us�. But, the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, is challenging assertions that Ghana is practicing a �winner-takes-all� system, where the ruling party controls all the affairs of the state. Mahama Ayariga further questioned the context in which the word �all inclusive� is being used. �Does a government become all inclusive only if there is NPP and NDC (representation)�? According to him, governments, since the inception of the Fourth Republican Constitution have, in one way or the other, involved other willing opposition parties in the governance process. �On the topic of inclusiveness, we turn to focus on political inclusiveness or political groups OK? But if you examine the whole issue of inclusiveness as defined by our constitution, it looks at all sorts of interest groups and minorities�. �And this government has been so�so progressive in trying to promote the policy of inclusiveness, as defined by our Constitution. It is the government that has the largest representation of women as top level ministerial positions and deputy ministerial positions. The largest number of youth appointed to top level ministerial and deputy ministerial positions. We have had physically disabled appointed for the first time, I believe, in the history of our country, to top ministerial appointment. �And people from civil society, people from academia that nobody really associated with partisan political activities. And so, you can see the President really trying to live to a more progressive definition of inclusiveness,� the Minister of Information and Media Relations argued. Hon. Ayariga made these comments on Metro TV�s current affairs program, �Good Morning Ghana� on Friday.