Electorates and political watchers in Ghana witness a repetitive ritual every election year where political parties come out with proposed solutions to the nation’s problems. This repetitive act has largely become mundane to the extent of losing its relevance and effect on the electorate. |
At best, the outcome of such proposed solutions comes dressed as mere campaign messages and nothing
more. In most cases, such campaign messages are either championed by a think tank commissioned for that purpose, which they execute to the exclusion of the ultimate beneficiaries. In other instances, they may be spearheaded by lobbyists, who will definitely tilt the balance to their advantage.
At other times, such messages may be pushed by party bankrollers, whose end goal is to rake in returns on their huge investments. The common approach in Ghana has thus been the use of some sort of manifesto committees to deliberate and come out with what the manifesto committee feels would better meet the expectations of
the citizens.
Though this approach appears to deliver quick prescriptions within the limited time frame before elections, it nonetheless comes with serious shortcomings, including its reliance on a limited team of party experts as
opposed to a wider consultative team across all constituencies, the temporary/ad hoc nature of such a committee and its works, and the use of the top-down approach with its attendant implementation challenges, clientelism/populism, as wellas the focus on a specific election, etc.
Best practice in political campaign policy formulation, on the other hand, makes use of policy units. These units adopt a detailed research-based approach or the use of more inclusive methods, which empower the masses in the party. The outcome of such policy units is detailed policy papers, purpose-driven and futuristic; due to the long-term nature of the working groups as well as their policy proposals, the all-encompassing nature of their composition and the final output, which looks beyond just political messaging, but rather a blueprint
for the future.
The proposal by His Excellency Dr. Mahamud Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the establishment of a Policy Unit of the NPP, to serve as the policy incubation arm or the idea bank of the party, is therefore in accord with modern-day political party policy formulation. This groundbreaking proposal is novel and deserves the loudest commendation.
The proposal by Dr Bawumia, therefore, draws the curtains on the age-oldtradition of political messaging within the NPP, which is election-driven and short-term based and opens a new chapter in Ghana’s political party policy
formulation that is futuristic and must therefore be embraced by all political
actors.
Indeed, the man who is credited with giving purpose and relevance to the ceremonial office of the vice-president during his tenure has yet set the tone for political party policy-making. Policy formulation within a political entity centres on public policy, and thus involves structured steps, actions and principles adopted in governance, as a
response to the concerns of the public.
Policies could therefore be carved out on every aspect of our socio-economic life, such as technology, pensions, trade, the environment, youth, education, housing, utilities, agriculture, natural resources, finance, etc. Clearly spelt out policies, therefore, give assurance to the citizens and shape their choices and aspirations for the future.
Dr Bawumia’s idea, therefore, presents an opportunity for the NPP to ride on the back of the yet-to-be established policy unit to attract and recruit into the party the thousands of young and skilled professionals across the country. who eventually would be the fulcrum around which the policy unit will revolve.
This necessitates a conscious effort, aimed at fashioning clear and effective implementation guidelines that stipulate the policy unit’s core objectives, mode of composition of teams, scope of work, as well as the desired outcomes. There is also a need for the use of effective communication mechanisms to keep party folks and the citizens well-informed on the progress of implementation.
The two would guarantee clarity of the unit’s purpose, as well as transparency in its implementation process. This would thus make the whole idea of a policy unit attractive to young technocrats and party folks at all levels, create excitement and ignite a spirit of volunteerism towards the policy unit’s activities.
To be relevant and meet the expectations of the citizens, the policy unit should be anchored on solutions that emanate from the lower level of the communities. Being the people who face the stark realities on the ground and face the brunt of inappropriately aligned government policies, the local folks’ ideas must feature prominently and serve as the foundation on which any final policy document must be derived.
Provision should therefore be made for local professional groups, whether formal or informal, local business owners, women’s groups, chiefs, the vulnerable & disabled, pensioners, students, etc.
Participation should, however, be based on merit and conformance with prescribed guidelines. The policy formulation approach should therefore be bottom-up, with local ideas distilled as they are transmitted up the hierarchy to have an outcome that reflects the input of all, as well as answers perfectly the socio-economic
problems across the various social strata.
It would therefore not be out of place to put the party’s constituency structures in the driving seat to mobilise and disseminate information on the yet to be established policy unit, and also for the constituencies to lead the charge in the identification, invitation and inclusion of competent persons fit to serve under any department/ of sector of the unit at the local levels when the unit is eventually birthed.
To get the best out of the teams, participation as a member of a select team or work group must be voluntary, and participants must conform to already-spelt-out guidelines contained in the policy unit’s implementation
document. Additionally, the policy unit’s work must dovetail with the party’s existing structures to ensure seamless assimilation of ideas and their propagation.
While I celebrate this as a turning point in our governance policy formulation process, I wish to admonish the working group that will lead the charge on behalf of Dr Mahamud Bawumia, in the establishment of this enviable policy unit, to make this initiative count.
Source: Issifu Wunzooma Amadu Esq.
Public Procurement & Trade Policy Analyst
Wunzomadu@gmail.com
