GACC CAMPAIGN TRACKER

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this brief is to identify key commitments and policy propositions of the NPP government on fiscal transparency and accountability, assess feasibility and triangulate with the evidence from accountability matters. This brief forms part of an Oxfam funded project undertaken by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) dubbed “Citizens Action for Public Accountability and Pro-Poor Spending” and it seeks to create public awareness on these commitments and mobilize citizens to demand greater accountability in the management of public resources.

METHODOLOGY

By way of methodology, the review used the desktop approach as most of the data were secondary in nature, gathered from official reports, such as the 2016 NPP Manifesto, the 2017 & 2018 State of the Nation Addresses (SoNA) by the President, the 2017 and 2018 Annual Budgets and Economic Policy Statements and other NPP government policy statements related to their performance in office.

Information was also obtained from key offices and institutions responsible for delivering the promises on transparency and fiscal accountability such as Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Audit service although there was no formal administration of a survey or questionnaire.

The review focuses on the promises made, those initiated, fulfilled and/or ongoing within the government’s first one and half years (January 2017 – June 2018) in office. However, the assessment of the feasibility of the propositions also looks at whether or not they are realistic and can be done within their four (4) year-term or not. The findings are presented below.

FINDINGS

Below are the main promises of the NPP Government made to improve fiscal transparency and accountability in the management of the economy before they assumed power and since assuming power. Click on any of the thematic areas below for details:

	The passage of a Fiscal Responsibility Law, to bring comprehensive accountability, transparency and stability to the budget process
	Amend the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) to:
	To enforce and operationalise the PFMA
	Revenue mobilization
	The promotion of accountability and effective democracy through local governance
	To put in place anti-corruption measures in order to curb the canker: Legislative reforms to tackle corruption
	To put in place anti-corruption measures in order to curb the canker: Attitudinal change through public education on anti-corruption
	To put in place anti-corruption measures in order to curb the canker: Strengthening the institutions of state that work to curb corruption and ensure accountability
	The NPP government will ensure the strict enforcement of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663)
	The Code of Conduct and Assets Declaration Regime

CONCLUSIONS AND THE WAY FORWARD

In conclusion, the NPP, while in opposition, made several promises in its 2016 Manifesto and, on coming into office in January, 2017, the government repeated most of these promises and assured Ghanaians of its commitment to execute them. In general, a number of promises have been delivered while others have either been delivered or not touched at all. The reduction of the corporate (and, by implication, marginal) tax rate from 25% to 20% has been put on hold while the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Law, which is supposed to pave the way for the establishment of the Fiscal Council and Financial Stability Council has not yet been brought before Parliament. Also, the election of MMDCEs has been put on hold while the fight against corruption is not satisfactory so far. However, it is clear that some of the promises have been executed, the most prominent ones being the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor and the reduction of taxes.

The government has two and half years to end its first term in office and it is important that CSOs monitor the fulfilment of these promises and hold the government accountable to deliver on the them of the promises. This is the purpose of this project and the GACC intends to continue with this exercise for the next two years. It is hoped that the NPP government will accept the Report in good faith and work to honour all its promises as it prepares towards election in 2020. The opportunity is ripe for this as the political parties will soon start campaigning for the 2020 general elections. Politicians must be made to honour the promises they make which make them win power.

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