Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has commended former President John Dramani Mahama for his inclusive and consultative style of leadership, describing him as a leader who values institutional advice over autocratic decision-making.
His comments come amid President Mahama’s high-level engagement with major civil society organisations (CSOs) at the Jubilee House on Thursday, October 3, to deliberate on lasting solutions to Ghana’s illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme, Mr Fuseini said he was impressed by the government’s renewed approach to tackling illegal mining.
“I came out of the programme yesterday hugely satisfied that something was being done and that there was probably a change in approach to the galamsey fight.
“Clearly, the President and the government appear to have a strategy, and they are implementing it,” he said.
He noted that the President and his team were “deeply and acutely aware of the risks” involved in the fight against illegal mining, adding that President Mahama did not rule out the possible imposition of a state of emergency to address the crisis.
“I was very happy that the President appears to be giving vent to good governance metrics that every government intending to carry the people along in implementing a policy like stopping galamsey ought to be transparent, accountable, empower government institutions, legal and regulatory or governance institutions, engage stakeholders, and fight corruption within the system.
“And I clearly could see that, look, the government says, yes, I can impose a state of emergency—the Constitution mandates me, gives me the authority to do so—but I act on the advice of a state institution,’ clearly giving a perspective to the institutional approach of handling matters. And I was happy,” Mr. Fuseini explained.
He added that President Mahama’s posture reflects respect for institutional processes and the rule of law.
“He didn’t appear to be dictatorial or to act arbitrarily—he appeared to be relying on the advice of institutions, and I was happy,” he concluded.
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