It’s a joke, no real change will ever happen within four-year term of government – Duncan Williams

Founder and Overseer of Christian Action Faith Ministries Worldwide, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has described as a “joke” the idea that any government in Ghana can bring about significant national change within a four-year term.

According to him, developing a country and introducing real transformation takes much longer and requires a vision that extends beyond political cycles.

He cited the examples of Dubai, China, and India, whose governments have committed to 100-year national development agendas that transcend changes in political leadership.

“India has a 100-year vision and they have 50 years to go. Just Dubai here, has a 100-year national vision. China has a 100-year national vision. Raising about 10,000 billionaires and 100,000 millionaires, it is a national agenda that all political parties, all stakeholders are compelled, and it is embedded in the constitution to follow that vision and direction,” he said.

Duncan-Williams explained that because these long-term national visions are protected by law and supported by all political forces, development continues regardless of which party is in power. All resources, he stressed, are directed toward achieving a single, unchanging national agenda.

He was speaking when the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Ahmed, paid a courtesy call on religious leaders in Accra on April 16.

Ahmed Ibrahim’s visit was part of efforts to seek the support of the Christian community following the reintroduction of the National Sanitation Day initiative under the incumbent government.

The Ministry is working in partnership with religious bodies and chiefs in the fight against waste and filth in the country.

Focusing on Ghana’s situation, he criticised the four-year election cycle, saying it has in practice become a three-year cycle because much of the third year is consumed by campaigning for re-election.

“To be honest, this government has about two years and seven months to go. Because the third year is for party elections and the main national election. We really don’t have time,” he said.

Duncan-Williams further stressed that if Ghana truly wants to secure the future of its children and grandchildren, it must adopt a binding national development agenda, protected by the constitution, that all political parties and stakeholders must follow regardless of who is in office.