How Ghana must utilise its new strategic importance

"The annual Danquah Institute Governance and Development Dialogue Series was held at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra, Ghana, from the 8-9 February 2010. This year’s series was themed: ‘National Conference on Biometric Voter Registration and Electronic Voting’. Invitations were extended to all political parties. Participants included the General Secretary and Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party, the National Chairman and General Secretary of the People’s National Convention and the National Chairman and Director of Research of the New Patriotic Party. more >>>

"The use of electronic voting worldwide remains a relatively uncommon practice, although this is rapidly changing as countries experiment with various electronic methods or expand their existing use of electronic voting. Furthermore, electronic voting is not limited to Europe or North America, as countries such as Brazil and India have embraced electronic voting far more completely than Europe, the United States, or Canada. more >>>

"The transition to a new government under the NDC sig- nificantly diluted the policy environment during much of H1:09. Despite the slow start, the NDC government has been prepared to grapple with the thorny issue of fiscal overspending and has introduced meaningful austerity measures, including removing a number of subsidies despite their popular appeal. more >>>

"The fundamental question to be addressed before 2012 is how do we protect the integrity of the elections from the point of voter registration to the moment of winner certification?.

Linked to this is the question, what are the factors that influence public confidence in elections.more >>>

"Among the many challenges faced by the new Government when they took office in January 2009 were the effects of a global recession on the country, a period of unusually high food prices, pressure on the Ghana Cedi and a significant budget deficit.

It was therefore not surprising that 2009 was dedicated to taking control of the Government machinery, appraising the available resources, obligations and commitments and stabilising the economy.more >>>

"The Danquah Institute (DI) has called on the Government of the Republic of Ghana to come clean and warn Ghanaians beforehand how much it intends to raise VAT and electricity prices in line with Government’s policy to strengthen the fiscal state of the national economy.

With the end of September less than a week away, DI is also asking for the President Mills administration to let Ghanaians know how far it has gone in fulfilling the conditionalities set out in its June agreement with the World Bank, covering a $300 million credit facility.more >>>