President, NEF Participants Commend Veep

By Edmund Mingle

President Mahama (left) with his Deputy, Vice President Amissah-Arthur

Participants at the just ended National Economic Forum, have lauded the immense contribution and performance of Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, whose contribution they say led to the successful consensus achieved at the forum.

According to them, the exemplary contribution and zeal exhibited by the Vice President to develop practicable solutions to the challenges facing the nation, highly motivated the participants to give off their best.

Many of the participants, particularly those who know the Vice President from a distance, said they were surprised at the performance of the Vice, expressing confidence that the President has a good backing.

The participants’ commendation followed President John Mahama’s public appreciation to his deputy for his immense contribution and commitment towards addressing the challenges confronting the economy.

Closing the forum held at Senchi, near Akosombo in the Eastern region after the adoption of the Senchi Consensus which proffered vital practical solutions to the nation’s economic problems, President Mahama renewed his confidence in the Vice President, saying his contribution to national development and leadership demonstrated at the forum, “is not short of exemplary.”

He was confident that his deputy would continue to lead the Economic Management Team, which he said had been emboldened by the Senchi consensus, to develop the pursue the necessary interventions for economic growth.

Dr. Steve Manteaw, Coordinator of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), said “he gave a very good account of himself.”

According to him, the Vice President’s workaholic nature, incisive knowledge and high level of openness surprised many, adding that he remain active throughout the three day forum to ensure that the outcome was successful.

“I think that he showed a great deal of commitment and dedication to the whole process. He contributed to the discussions and he was deeply involved.

“I’m not privy to what he does when he is out of the public view, but the fact that the person is not in the public view does not necessarily mean he is not working.

“But I can speak to what I’m privy to and that is the fact that he is a very hard working person, very dedicated and committed and a damn good facilitator,” he said.

Kof Asamoah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said said he was in total agreement with the commendation by the President.

He said he considered the performance the Vice President worth emulating, adding that “his determination to get the work done” remained admirable.

 “He actively co-ordinated the whole thing from the very beginning till the end and sometimes into the late night and it was just appreciable that he was on his feet all through from the planning stages. It was quite commendable and encouraging.”

  
According to political analysts, the performance of the Vice President, who work output was in full glare for all the dozens of participants, corrects the negative impression about him.

According to the analysts, although the Vice President is known workaholic in government cycles, his absence from public view gives an impression that he was not working.

That impression, they said may have fuelled speculations that others were been groomed to take up the NDC running mate position for the 2016 elections.