Former Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, has raised concerns about the government’s failure to include the National Cathedral in the recently unveiled performance tracker.
During a discussion on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr. Segbefia criticized the document for its notable discrepancies and omissions, questioning its accuracy and transparency.
While stressing the importance of accountability in governance, Mr. Segbefia emphasized the need for accuracy and transparency in such documents.
“… Even on infrastructure, the biggest omission is the National Cathedral. Where is it? Government money has been invested into the national cathedral, so why is it not on the performance tracker?” he quizzed.
The ex-Minister highlighted inconsistencies in the performance tracker, indicating a lack of thoroughness in its compilation.
However, he attributed these discrepancies to negligence rather than deliberate oversight.
“There are things there that should never have been there because they are non-existent. And there is the issue of projects that were not done by the government. They were done by NGOs, private companies, and alumni but they are in the performance tracker even though it didn’t cost the government a dime.
“Then we have things the NPP sees as commendable but we think are just too petty. So if you give out jerseys or build a speed ramp, we don’t expect to see this. So when you look at them, you realise that the tracker sways towards more politics than governance,” he said on Monday.
He condemned its omission of crucial indicators like the Press Freedom Index and the Corruption Index, which he considered vital for a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s performance.
“It didn’t capture the Corruption Index even though it was a campaign tool the NPP used heavily when they were in opposition to get into power. If you are tracking, track everything that is happening in the country holistically. If it is just on infrastructure issues then let us know,” he said.
In response to the Minister, Presidential Staffer Dennis Miracles Aboagye acknowledged the shortcomings of the tracker, stating that it is still a work in progress.
He emphasized that all feedback is appreciated and will be addressed appropriately.
“This is a tracker, which means it is a living document, it is updated by the minute, hour, and day. There is absolutely nothing wrong if he thinks there is something that should be in the tracker that isn’t, it can be considered.
“We shouldn’t make it look like it is a big deal if someone identifies that the cathedral or something is not on the tracker. It can be worked on,” he stated.