Ghanaians around the world are very proud of the relatively peaceful elections that took place in the past month. Now that the election frenzy is over, party hats taken off, and we have a President, it is time for us to press on, continue to be vigilant, be informed about the issues and keep our politicians in check. Our peaceful transition and our stable country hold true because of the hard work that Ghanaians have put into reducing ethnic tensions and improving civil society organizations, and media outcries about government policies, both good and bad. The goodwill that we have earned as a country on the international scene is also great, but if there is anything to learn from the past elections, I pray you Mr. President to keep your eyes open to the needs of Ghanaians on the ground and not to what the USA, Europe or Asia have to say about Ghana. From the discovery of offshore oil, to major reforms in basic to post-secondary education, to finding employment for the youth, to improving the health systems in our nation, it is without a doubt that you, Mr. President, have a huge task ahead of you. Remember that four years comes by very quickly and we will be back at the polls to grade your efforts in advancing our country. I am not a proponent of government-only led development, but it is without a doubt that the government plays a major role in promoting reforms, particularly in a developing county like ours, and so needs to be structured effectively to spearhead strategic development plans for our nation. It is a little strange for a 28-year-old woman bred "and buttered" in Ghana to dare give advice to the President of the land, but that is exactly the point I would like to make, and very politely: Ghana has a plethora of young professionals who are involved in the decision-making of companies they either own or work for. These younger folk have been able to successfully manage equity firms, public policy organizations, etc., but somehow are not typically considered for positions in top-level governance. I believe it is time to use the advice of such people at the government level. I do understand that in Ghana, and around our continent, there is a belief that with age comes wisdom. I agree entirely with this adage. However, I have also seen that several of our elderly folk, particularly those who have taken on political positions, have not necessarily made wise choices for our country. I dare say that one of the keys to development, and not just development but development that is in tune with the very fast-paced growth of our world today, would come with filling cabinet positions with a number of these younger folk. A few Ministers and deputy ministers under the age of 40 would aid the country in considering fresh ideas and making the needed analyses. I am not advocating choosing ministers or top ranking officials based on their age. My point is that a conscious effort should be made to identify qualified young professionals who are building business, managing NGOs, improving higher education, etc., and who would make major contributions to the government, but by virtue of their "youthfulness" would never be considered. I make this argument because of the arguments, analyses, and realistic ideas (not to mention intense passion and energy) that I have heard and participated in with several young Ghanaian professionals. Such encounters have left me, without a doubt in my mind, to believe that Ghana (and in fact, the continent) would be several steps ahead if we found a more structured way of involving "tomorrow's leaders" in today's government. Mr. President, if this idea sounds too far-fetched to you, I would like to suggest an alternative - create an official council that would be an advisory board to the President, of young Ghanaian professionals who would analyze major government policy decisions and provide you with ideas for improvement. Let them challenge your government to consider innovations that are common to them, and let them get involved in producing a country that can compete with the "big shots" on the global scene. You might just be surprised by the positive impact such a council will produce. Credit: Christabel Ewuradjoa Dadzie [ewuradjoa@gmail.com]