A Joint MCC-Ghana Sigh of Relief

Last Friday, the Ghanaian Parliament ratified by concensus the Millennium Challenge Account compact and the government of Ghana and the Millennium Challenge Corporation breathed a collective sigh of relief. Ratification of the compact was not a sure thing given Parliamentary dissent over the selection of beneficiary districts and tax-exemptions for expats and other compact purchases. And now, six months after signing the MCA compact, the last major hurdle required to enter the compact into force and begin serious implementation has been completed. Perhaps the Wall Street Journal article on the risk of less funding for the MCA overall was exactly what was needed to move the Ghanaians to action.
More broadly, the MCC is contemplating internally whether recipient country Parliamentary ratification of MCA compacts should be a standard condition precedent to entry into force. My own view is that it should be, for two key reasons: validation of the consultative process with local civil society feeding into the compact and for continuity should there be a change in government during compact implementation. What do you think?