The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, has told the electorate, with some 35 days to the holding of the December 7 elections, that President Mahama’s 8-year record in high office points to the fact that he cannot be trusted.
According to him, instead of the President focusing on his campaign and telling the people what he has done to improve on their livelihoods over the last 8 years, President Mahama is, rather, going around seeking to discredit policies outlined by the NPP flagbearer.
The latest such incident occurred in Akroso, in the Eastern Region, when President Mahama is reported to have urged the men and women of Ghana Armed Forces not to believe proposals made by the NPP to the effect that an Akufo-Addo government will increase the minimum number of years a soldier is expected to serve in the army from 25 years to 30 years.
President Mahama described this proposal made by the NPP Campaign Sector Committee Chairman on Security, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, as an “empty promise” which cannot be done, stating that “when we (in the NDC) promise, we deliver.”
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This statement drew a sharp response from Nana Addo, who asked: “Aren’t we living in this same Ghana, when Mahama promised a 1-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme? Has that materialized?”
Nana Addo continued, “He said he was going to build 200 Community Day Schools. His own Finance Minister, when presenting the 2016 budget statement, said only 9 had been completed. You said you were going to build 200, but you have commissioned only 12 or 13. Is this a leader who keeps his promises?”
He also reminded President Mahama of his 2012 manifesto promise of building 10 Colleges of Education. Again, the NPP flagbearer indicated that “not even a single one has been built.”
On the economy, he recounted the several macro-economic targets which were to be pursued in the next four years, as contained in the 2012 NDC manifesto, which included “an average GDP growth rate of at least 8% per annum; and a single digit rate of inflation.”
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This promise, like several others, according to the NPP flagbearer have not seen the light of day under President Mahama, with Ghana’s economy deteriorating under the President’s watch.
“The lowest and slowest rates of growth for 22 years in the history of our country is what we are getting this year under President Mahama. So we beg of our President, when you speak, know that you’re speaking to discerning minds and people who do not have short memories. There is not one important promise that Mahama has been able to fulfill in the time since he became President. Not one,” he added.
On the contrary, the NPP flagbearer noted that every important promise President Kufuor made was kept.
“He (President Kufuor) said he would establish the National Health Insurance Scheme. Didn’t he do it?” He said he would discover oil for Ghana, if we made him President? Didn’t he find the oil? He brought the School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit, National Youth Employment Programme, MASLOC, and the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty.”
“What is the programme that is associated with the name of John Dramani Mahama in Ghana? Well, I’ll tell you. The only thing that is associated with John Dramani Mahama’s name, is dumsor. That is the only thing that is associated with his name.”