“They borrowed three times more than I did in my time and if you ask what was done with about $54 billion that was borrowed, I mean you can see examples of it all over the place,” he said in an interview on TV XYZ on Sunday, August 23 at the end of his tour of the Volta and Oti regions.
He said despite borrowing more than three times than he did while in office between 2012 and 2017, there is nothing to show for the current development.
He cited the expansion of the ports, construction of railways, roads, schools and hospitals as evidence of the investment of his borrowing, for which he was lambasted in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
“People can physically see what that money was used for.”
He stressed that the situation is contrary in the case of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
“Unfortunately in this case, you don’t see anything. In social-economic, in infrastructure, you don’t find anything.”
He emphasised: “What has happened is this government has borrowed for consumption and that’s the tragedy.
“When you borrow you don’t use it for consumption. you borrow in order that you can invest in the real sector and capital development.”
He called on the youth of the nation to be concerned about the rate of borrowing under this government.
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama has strongly defended his promise to legalize the commercial use of motorcycles popularly called ‘okada’ in Ghana if he is elected President on December 7, 2020.
Mr Mahama in an address to chiefs and people of Kpando in the Volta Region as part of his tour of the region said he recognizes the benefits of the ‘okada’ business to the many families that depend on it, hence his promise.
Currently, the use of motorbikes and tricycles for commercial purposes in any form is against Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (L.I 2180).
Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have criticized Mahama over the promise describing it as hypocritical and an attempt to lure Ghanaians to vote for him.
But speaking in an interview on XYZ TV, John Mahama who is also a former President said he made this promise because okada it has provided more jobs than any government policy.
“This is a service that has come to stay. Whether you legalize it or not you cannot stop it and so why behave like the ostrich and bury your head in the sand. These okadas have created more jobs in this economy than any government job-related policy. It has created more jobs than NABCo, it has created more jobs than YEA and all those artificial job creation programs.
He further argued that legalizing the trade will enable the government to save the riders from constant harassment from the police since they are currently operating illegally.
“These young people are living under harassment because it is illegal and so the police harass them; they stop them from time to time and take money off them and all that. And so, my suggestion is that we should legalize it and regulate it to make it safer by training the riders, ensuring that the riders observe all the safety precautions and provide a helmet for the passenger.”
The former President also indicated that by regularizing the commercial use of motorcycles, riders will be easily identified to ensure that they go by all traffic regulations.
“We must be able to identify that this is a commercial motorcycle so that we can ensure that they are following the rules and they must obey all traffic regulations. You can’t pick a passenger and get to a red traffic light and ride through. So, I say let’s legalize, let’s regularize because it has created sustainable jobs and people are earning an income out of this.”
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised on behalf of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to build sixteen model Senior High Schools in the Zongo communities in all sixteen regions in Ghana.
This was among many promises that were made at the launch of the NPP Manifesto held on August 22, 2020, at the University of Cape Coast.
Dr. Bawumia said, “We want to make sure that we focus on education in the Zongo communities so we are building model Senior High Schools at the Zongo communities in each of the 16 regions so we will have 16 model Senior High Schools in Zongo communities”.
Zongo communities are among the most highly deprived communities in the country and prior to the 2016 elections, the NPP made a promise to address the problem with education, as well as look for a vehicle that will prioritize development in Zongos so as to move away from the rice and sugar tpe of development.
In three and a half years, the NPP government boasts of establishing a Ministry for Inner-city and Zongo development, and creating the Zongo Development Fund which is paving way for sustainable development in these communities.
Moving further on his promises, the Vice President noted that one of the areas that has not received enough attention from past governments is the area of special needs education hence, the NPP government, when given another chance to build this country, will focus more on this area and support organizations in the private sector who are also trying to help this cause.
“We are going to increase the resources and infrastructure for special needs education across the country”, he stated.
Still on the provision of infrastructure to better education, Dr. Bawumia observed that the field of legal education is also one that has limited infrastructure, thus, limits intake and in turn, causes a lot of frustration with many prospective lawyers who are unable to get in. He promised that the NPP government will also expand infrastructure in this field so as to increase access to professional legal education in the country.
Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the youth in the country to vote for a political party that prioritises and cares for their future.
“This election is about your future, especially the young people. It is about the future for your children and children’s children and the party that will guarantee that future is the NDC,” he said.
Mr Mahama who addressed the people of Alavanyo in the Hohoe Municipality as part of his tour to the Volta region said the NDC would create one million jobs for the young people of Ghana, if voted for.
He said the next NDC government would also provide financial assistance for the youth, who would be interested in learning apprenticeship or skills with their hands.
The Flagbearer called on eligible voters to go out in their numbers during the exhibition of the voter’s register to check their names and cautioned them not to vote “skirt and blouse” during the December polls.
“In Hohoe Constituency, no skirt and blouse vote. I know that because elections are coming, they will come and give you money.
“When they bring the money, take it and ‘chop’ it, but when you enter the booth, remember that you are voting for the future of your children.”
Mr Mahama said the many plans the Party had for citizens would materialise if given the nod.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Running Mate of NPP flagbearer, announced this at the launch of its 2020 Manifesto in Cape Coast on Saturday.
The policy would save the government millions of Ghana cedis as it would offload the cost of maintenance of that equipment on a leasing company.
The Party also promised to establish a National Transport Sector Recapitalization Policy to enable commercial vehicle operators to exchange their old vehicles with new ones and pay the cost overtime.
This would breathe life into the local automobile manufacturing companies, get rid of rickety vehicles on the road as well as reduce the high incidence of road crashes.
The Manifesto was on the theme, “Leadership of Service, Protecting our Progress, Transforming Ghana for All” was held virtually, and streamed live on major media outlets and social media platforms across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Manifesto was segmented into three parts-accounting for our leadership, consolidating our gain and plan for accelerating growth.
The Manifesto is a social contract between the Party and the people. It outlines the programmes, policies and ideas it intends to implement should it wins power.
The event was attended by government officials, traditional rulers and party bigwigs, with President Akufo-Addo officially outdooring the document.
Vice President Bawumia added that the next NPP government would implement a National Rental Assistance Scheme with a seed fund of GHc100 million to enable gainfully employed Ghanaians rent decent apartments and pay it overtime.
Giving accounts of the Akufo-Addo led government’s three and half years in office, Dr Bawumia said it had fulfilled 80 per cent of its promises, with over 300 achievements.
The achievements, he said, cut across various sectors of the economy including many infrastructural development in the areas of roads, healthcare, agriculture, education and social interventions to ease the burden on the poor and vulnerable.
The next NPP government, Vice President Bawumia assured, would consolidate the gains made so far and focus on its industrialisation drive including one-district,one-factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Export and Rural Development, commence the Integrated Aluminum and Bauxite, Iron and Steel projects as well as expand other existing programmes.
He told Martin Asiedu-Dartey on the TV3’s News@10 Thursday August 20 that the kind of debate Mr Mahama is calling for has been ongoing within the media space among stakeholders since Tuesday August 18 after the Vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia recounted the achievements of the government with respect to infrastructure.
The vice president had said since 2017, the government of President Akufo-Addo has initiated 17,334 infrastructural projects in this country.
“Of these, we have completed 8,746 and there is 8,588 ongoing,” Dr Bawumia said.
But Mahama on his campaign tour of the Volta Region called on Akufo-Addo to come for a one-on-one debate if he thinks that he has performed better than the previous administration.
“I am willing to present myself for a debate with President Akufo-Addo any day, anytime, anywhere. And we will settle the matter once and for all,” Mahama said on Wednesday.
Reacting to his call, Pius Hadzide said, “that invitation is pointless and unnecessary.
“It is a desperate and smart way of Mr Mahama to run away from a discussion or debate that is already ongoing on infrastructure of the first term of every administration.”
A member of the Conventions People’s Party Kwame Jantuah is of the view that manifestos prepared and released by political parties is a causal factor for financial loss.
According to him, manifestos haven’t been of any help to the country and that a long-term development plan is needed.
His reservation comes after the New Patriotic Party announced it would be inaugurating its manifesto on Saturday August 22, as the December polls is fast-approaching.
Speaking on the Morning Starr with host Francis Abban, Mr Jantuah said “we need a long term development plan and also implement it because manifestos haven’t helped.”
“I keep saying and I’ll continue saying that manifestos in this country keep causing us financial losses,” he added.
Deputy Communications Director for the NPP Kamal-Deen Abdulai touching on the manifesto launch said “we promised a governance of transparency, truth and we are delivering and people can verify that.”
“We have chosen the Central Region to launch our manifesto and to Kickstart our campaign towards the 2020 elections. But due to the COVID-19 protocols, it’s going to be limited in terms of attendance.”
Politician, Akua Donkor who aspires to be the President of Ghana has waded in the Papa No conversation by blowing the cover of who the Papa No is.
Since this Papa No conversation started, many have pointed fingers and mentioned names, alleging to be the Papa No with very little evidence to back their claims.
Akua Donkor who is the founder of Ghana freedom party, without fear and panic has mentioned who the Papa no is, and also raveled some ladies who are also involved with the Papa no.
The aspiring Presidential candidate, made this revelation during an interview on one Silva Fm where she blew the cover of Papa no.
According to Akua Donkor, the Papa no we are looking for is no other person than, the ex President John Dramani Mahama. She said this boldly with every bit of confidence in her.
She also said, the ex President had lot of ladies including an MP who he has bough a house for in Tema and has even given birth about 5 or 6 months ago.
Madam Akua Donkor really has a history with the ex President, as she campaigned for him massively during the last elections, and started calling him her son because of how close they were.
The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will restore quality education in the country, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential candidate has said.
A statement signed by Mawuena Trebah, Spokesperson for the running mate and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday said the current state of the education system, under the present government, threatened the future of the country.
“We will prioritize improving the quality of education, especially at the secondary level, across the country,” she said.
The statement said she gave the assurance while responding to concerns by traditional leaders about the poor state of education infrastructure, during a courtesy call on Naa Alhassan Andani, Paramount Chief of the Tampion Traditional Area of Dagbon in the Northern Region, as part of her campaign tour.
She said the integrity of a nation’s education system was based on its quality, which should not be compromised for any reason.
“The next NDC government under President John Mahama will continue with its monumental infrastructural projects that will ensure increased access to quality education while introducing more interventions for the benefit of teachers”.
“Any country that is interested in the future, will pay attention to the quality development of her children”.
“Many things would be put right. NDC will instill discipline in our schools again,” she said.
She assured the chiefs of the area of more education sector projects under the NDC and urged them to help the NDC to regain the power to continue its good works in the region, most of which were abandoned.
The statement said the NDC Running Mate also paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Zoggu, Nyong, Tong, Karaga, and Gushegu where the traditional leaders expressed their desire for the NDC to return to power to assist their towns to develop.
The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) under John Mahama will pay each assembly member a monthly salary of at least GHC1, 000, MyNewsGh.com has learnt.
“I did the mathematics; elected assembly members are 55000. If we give each of them GHC1,000 a month, that is GH¢55 million a year”, former President John Dramani Mahama hinted when he toured Mepe in the North Tongu constituency of the Volta Region on Monday, 17 August 2020.
According to him, if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo alone could spend GHC69 million on travels in nine months in 2019, then the money could be found to pay assembly members.
“So, if the President alone can travel [for] GH¢69 million cedis in nine months, why can’t we find the money to pay assembly members?” the NDC flagbearer asked party supporters.
Meanwhile, after Mr Mahama’s promise to pay assembly members during a meeting with the Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) at his office in Accra, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, said it was a rehashed 2012 manifesto promise of the NDC which the former President never fulfilled as President between 2013 and 2016 while in office
“He [Mahama] knows it is impossible, the real situation is that the way the decentralisation scheme has been designed, they are like a board of the assembly and are not a full-time employee”, the Minister stated.
Former Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Ejisu-Juaben under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama’s administration, Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh, has thrown an open challenge to the Ashanti Regional chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Benard Antwi Bosiako alias Chairman Wontumi, to debate him on the ‘real state of Ghana’s economy and the country’s results fair’, MyNewsGh.com reports.
In submission on Kumasi-based Pure FM’s as a guest on the station’s ‘Pure Morning Drive’ program with Yaw Nimako, Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh revealed that it is only Chairman Wontumi whose business is flourishing under the NPP government in the Ashanti region and so he [Wontumi] fails to see beyond the immense hardship his party has heaped on Ghanaians and how ‘worst President Akufo-Addo has managed the economy.’
“Yaw, Wontumi goes around parading himself and his party as Ghana’s messiah. It is him I need. I want him one on one in an open debate on the real state of Ghana’s economy and the country’s results fair.
It is only him that is making wealth in the region. Under the NPP, it’s only Wontumi’s businesses that are flourishing so he fails to see beyond the mismanagement of the country and always when he opens his mouth, he talks anyhow.”
“He has continued to exhibit blatant disrespect to the people of Ghana especially those of us here in the Ashanti region, insulting our intelligence in the least opportunity he gets to speak publicly… If he is a real man and believes in the so-called better performance of the incompetent Akufo-Addo’s administration, he should meet me in a one on one debate. I challenge him.” Yamoah Ponkoh stated on Pure FM.
The newly sworn-in Municipal Chief Executive for the Akuapim North Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region has identified the provision of quality education as one of his utmost priorities during his tenure of office.
Barima Asiedu Larbi Awuah Sarpong who extolled the brilliant academic prowess of the people of Akuapem North promised to pursue vigorous educational reforms to revamp the current falling standards of education in the area.
Speaking in an interview with the media after taking his oath in a swearing-in ceremony at Akropong on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, the New Assembly Chief said he would bring his experience in the educational sector to bear on the fortunes of education in the area.
Identifying sanitation as another priority of his office, the new MCE resolved to institute pragmatic measures to deal with the menace in line with the President’s vision of making Ghana a clean country.
Barima Asiedu Larbi Awuah Sarpong’s nomination early in August by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo followed the removal of the former MCE for the area, Dennis Aboagye.
At a confirmation exercise at the assembly hall of the Municipal Assembly, the new MCE received 45 votes out of the 46 casts, in the election supervised by the Electoral Commission led by the Municipal Electoral Officer, Solomon Anganga.
He swore the official oath and oath of secrecy before Her Honour, Arit Nsemoh, a Circuit Court Judge at the Akropong Circuit Court.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei and the Assembly Members of the Akuapim North Municipal Assembly for the confidence reposed in him and for the opportunity to serve the people in the municipality.
Barima Asiedu Larbi Awuah Sarpong also promised to offer his assistance and devoted services to the people and urged all and sundry to support and cooperate with him.
The Assembly Chief called for unity and avoid division to ensure maximum development in Akuapem North.
He acknowledged the arduous task ahead of him but said his confirmation together with that of the Presiding Member would ensure the speedy execution of various projects in the area.
He promised to consult all stakeholders including the former MCE and other MCEs to consult them for the progress of Akuapem North.
Confirmation of Presiding Member
The Akuapim North Municipal Assembly which on six previous occasions was unsuccessful in electing a Presiding Member, finally and almost unanimously endorsed the former Presiding Member, Mr. Asiedu Offei as its new PM.
Mr. Asiedu Offei was elected with 45 out of 46 votes as the new PM for the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly.
The election was supervised by the Electoral Commission led by the Municipal Electoral Officer, Solomon Anganga.
The new Presiding Member swore the official oath and oath of secrecy before Her Honour, Arit Nsemoh, a Circuit Court Judge at the Akropong Circuit Court.
Barima Awuah Sarpong until his nomination was the headmaster of the Okuapeman Basic School and a student at the Ghana School of Law.
Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfuor on behalf of President Akuffo Addo thanked the Assembly Members for their support and urged them to collaborate with the chiefs to develop the area.
The minister who was satisfied with the turn of events was hopeful that the confirmation of the MCE and PM would guarantee the quick growth of the municipality.
He urged the two men to cooperate with the Assembly members in the discharge of his duties.
Mr. Darfuor urged the assembly to ensure the prudent development of the area as the people have hope in them and expect rapid development in return for the taxes they pay as the positions occupied by the Assembly Members must come with benefits to the people.
The members of the assembly pledged their allegiance, cooperation and support for the MCE and the PM and called on them to reciprocate the gesture to ensure unity.
They also promised to use their influence to support the assembly.
President Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for work to begin on more than 200 kilometres of roads in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
While much of the work would see the construction of new roads others would be upgraded to bitumen surfacing.
The project would see the construction of the 30.2km Teleku Bokazo-Salman-Anibil Junction Feeder Road, 20km Teleku Bokazo-Asasetre-Anyinase Feeder Road, 19.4km Asasetre-Akropong-Gyampre Junction, 15km Adubrim-Ayawora-Aspaneye, 20km Santaso-Asomase-Baseke, and 38.16km Santaso-Aidoosuazo-Kwesikrom-Prestea Nkwanta feeder roads.
Addressing a durbar at Teleku-Bokazo, President Akufo-Addo said he took pride in doing such projects to honour Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who hailed from the District.
He said his administration had made a lot of investments in the district than any other hence the need to vote four more for him to do more and for the first time vote for an NPP candidate.
The President gave the assurance to honour every promise he made to the people as well as respond to the appeals by the chiefs and people.
Awulae Amihre Kpanyili III, Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, commended President Akufo-Addo for fulfilling his promise and called for the establishment of a community mining project, Atuabo harbour and a district hospital.
He called on Ghanaians to preserve the country’s tranquillity and urged politicians to avoid confrontations, which had the tendency to jeopardise the peace.
President Akufo-Addo earlier inspected the on-going construction of the Ankyerynin-Egyam road and visited the Catholic Spiritual Renewal Centre (Grotto).
The Reverend Father Anthony Eshun, in charge of the Centre, thanked the President for the visit and said for the past 25 years no President had visited the place, which had denied the Centre of infrastructural development.
Inusah Fuseini, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has asked the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to desist from throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians.
This statement follows comments made by the Vice President of Ghana Bawumia during his presentation of the Akufo-Addo government’s infrastructure record on Tuesday.
Bawumia said the NPP’s infrastructure projects provide value for money, unlike that of the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
According to Bawumia, the Akufo-Addo government, has, apart from its pursuit of an inclusive infrastructure development for all, has also focused on delivering the best value for money for all of its projects.
Bawumia cited the constructing of four major interchanges; Tema, Pokuase, Tamale and Obetsebi Lamptey interchanges which the NPP built at a cost of $289m whereas the Mahama administration built the Kwame Nkrumah interchange alone at a cost of $260m.
For the Pokuase interchange, which is 75% complete, Dr. Bawumia explained that the loan agreement for the project was signed in November 2016 for a three-tier interchange, but the Akufo-Addo government renegotiated for a four-tier interchange without any increase in cost.
Reacting to the Bawumia’s presentation in an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Inusah Fuseini, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) negotiated with the African Development Bank for the Construction of the Pokuase interchange which the NPP is taking credit for.
Inusah Fuseini refuted claims that the Mahama administration did not construct the Kwame Nkrumah interchange at a cost of $260m.
He explained that the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange was built at the cost of €74m and not $260m as being alleged by the NPP.
“How can a vice president peddle such falsehood. He should resign from the office of the vice president. The Kwame Nkrumah interchange was built at a cost of €74m, it is not even in dollars. He should bow his head in shame,” he added.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has said a new NDC government will implement a Free Primary Health Care Plan to provide health for all Ghanaians.
“This will remove cost as a barrier to healthcare and ensure health for all”, the former President said.
Addressing members and supporters of NDC at Akatsi on Tuesday, 17 August 2020, as part of his four-day tour of the Volta Region, Mr Mahama noted that despite the implementation of the NHIS, gaps still remain in the delivery of universal healthcare in the country.
He is, therefore, seeking to address the gap with the introduction of Free Primary Healthcare.
This means that regardless of the validity or otherwise of one’s NHIS card, that person can access health care at no cost at the district level.
Mr Mahama said the free primary healthcare plan, which will be available to all patients in CHPS compounds, polyclinics, health centres and district hospitals, will ensure that the most common illnesses afflicting Ghanaians are detected and treated early, before complications set in.
He also told market women in Akatsi that a new NDC government will provide them with a modern market to enable them conduct their businesses in a conducive atmosphere.
