Dr. Mahama Reiterates PNC's $5 Wage Promise

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama, says his government would embark on personal sacrifice to deliver the $5 minimum wage promise when voted into power.

"Just as Dr. Hilla Liman and his government did in 1979 by forfeiting their salaries for the first six months and doubled the minimum wage at that time, we shall also do the same when given the mandate to rule" Dr. Mahama said.

Dr. Mahama who was speaking to the Ghanaian Chronicle in Accra, after the launching of his maiden book titled "The NEW GHANAIAN; A MANDATE FOR CHANGE" said, the proposal for increased minimum wage would be among the first to be laid before parliament by the PNC Government.

According to the Dr. Mahama, apart from personal sacrifice, his Government will cut down the number of Ministers and merge some of the Ministries to reduce the present waste in the system. He said, "A big country like America has only 19 Ministers whereas a small country like Ghana have as much as 87 Ministers", stressing that this is an example of the numerous wastages which could be avoided.

Dr. Mahama held that Ministers of State and Government officials misuse the nations scare fuel, citing an instance when he went to the Accountant General's office to find out the amount of fuel assigned vehicles of state officials periodically. "And they could not give me any answer Dr. Mahama lamented". In a preface to his book, The PNC flagbearer for the 2000 presidential election said, within the first 100 days of the PNC Government the issue of dual citizenship would be brought before parliament and enacted into law. "I cannot to this day understand why Ghanaians cannot have dual citizenship. Accordingly, this is one of the issues that will be taken up in Parliament and enacted into law within the first 100 days of a PNC Government assuming office" he stated.

Just like himelf, Dr. Mahama pleaded with Ghanaian professionals abroad to come back home and contribute their quota to national development, with emphasis on the need to create conducive and attractive environment. Launching the book, Dr. Kofi Brapui Asante, a retired diplomat and elder statesman, noted that in this political dispensation, Ghanaians should indulge in a fight of brains rather than flesh or indulge in violence.

He warned that those who do not value brain-power would lack behind in development no matter their promises. He said, come December 7th, Ghanaians will decide whether to renew the mandate of the current Government or not, warning sternly that any change that may occur should be conducted peacefully. "Let the change be peacefully, whether through beauty contest, half-truth or the mass bribery Ghanaians are used to" he said.

He described the book as a passionate position of Dr. Mahama's view on leadership, saying if he had his own way, all aspiring Parliamentarians would be submitted to test by requesting them to put their vision in writing. The first two copies of the book were bought for ?10.5 million and ?1 million by the National Chairman of the PNC and Mrs. Fulera Liman, First Lady of the Third Republic respectively.