Harder Times Ahead - PNC

THE GENERAL secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Mr. Gabriel Pwamang, has opined that the State of the Nation's Address by the President shows that there are harder times ahead, adding that the increase in the prices of petroleum products has deepened the level of poverty in the country causing more hardships.

Speaking in an interview with Chronicle at the party's headquarters, in Accra, he said Ghanaians are waiting for a great change this year from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government as they complain the positive change has not reflected in their pockets.

According to him, Ghanaians are feeling hungry as a result of the increase in prices of foodstuffs, goods and services. On the National Health Insurance Scheme, which the president said would be launched very soon, he commended the government for such an initiative since it would improve the health delivery system in the country.

Asserting that the scheme, was contained in the PNC's manifesto for the last election. Pwamang observed that such a scheme is long overdue and therefore called on the government to see to its implementation without further delay.

In response to what the president said about Ghana losing its culture, Mr. Pwamang observed that over-dependence on some foreign countries for all our needs is making it lose some of its culture.

The secretary dwelt on the importance of putting confidence in them and therefore called for a leadership that will refocus on self-reliance.

Touching on the National Identification System, he agreed that it is good for the effective running of a modern state. Through that, he said, the country's population would be known and will give a picture of the number of foreigners in the country.

But he cautioned that the concerns of the Electoral Commission must be looked into and the legalities resolved.

Surprised at the cost involved, Mr Pwamang asked the government to announce to the public, the exact amount that would be needed for the project.

Asked to comment on the security of the state and the individual, he was appreciative of the efforts by government to improve the working conditions of security agents.

He said the communication gadgets and vehicles provided to the police by the government have made a considerable impact in the discharge of their duties.

Specifically, he said the police had managed to reduce the prevalence of armed robbery in the country and cooperated well with the military when the need arose.

Also, he said Dr. Hilla Liman, as President of Ghana in the early 1980s, imported some cross-country vehicles to the police to help sustain law and order.

"A higher maintenance culture must be displayed by the police under the supervision of the acting Interior Minister, Hon Addo Kufuor," Mr. Pwamang said.

On the Dagbon crisis, Mr Pwamang noted that since it is a delicate issue that has been there for long, the government needs to take measures to bring back peace in the area.