John Mahama Speaks

“Our track record testifies”

-He tells Zongo Communities

By Husseini Yushau Baba Al-Waiz The then Ghana's vice-president and now President, John Dramani Mahama has called on Muslims and people of the Zongo communities in Ghana to compare and contrast the track records of both the NDC and the NPP in office before casting their votes in the December polls.

This he said would afford them the opportunity to see which of the two dominant parties is more committed to their socio-cultural and economic developmental agenda. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, who, then as vice-president of Ghana made these remarks when he visited the Yankasa Association of USA (the largest and oldest Ghanaian Muslim community in the New York City) to wind-up his book launch and promotional tours across the United States.

He pointed out that, it was the NDC government under the able-leadership of former president Rawlings that, the Islamic Education Units was established, which among other benefits placed the Arabic and Islamic teachers under government payroll.

Mr. Mahama added that, it was same NDC government under President Rawlings that declared the two Muslim festivals Eidul Fitir and Eidul Adha as public holidays when hitherto, certain elements in our society thought it was nearly impossible. On Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Mr. Mahama gave a short narrative of the unfortunate and indecent conditions that prospective pilgrims were being left to at the pre-departure zone under the previous administration and pointed out how his government has so far, facilitated the Hajj process with full comfort and convenience to the prospective pilgrims-an effort which the pilgrims themselves commended in a series of interviews in Mecca for the last couple of years. Touching on the state of the economy and his government's effort so far, Mr. John Mahama, whose extempore presentation was expertly interspersed with facts and figures stated that the gas pipeline being constructed at Aboadze will supply electricity at affordable rate for the Ghanaians, adding that the potential revenue for supplying the gas alone can pay for the $3 billion loan Chinese loan in seven years, a facility for which the opposition is lambasting the government.

He disclosed government’s effort at expanding and dredging of the Takoradi port to make it deeper to allow for bigger ships to come into the Ghanaian port with more cargos.

On the issue of basic education, he indicated that the NDC government has expanded the school feeding program from about 500,000 students under the NPP administration to over one million children.

He said the government has closed down and replaced 1700 schools under trees as well as provided 43 million exercise books, among other basic school needs nationwide.

Earlier in a welcome address, the president of the Yankasa Association Alhaji Muhammad Mardah applauded Mr. John Mahama for his proposal to the Traditional Councils to include Zongo traditional chiefs in their councils. He also commended Mr. Mahama for his personal intervention and reconciliation in the recent conflict between some Muslim youth and traditional leaders of Hohoe district.

At the Q&A session, an executive member of the New York Chapter of the NPP Nasara Club, attested to the exceptional humility and meekness of the Mr. Mahama which makes him an outstanding leader. There was a near stampede in the crowd of men and women in their bid to take pictures and shake hands with the charismatic and charming then vice-president.