Joint Statement from NPP-USA and NPP-UK/Ireland

NPP Versus NDC: The Difference is Clear

Leading into the general elections of 2008, Ghanaians were spotted chanting the slogan “Yeresesa mu” or we are changing (parties). It is not far-fetched to attribute that slogan to a perceived blurring of the differences between the two major political parties from the perspective of the electorate. To the voters, the NDC had had eight years from 1993 to 2000, and the NPP had also had eight years from 2001 to 2008. And since to their recollection they could not feel or touch any money when they dipped their hands in their pockets, changing from one party to another in government would not make that much of a difference. They thought “the value was the same.” They consequently proceeded to effect change at the polls only to realize a year later that the difference between the two parties is as wide as night and day.

On the Economy For starters, if they could not feel or touch any money in their pockets under the NPP, it has gotten worse because now they have no pockets in which to dip their hands. Just after one year under the deceiving NDC, transportation fares have gone up on average 50% across the board. Ghanaians are enduring long queues to buy scarce gasoline at 30% higher than they paid for it only a little over a year ago. In contrast, during the entire NPP reign, not once, not even the global escalation of oil prices in the aftermath of 9/11 did Ghanaians have to queue for petrol for their vehicles. Ghanaians must remember these differences and not allow themselves to be deceived again come 2012 when the deceiving NDC is certain to come around with enticements to woo them for their valuable votes.

On Recklessness In one year, the building housing the entire Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been gutted down by fire the source of which is still unknown. Forever destroyed are valuable documents including those in safe keeping from the Independence era. Ghanaians had barely gotten over their shock when the building housing the Electoral Commission suffered fire damage incidentally on the anniversary of the 2008 Election Day. To top the first year off, parts of Tema Oil Refinery, the only oil refinery we have was also gutted by fire, further impacting gasoline supply to citizens. A wise man once said “once is an accident; twice is a coincidence; three times constitutes a pattern.” This pattern represents a clear difference between the NPP and the out-of-control NDC given that under the eighyt-year NPP reign, none of our national edifices sustained any fires.

On Power Drunkenness Another clear difference between the NPP and the out-of-control NDC is shown in their respective handling of business. During the Rawlings era, the government razed down a completed hotel whose owner was later found to be an NPP sympathizer. Just last week, another NPP sympathizer had his hospital razed down on allegations that he did not possess a building permit, which he in fact did. These two examples represent at least 50 jobs for Ghanaians that would not materialize now due to the power drunkenness of members of a party that promises to create jobs for the people. Again in contrast, no such structures were ever demolished regardless of the owner’s party affiliations during the NPP era.

On Personal Freedoms In January of 2002, a year into the NPP administration, a cab driver made a very interesting observation. “Massa, let me be honest. In NDC time, we were poor. Today we are still poor. But today, at least I don’t have to look over my shoulders when I speak about the government.” So free were Ghanaians to opine in the public arena that some actually crossed the line by insulting President Kufuor. One year into the out-of-control NDC administration under President Mills, those freedoms have evaporated. In Ghana today, apart from some high profile personalities whose disappearance would raise eyebrows, ordinary Ghanaians who speak against the government do so at their own peril. Goons of the ruling NDC party have been publicly instructed by no less an official than the Ashanti Regional Minister to beat up anyone who speaks ill of the government. With no reprimand from the president, that is the official stance of the administration.

On Corruption The deceiving NDC government has spent over one year during which nothing substantial was accomplished. That same duration has been wasted on false allegations of corruption by officials of the previous administration. To date, none of those allegations have been successfully proven in court. The three attempts by the Attorney General to prosecute those allegations were literally laughed at by the judiciary. Yet in one year, this same government has featured officials who have been proven to have accepted bribes in the famous Mabey & Johnson case tried in a London Court. Castle officials have shared amongst themselves tractors meant for farmers. One minister Mubarak has been shown to have used government funds to buy diapers for his baby, to take his girlfriend on vacations, and embezzled public funds. The Ministry of Education spending 210million cedis on drinks alone at a conference!!!!.the Office of the presidency spending 53 million Ghana cedis on workshops and Training,National Security outstripping their 3 year budget by 40% from January 2009-October,2009,the rampant thievery and auction of cars with money going into pockets going on the Tema port.We really cant go on like this !!!!! Ghanaians have endured all these vices from a government that promised a better Ghana.

On Violence Today Ghana is worse off because in a little over a year, more than 32 people have lost their lives in politically motivated murders. These are government-sanction for the following reasons: The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister declares “Jihad” on NPP members during his bye-election for the Akwatia MP seat, a call that resulted in loss of lives – no reprimand and he still has his job. A murder suspect is found under the bed of the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister – no reprimand and he still has his job. The Ashanti Regional Minister publicly instructs NDC goons to beat up those speaking ill of the ruling government – no reprimand and he still has his job. An NDC official makes uncomplimentary statements about Rawlings, and suffers brutal assault the following day at the party office – the culprits known to be Rawlings’ boys face nary a reprimand. The list goes on and on.

In contrast, the NPP insider who writes an uncomplimentary book about the party’s campaign woes endures no such physical assault. When disputes arise in internal NPP elections, they are settled in court unlike disputes in the out-of-control NDC that are settled by cutlasses. In the rare instance when some wayward NPP supporters resorted to assaulting those passing uncomplimentary comments about the party’s flagbearer, the culprits were instantly dismissed and the victim received a hospital visit from Nana Akufo-Addo. In that particular instance, both Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyeremateng issued public statement decrying the violence.

It is no accident that these two parties are so different. One was created by a renegade who grew up despising anyone more fortunate than he was. That party, the deceiving NDC saw its formative years nurtured by individuals who embraced egalitarianism not for its virtues, but because it served as their vehicle to take from the affluent and keep for themselves so that they would themselves become affluent.

We sense and sympathize with the deep frustration, disappointment and disillusionment of our people. Instead of success government officials being rewarded for failure; instead of truth and honesty, they are being rewarded for spewing falsehood and propaganda; instead of quality leadership they are being rewarded for mediocrity; instead of peace and progress they are being rewarded for orchestrating war and destruction. The NPP can and will deliver the progress and peace that our people are craving for.

GHANA REALLY DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!