NPP has delivered on "Positive Change" - Bawumia

Cape Coast, Nov. 29, GNA - Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Election 2008, on Friday stated that the party has fulfilled its Positive Change agenda, which propelled it to win Election 2000.

"We offered Ghanaians Positive Change...we demonstrated it by removing the inhumane cash and carry system and replaced it with a human-faced National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); demonstrated our commitment to Freedom of Speech by repealing the dreadful Criminal Libel Law.

"Redeemed the image of Ghanaians from the status of Highly Indebted Poor Country (HPIC) to comity of credit-worthy nations; built a robust economy, rebuilt dilapidated infrastructure and restored hope to Ghanaians," Dr Bawumia stated at the first-ever Vice Presidential Debate at Cape Coast.

The Debate on the theme; "Strengthening the Pillars of Ghana's Democracy" was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for four political parties with representation in Parliament out of the seven parties contesting Election 2008.

The other candidates were; Dr Foster Abu Sakara of Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Ms Petra Maria Amegashie of the Peoples National Convention (PNC).

The debate according to IEA was to create a platform for dialoguing, discussing issues and maintaining the electioneering campaign on matters that affected the general public. Dr Bawumia reiterated that the NPP inherited a collapsed economy in 2001, but through prudent management it successfully reduced inflation from over 40 per cent in 2000 to 10.2 per cent by 2007, while maintaining relative exchange rate stability.

On the NPP's commitment to fighting corruption, Dr Bawumia said the Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had demonstrated it by being the first Minister of Justice and Attorney General to prosecute a serving Minister of State.

"Our Presidential Candidate played pioneering role in enacting the Whistleblowers Law, Public Procurement Law and has pledged his commitment to pass the Right to Information Bill within six months on assumption of power," he said.

Dr Bawumia said the NPP would strengthen existing law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption bodies to play their expected roles. On the role of the Vice President, especially on the repeal of the constitutional mandate as the chairman of the Prison Council, Police Council and the Armed Forces Council, he said the government of Nana Akufo-Addo would establish a Constitutional Review Committee to analyse the situation and advise government.

He cautioned against rushing to amend portions of the Constitution, especially the election of District Chief Executives; "we must tread cautiously not to endanger the democratic development". Dr Bawumia also explained the NPP concept of free education from the Junior High School level to the Senior High School level, emphasizing that the growth of the economy would be able to finance it. "We will plug the loopholes in tax collection, generate additional revenue from anti-corruption measures," he said.

His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah-Turkson, Chairman of the 11-member Presidential Debates Committee urged the political parties and Candidates to commit themselves to their pledge to undertake maintain the peace before, during and after the December polls. Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ivan Addae Mensah and a Broadcast Journalist, Mr Israel Laryea were the moderators.