Affluence, Profligacy And Show Of Power As Mills Picks Forms

The NPP shares the disgust of many Ghanaians at the show of opulence, profligacy, disregard for public order and time that attended the occasion of President Mills picking up nomination forms last Thursday the 5th of May 2011.

Thousands of NDC supporters had been mobilized to take over the streets of Accra for hours. Over 60 mass transport buses had been mobilized for the purpose.

In an obvious synchronization, the public broadcaster Ghana Television was hijacked for hours at a reported cost of GH C 18,000 (C180 million). Senior Public Officers, including scores of Ministers of State were seen singing, dancing and pouring adulations for the President for hours.

Thousands of innocent residents of Accra were prevented from going about their normal business & social activities as they had to sit in their vehicles, trotros and buses for hours in the scorching sun.

All of this opulence and resultant suffering visited on Accra was endured so President Mills could pick up nomination forms. This is not the first time Professor Mills had picked nomination forms. He picked forms for the 2000, 2004 & 2008 elections. We have all been witnesses to Presidents picking forms, President Rawlings and President Kufour in 1996 and 2004.

On none of this occasions was the country subjected to the opulent display and horrible inconvenience in Accra as witnessed last Thursday, 5th May 2011, when the so-called ‘humble’ President J . E. A. Mills picked forms to contest his party’s flagbearership race. What does this do for the admonition that political leaders have to be moderate in keeping our status as a poor developing country?

Opponents of the President within the NDC have accused the President and his campaign team of massive deployment of cash to buy votes and corrupt delegates towards the forthcoming NDC Presidential primaries.

The anxiety of the country on the possible misuse of public funds and abuse of incumbency at these revelations, have been heightened by the opulence displayed last Thursday.

Just this morning, 10th May, 2011, we have been told on public radio (Adom FM) that an amount of GHc 90 million, (over $60 million) has been earmarked for President Mill’s campaign to be retained as the Presidential Candidate of the NDC.

This has led to radio presenters christening our President ‘Atta Cash’.

If this is the budget of people entrusted with our public funds, just for internal party elections, then it is a ‘better Ghana indeed’.

...........Signed.........

Hon. Nana Akomea Director of Communications