Half Poor, Half Rich Ghana, P/NDC caused it. Part ll

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I posted an article on Ghanaweb (14June 2008) following a heart troubling statement by Mr. John Mahama, the P/NDC vice Presidential Candidate. In my submission, I drew Mr. Mahama’s attention to the causes of sharp economic divide between the people of the north and the south. Yes the article I wrote was about the P/NDC and little about NPP because P/NDC misruled and governed for about 20 years and refitted new wheels for Ghana’s destruction.

Now let me perhaps surmise what I wrote in my last article. I called on the people of the north to reject the P/NDC and the NPP. This is because for the past 30 years these two Parties have neglected them. The P/NDC and NPP have sought the votes of the people of northern Ghana and yet neglected them when it came to sharing the national cake equitable. First what did NPP do to Mr. Aliu Mahama? The NPP purposely used Aliu for votes and ignored his capabilities. Why did I say that? How many times has Aliu been allowed to be his own man? Aliu has a valid passport but how many times has Kuffour allowed Aliu to travel abroad to represent the nation? For every 25 flights Kuffour makes, Aliu makes just 1 and often to middle-income and least developed countries and not advanced countries. So was Kuffour grooming his assistant to take over? No, and why? Why did Kuffour openly throw his support for someone else instead of his deputy? On P/DNC side, I said the Party was in power for 20 years and did not equitably share the national cake so as to generate economic development in the north? The P/NDC woefully failed the people of the north and they are about to copy the NPP: thus select Mr. John Mahama as vice, use him, and shun his authority and capabilities. And that he Mahama should take a clue from what has befallen Aliu. Nowhere in my article did I insult the people of the north. Isn’t it true that NPP used a talent from the north by name Aliu for political reasons and yet neglected the very people Aliu represented? Isn’t it true that the P/NDC is trying to do the same thing?

I’m therefore appealing to this person using a moniker, “BEAUTIFUL NORTH” to be circumspect in his/her criticism of me. You can attack my actions or decisions and not my personality. They are two distinct entities. For instance I like President Kuffour as human being, but I loathe his decisions and policies. So I can only attack Kuffour’s decisions and policies NOT his personality. This is what we all need to learn if we are to mature politically. BEAUTIFUL NORTH also said I was a son of an impoverished fisherman. Well I want to say that one of the most deadly professions in the world is fishing. And during my Dad’s days there were no outboard motors and no compasses. I’m therefore proud and grateful to God to have given me a father who was not only hard-working but brave (facing dangers at sea), strong (paddling canoe) and intelligent (using no compass). Fishermen are human beings, thank you, “BEAUTIFUL NORTH”!

If P/NDC established the University of Development Studies at Wa and did nothing to ensure that the institution run effectively, what is the wisdom in that? It’s like manufacturing a vehicle without wheels.

Ladies and gentlemen, isn’t it true that a gentleman by name Rawlings for the second time took arms and in 1981 overthrew a legitimate government on ludicrous excuses? Jerry John Rawlings overthrew two governments - the Supreme Military Council (SMC) II on 4 June 1979, after which he launched his House Cleaning Exercise (HCE), and again on 31 December 1981, with his Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was cynically transformed to National Democratic Congress (NDC) and was forced to return to a democratic process it had earlier disrupted. What a shame!! Now can this “chameleon” party of P/NDC be called a democratic Party? Its time has come and gone and should be left to rot in Ghana’s political landfill.

Isn’t it true that Rawlings surrounded himself with blind economic drivers who allowed the nation to be sold to the neo-colonialists economic agenda perpetrated by the World Bank/IMF?

Isn’t it true that P/NDC economic agenda (they had none) created an economic divide between the north and south?

Isn’t it true that the P/NDC either destroyed and/or sold almost all corporations and industries to cronies? Please allow me to ask Mr. John Mahama and the P/NDC (and this time Ghanaians need answers) where these factories/Corporations are:

GNTC; STATE FISHING CORP; STATE CONSTRUCTION CORP; OSA (AKA CITY EXPRESS); NSAWAM CANNERY; BLACK STAR LINE; GHANA AIRWAYS; GIHOC; GHANA FOOD DISTRIBUTION to mention but a few.

Isn’t it true that the P/NDC introduced a half baked educational policy in the country that has derailed our economic development? And when the leader of P/NDC realized he had run aground our educational ship, he airlifted his children out of the sinking ship for a better standard of education in Ireland? Did he care about other children? NO! Now our educational ship has sunk and the casualty figure is too grave to quantify. There is no clear operational, qualitative and substantive direction with our educational system and it lacks credence, impetus to serve as a tool for development.

Isn’t it true that after all the hullabaloo, hype and duplicity, corruption surfaced under P/NDC regime and out of that came a “ZERO TOLERANCE” gimmick from the NPP who have instead exacerbated this practise?

Isn’t it true that the people of the north deserve a government that will not discriminate against them in the sharing of national developments?

Public service is about service to the people and politicians are supposed to lead and not rule (like Adumadze): supposed to be selfless and not greedy (like Amoateng): supposed to be discipline, self-controlled and not reckless (like Anane): supposed to look after their subjects first and not themselves (like Kuffour, Rawlings and Afrifa).

Isn’t it true that the very policies adopted by these two parties: the Structural Adjustment Program-SAP by P/NDC and HIPC by NPP, crippled our economy? Our nation had accumulated debts and for our creditors to forgive us they cunningly crafted a wicked repayment strategy (HIPC). Instead of paying back the debts we are obliged (under HIPC) to use the repayment for social services such as building public toilets and NOT industries. As you travel in Ghana you see public toilets in town and villages with words such as “HIPC initiative” boldly written on them. Helloooooo, a high school student would understand the connotations here. It is geared towards dismantling out industrial base whilst our creditors dump their factory rejects into our markets. Now they have succeeded in doing so. Ghana is experiencing economic decline and industries have collapsed. Currently Ghana has low employment, low productivity, low savings, and low investments in a hapless economic cycle.

My question now is: do P/NDC and NPP have straight thinking economic policy makers? I doubt it.

So what confidence should we have again in these two Parties? Ghanaians need practical African solutions supervised by dedicated, selfless nationalists who would not sell or betray their country for pittance and self aggrandisement. Lots have gone wrong in our country all because we have not had a leader since the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in February 24 1966. Indeed this day, February 24 1966, marks the darkest day in the history of Ghana and Africa.

We need a principled leader and a dedicated team armed with well structured economic development plan. And the Conventions People’s Party (CPP) is the only Party well-equipped for this task.

Isn’t it true ladies and gentlemen, that the P/NDC and NPP have wilfully failed the good people of Northern Ghana? The People of Northern Ghana DESERVE BETTER and they DESERVE it NOW!!

God bless our homeland Ghana.

God bless the Convention People’s Party.