General News of Tuesday, 9 August 2016

Source: New Statesman

NPP condemns Mahama's reckless spending on political cronies

The New Patriotic Party has condemned in uncertain terms the reckless dissipation of state funds by President John Dramani Mahama to cronies of his party.

According to the NPP, the Mahama-led NDC government could have used the money being dashed out to the likes of Madam Akua Donkor and Odike, presidential candidates of the Ghana Freedom Party and United Front Party respectively, to solve the numerous problems confronting the nation, including the underfunded National Health Insurance Scheme, the 'Kayayei' menace, unemployment among newly qualified nurses, among others.
Madam Akua Donkor last week on Adom FM disclosed that President Mahama had given her two Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles as compensation after the flagbearer of the Progressive People's Party, Papa Kwesi Nduom, took his Tundra vehicle from her. She also claimed the President also gave her a three-bedroom house.
The NPP has therefore asked the Commission for Human Right and Administrative Justice to conduct investigations into the claims by the Madam Akua Donkor.

The party, in a statement, signed by Nana Akomea, Communications Director, said the assertions made by the politician amounted to waste of public funds, a characteristic of the Mahama-led administration.

The NPP also made reference to the recent thievery in the S
chool Feeding Programme in Afram Plains and Garu Tempane, where some NDC executives contracted by the Programme were being paid when they had not executed a single job.

"A report presented to the Mines and Energy committee of Parliament in March 2016 indicated the GNPC had paid rent of GHc 5 million ( 50 billion old cedis) for just one year, when such amounts could easily build permanent offices for the GNPC. Ghanaians have recently been shocked at the government committing GHc 3. 6 million of taxpayers' monies to brand buses with colour pictures of President Mahama and NDC campaign slogans. All of this wanton waste of public resources seems to be the tip of the iceberg and are taking place when this nation is in crises and deprivation," the statement observed.

According to the NPP, with many Ghanaians expressing worry at the manner in which public money is being wasted by President Mahama and his government, coupled with corruption among officials in government, it can confirm that the NDC government has been a failure and must not be given another four years.