VICE PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA AND OTHER CRITICS ARE WRONG.

By Samuel Ofori Ampofo

Thinking and dreaming big for the development of the Human resource of Ghana, makes the NPP Flag bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the best Presidential aspirant for Ghana’s upcoming December, 2012 elections.

What Ghana needs, is quality education that will equip students with the requisite skills that will make them fit into the emerging workforce after their course study for our National development. If Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo under his Presidency will apply resources judiciously to achieve this vision for the Nation, we must applaud, and hail him, and hail him and hail him again.

The backbone of every Nation is its Human potentials. The development of Ghana’s Human resource is therefore the best and only the best investment any foresighted and visionary leader would have to capitalize on. That is what I think Nana Akuffo Addo is doing, and has already won the December 2012 elections in advance, and is undoubtedly the next President of Ghana. Even though the standard of education in Ghana had fallen for almost three decades, we can still be proud of the Ghanaian professional capabilities at home and all over the world. The reason is simply because of the visionary leadership of our first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. For his bold and visionary leadership, there was free education in all levels of education and till today, in the Northern part of Ghana, education is still free.

I am therefore surprised for the Hon John Maham, the vice President of Ghana, who is himself a Northerner and a beneficiary of free education, would complain about the Akuffo Addo free SHS vision for the Country if voted as President of Ghana in December 2012. A Ghana web story by Joy FM on line, quoted the Vice President addressing NDC student wing of the University of Ghana as saying, “Ghanaians will not be deceived by the NPP magic SHS figures”. Again,according to the Vice President, “the Problem of Secondary education is more about access, rather than affordability for now, if you consider Ghana’s National priorities”. If that is the case, why hasn’t the Vice President for all these years in Politics, advocated against the continual free education policy for the North, for more accessibility? Talking about National priorities, the Vice President is again wrong. There is nothing more a priority in our National life than quality and affordable educational policy for the Nation. All those criticizing Nana Akuffo Addo’s free SHS educational policy and whatever the cost might be on the National budget, are not applying their brains in the best interest of the Country, or may be doing politics as usual. If they are only criticizing due to Cost, they should all bow down their heads in shame. Every visionary leader must think and dream big, irrespective of Cost, as long as the project ultimately will benefit the Nation.

If Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah had considered the Cost to construct the Akosombo Dam against the views of others at that time, Ghana would still be living in darkness.

The phrase (There is no money, There is no money) Nonsense, must stop in Ghana. The moment you suggest anything innovative that may change society, the only question you get from political leadership is where are we going to get money from? There is no money.

Politicians have made us believe that Ghana is a poor Country and therefore deserve nothing better. Meanwhile, they make foolish and stupid decisions for us to be sued for billions of Dollars in Judgment settlements. Ghana has the resources, enough to give quality education free to our children, and develop other infrastructures and create opportunities for all Ghanaians. We should no longer allow shallow minded politicians deceive us that we do not have money. We have heard that slogan for too many years, but we have seen them at the same time, live in undeserved affluence at the expense of the National treasury for doing almost nothing for Ghana. We have had mediocrity Leaderships for too long. We do not need a lame President any more. Ghana deserves a strong, objective, decisive and visionary President to move the Country forward.

I personally don’t care how much of our National budget would go into free SHS education even up to Government absorbing 50% of the cost of University education. We have borrowed Billions of Dollars in Loans but have nothing to show for. Where is the money?

There is no reason why with judicious application of resources, Nana Akuffo Addo’s free SHS vision cannot be funded by the Country regardless of the cost. We however as a result, must also be bold to cut down unnecessary Government expenditures like Free Car, Accommodation, Housing, Petrol, and all Perks to Government officials that are extravagant cost to the state. Those are all Guggisberg days’ economics. Let us move into the 21st century economics, and establish a visionary road map of National development. Fellow Countrymen, our Nation is crying for Salvation.