Opinions of Saturday, 30 August 2014

Columnist: Tamakloe, Kojo

Fire on the Mountain

The NPP continues to be IRRELEVANT



To be relevant one must conform to this: having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand.



Ghana’s next election will be in 2016, December . We are in the middle of 2014 and with a crisis that relates to the economy on our hands that needs immediate attention . We talk about the Cedi depreciating and prices going up which means Ghanaians are getting poorer . We hear the opposition saying the NDC government is incompetent , poor in management and that it was birthed from autocracy and violence .

What do we get from the NPP , supposedly the panacea to Ghana’s problems with a “ magic wand “Should we not see something different or in line with what it is preaching? . It is said “ coming events cast their own shadows” . So what do we see and hear everyday? Intolerance, violence, illegal activities and autocracy

1 The”democratic” party with so called years of sacrificing to ensure “ free speech” stifles free speech by using guns and machetes . Democracy and free speech using guns, machetes and macho men to instill fear into party members .Oh I bet ,Osagyefo the “ dictator’ and communist would be rolling in his grave , shouting “ I told you so”

2 I wrote about how Prof Busia stifled the Workers and literally banned TUC. Prez Kufour had as a weapon “ proceed on leave” when he wanted to get rid of you . Well it is said “ a leopard does not change its spots” . The NPP executive were told to proceed on leave . I do not know the terms of their contract , so I cannot comment on “ fair hearing” . Those are the people behind the TUC and workers agitating for them or using them . TUC and workers, hear me , Be ware of the NPP

3 Then in the midst to hide their shame, Dr Bawumia comes out casting doubt on figures being used by GSS and BOG . Doc, with due respect, when has the NPP ever accepted figures except when it comes from your party? Did you accept the population census figures? When Prez Mills was thinking of planning and allocation of resources , you were only thinking in terms of election and POWER. Power is your OBSESSION . NPP LOVES POWER . That is why in 1951 , you did not agree with the figures of the British, and then in 1954, 1956, 1960, 1965 , 1992.2008,2012 Remember you boycotted parliament and wrote the “ Stolen Verdict?” Your parliamentarians collected pay for doing NOTHING for four years . Last year for 8 months you challenged the EC over its figures . Then you could not even count the boxes you brought to court and had to smuggle others in . Was it 8000, or 10000, or 11380 , or 14000 . Auditors were called in but even then NPP could not accept the figures . Then you could not agree with the SC over its figures ? Was it 5-4 or 4-5 ?

4 NPP Ghana imports rice and meat to the tune of $1bn a year , how does fighting in your HQ address the issue? May be the figures are wrong . NPP what is your figure?

5 NPP , ECOWAS has been hit by Ebola, a deadly disease and you are fighting for power . What is your solution or you want power over our corpses?

6 NPP you left TOR in a comatose state and money is still needed to refine oil and create jobs and you discredit GSS and BOG figures . What is your solution?

7 NPP Ghana is importing vegetables and tomatoes. Is Nana or any of you going to get God to get us these free ? Remember Mahama cannot do it by himself and Jews got “ manna from heaven” once and then 2 fish and 5 loaves were multiplied to feed the multitudes just once. The rest of the time it is HARD work . Does NPP figures show Ghana is a net exporter?

8 NPP Ghana still grows what it does not eat and eats what it does not grow . How do we get food security ? What do the NPP figures show?

9 NPP Education is important . Results show , there is 25% qualifying for University entry and you cry FAIL. Where is your component of STEM? Science, technology, engineering, mathematics . This will give rise to problem solving and innovation . Is fighting with machetes part of innovation or a repeat of your ma te me ho days . What do your figures say? 100% doing political science and communication?

10 NPP , how do you reconcile diversification of the economy with signing EPA ? You want to open the market for free trade , or FAIR trade? . How does Dr Amoako’s suggestion of” DEPTH” stand with you : D stands for diversification of production and exports; E for export competitiveness; P for productivity gains; T for technological advances; and H for human wellbeing—all brought about by expanding formal employment and raising incomes This will take 20 -30 years .But above all it needs MOBILIZATION of all . But you stand for Division . So what are your solutions?

11 NPP, when will you stop undermining others ? You organized hi jacking Yutong buses, burnt markets, organized demonstrations, encouraged criminality to make the country ungovernable . What do your figures tell you? That , that is the way forward?

12 NPP, will you stop the Cedi slide by removing some zeros or getting to basics of correcting the fundamentals. Sound Agriculture , with a manufacturing base , substituting for imports and generating exports . Dr Bawumia can confuse us with figures , but the figures do not cure . The cure lies in action of creating goods and services. Get the tomatoes farmers producing , by having dams and canning the rest at Pawlugwu . Get the cotton farms back and use the cotton for textiles . get the Poultry farms back by producing poultry feed cheaply instead of turkey tail from all over the world . Refining our gold and oil and using the by products for other things. Get the sugar factories back producing sugar , jute factory producing bags. What do NPP figures say?

13 NPP , intra African trade is at 10% . We need to produce for the market , which means we need to live peacefully with others instead of calling them names as you do and looking down on them

NPP, this is what we need to see you are relevant “ Ms Samia Nkrumah said at present what the country required was home-grown solutions backed by long-term self-reliance programme and not quick-fix solutions such as going to the IMF.



The National Chairman of the CPP, therefore, called for a long-term plan to improve agriculture, manufacturing and industries, as well as break away from waste and greed.



According to the CPP, IMF bailout would not help Ghana to create the needed opportunities and raise living standards of the people.



Our own economic history must guide us, she told the Daily Graphic and pointed out that “Going back to IMF means we have not understood our dealings with IMF over the past three decades.”



Ms Samia Nkrumah explained that the Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP), Economic Recovery Programme(ERP), PAMSCAD, HIPC, as well as Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) were all IMF programmes that did not achieve much for the country.



“We have dealt in the past with IMF, and the results have not been satisfactory and we are in greater crisis. If you repeat the same thing over and over again, you will get the same results,” she asserted. This is being relevant .



NPP what is your contribution to this debate? I guess fighting with IMPORTED machetes and GUNS while riding in the latest IMPORTED vehicles, holding the latest Imported gadgets, wearing IMPORTED apparels, taking overseas holidays and vacations to enjoy what others have achieved is the NPP answer to the crisis in Ghana while wrestling for power so you can MAINTAIN that status.. “Damn you Ghanaians you are just there to be used as fodder “ NPP , patriotism is defined ‘love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it “ or “love that people feel for their country” . Is that the same as “ win at all cost”, boycott of parliament, hooting at the President, never being at independence day celebrations with the current office bearers, never at Republic day celebrations so long as you are not in power, inflaming the populace with statements like “ Yen Akan fo” encouraging criminal activities to make sure government cannot function.. NPP , take heed we are watching you . “Your actions and utterances speak volumes”





The writer is a Pan Africanist , who believes African Unity is the solution to its underdevelopment