Opinions of Saturday, 26 December 2009

Columnist: Sarpong, Nana Yaw

Mills , NDC have no vision and direction for Ghana

Professor John Atta It is now clearly dawning on Ghanaians that the Better Ghana which was promised by the NDC is very far off and can best be described as a dream. We are still waiting for Professor Mills and his government to set a clear agenda for this country and most importantly show a commitment to fulfilling its promises.

18 Months ago while on the campaign trail,Professor Mills told Ghanaians that he will put money in their pockets, children will get free school uniforms, the rule of law will prevail, he will clampdown on corruption, Water will flow through our pipes, electricity will run 24 hours and Ghana will be come a paradise. What has happened to these promises so far? This is what Professor Mills Better Ghana has achieved so far

• Scramble and Forcible seizure of Public Toilets around the country by NDC party members.

• Seizure and appropriation of cars for personal use

• Spending 56 billion cedis on Government bungalow renovations

• Politically Motivated and ill thought out cases by the Attornery Generals Office resulting in government losses at the courts.

• Lack of transparency before parliament, especially on government operations relating to the oil and Gas sector even Moses Asaga,the NDC chair of the energy commitee called government submissions ‘’ cock and bull stories’’. we are really concerned that the government is reluctant to publish for scrutiny our own National oil and gas policy.

• Turning a blind eye to corruption vis a vis Kofi Wayos allegation of NDC officials in oil deals, Muntaka Mubaraks scandal, increase in smuggling of cocoa,timber,oil products along our borders not to mention Professor Mills own crony at the Forest Commission embroiled in a 12 Billion Cedi scandal.

• The Re- politicization and compromise of our respected Ghana Armed Forces. Sections of our Armed forces have started engaging in brutal acts against civilians, in the name of upholding the law especially in northern parts of the country.It is also sad that some of them are alleged engaging in training individuals at Astutuare to visit mayhem on their fellow brothers and sisters come Election 2012 and we call on them not to allow themselves to be used to usurp the will of the people

• The state of siege at Bawku which has got worse since NDC came to power, where criminals will be rewarded 1,000 Ghana cedis to hand over weapons. What is the point in implementing a policy that failed when it was tried in the Northern Region? Why doesn’t the government this money increase the number of police officers on the streets to empower the peace council with resources to work with the chiefs and the people to bring lasting peace? We can’t wait for the sacking of the Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who has been a disaster.

• Ministers who have been called Team B, Team C, Reserve Team, ‘’Komi Ke Shito’’, and all sorts

• By their own colleague Dr Spio Garbarah, Ministers who tell us its right for civilians to be stripped naked, who tell us their colleagues are unfit, Ministers who are being paid with taxpayers money and swan in Ford explorers who tell us that they are not sure if Campaign promises can be fulfilled in the 1st term, NDC Ministers whose own Majority leader has accused of not coming to parliament to answer questions .

• Harassment of individuals and businessmen perceived to be sympathetic to the NPP resulting in current loss of confidence. Unemployment has risen from 20% in 2008 to 42% within a year!!! Eiiiiiii!!!!. Our Graduates cannot be employed, despite government noises and propaganda, due to the IMF imposed Public sector Freeze for 2 years.

• An increase in petroleum prices resulting in more hardship for drivers, transport owners, workers, fishermen, our traders. Even fishermen who professor mills promised that they will get free premix fuel cannot get a drop,well we can tell them their premix is ending up smuggled across our borders.

• A government at war with itself, a government where minsters and government contradict each other,a government and party who call themselves greedy bastards, a government led by a man whose leadership and whose capacity for decision making is under scrutiny. A government mired in confusion and lack of direction. • In all this there is only one person we will blame and that is Professor John Atta Mills, the President and NDC party leader. Professor Mills has failed to provide the leadership that inspires, that stimulates, that energizes and rubs off on his ministers, his Party and the country. We now live in a country where the government cannot even be honest about power cuts(its been going on for the last two months),increasing water shortages especially in Accra and surrounding areas, increasing filth, increasing poverty and despair. The consolation we have is that the social intervention programmes brought during NPP first term ie the Metro Buses to reduce Transport costs, the National Youth Employment Programme set up to improve employment prospects of our youth, the Venture Capital Fund and the Microfinance and small Loans centre(MASLOC) set up to assist small businesses , our traders, and our farmers which were criticised by the NDC when in opposition will be sustained and in areas where reform is necessary, reforms to improve its capacity will take place. Professor Mills and the NDC cannot continue to deceive our people. The government cannot continue in this direction of failure . Ghanaians really deserve better than this !!! they want action and direction and they must see and feel it in the improvement in their livelihoods .We are tired of the talking, the diversionary antics and the propaganda.

Nana Yaw Sarpong

Communications Officer /PRO NPP UK and Ireland