Welcome To NDC Banana Republic

Sarpong, Justice

Ghana is a joke, borrow money from Egypt and stop importation of used cars, that is what your NDC government want to do for you and if the two stupidities are not a warning to Ghanaians that this government is clueless and and a useless one, then I don't know what it is. How long can Ghanaians stomach the stupidity of this government? The same government that lied to Ghanaians that it has created 1.6 million jobs when its fool soldiers were seizing toilets and lorry parks to make a living.

Let's see how stupid this administration is. "The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Aryittey has disclosed a legislation is in the works to ban the importation of used vehicles into Ghana" Did I hear that right? Somebody wake me up and tell me I am dreaming. Where does this woman live? In mars? Can she tell me how many car assembly plants we have in Ghana? Can this woman tell me the average price of a new saloon car? Can this woman tell me the average salary of a government worker in Ghana? Does this woman know how much taxes and import duties government collect from importation of used cars? What qualification does this woman have to be a Minister? This woman got her position because she was Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings friend in the 31st December movement and a part owner of the Ghanacan factory stolen by the Rawlings until she had a fall out with them. This woman is not even qualified to be a dog catcher.

Madam Minister, not every Ghanaian get the fifty thousand dollars loan you people get to buy new cars every four years backed by your ex-gratia corrupt money. Is this woman even aware how many jobs the used car lots create in Ghana? Does this woman sleep on pillow or stone? Did she run this stupidity by her husband at least even if she doesn't have advisors at the ministry she heads. Let this woman mention how many countries in Africa that doesn't allow the importation of used cars.

The only country that comes to mind is South Africa where importation of used or second-hand goods are subject to import control in terms of the International Trade Administration Act (Act 71 of 2002). "In considering applications for the importation of used or second-hand goods, the general principle applied is that import permits are refused if the goods concerned, or similar/substitute goods are available from local manufacturers."

In Ghana, do we have local manufacturing car companies to ban importation of used cars? Import control mechanism is used to promote local economic activities and job creation but we don't have car manufacturing plants like South Africa where the banking industry is more advanced and workers can source funds from Banks to buy new cars locally manufactured. We in Ghana have to learn how to crawl before trying to walk.

In South Africa,Passenger vehicles, mini-buses, buses/coaches, light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles are manufactured/assembled in South Africa. "About 90 000 people are employed in assembly and component manufacturing and this sector contributes about 10% of total manufacturing in South Africa. In view of the importance of this sector, strict control is applied to the importation of used vehicles and import permits are issued only in very specific and defined circumstances." Even in South Africa there are exceptions where individuals can import used cars for personal use.

Permits for the importation of used or second-hand passenger motor vehicles are issued in the following circumstances:

"To immigrants for the importation of private motor vehicles. Imported vehicles may not be disposed of within a period of 24 months from the date of importation.

To returning South African residents and nationals. The returning resident or national may import his/her used or second-hand vehicle to a maximum of three vehicles if he/she returns permanently to the RSA after a minimum uninterrupted period of absence of six months working, studying or conducting research abroad. It is also required that the vehicle be registered in his/her name for the minimum uninterrupted corresponding period of six months(working etc.) prior to the return. The imported vehicle may not be disposed of within a period of two years of importation."

What is the purpose behind Ms Aryetey's intention of banning used cars? The Minister's main reason for this policy is to control the carbon emissions and if that is the case, then it is more likely even people who have been staying outside Ghana for years might not even be allowed to bring in used cars. The disgraceful aspect of the Ministers annoucement is that, she made it in South Africa and said; "we are going to come out with a new law that will ban the importation of second-hand vehicles into Ghana. We’ve done a lot of research into these areas. We have also trained people within the environmental protection agency to monitor these. We also have certain interventions that we have done – this is the bulk road transport system which we intend to put in place…” she said."

THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH? That means this is not Aryetey's hallucination but something NDC as a party is intending to do. Who are the brains behind this research? Stan Dogbe? Okudseto Ablakwah? Otukonnor Boamah? Ofosu Kwakye and other castle schoolboys who did not own a bicycle tyres until becoming castle fool soldiers and stealing our money to buy new 4x4 vehicles are now telling us we can't buy used cars? If these people really care about the environment, then they should give up their gas guzzling mammoth 4x4's that pollute the air than any used car. This woman found out South Africa does ot allow the importation of used cars and without learning how that can be possible in South Africa and not Ghana at present, she decided to impress her host with that childish policy.

The bad news did not stop here folks, it seems the Vice-President has also been infected by the castle virus called "cluelessness"

We are now going to borrow from Egypt to build Wa General Hospital? Yes, you heard me right, we will wait for Egypt to sort its political turmoil out and then source for $89.1 million to build a hospital for the people of Wa. Ahh!!! Haba, Mr Vice President, where us in this country of ours can you say this? We might as well to to Somalia or Bangladesh to look for loans. Have we exhausted our credit card balance with China and South Korea w know have to borrow from beggars like ourselves?

When we have to buy Presidential planes, building Party headquarters, loans for cars for Parliamentarians and Ministers, we can get loans from France, Germany, USA, Britain, or if we have to build stadiums and Presidential Palace, we can get loans from India and China but when we have to build a hospital for the people of Wa, then we have to go to Egypt? Why didn't we source money from Egypt to build hospitals in other regional capitals but when it comes to Wa, then we have to go to what I termed "KWATEREKWA" Egypt? We have an Akan proverb that goes like this; "SE KWATEREKWA SE WO BEMA WO NTOMA, HWE NE HO" To wit, if a clothless man promises to give you a cloth, look at him. Egypt cannot loan us 89 million dollars and the Vice-President is not being real with the people of Wa.

Now it is becoming crystal clear that, the 2012 election is an emergency one that we as Ghanaians cannot make a mistake and return these NDC laboratory assistants called Castle Presidential Aides who have a hard time telling the difference between a laboratory smock from pyjamas shirt to power again unless we want to turn the country into a banana republic or the animal farm fable. President Mills got four years to prove that he has a capable people to help him turn the fortunes of this country around and the record he has compiled with his team "B" members so far show that, he doesn't have what it takes to make Ghana the country we all want it to be and we should give him the pink slip in 2012 and retire him comforatable to his Regimanuel mansion, by that time, the security attachment to the main building will be done and he would not have to worry about armed robbers.

Justice Sarpong

Houston, Texas