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Opinions of Friday, 27 October 2017

Columnist: Fadi Dabbousi

President Akufo-Addo, Hon Cecilia Dapaah write history

Competence is not about age! It is neither about pedigree nor is it about tribe or place of origin! Indeed, competence is about an inherent zeal to be the best; to do the best; to make manifest the best; and most importantly to ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the best. Each time I rest my pen to take a short holiday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo chocks yet another all-important milestone as President of Ghana.

Competence is also about making sure that the achievement is disseminated to, again, praise GOD that the NDC curse has finally been lifted away from our sky.

There is a glorious synergy between the Presidency and all the government institutions, which was surely lost under the incompetent NDC administration of John Dramani Mahama.

But that is just a painful reminder of what could have happened to Ghana were the vagabonds of the umbrella maintained in power. The truth of the matter is that the recurring achievements of Nana Akufo-Addo is really not a hyperbole of mere rhetoric, but an unstoppable chain reaction of the fire that had long burned in his belly for the good of our country.

The Aerospace Exhibition that was successfully organised recently at the Kotoka International Airport under the able leadership of Honourable Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Aviation, with the professional support of Ghana Airports Company headed by the astute John Attafua was a success by all standards.

It, also, was a turning point in the aviation industry as the vision of the President began to roll out splendidly for takeoff on the runway of excellence to soar to an altitude too high for his successors to reach and level off at, albeit, especially if, GOD forbid, they are of the NDC type of inefficiency, treason, recklessness, betrayal, and lack of patriotism.

The aerospace event unfolded the grand plan of making Ghana the preferred hub for West Africa. With the observation of strict safety and security regulations, trust is given birth to in the bosom of “Akwaaba”, that very welcoming phrase that has debuted for real, carrying on its wings smiles and enchantments as it awaits visitors of all kinds and purposes to the land of the ancestors of DAGOMBAs, WALAs, BRONOs, ASHANTIs, GAs, EWEs, KWAWUs, AKYEMs, NZEMAs, and others.

Yes Akufo Addo has written history again. Yes Cecilia Dapaah has written history as the first woman to rise to the position of Minister for Aviation and the first to organise the very first aerospace exhibition in West-Africa. It is unprecedented, an achievement many of her peers from sister nations would have wished to tuck firmly in their sleeve.

It is important to support this show of professionalism, vision, and sterling performance with a few important points. Domestic travel has increased by over 70,000 (seventy thousand passengers) since the NPP government under President Nana Akufo-Addo abolished the 17.5% VAT levy on tickets, something incompetent John Mahama could never bring himself to do.

After all, he refused to restore the “nurses training allowance”, preferring to lose the elections, which he did disgracefully on December 7, 2016.

A center for aviation safety and security is being setup to keep the industry aloft. Domestic aviation is seeing a boost with more companies scrambling to get a piece of the pie. Baby Jet is coming too. I was particularly elated at that, and for a good reason too. Asamoah Gyan is a sensible kid after all.

He also is a visionary. Under Cecilia Dapaah’s leadership, the ministry for aviation has on its agenda the rehabilitation of the domestic airports and the actual realisation of the word “International”, which was cosmetically used for a botched campaign by unknowledgeable John Mahama and his NDC zombies.

Of course, the last, but, certainly, not the least of what I can write a whole book on is the fact that Ghana was, once again, raised higher on the pedestal of world fame. Is it any wonder that investors have lined up to bring their businesses to this country?

The irony is that with so much resources at his disposal, John Mahama allegedly opted to steal the money, and allow his brother Ibrahim to do same, while they spent lavishly on twerking ladies, dishing out to them vehicles via the NDC flagship programme, “one twerk one car”, and one night stand one land cruiser”. That was how the nation’s money was spent under the previous administration.

If the same resources were available to the advantage of Honourable Cecilia Dapaah as that of her predecessor NDC Minister, the aviation industry in Ghana today would be our pride in the sunny sky, and more airlines would have touched down on the Black Star of our Red, Gold, and Green.

I reckon it is all well now that the job is in the competent hands of the right persons. Congratulation Mr President! Congratulation Madam Minister!

#GhanaIsIndeedWorkingAgain