NDC MINISTERS’ EXPENSIVE HOLIDAYS TO LONDON-NEVER AGAIN!!!

It is time to realise that we can do better, by bringing a bit of honesty and rejecting mediocrity as well as reducing waste and dubious expenditures. It is clear that the Mills' government is out of touch and judging from the actions of the so called youth brigade that travelled first class to London to pretend to engage the Ghanaian youth here then we really have a lot of work to do.

We in the NPP in the UK were right not to attend the dubious Youth forum that was organised by the NDC youth wing. The use of the logos of innocent companies like Tullow Oil, Divine Chocolate, Cadbury and others and political parties that had no input or sponsorship of the event was reckless , irresponsible and unacceptable. We also did not attend because we had no input in the programme.

The question is why were all these NDC Ministers and Party Officials really here in the first place? With critical affairs of state and with our country grappling with increasing youth unemployment, cholera outbreaks, corruption in public institutions and among government ministers, labour discontent and calls for decorum in our politics was it necessary for three (3) government ministers Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of information Agyenim Boateng, Deputy Minister of Tourism ,Omane Boamah ,Deputy Minister of Environment and Technology and two (2) Presidential Aides Ludwig Hlodze, Stanislav Dogbe to spend over £20,000 to come here for five (5) days? What has happened to the promise by President Mills to control public spending and stop the waste in his government?

We are also surprised that these 5 individuals especially Mr Ludwig Hlodze after telling listeners on Rainbow Radio, a local radio station here that he will be returning to Ghana on Tuesday, were all seen at the England and Ghana football match. One would have thought that as conscientious ministers and government appointees, they would have cancelled their trips to go back home and join other government appointees and opposition figures to support Mr Cletus Avoka Majority leader in Parliament and Mr Mahama Ayarga, Deputy Minister of Education who sustained near fatal injuries in two separate car crashes last weekend. Where is the honesty and sincerity? Why tell Ghanaians you are here for a so called Youth Forum when you are really here to watch a football match and engage in shopping trips?

Our so called young, but who have turned out to be arrogant ministers can also have a little courtesy to turn up at radio studios and face up to the programme hosts instead of sitting in their comfortable £1000 a night hotels. The actions and behaviour at not turning up at some radio stations namely Hot Fm and GFM radio for example after other parties had turned up and the expense the programme host went to in organising hospitality to us is an insult as far as we are concerned.

Some of these ministers seem not to know why they are in government. So many young Ghanaian entrepreneurs who have sought to invest in Ghana have expressed frustration at the lack of response from this regime when business proposals are sent to them for consideration and response. The likes of Dr Omane Boamah, a man who should never had travelled outside the country with severe cholera outbreak and critical environmental and sanitation issues facing Ghanaians back home, an arrogant deputy minister who is only interested in taking pictures and sightseeing and who is not even interested in listening or receiving individuals who want to invest in Ghana, The likes of Mr Agyenim Boateng who as a deputy tourism minister failed to use the opportunity while he was here to sell our country as a tourist destination. Where are the brochures from the Ghana Tourist board and the Ministry of Tourism showcasing the beauty of our country? He, like Stan Dogbe, the invisible presidential aide is more excited about going shopping at Selfridges and Harrods and other shops to buy luxurious aftershaves and giftbags for loved ones - after all it is an “action year”.

So far over 15 District Chief Executives and 10 Muncipal Chief Executives have been driven from their offices by young NDC footsoldiers and cadres, Opposition MPs have been beaten and harassed, youth unemployment, despite Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa's outright lies that I.6 million jobs had been created is still on the rise with no end in sight, our roads and highways have come to a standstill because the government has still not paid contractors, Tema Oil refinery is in crisis due to $48 million being siphoned, food prices are going up, corruption and acts of corruption still go unpunished by the President, yet all our so called young appointees and are interested in is opportunities to watch matches abroad, shopping, eating spaghetti and hanging around scanty clad girls.

This record has played long enough. Ghanaians must reject these individuals who claim they are social democrats who have become not only national but also international kleptocrats. A government built on theft, expensive and ridiculous expenditure, lies, deceit and propaganda is failing to meet the hopes and aspirations of our people.

It is really time to Change the NDC in order to move forward!

Nana Yaw Sarpong-07983302369
Communications Officer-NPP UK and Ireland