Manifesto Of The NDP (national Democratic Party) Of Ghana (draft)

Dear Countrymen, we have the pleasure to introduce our Manifesto, entitled

OUR GHANA – OUR RIGHTS

You might have heard from the news, that the Electoral Commission (EC) has refused to grant our leader, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the necessary registration to allow her to participate in the forthcoming Presidential Election on 7 December 2012. We agree with the former President, Flt.Lt. John Jerry Rawlings, that the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections will be successful. In the light of this our belief, we are pursuing all democratic avenues, to have the right to represent our people restored to us. The Ghana Constitution offers us this right, because our national constitution is against any form of discrimination. We feel strongly that the action of the EC constitutes a direct discrimination against us, because, obviously we have been treated differently.

This Manifesto is about the rights and opportunities for Ghanaians and thus reflecting also our responsibilities to our dear continent Africa as a whole.

We are part of the greater Africa and our destiny can only be assured in a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa.

I am glad, honoured and proud for having the opportunity to write the preface and introduction of the NDP Manifesto.

We believe that the role of democratic government is to protect and strengthen liberty; to redress the balance between the powerful and the weak, and a government which invests in the people but at the same time is prepared to be accountable for their actions.

We shall therefore in the course of this our first Manifesto try to improve upon poor governance of the NDC government.

We can only redress the balance if we identify the weaknesses of our constitution and emphasise on structural changes which will go a long way to block the loopholes which allow the injustices to be perpetrated in the first place.

We reject the Constitutional Review Commission Report of the late President Mills as insufficient to cure the ills of our society. We shall ask for a reform through a Referendum if we come into power.

We recognise that the ethnic differences in our society must be accepted as a reality and all our actions should not ignore this fact. The recent civil conflict in Hohoe should warn us that clouds are the sign of rain'. Prof. Fiadjoe cannot, to my mind, be serious when he writes about “strengthening national culture”. He is deceiving himself for there is no “national culture”; there are multiple, diverse ethnic cultures and traditions in Ghana as well as in Africa. This must be taken into account if one wants to be taken seriously and have a united future.

The national parliament cannot be strengthened because it has reached the end of its tether.

What needs to be done is strengthening the structures in the regions into full-blown regional governments, each managing its own affairs in the interest of the indigenous people of the area. The people should be empowered to take their affairs into their own hands.

This is the active government which invests in people and is directly answerable to them for their actions. This is real democracy!

At present the gap between the central government and the governed is too great. This leads to loopholes to corruption. Public bodies are not sufficiently held responsible for their actions. This leads to nepotism and sheer theft!

What is lacking is checks and balances.

NDP believe that voters must have a strong enough voice and a real choice. This must be on the regions- and districts levels. No wonder that more and more people feel alienated from politics.

Any time you read the news the government seems to be raking more power for itself. It talks about investing in the people when it is rather conniving with foreign firms to dupe its own people as recently alleged.

I have never before been so worried about the safety of Ghanaian Democracy like now.

The principle of NDP on constitutional questions including decentralisation in full and the parliamentary reform, as well as role of the judiciary should be reviewed.

They should reflect the aims and aspiration of all the ethnic groups in our society and not just a few. There should not be any Volta Region as “World-Bank-of-Ghana-Politics” to the detriment of others. This is pure and simple deception. We the NDP should go on the journey from “virtual” to “real” policy in politics. We should deliver and not deceive ourselves.

So you see, constitutional reform and not review is more than anything else important for the future and the destiny of the people of Ghana, and should remain the core of our politics. There should be constitutional devices to guarantee civil liberties and to disperse power to the regions and between branches of national government.

In the light of these revelations of shortcomings that threaten our future, we must thank God for the timely formation of NDP because this party stands for making parliament more representative of popular opinion.

NDP must ask for a referendum in which the people may want a devolution

We have at this point to pay tribute to Mrs. Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who single-handedly stood against all odds under extreme conditions to bring into life the existence of the great party NDP. The function of NDP should be corrective and life-saving for our country.

The corruption going on is not only due to loopholes in the constitution but the constitution itself needs basic structural changes to reflect the true wishes and aspirations of all our people.

This preface I have written is an attempt to make sense of our society in the light of our experiences. We have been aware of what John Perkins wrote in his book 'Economic Hitman'. Perkins writes that “there are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars”. It makes a good read, but we have had our own experience of how Ministers, Judges, and Attorney-Generals fall prey to these hyenas, and help dupe Ghana of trillions of dollars. Suspect anyone who borrows, borrows and builds with foreign firms excluding our own! Please help vote NDP.

The NDP Manifesto is going to be a manifesto which seeks to close the loopholes NDC has so far used to cheat us.

We have the intellectual ability to follow them, detect their tricks and get rid of them. The corrupt party NDC shall be annihilated because it is built on lies. The people shall triumph. Once more a good reading.

Policy on Decentralisation

Decentralisation of Local Government

Under the current 1992 constitutional arrangement, Art. 242, the District Assembly (non-partisan in nature) is the highest political authority in the district and consists of the following:

1. One person elected by universal adult suffrage from each electoral area.
2. The member or members of parliament from constituents that fall within the area of authority of the District Assembly (no voting power).
3. The District Chief Executive of the district appointed by the President with executive powers (abuse of power!) and with previousapproval of not less than 2/3 majority of the members of the assembly present voting at the meeting.
4. Other members not being more than 30% of all the members of the District Assembly, appointed by the president in consultation with the traditional authorities and other interestedparties in the district.

Examples of nepotism by presidents, e.g. President Mills

1. Chapter 5 - §17 (1) and (3) which states that all people shall be equal before the law.
2. A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.

For the purpose of this article “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective description by race, place of origin, political opinion, etc., etc.

On the contrary, both leading parties while taking advantage of the fact that in the regional and district levels citizens are by law deprived of their basic right to vote, they cheat by marginalising specific ethnic groups in order to prevent them from fully participating in the governing of the country.

Example in the ff.

Mills' Examples of Ethnocentrism

1. Dr. Kofi Awoonor, Chairman, Council of State (Ewe)
2. Victor Gbeho, Senior Policy Advisor,who single-handedly sacked more than two dozen Akan Foreign Officers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the transition period (Ewe)
3. Alex Segbefia, Deputy Chief of Staff (Ewe)
4. Bebaako Mensah, Secretary to the President (Ewe)
5. Koku Anyidoho, Communication Director.
6. Kofi Wampak,First Deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana (Ewe)
7. General Arnold Quanoo, Special Assistant to the President (Ewe)
8. Brigadier General Wallace Gbedema (rtd) Special Assistant to the President (Ewe)
9. Gbvelo Lartey, National Security Coordinator (Ewe)
10. Kosivi Degbor, Deputy National Security Coordinator (Ewe)
11. Yaw Donkor, Director, Bureau of National Investigations (Ewe)
12. Biadela Morley Akpazi, Executive Director, Serious Fraud Office (Ewe)
13. Juliana Mensah Azuma, Minister of Tourism (Ewe)
14. Akua Densua, former MP for North Dayi, Minister of Women & Children Affairs (Ewe)
15. Joe Gidisu, Minister of Road and Highways (Ewe)
16. Ludwig Hlordze, Minister of State/Office of the President (Ewe)
17. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information (Ewe)
18. Chris Kpodo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ewe)
19. Madam Dzifa Aku Attivor, Deputy Minister of Transportation (Ewe)
20. Ford Henry Kamel, MP Biakoye, Deputy Minister of Land and Mineral Resources (Ewe)
21. Elvis Efriyie Ankra from Akatsi, Deputy Minister of Local Government.

As if this was not enough Mills has packed various State Agencies and quasi government corporations with the following 'TEAM B' or 'BOOT LICKERS':

• Charles A Darku, Chief Executive of The Ghana Grid (Electricity Corporation and VRA)
• Salas Mensah, Executive Secretary, The Revenue Agencies Governing Board
• Kwame Ampofo defeated MP, South Dayi, managing Director, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)
• Kofi Pottophy, who visited Kuffuor's house and threatened to pull it down, National Disaster Management Operation
• Michael Kofi Bansah, Director of Prison Service
• John Kudalor, Deputy Chief of Police, Director of Police of Ghana Police Service
• Kwadwo Owusu Agyeman from Kete Krachi, Executive Secretary of Ghana Export Promotion Council
• Justice Amegashie, Driving Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
• Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Scheme
• Professor Albert Fiadjoe, Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee
• Naval Captain Kwadjo Butah, Board Chairman, Ghana Trade Fair Company
• Professor John Bright Kwabla Aheto, Chairman, National Media Commission
• Kojo Ablodepey, Chairman, Ghana Tourist Development Company
• Mr. Senam Kuagbenu, Executive Director of National Service Scheme.

The following are Atta Mills' Trokosi Board of Directors to various state institutions:

• William Tevie, Member, National Communication Authority
• Bridget Katsriku, Public Service Commission
• James Avedzi, Member, Ghana Revenue Board
• Rosa Kudoazi, Vice Chair, Ghana Investment Promotion Center
• Agbesi Kwadwo Dzakpasu, Board Member, Ghana Investment Promotion Center
• Stephen Ahor, Board Member, National Investment Bank
• Nana Nprah Busumuru, chief from Kete Krachi, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)
• Group Captain Michael S.K. Dordor, Chairman, Board of Ghana Water Company Limited
• Lt.Col. Edward E. Fiawoo, Board Member, Divestiture Implementation Committee
• Edem Kpodor, Chairman, Ghana Tourist Board
• Lt.Col. (rtd) Yaw Dzotefe Mensah, Ghana Tourist Board
• Kwabla D. Senanu, Member, Serious Fraud Office
• Capt. (rtd) K.P. Fiadoo, Member, Narcotic Control Board
• Mr. Degbor, Member, Narcotic Control Board
• Robert Kwami, Member, Narcotic Control Board
• Rev. Dr. Deegbe, Board Member, Narcotic Control Board
• Emmanuel Zumakpeh, Member, National Vocation Training Institute
• David Dorkenoo, Board Member, National Vocation Training Institute
• Regina Mawusi Yovonoo, Board Member, State Insurance Corporation
• Sylvia Ahulu, Board Member, Ghana Supply Commission
• Thomas F.K. Senya, Board Member, State Housing Corporation
• Biadelah Mottey Akpadzi, Board Member, Micro-Finance and Small Loan Center
• Hon. Joe Gidisu, MP, Chairman, Road Fund Management Board
• Ms Bemice Day Kumah, Member, National Museums and Monuments Board
• Emmanuel K. Ave, Member, Postal and Courier Services Regulatory
• Mr. Napoleon Azumah, Member, Road Fund Management Board
• Mr. Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, Member, Ghana Publishing Corporations
• Mr. Frank Yao Badohu, Member, GIHOC Distilleries
• Mrs. Marian Bamor, Member, Presidential Committee on Emolument
• Koku Anyidoho (Head, Communications) Member, Presidential Committee on Emolument
• Amma De Souza, Board Member, Presidential Committee on Emolument
• Nicholas A. Gbekor-Kove, Board Member, Ghana Meteorological Agency
• Dr. Kwami Ameza,Board Member, Irrigation Development Agency
• Mawuli Adjei, Chairman, Ghana Institute of Languages
• Carl Wilson, Chairman, Confiscated Car Committee – Car Jacking syndicate
• Justice Isaac Duose, Chairman of Ghana@50
• Brigadier General G Partington, Head of the Army, Director General (Joint Operation)
• Col. D.K. Mishio, Deputy Director General (Joint Operation)
• Christian Eden Kobla Dovlo, Commandant Kofi Anan International peacekeeping Training Center promoted Air Marshall
• Brigadier General Marin Gamiel Ahiaglo, General Officer commanding Southing Command of the Ghana Army
• Brigadier General Quist, Director General Personnel Administration
• Colonel J.K. Klobodu, Director General, Planning and Development
• Colonel B.K. Klu, Director, Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• Commodore Bierko, Chief of Staff, General Headquarters
• Air Commander C.G. Gamadeku, Chief of Staff, Air Force Headquarters.

They talk of strong Central Government; deprive the people in the regions of their natural right to vote thus weakening the region and then suddenly they share the top positions among themselves.

In addition to the extensive list mentioned above, the Ewe minority is to be found everywhere, at the Airport, 37 Military Hospital, Supreme Court, Council of State, etc., etc., thus making the Volta voting exercise a mocker of the labour of voters in Ghana. In simple terms: This is a CHEAT of the highest order, because we miss the ethnic balance in the distribution of jobs in our country. Please note: we are not anti-Ewe, we are pro-Equality. If people are the source of wealth, then all people must be empowered, not just a few.

There is no way this form of abuse can be prevented especially if the judiciary is equally biased and compromised. This is a recipe for civil war. NDP will simplify matters by making a constitution reform which should be by local referendum and when approved, the people can vote for devolution of powers. Such a move will lead to credible competition between the regions and stop dependency on the central government. The central government shall be weakened and regional governments shall be strengthened like they are in Germany and UK.

We of the NDP shall not lie to the people. We shall always serve the people to the best of our ability. Upon this new devolution constitution we shall build all our policies which will be truly people-centred.

Imbalances

Now to Mahama's speech at IEA encounter.

There are those of us, who have not had that gracious opportunity to deliver a lengthy speech at IEA. Nevertheless, we shall take the opportunity that the internet offers us to deliver a rebuff of part if not all that President Mahama has said during his empty rhetoric, empty because it had no substance.

1. Building a strong and resilient economy, Forbes Magazine says Ghana ranks as one of the worlds worst economies. Examples of this is that hydroelectric plant which was built to supply electricity to Africas largest aluminium smelter. The smelter has been idle since 2009, casualty of low aluminium prices and persistent electricity shortages that have forced the government to divert the power elsewhere.
2. Gross Domestic Product per capita fell nine percent last year to 621 Dollars, ranking Ghana 154 out of 184 countries tracked by IMF. Below Haiti.
3. Last year we had a trade-deficit of 3 billion Dollars, and external debt of 4.9 billion Dollars.
4. Ghana is struggling as I write to pay its bills even as it sits on some of the worlds biggest Gold reserves in Ashanti and Bauxite.
5. The late President Mills, who is so much adored by Mahama, drove in the states' own Rolls Royce to go and buy Kenke in one of the worlds' filthiest markets in the 21st century.
6. While the world is focusing its attention on Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland and Portugal, another group of nations including Ghana make the above named countries positively well managed.
7. NDC government is notoriously known for its tribalism, thus not using the human capital it has in full. The government has practised policies of cronyism.

   Example: Dr. Antwi-Asare of KATH was removed without any reason from his job and the job was given to one Dr. Dubois, a Fanti.

When we come into power, we shall set up a commission of inquiry into all allegations of cronyism and compensation paid to all those who have been illegally dismissed from their jobs.

From the above mentioned points it is clear that the climate for investments is not conducive. We are experiencing soaring food prices. UNDP found that Ghanaians spend 62% of their income on food.

Ghanaian villagers even spend more on food than urban dwellers. Small holder farmers devoted most of their resources to growing food but their farm productivity is too low to meet all their food needs.

Corruption

Corruption is part of the problem of our economic decline. Contrary to the beatitudes, our party wish to refer our readers to the inside story of why Mr. Martin Amidu was sacked. Lies upon lies were used as reason for Mr. Amidu's fate. The National Democratic Party is by this Manifesto appealing to the incumbent President, if he is really honest, to clear the air about the incident which happened at the Castle.

1. The official explanation contained in the statement by the chief of staff at the Castle said, “Mr. Amidu misconducted himself at a meeting with the President”. A claim Mr. Amidu denies. Mr Amidu's denial is credible, because the Daily Guide reports that the former Attorney General was sacked by the late President Mills because he, Mr. Amidu, insisted on the prosecution of some government officials over financial malpractices to the chagrin of the now deceased President. The NDP asks President Mahama the question: “Will you immediately set up a commission of inquiry ? Yes or No ?” If we come into power, we will set up this commission.
2. Please, Mr. President, can you or your government account for the 12 million Pounds International Finance Corporation facility for a Ghana oil palm development cooperation project ? Another question: Did your Vice-President, the then Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Emissah-Arthur, act to “cover up” the investigation ? Yes or No ?

We wish to assure our supporters that, when we come into power, we shall investigate all these issues of corruption.

How can we even dare talk about an economy when what we have is been stolen by some individuals in our country ?

As I write, there has been information about German support of 130 million Pounds to Ghana over the next three years. 24.6 million Pounds is meant for decentralization. In regions where the citizens are not empowered to vote for regional parliaments of their choice and to elect Prime Ministers of their choice. Mr. President, are you aware of NDC party members who were equipped with cutlasses, sent to Kumasi, roaming about and threatening the Ashantis, singing South-African Inkatha-group songs to intimidate Ahantis ? Would you describe such an action as a treasonable offence or not ? We shall investigate this issue when we come into power.

Our Policies

Constitution

A constitution which is water-tight, guarantees true freedom of every citizen of our country,

promotes competition and helps to initiate creativity, innovation and stops unnecessary migration of people from the North to the South.

A constitution which guarantees freedom of movement but recognises the ethnic differences and takes them into account in decision making.

Religion

There will be freedom of religion. Abuse in religion shall be dealt with in all seriousness as a crime. Our policy shall always be separation of church and government.

Islam is a recognised and respected religion but any attempt to mobilise Muslims to vote for a particular party shall be banned. All religious organisations in our country can practice freely their faith and we shall exempt them from paying taxes as long as they can prove their accordance to international standards and engage in welfare. This includes Muslims.

“Zongos”

Africans have the tendency, everywhere they go, not to integrate into the society they live in. They tend to live in their own communities. Now in Ghana we are experiencing mushrooming of the so-called Zongos. While we recognise the right of free movement in our country, we shall encourage integration of our people and not segregation. We shall not encourage Ghettos, and separation in our country. Therefore “Zongos” shall be banned, because they represent Ghettos.

We want one Ghana, one people and each region or district must use the resources made available to them by the central government solely for the benefit of indigenous people. Planning will thus be made easier.

A situation where thousands of youth roaming about doing nothing and riding unlicensed motor bicycles causing havoc must stop. The main cause of filth in the cities is due to uncontrolled and unplanned urbanisation.

Environment

When we come into power, we endeavour to have a clean environment, make sure that at vantage points in all the big cities there are means for all the citizens to wash and disinfect their hands, we shall introduce laws which make it mandatory for house owners to clean the pavement in front of their property, we shall encourage the training of landscape gardeners and make sure that new housing projects have enough parking places for their vehicles, enough places for beautiful gardens and that all the houses must through subventions by the government have solar panels and photovoltaic elements for the production of energy.

We shall introduce health officers who go from house to house to make sure that drinking water is clean, refuse are properly collected and disposed of – in other words, the government shall actively be involved in making sure that the environment is as clean as possible.

Migration of people from the North to the South

This is termed urbanisation. It is a global phenomenon. In Ghana it is typically not rural = urban migration. People want to find a new life in the South.

Most migrants are young adults often uneducated in family planning. Lack of public services and utilities, electricity, schools, hospitals, clean water – no wonder cases of cholera have occurred.

The NDC government looks on and does nothing about the situation. Their ideas are too limited to be useful. They hang on to local government systems which have failed bitterly but the Professor Ahwoi who introduced this local government system has been honoured, while NPP also looks on powerless, because intellectually they cannot imagine any solution to this phenomenon.

Creating of special institutions in the regions to help the youth learn new skills is the solution.

Skills Institutions

Vocational training prepares workers or learners for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and related to specific trade, occupation or vocation. It covers a wide range of subject areas and tends to be more hands-on than academic qualifications might be. Our world is changing fast and we need more skills than ever before. 2 out of 3 jobs in future will require a higher level of skills and better qualification.

We reckon each region will have to train 350,000 young people (costing billions) in boarding schools and state-of-the-art institutions. The curriculum will be worked out by the party. This will help reduce migration and thus reduce the burden of filth in the cities.

We shall endeavour to link industry to technical universities.

After completion of their skill training, we shall create sort-of PWDs, where these young people could do their apprenticeship. Others will be helped financially to set up their own small and medium businesses. The regional governments would be helped to employ these young people.

Contracts in future will go only to Ghanaian companies. These companies will have their industries and organisation controlled and certified by foreigners from Europe that our local contractors satisfy certain basic requirements before securing contracts.

Our party will introduce checks and balances on a 6-monthly basis. We shall not take anything for granted. Only this attitude will propel us forward.

21st Century Health Care in Ghana

We will put people first in our health care. In order to pursue the 21st century health care in Ghana, we must adopt what the advisory commission on consumer protection and quality in the health care industry in the United States recommended in 1998.

Recommendations in General

1. All health care organisations, professionals groups and private and public purchasers should adopt as their explicit purpose to continually reduce the burden of illness, injury and disability and to improve the health and function of the People of Ghana.
2. All health care organizations, professionals, private and public purchasers should pursue six major aims:
   1. Health care should be safe,
   2. should be effective,
   3. should be patient-centred,
   4. timely
   5. efficient and
   6. equitable.
3. Progress must be constantly assessed by creation of a National Quality Report.
4. Local efforts to implement innovation and achieve improvement through simple rules.
5. Care based on continuous healing relationship that means 24 hours a day, every day.
6. The care must be designed to meet the patients' needs.
7. Shared information with patients.
8. Evidence-Based decision-making will be focused on disability adjusted life-years (DALYs).
9. Safety as a system property.
10. Transparency.
11. Using information technology and internet.
12. In the regions, we have to have regional health care financing administration and a special agency for health care research and quality with input from private payers.
13. Increase in chronic conditions and changing mortality patterns should be taken into account.
14. Mental health should be taken seriously.

PAY - Structure

There is bound to be wide variations in the pay of GPs throughout Ghana. Regional governments must take advice from various doctors and dentists review bodies.

SALARIED

Pays must be specified by GMA, and not by the government. All doctors must have contracts with the administration of the hospitals they are working for.

The basis of the pay should be hourly rates. Doctors or junior doctors should work 8 hours daily with 30 minutes break for lunch.

Consultants should be paid consultant fees, should be given 30 beds in the hospital where they are directors as private practice. They in turn should be on duty for emergencies in case the junior doctors go on strike.

Consultants thus though employed will be allowed to do private work but only in the hospital they are employed, e.g. insurance examinations and reports, private medical examinations.

Checks and Balances

The complaints procedure in general practice and in the hospitals

1. Local resolution
2. Independent review
3. Ombudsman
4. Disciplinary procedures

The structure of the Health System

1. Dept. of Health

   1. Social services
   2. Public Health GP
   3. Executive agencies
      1. Medical devices
      2. Medicine control
      3. Health Authority Estates
      4. Pensions
      5. Purchasing and supply
2. The health system shall be an autonomous body running as business with CEO, etc.
3. Ministry of Health will have nothing to do with it, except for matters relating to Public Health.
4. All other issues of Health will be fully decentralised, e.g. University hospitals, Nursing,.etc.,etc..

There shall be Health Services Agencies in

• Ashanti Region
• Brong Ahafo
• Upper West- and -East
• Northern Region
• Central- and Western Region
• Volta Region

All the regions shall be autonomous in all decisions about Health, including the need for Health Posts, Hospitals, Training of nurses, doctors, specialists.

The Central Government in Accra will have nothing to do with decision in various regional centres.

Transfers of health workers shall be abolished.

In Scotland for instance you have Minister of Health and Community Care.

• Management Executive
• Health boards
• Trusts, Acute Hospital Trusts
• Primary Care Trust

It will be up to Volta Region to plan their Health System as they deem fit. The usual budget support from the Central Government will be given to them.

This is where development starts.

All hands-on-deck attitude. No begging the Central Government and no thanking the Central Government for doing their job!

1. Care for the most vulnerable and the seniors and juniors and infants shall be free.
2. Care for the mentally handicapped and mentally ill shall be free.
3. We shall introduce “Health on Wheels”, Testing for Glaucoma, Blood pressure checks, Blood sugar testing, minor surgery, wound treatment, driving to remote villages.
4. Entrance exams for trained nurses shall be abolished. Exit exams shall be only practical exams. These nurses shall man remote centres.
5. Dentists on wheels to help the rural folk.
6. Helicopters to transport emergencies to nearby hospitals.
7. 24-hours pharmacy shops open – with police protection.
8. Ambulance service with well-trained paramedicals, not paediatricians.
9. These measures will be started immediately our Flagbearer is elected as the President.
10. We recognise that conveying the sick to the hospitals will be a problem because of traffic jams. It is therefore important to start the skill training to help de-congest the cities.
11. The economic activities must be dispersed into other rural centres. This is important!

Re-structuring the Health Care System

1. National Health Insurance system in Ghana shall be abolished. Free medical care shall be introduced for all.
2. Creation of medical Centres for diagnostic purposes could be privately owned.
3. Immunisation.
4. Treatment of acute malaria.
5. Treatment of anaemia and its related blood transfusions.
6. Screening for BPH, Glaucoma.
7. Creation of Medical Academy where weekend Master-Classes will take place (mandatory).
8. Essential drugs can be cheaply produced in the country and joint ventures with neighbouring countries should be our goal.
9. Emergency rooms at the airport.
10. 153 dentists for 24 million people is a shame, so train more dentists.
11. We need to train more Psychiatrists.
12. Hospital wards shall not be big halls like in WW II.

Because there is a lot to be done there must be division of labour. There must be proper decentralisation where all these measures mentioned above could be dealt with by the regional elected ministers efficiently.

This will be our road to success

So far, nothing has happened. The people are being choked in inefficiency.

This list of what I have described above is quite impressive. The Public Health aspect will have to be tackled by the Ministry of Health of each region. This is democracy at work.

Our previous governments have chosen not to live the mandate bestowed upon them by the electorate to transform the fortunes of the economy but have instead been engaging in misdirecting their effort and energy in petty squabbles and insulting dignified Icon leader of our nation, ex-President Rawlings. Allegations are making rounds that some ministers and officials of this government are corrupt. We shall investigate and if found guilty, they will loose their citizenship. Rawlings and the wife do not have shares in NDC, they have the interest of the people at heart.

Pharmacists in Private Practice

Registered pharmacists and no one else will deal in pharmaceuticals. The pharmacists will be assisted by pharmaceutic technical assistants who should be well trained and certified after a 3-year course to work in the pharmacies. They all shall wear white overalls with their name tag or gadge for identification.

All the pharmacy shops will have to satisfy new governmental specifications and pharmacists shall be helped to get a loan for purpose-built shops – state-of-the-art. They shall be made liable for prosecution if any fake drugs are found in their stores.

They will have to liaise with Food and Drug Administration to ensure the quality of the drugs on sale.

Those working in hospitals will have to satisfy the requirements of the individual hospitals.

Grants for the Health System

1. Each region gets so-called block grants.
2. These are not related to need but can be spent as they choose.
3. The funding in each region must relate to their expenses. This however must be justified.
4. There must be divergence.
5. The NDP politics must have value professionalism as well as

There will be the need for our Flagbearer to meet personally the professionals, region by region, for mutual discussion.

• The objective of NDP will be to improve the environmental condition and thus improve Public Health.
• Public latrines and sewerage system shall be dealt with. Underground sewage treatment plants shall be introduced.

Markets

The status or our markets, especially their environmental credentials are poor. Newly designed, state-of-the-art markets are overdue. The markets should be constructed to include modern toilets sunshades, refrigerators, etc., etc.. The Quality of food especially of the meat we eat must be examined by Health officers.

The storage of food and the disinfection of hands that handle food must be considered. This is nation building.

Housing

1. All newly built houses will have to have photovoltaic panels to generate electricity.
2. It should be possible for the Regional Governments to subsidise them.
3. If everything from building material up to the structure and other systems could be produced in Ghana, we can locally produce with our trained young men descent housing all over the country.
4. It will therefore be in the interest of NDP government in association with Dept. of Architecture at U.S.T. to develop affordable and beautiful structures locally.
5. NDP will never let outside firms get contracts in Ghana at the expense of our own real estate companies.
6. Our Flagbearer will immediately contact Ghanaian estate developers for co-operation. We shall be talking about

Substructure and foundation – norms and standards.

• Structural building materials.
• Complete structural systems.
• Cladding including bricks.
• Roofing.
• Doors and windows.
• Drainage and rainwater hoods.
• Fixers, filters and finishes.

Tourism

Tourism shall be high on the agenda.

We shall require a clean environment.

Adverts on the overseas TV, e.g. CNN, RT, BBC, SKY. It's worth it.

The various Regional Governments must take advantage of the opportunity tourism creates for their economy. We expect Regional Governments to stand and fight for their people with creative ideas to earn money for their regions.

Farmers

Cocoa farmers must not be obliged to sell their products to Cocoa Marketing board. They must reap what they sow. Other commodities like coffee and tea should be encouraged as export commodities. The advantages of farming creating jobs should not be underestimated. Regional Ministries of Agriculture will be responsible for matters affecting agricultural products in their region.

Military and Police

There shall be Regional Police answerable only to Regional Prime Minister. Members shall solely be from the ethnic group of the region, for simplicity and efficiency sake. Accommodation shall not be provided. This is a colonial legacy. Financial incentive for accommodation shall be paid.

With the Military, only the ethnic groups of the region shall be stationed in that region e.g. Ewe soldiers in Volta Region, etc., etc.

Our Military shall be termed Peoples' Defence Force and should concentrate on air, land and sea defence of our soil. Alliances and partnerships shall be sought with neighbouring African countries to reduce procurement costs.

Other matters like

• drug addiction
• HIV – Aids
• Hepatitis infection

these are Public Health issues for the Minister of Health of the various regions to deal with.

Drug Misuse and Dependence

NDP-Guidelines for Ghana on Clinical Management

1. Clinical Governance
   1. Principles of clinical governance
   2. doctors training
   3. non-medical prescribing
   4. confidentiality involving patients and carers
2. Essential Elements of Treatment
   1. assessment, planning care and treatment
   2. delivery of treatment
   3. drug treatment
   4. drug testing
3. Psycho-Social component of Treatment
   1. principles of psychosocial intervention etc.
4. Pharmacological Interventions
   1. prescribing
   2. introduction onto methadone and buprenorphine treatment
   3. supervised consumption
   4. opioid maintenance prescribing
   5. detox
5. Health Consideration
   1. blood-borne infection
   2. preventing drug-related deaths
   3. alcohol
   4. diazepam dependence
   5. tobacco

This information is based on clinical guidelines on the treatment of drug abuse in the U.K.

We shall introduce this to Ghana to save our young people from addiction deaths. In Ghana, the newly formed Public Health will have to deal with HIV-infections, Hepatitis A, -B, -C infections, Hep. E infection. We shall make it a responsibility of the General Practitioner, GP, to provide medical services for drug misusers. That is why GP-position and function will have to be reviewed and upgraded. Drug related overdoses must be prevented. It becomes clear therefore that the NDC Government is totally incompetent and not only criminally corrupt, but abusive.

• Pensions
• Poverty reduction
• Macro/Micro economy
• The Private Sector
• Land
• Forests
• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Industrialisation
• Training and Capacity building

are for Regional Governments to deal with.

• Full Citizenship for Ghanaians in the Diaspora.
• Creative Industrial Design Schools (e.g., Deutscher Werkbund, founded 1907, was a German state sponsored effort to integrate traditional crafts and industrial mass production techniques to put Germany on a competitive footing with England and the USA. This is applied arts and applied science.) We must start immediately.
• Packaging Companies (collaborative technology company, designing and manufacturing top quality folding cartons and boxes for consumer products)
• Help for the Elderly, people above 60 years, especially those with meagre pensions and those with no pensions at all. Also, free health care and transportation costs.
• We need Research Institutes for various sciences, named after truly great Leaders of our Time, such as Kwame Nkrumah and J.J. Rawlings.
• Transplantation Medicine must be encouraged and the case of cardio-thoracic surgeon Prof. Frimpong-Boateng must be reviewed.

Creating and Sustaining Job

Mahama is being deceptive and intellectually bankrupt in the topic of creating Jobs.

We consider that in most respects the battle for the continuing salience of social justice as a political ideal has been won in Ghana, in that all political parties in Ghana are committed to policies which are underpinned by an appeal to social justice. However, its one thing to accept the principles of social justice and another to practise it. Maybe this has not been possible in Ghana because of that bad constitution we have. A constitution that virtually gives a tacit support, directly or indirectly, to ethnocentrism, is not helpful. We would like to remind at this junction all our readers about the fate of our people all over the world because of the colour of our skin.

Recently, in Libya, black people were caged and leaves were put into their mouths to simulate animals. We are supporting ill-treatment of our people abroad, if we practice ethnocentrism in our own country.

How can a former First Lady of our country be refused entry into the Central Region of our country because of her ethnic background ? Where was Vice-President Mahama, when this incident took place and what did he say about it ? In a speech he is asking the good people of Ghana to vote him into power once more, on the basis of accountability, justice and transparency.

The story I have just narrated and the behaviour of the Vice-President contrast very sharply with the beatitudes and the words of adoration that we heard in his speech. When NDP gets into power it will be our plan to investigate this issue and take appropriate action to make sure that in future black people of Ghana will do away with a possible slave mentality.

One may ask, what this discrimination has got to do with policies. The answer is simple: In our Constitution the basic human rights of each one of us must be respected and we find that there has been abuse of Mrs. Rawlings' basic human rights under the watchful eye of this our President. Our policy will be we shall guarantee the basic human rights of every citizen of our country in Ghana and abroad. We should not underestimate the devastating social and economic consequences of people not having confidence in us as a ethnicity and us as a people. This is one of the reasons why we in the NDP are asking for a reform of the structure of our constitution simply to empower the people and we mean all the people. NDP will be the vehicle for the true social justice and we shall establish a centre for social justice when we come into power.

The factors that lead to re-emergence of social justice include intellectual changes, institutional changes, developmental changes and a concern with the perceived consequences of a lack of concern with social or distributive justice.

Simply imagine the number of people in the villages who need health care and cannot afford it.

Simply think of the many mentally handicapped, people dying from Malaria, Cholera, hypertension and prostate cancer. NDC has had four years and we have all admittedly experienced four empty years. Nothing has happened except stealing the wealth of the people.

We have talked of devolution and not federation. We did this because of love of our country, not because of indulgence of selfishness. We feel our people must be empowered and once and for all be responsible for their fate. The cries for help coming from various regions and sometimes envy exhibited by those who think other regions are being preferred should stop.

The savings of the workers with the Social Security (SSNIT) must be diversified and used for the health care of the poor or the workers and not for the private acquisition of aeroplanes for the rich. This constitutes a criminal offence and will be investigated as soon as we come into power.

The untimely death of President Mills

When we come into power we endeavour to investigate the events which led to the death of President Mills with special reference to the following:

• Was President Mills dead when he was transported to 37 Military Hospital ?
• If he was dead, then his death should have been certified by a doctor or a coroner before removal.
• In Europe death must always be certified by a doctor who fills a form indicating so many important factors before coming to the conclusion of death. After certification, the dead body can be removed.
• We have a case where the Head of State, who apparently had a recent history of throat cancer, was complaining of a neck pain instead of someone calling in a doctor a self-medication is provided by an unknown person by providing him with a neck-collar.
• The possibility of meningeal irritation due possibly to subarachnoidal bleeding or possibly carotis artery puncture by a metastatic tumour should be considered. At any rate we are told that he had massive blood gushing out of the mouth and nose without vital signs. Most likely he died of acute pump failure of the heart. Now a Brigadier at the 37 Military Hospital tells the whole world that a doctor and two paediatricians were sent to collect the possibly dead body of the President from the Castle. Why not paramedics is still unclear to all of us.

Now the poor taxpayer of Ghana has to pay for the expensive 9-hour-journey to America for medical check-up and to pay for his entourage in most expensive hotels when in Ghana doctors, pharmacists and nurses cannot be paid by the same man. And now here we are: We are being asked to vote for a President who owes us answers to these questions. We have been told that 80% of the supporters of this party are all Ewes and that even Kofi Adams, the secretary of the ex-President and Nana Konadu Agyeman is prepared to vote for NDC despite all these revelations. It is a clear indication that he is also voting purely on ethnic consideration and not in the interest of the nation.

Anyone who declares that NDC is practising institutionalised corruption and therefore destruction of our nation will have questions to answer before God.

NDC and the Candidate

We of the NDP maintain that the object of politics is solely social contentment. We think, however, Mrs Rawlings, contrary to what her opponents say, is a nice, a good looking Ghanaian hard working lady from a humble home. She is Ashanti and from the Ashanti Royal Family. Her mother is a soft-spoken, humble, equally good looking Ashanti lady, by profession a teacher. Her father was the late J.O.T. Agyeman, a famous and respectable Ghanaian businessman. She grew up in a house full of hard-working passionate family, who gave her the strong conviction of the power of politics to change lives. One of her greatest attributes that we all admire is her dedication, her boldness and lack of prejudice against other ethnic groups in our society. She thinks that NDC under late Mills and under President Mahama has got a lot wrong, for instance using ethnicity to gain votes and using religion – in this case, Mahama using Muslim organisations – to retain power.

She as the flagbearer of the NDP thinks NDC is wrong on so many issues for instance on corruption, education and she thinks that all children should be tolerant, they should be taught music, dancing, sports, languages, discipline, strong religious believes and so on and so forth.

She thinks our government is wrong on not supporting an African country which has been invaded by foreigners, namely Libya and not initiating proper policies in strengthening African unity.

She thinks that economic development has something to do with confidence in our country and therefore corruption will not be helpful in people having confidence in us. Those who do not trust us will not invest in our country. Mrs. Rawlings will do things differently, she will introduce anti-corruption and transparency laws. Offenders must reckon with life-imprisonment and criminal offences will be followed into eternity. She will give Ghanaians abroad, the so-called Diaspora double citizenship where feasible. She will introduce special banks for small businesses, so as to make it possible for our small businesses to do business in other African countries and Europe. There will never be any discrimination based on ethnicity. She will therefore immediately institute laws against any form of discrimination against anybody with a different ethnic background. She will speak for the mainstream majority of the Ghanaians. She will shape the centre ground of politics and she will not occupy it. For the sake of justice, she will ask for electoral reform, e.g. devolution, of the whole Regions. If the referendum is accepted by the people there will be regional governments, regional Prime Ministers, regional Health Ministers, regional Police, regional education systems and she will make sure that there is proportional distribution of the wealth all over the country. There is not going to be any discrimination of any sort in our country. Discrimination against women will be prohibited and she will fight for stronger civil liberties. She will make sure that we have a strong central government army which will be independent. She will cut the deficit because it is patriotic to do so. She will allow a grown-up debate in this country about who we are and where we want to go and what kind of country we want to build. She will declare that the era of Kofi Awoonor, Victor Gbeho and all those Ewes who have kept their own people poor and remained in the lime-light of politics is gone and gone forever. The greatest menace facing our country, which is the drug-menace which is bringing untold hardships onto many citizens, causing armed robbery, which is killing many of our people, will be dealt with with all the force available to us. Mrs. Rawlings will preside over the creation of scientific research institutions and specialization of different kinds of medicines in our country. She will increase the number of eye specialists, dentists and psychiatrists. She will drop the age-barrier which is impeding progress in our country. Polygamy will be banned and considered a criminal offence in our country. Our party, NDP, thanks to all supporters, especially the grass roots who have persistently worked for the success of the party. We regret that some of our young people have become victims of greed and have been bribed by other parties to leave our movement. We entreat these young men to come back to us after having taken their money for we intend to plan a better future for all of us.

God bless us all.

Still to come:

Where does the MONEY come from?

TAXES have not been mentioned at all !