NPP Will Reinstate Allowances -Bawumia

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) vice presidential candidate for the 2016 general elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said that a future NPP government would not hesitate to restore teacher and nursing trainees' allowances, which have been withdrawn by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

'When we were HIPC we could afford teacher trainee and nursing trainee allowances. Today they ask us how we are going to pay; and we will tell them without mincing any words that we will restore teacher trainee and nursing trainee allowances, the ace economist pointed out.'

Dr. Bawumia gave this assurance during a handing over ceremony of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) – the tertiary wing of the NPP – at the University of Education Winneba, Ajumako campus, in the Central Region last weekend.

Economic Management
He said, 'There is no question about it. It will be done because we know how to do it and manage the economy. We will provide competent economic management and less corruption. If you stop being corrupt you can pay teacher trainee and nursing trainee allowances.'

He said under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo, who he described as 'a man of absolute integrity,' an NPP administration would restore confidence in the economy saying, 'He will not tolerate corruption.'

'I want the youth to be optimistic about the future of the country where Nana Akufo-Addo, God willing, will lead,' he said.

'We have to keep reminding ourselves about what is happening in Ghana today. Between 2001 and 2008 we created tax revenue of GH¢15 billion to manage this economy. Between 2009 and 2015, NDC has created tax revenue of GH¢62 billion which is four times as much,' Dr Bawumia noted.

He added, 'In fact, from independence to 2008, the total debt stock was GH¢9.5 billion. Between 2008 and 2014 – when they took over – they have increased the debt stock from GH¢9.5 billion to GH¢76 billion. This is an amazing record. They increased the debt stock by 700% in six years and that is an average of 116% every year. They are doubling the debt every year and this is a reckless amount of debt accumulation.'

He said that under NPP regime in eight years, cocoa export was $7 billion, but in six years, the NDC exported $15 billion adding, 'Borrowed exports in eight years under NPP was $9 billion; under the NDC in six years, it is $25 billion.'

Oil Economy
He observed, 'Even though we discovered oil in commercial quantities, there was no oil exports under the NPP; but between 2010 and 2014 under the NDC, Ghana has exported $13.7 billion of oil.'

Dr. Bawumia said that with tax revenues, the NDC 'is the luckiest government of our time, but with all of these resources, the NHIS is collapsing, they say they now have GYEEDA; it is not functioning; the free maternal care policy is not functioning properly.' The GETFund is in arrears; the District Assemblies Common Fund is in arrears. Contractors are not being paid. And they now want students to pay utility bills.'

IMF Bailout
He said after running down the economy, the Mahama-led administration ran to the IMF for a bail-out.

'An oil producing economy after four years of exporting oil, we are at the doorstep of the IMF for a bail-out. When we told them they were going to the IMF they said no…so where are they today?' he quizzed.

No Cushion
He Dr Bawumia observed, 'They have mismanaged the economy to the extent that they are taking away the cushion that we built for the people of this country. Look, the IMF bail-out is about $980 million and GYEEDA corruption alone is about GH¢952 million. SADA alone, GH¢200 million; judgement debt is GH¢687 million; you have Subah, GH¢144 million etc.'

By William Yaw Owusu