body-container-line-1
03.07.2020 NDC

Failed Akufo-Addo Deserves Nothing Than Booting Out — Garu NDC

By Haruna Sumaila Abugri
Failed Akufo-Addo Deserves Nothing Than Booting Out — Garu NDC
03.07.2020 LISTEN

In what appears like calling for a reckoning and stewardship ahead of the much anticipated 2020 general election, Constituency Executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Garu in the Upper East Region have taken lead in calling on the Nana Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to not only avail itself for scrutiny but to be ready to hand over power to a developmental oriented and hardworking.

In a release jointly signed by three constituency executives, the NDC asserted that “the Garu constituency has been neglected and dragged backward during these four years of President Akufo Addo’s government. We envisage it will take us many years to fill the developmental gap and retrogression that has been created by President Akufo Addo and his NPP government in the Garu constituency. President Akufo Addo and his Kyebi ‘mafia gang’ have hijacked everything, leaving virtually nothing for others to benefit.”

The release described Nana Addo as an oppressor and a suppressor “The Ghanaian has come under oppression, suppression, and state of fear and insecurity under President Akufo Addo. Freedom of speech is no longer guaranteed under this regime. We are witnessing nothing but autocratic and tyrant leadership by Nana Addo.” It noted.

Describing the first term of President Akuffo Addo as a total fiasco, full of lies and deceit, the Chairman Laari led executives indicated that the good people of Garu have been denied the government unfulfilled promises widely talked about prior to the 2016 elections, Pinpointing that of: ONE DISTRICT-ONE FACTORY, ONE MILLION DOLLAR PER CONSTITUENCY PER YEAR, EXPANSION OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPANSION OF HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, EXTENTION OF ELECTRICITY, RESHAPING AND CUTTING OF FEEDER ROADS, BOREHOLE FOR EVERY COMMUNITY, TWO BULLOCKS FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD (GARU CONSTITUENCY SPECIFIC) slogan.

Below is the press release:


NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC), GARU CONSTITUENCY: 28TH JUNE, 2020.

THEME: EXPOSING THE ABYSMAL PERFORMANCE AND NEGLECT OF THE GARU CONSTITUENCY BY THE NPP GOVERNMENT.


The Chairman and members of the Council of elders of our great NDC, Garu Constituency, the Executive Committee of the NDC Garu constituency, the Executive Committee of the NDC Tempane constituency, Opinion Leaders and Stakeholders of Garu district, the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen; good morning all of you, and you are well come to this morning’s press briefing.

We are most grateful to you for your swift response to our invitation, in spite of the short notice.

We shall endeavour to make this engagement a short one so that we can go back to our respective engagements to continue to cope with the harsh living conditions visited on us by this hostile government of President Akufo Addo. We wish to also advise that we continue to work hard while we count on God to rescue us from the wicket hands of President Akufo Addo.

Ladies and Gentlemen; we have decided to provide this platform to enable us expose the deceitful nature of the NPP government, and to as well let you know the extent to which the good people of Garu constituency have been let down by same. And so we shall concern the content of our discussion with happenings within the Garu constituency.

It would be recalled that then-candidate Nana Addo in 2016 made a lot of lofty and mouth-watering promises to the people of Ghana, and presented himself as a better alternative to then-President John Dramani Mahama. The people of Garu thus voted the NPP, believing that they would get their fair share of the national cake if the same (NPP) came to power. But most regrettably, ladies and gentlemen; to say that Garu constituency has been denied its fair share of the national cake is even an understatement.

Rather, the Garu constituency has been neglected and dragged backward during these four years of President Akufo Addo’s government. We envisage it will take us many years to fill the developmental gap and retrogression that has been created by President Akufo Addo and his NPP government in the Garu constituency. President Akufo Addo and his Kyebi ‘mafia gang’ have hijacked everything, leaving virtually nothing for others to benefit.

The Ghanaian has come under oppression, suppression, and state of fear and insecurity under President Akufo Addo. Freedom of speech is no longer guaranteed under this regime. We are witnessing nothing but autocratic and tyrant leadership by Nana Addo.

We are also of the strongest conviction that the government of President Akufo Addo has woefully failed, and for that matter, disappointed the people of the Garu constituency almost four years in power. The government’s performance in the Garu constituency has been one of abysmal, smacks of neglect, and characterized by perpetual deceit.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media; we shall proceed to scrutinize the stewardship of the NPP administration, particularly their performance in the Garu constituency since 2017. Our assessment will focus on eleven key areas of our economy, taking cognizance of the promises they (NPP) made in 2016.

ONE VILLAGE-ONE DAM

It will interest you to realize that in spite of the huge fortune the NPP made out their “ONE VILLAGE-ONE DAM” mantra, the outcome of same in our constituency has been a massive failure. Out of the over 100 communities in the Garu constituency, the government has only attempted to build their so-called dams in mere nine communities (Napaad, Salug, Ninsbulig, Suamvuus, Farfar, Bantanfarug, Denugu,……), but ended up constructing what can best be described as ‘open ponds’ instead; most of which got dried up completely even before end of January 2020. Some have been washed away (e.g. Farfar open pond). In fact the only ponds, in the name of “one village one dam” which narrowly survived the dry season are those of Bantanfarug and Denugu. Even those ones stand to be washed away if their embankments are not reinforced and granted heavy downpours later this year.

ONE DISTRICT-ONE FACTORY:

Ladies and gentlemen; the “ONE DISTRICT-ONE FACTORY” promise of the NPP government has also become a mirage. The Nana Addo’s government has delivered a zero factory in the whole of the Upper East Region, of which our district is a part. The last time, our Hon. DCE, Hon. Emmanuel Asore Avoka ridiculously told the Garu District Assembly that they were considering upgrading the Garu Rural Technology Facility (RTF) into a factory of metal fabrication. We argued that a factory of metal fabrication was not going to be feasible since we do not have metal raw material in the area. Remember the main idea behind the “ONE D-ONE F” policy is to make use of local raw material and local labour force. They pledged an alternative urgently, but that has not also materialized.

ONE MILLION DOLLAR PER CONSTITUENCY PER YEAR:

Ladies and gentlemen; this mouth-watering promise has equally yielded a zero outcome. Not even a single project has been delivered under this policy. You can imagine the amazing transformation that a one million dollar could bring to our district, let alone talking about the effect of four million dollars on our district in four years. But we have sadly not seen anything in respect of One Million Dollar per Constituency Each Year. We dare them to come out and show us tangibles if indeed they have transformed our district with 3.5 million dollars in their three and half years in office.

EXPANSION OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE:

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it is understood globally that education is the backbone of every economy. It would therefore be expected of our government to among areas invest in school infrastructure such us classroom blocks. It will however amaze you to notice that the NPP government has not been able to initiate and fully execute a single school infrastructure project in the Garu district in almost four years of their mandate. Is this not shocking? We are not even talking about the fact that most of basic school pupils in the district sits on the bare floor to attend lessons, no classroom furniture. Yet the agents of the government in Garu would shout on rooftops that they have performed better. What a deceptive government! What a 419 government!

An exception can be made of the Aloko primary school, but that is a rollover project from the NDC government when the visionary Hon. Albert A. Alalzuuga was at post as DCE. We dare them to come out and deny this.

EXPANSION OF HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE:

Just quite synonymous to school infrastructure, the Nana Addo government has gravely failed to initiate and deliver a single health infrastructure project in the Garu district in almost four years in government. They may again attempt to take credit of the Siisi CHPS compound, but let it be established that that is another rollover project from the NDC government and we challenge them again to come out and refute. The people of the beneficiary community (Siisi) are aware that their CHPS project was initiated by the NDC government, also under the great leadership of Hon. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, then DCE and H. E. John Dramani Mahama.

It is however regrettable to note that all health infrastructural projects that were initiated by the NDC government have painfully been abandoned by the government of the day. A mention can be made of the Garu/Tempane Districts Hospital, the Pialugu/Avuusum CHPS compound, the Wadug CHPS compound and the Yizidug CHPS compound as the key health infrastructural projects within the Garu district that have been abandoned by the government of Nana Addo. Yet our president intends to build 94 Regional and District Hospitals in one year. What a comic relief?

EXTENTION OF ELECTRICITY:

Ladies and gentlemen; it will be recalled that the John Dramani Mahama’s government embarked on a massive rural electrification program in the Garu constituency. This initiative saw many communities in the Garu district connected to the national grid by end 2016 (e.g. Songo, Melgabougo, Siyuah-Kugri, Nomboko, Siguuri, Duuri, Kuerr, Tizerr, Gbeliginvuus, Damamteega, Kpatia, Kparinboak, Saadabog, Meliga/Ziseri Bulpelisi, Namoar, etc).

Many other communities that were at various stages of completion before the NDC lost power have been left unattended to.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is exceedingly shocking to discover that the following communities that were fully or partly wired and some even provided with Transformers and left with the last stage of connecting them to the grid have been deserted by the NPP government since they took power in 2017. Such communities include: Siisi, Avuusum/Tankpasi, Abilatega, Kolsuuga, Kugraug, Bantanfarug, Sinakwan and Yizidug.

Also, the numerous communities that were at the ‘planting of poles’ stage have since not been attended to. Dusbuliga, Kukparigo, Dudankpikpalig, Kpatua No.1, Kpatua No.2, Denugu, Kokbulig, Namankwan, Ankatir, Yambakwan, Tubong, Mangol, Bogrikwan, Wakuan, Senebaga, Takore, Bugwia, Kugpella, Suamvuus, Kukparibuliga, Atamidabood, Menatenga, Aloko, Vambara, Kugri Natinga, etc are examples of such communities.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, our attention has been drawn to yet another massive scam embarked upon by the NPP people in our communities. Barely five months to election 2020, we have the NPP people invade our communities with fake rural electrification projects and deceiving our people to plant poles without compensation.

To give credence to the above allegation, permit us to seek answers to the following begging questions:

Is it true that most of the contracts signed under H.E. John Mahama in respect of rural electrification have been abrogated by the Akufo Addo’s government?

Is it true that an NPP party official in Garu has been awarded a whopping GHC 700,000.00 just to ensure that electricity poles are transported to and planted in our communities to appear as if the government is giving them electricity, for the sole objective of deceiving the voter?

Shall we know the contractors who are working on these electricity projects in our communities since we do not know them?

Why is the government not completing the stalled work on rural electrification in the various communities but rather planting poles haphazardly in many new communities within Garu?

When shall an NPP government connect electricity to a second community in the Garu constituency aside Zaari?

RESHAPING AND CUTTING OF FEEDER ROADS:

Ladies and gentlemen of the media; we are outraged and feel seriously neglected by the government of President Akufo Addo, considering the fact that in almost four years in government, the Akufo Addo regime has not found it necessary to reshape the feeder roads in our district side; neither would they see it useful to cut new ones. In the time past (NDC regime), our feeder roads were reshaped twice in a year, and new ones occasionally cut. What has changed under NPP government?

BOREHOLE FOR EVERY COMMUNITY:

Ladies and gentlemen; water, they say is life. This means that without water, no form of life can be sustained. Notwithstanding the foregoing reality, coupled with the passionate vow by Dr. Bawumia that “in the first two years of the NPP administration, there should be no village or community with water or toilet problem”, the government of Dr. Bawumia and his boss President Akufo Addo is yet to complete a single borehole for the people Garu district to drink water. Is this not painful and smacks of neglect?

In spite of the laud populace noises by President Akufo Addo’s appointees and disciples in Garu here, they have not been able to complete a single borehole for us to drink water, in four years of managing Ghana. That is the sad reality in Garu.

TAMNE MULTIPURPOSE DAM PROJECT:

We are extremely saddened to announce to you that the Tamne Multipurpose Dam Project which was started by H. E. John Dramani Mahama’s government in 2015, and primarily meant to alleviate the poverty levels of our people has also been abandoned. This project which is very dear to our hearts was supposed to be delivered in about three years but which sadly, has been left to deteriorate since 2018. Where did we go wrong?

TWO BULLOCKS FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD (GARU CONSTITUENCY SPECIFIC):

Quite ridiculously, the “two bullocks per a household” agenda was well articulated by the NPP Garu constituency campaign team for the 2016 general elections. When we challenged them that that was not a feasible promise, they vowed tooth and nail to deliver it, perhaps to ostensibly outwit the unsuspecting voter. They explained with delight how that initiative would help our farmers plough their farm lands with ease to help boost agricultural activities in this part of the country. Today, they are running away from their own shadows. They have failed big-time to fulfill such a weird campaign promise.

NIA REGISTRATION:

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot conclude our discussion without touching on the over politicization of public offices and the extreme partisanship that has engulfed the Akufo Addo’s administration. Classical example is the politicization of the office of the National Identification Authority (NIA) where party cronies have hijacked its operations. So obsessed with the second term bid of ‘President talk much and do little’, these party sycophants have devised cunning ways of deliberately frustrating and delaying the process of registration, especially in perceived NDC strongholds like Garu.

The last time the NIA was in the district to register our people; the process was deliberately made extremely stressful and also openly skewed to favour NPP supporters. Our people, including the aged and PWDs had to queue for days and weeks without getting access to register, while registration forms were filled for NPP supporters during the night who showed up at the centers the following day just to register with ease.

Ladies and gentlemen, the NIA is in town again and they are repeating their bad deeds. How could the NPP government be that wicket to our people? How could President Akufo Addo allow political partisanship take precedence over nationality?

We are therefore bringing it to the attention of the general public that all the toil they go through at the registration centers are deliberate, and it is being prosecuted by Nana Addo and his disciples around. They want to deliberately deny you the Ghana card so that you are unable to partake in the forthcoming voter registration exercise. So beware.

CONCLUSION:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the sad but real story we have just recounted about Garu. That is the extent to which the NPP government has let us down. That is the level of deceit and neglect meted out to us by the Akufo Addo’s government. That, in approximately four years in power the NPP government has virtually paid only a lip service to its mandate as far as the Garu constituency is concered. Yet they are courageous and shameless enough to return to you asking for a renewal of mandate.

Yes we are aware President Akufo Addo and his local agents have started the scam again. They have started formulating more mouth-watering promises to ones again deceive the unsuspecting voter. But let the point be made clear that “ones biting, twice shy”. Never again shall the people of this district fall victims to the dishonest and deceitful politics of the NPP. Their cup is full, and it is just a matter months and former President John Mahama shall be President of this republic again; by the Grace of God.

In three and half years, the NPP government could not even connect a single already wired community to the national grid, yet they now claim they can provide electricity to almost every community in Garu district in less than six months to general elections. Is this not laughable?

A government that is unable to complete a single borehole in Garu district in almost four years in government is now vowing to provide water to almost every community, five months to elections.

A government that is unable to complete already constructed Pialugo/Avuusum, Wadug and Yizidug CHPS compounds in three and half years is now pledging to build us a District Hospital, five months to general elections.

Ladies and gentlemen, granted that the government is able to provide us with all above before the general election; could it be that the government had been wicket to us, letting us to suffer for so long and only for them to come on the eleventh hour to salvage the situation?

Could it be that, but for the general elections at hand, the government would not have listened to our cry?

What about if we vote them again and they turn around to subject us to yet another four years of hostile leadership as we are currently being subjected to?

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have all taking enough of our harsh lessons from the NPP government, and we aren’t going to listen to their 419 political gimmicks this time around.

H. E. John Dramani Mahama is coming back; Hon. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga is coming again. Let us vote the visionary and development-oriented leader, H. E. John Mahama Back to the Flag Staff House, let us vote our affable and hardworking MP, Hon. Alalzuuga back to parliament.

NDC; AYE ZU AYE ZA!

Thank you very much for your attention and God bless us all.

…………Signed……………

THOMAS MARTEY LAARI

(CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMAN)

body-container-line