U/E/R: NPP, NDC fight over Bolga, Bawku Polimakom Road

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) organized a massive press conference demanding the return of the Brazilian contractor in charge of the Bolga-Bawku road Queiroz Galvao who left the site due to alleged debt.

Just a week after, the Communication Breau of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has responded to the NDC in a counter press conference.

The NPP noted that the abysmal performance of the NDC in the road sector reflected the terrible nature of the roads in the region at that time.

The party added that an accurate and true reflection of the NDC’s double standard and indeed hypocrisy is cited by Mr Offei-Akoto Ayeh’s report as captured by A1 Radio in 2016 which details the travesty of the NDC’s deceit, concerning the Bolga, Bawku Polimakom Road as far back in 2012.

Read full details below:
NPP REGIONAL COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE

“THE ABANDONMENT OF THE BOLGATANGA, BAWKU POLIMAKOM ROAD, SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT- THE HARD TRUTH”.

PRESENTED BY; HON. PETER AYINBISA AYAMGA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Introduction
Good morning distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press and thank you for joining us today. We have called this press conference to address some of the recent statements made by NDC concerning the Bolgatanga, Bawku-Polimakom Road and the purported shortage of some routine vaccines in the region. We will therefore use this opportunity to set the record straight thus setting the record straight, the HARD TRUTH.

We in the NPP believe it’s important to provide a different perspective on the real issues at hand, deliver a truer representation of the issues, and to offer a response to the deliberate misinformation peddled by the NDC. This will thus offer clarity on the matters and to offer a path forward that is based on facts, common sense, and a commitment to the well-being of the people of the region.

It is commonplace that a healthy and vibrant democracy requires a diversity of viewpoints and a willingness to engage in open and honest discussions about the issues that affect us all. To do this, our discussion will focus on the following thematic areas.

1. We will seek to question the moral-rightfulness of the NDC to talk about the Bolatanga Bawku –Polimakom road.
2. Punch at some deliberate attempts to suppress the facts for political expediency.
3. Offer you some background of the project with up-to-date progress report.
4. Highlight on some major achievements of the government on road infrastructure in the region.
5. Comment on the purported shortage of routine vaccines in the region.

The NDC Cannot Question Us on the Bolgatanga, Bawku-Polimakom Road

Ladies and gentlemen, prior to the coming into office of the NPP government in 2017, the region was bedeviled with bad roads. The abysmal performance of the NDC in the road sector reflected the terrible nature of our roads at that time. An accurate and true reflection of the NDC’s double standard and indeed hypocrisy is cited by Mr Offei-Akoto Ayeh’s report as captured by A1 Radio in 2016 which details the travesty of the NDC’s deceit, concerning this road as far back in 2012. A portion of the statement reads as follows;

“In 2012, the youth of Bawku and commercial drivers hit the streets to register their displeasure about the state of the road that leads to one of the nation’s busiest commercial towns. The protest was followed with commercial drivers refusing to ply the road, leaving passengers stranded and as expected in an election year, heavy duty vehicles and equipment’s were moved to the site and the supposed fixing begun.

However, work on the road seized after the elections with all the heavy-duty equipment disappearing into thin air”. There is no gain saying that the pretense of working on the road was to trick the people of upper east for votes.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the same report, the then sitting President made a categorical pledge to the Kusaug people to fix the road; “I want to promise you that the next time I come to Bawku the road between Bolga and Bawku will not be the main issue, as soon as I go back to Accra, I am going to speak to the road minister and you will see for yourselves the difference that will take place .”

Additionally, in 2015, John Mahama is quoted by the above cited news report promising yet again on this road having done so three years earlier without any work to show. He was emphatic that “I know that is a very important road and I can assure you that by the time I’m coming back next year, it will be in a much better condition than it is now.” Ladies and gentlemen of the press, was this road anything close to better before the NDC left power in 2016?

It is quite depressing if not heartbreaking that at the back of all the failed promise and ‘politrick’, they had as much as 12 Members of Parliament who could not convince their own President to attend to the teething plight of their constituents. It is therefore worth asking if the NDC and their John Mahama have any credible basis to be questioning the NPP about this road. You the good people of the upper east trusted them, you thought they were partners in development, but they shrugged you off with disdain and ridiculed your frustrations.

I cannot even quote what their Regional Secretary said to you and all of us concerning this road at the time. In 2012, John Mahama raked in some 274,019 representing 66.43% of the votes in this region yet denied us such a critical project. On the other hand, Nana Addo received 120,814 representing 29.29%. Is it not fair to argue that to whom much is given, much is expected?

NDC’s Attempts to Suppress the Facts

Distinguish ladies and gentlemen, the erroneous claims by the NDC that the entire stretch of the Bolga, Bawku Polimakom Road was 54% work done is telling of how hollow and armchair nature of their research on this project. Our checks from the Ghana highways authority points to a contrary report of 64% work done (Reg. Director, Ghana Highways Authority 24/02/2023). The deliberate reduction of the percentage of work done by the NDC is shocking and unbelievable.

The White Volta bridge was also said to have not begun at all. On the contrary, the institution with the expertise and oversight right to the projects, contrast this claim. The approach road to the main bridge is 90% complete.

The contractor concentrated on that to facilitate their movement to the river banks where pile foundations were to be sunk. Even as we speak now, eight (8) of these pile foundations have been sunk. Within these approach roads are relief culverts to support the main bridge in times of flooding. Aggregating the work done around the Kobore bridge, one can say that about 15% of the bridge realignment is complete

On the bypass, the quoted 6km of tarred road is untrue. The Highways authority states 8.5% of the 14km tarred with work progressing steadily. The Missiga-Kulungungu road has been partly done thus the NDC must stop their perennial propaganda and speak to the facts.

The Background of the Bolgatanga Bawku-Pulimakom Road

Ladies and gentlemen, it is trite knowledge that the Bolgatanga, Bawku-Pulimakom Road has been at the center of political discussion in this region since 2009 until it was fictitiously awarded in 2016. Political leaders who only vocalize support for projects without committing the right resources in bringing it to fruition are not only unhelpful but can also be misleading and ultimately damaging to the peoples’ trust. We are very certain that the lack of commitment from John Dramani Mahama and his incompetent government led to their historic exit from power in 2016.

The NPP appreciated the fact that the 2016 award of the road was hurriedly done for political expediency hence losing out on the critical concern of value for money and without proper funding layout. It is thus indicative that they lacked the political-will in executing this project; Think of the fact that the NDC had eight (8) years in government but chose to award this contract in the eighth (8) month of their eighth (8) year is to say the least preposterous and an act of vote buying.

The NPP on the contrary appreciating the exigency of the problem, reworked on the contract to merit its sort and worth and set same in motion. The morality question posed to the NDC in their presser by one of you in very loud terms exposes how that party and those who ascribe to their way of politics is not only inept but grossly incompetent.

Ladies and gentlemen, the unjustified claim that this government failed to honour certificates for which the project was stalled is the most ridiculous and unfair statement they could ever posit. Recall that the NPP demanded information about the project’s funding source before its quid pro quo project was awarded. Later, it was discovered that they had connected this enormous, expensive project to the Road fund. The fund is not only unreliable for these kinds of project but was depressed, depleted, and collateralized for loans. The 1.5billion Ghana Cedis UBA loan which was originally meant for arears due contractors but diverted to unrelated expenditures is a clear example of the scam the NDC brought upon us. According to the Road Fund Act (536) 1997, the fund was envisioned to finance routine and periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of public roads. My dear brothers and sister herein gathered, if not incompetence tangled with taking the good people of the upper east for granted, who will tie this magnificent project to the road fund? This is beyond ignorance, its pure wickedness.

The NPP government, whose record is unparalleled, never imagined and visionary in the 4^th republican dispensation, secured more reliable funding sources, i.e the HSBC Bank Plc, and Kfw IPEX-Bank GmbH. The project has since been on track; alleviating the sufferings of commuters and reducing travel hours.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, what moral right does the NDC have to talk about this project? The failure, the lack of commitment and foresight concerning this project is enough for the people of the upper east to disregard them in the strongest of terms. It is factual to state that, government’s commitment relative to payments for this project from inception has been consistent and up to speed; the last payment was as recent as December, 2022 and outstanding certificates raised for payment due this February, 2023. Just last week, the 12^th certificate was presented to the Regional Coordinating Council making it two for the year 2023.

Alleged suspension of the Project
Furthermore, ladies and gentlemen, the NDC suggested that the contractor working on the Bolgatanga, Bawku-Pulimakom Road had suspended work. They additionally allude to the fact that the said suspension was because of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). These are baseless claims, propaganda infested and ill-intended to run-down the good works of this government. We challenge the NDC to provide documentary proof of this claim. Below are the facts.

Our checks at the site indicate that the contractor had relocated a number of his equipment out of the region. The Ghana Highways Authority and the Ministry of Roads tells us that there has not been any official communication from the contractor suggesting a desertion of site. The regional coordinating council has engaged the ministry who in turn met the contractor and asked them to resume work momentarily without delay. Based on this official communication, we have the strongest conviction that the contractor will be back soon. Let me therefore entreat us all to remain calm; we want to assure you that the work will continue as soon as possible.

The DDEP was concluded a fortnight ago with 85% success rate. The ministry of finance is yet to engage our external creditors to strike a deal with them concerning debt sustainability and restructuring. It is therefore premature for the largest opposition party to conclude that it is the reason for the temporary hold-up of the project. The Finance Ministry will soon apprise us with the details of the external debt arrangement. We are of a strong believed that with the extent of work covered on this project, external debt restructuring will not affect it.

The comments of the President regarding the impending impact of the DDEP on capital projects was true but warped and distorted logic to suggest that the Bolgatanga, Bawku-polimakom Road has stalled because of the President’s comments.

Alleged Layoffs.
The contractor has not laid-off workers as the NDC would have you believe. It is a known fact that the quantum of human resources required at the inception of the project will not be the same when over 64% of the work has been done.

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with the construction industry would understand that the workforce requirements would decrease as a project took form or got closer to completion. The employees on the Bolga-Bawku Road some of whom are temporary workers are affected in this way. It is regrettable that the NDC would hastily make extremely ignorant comments just for political gain.

The project has created hundreds jobs since the commencement of work for the youth who hitherto would have traveled down south seeking nonexistent jobs. Our brothers and sisters who were engaged are better off today than they were prior to the start of the project. It is worthy of note to add that those whose engagement contract had come to an end are paid some compensation. Most of our brothers and sisters who were engaged when their work ended have received such payments and gone further to set up small scale businesses on their own.

Highlights on major Achievements on Roads

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has implemented several road projects in the Upper East region. Some of the major achievements in the region include:

1. Construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom Road.
2. Construction of the Tono Irrigation Road
3. Construction of the Widana-Kulungugu road
4. Construction of the Bongo-Balungu-Namoo road
5. Upgrading of New Market main road, Navrongo
6. Graveling of Tanzui-Azinmsum road, Tanzui-Tindonmologo road, Zaare area road etc
7. Spot improvement of Zamsa-Gobsa-Chansa
8. Rehabilitation of Bawku-Zabugu Road
9. Bintumen surfacing of Navrongo-Tono and many others.
10. Upgrading of Missiga – Kulungugu Road (10KM)
11. Upgrading of Chuchuliga – Sandema – Wiesi Road (Selected Sections 40km)
12. Upgrading of Sandema – Wiaga (10km) Lot 1 Critical Roads
13. Rehabilitation of Navrongo – Chuchuliga – Tumu (34.23 KM)
14. Asphalt overlay Library road, Commercial street, ADB road, Market road, Extee road, A1 road, Hospital road Etc.

The NPP government has made significant strides in improving the road network in the Upper East region. These achievements have enhanced transportation, boosted trade, and improved the lives of the people in the area.

Shortage of Routine Vaccines in the Region

Our friends from the Press, we now want to turn our attention to yet another erroneous assertion by the NDC about the non-supply of routine vaccines for the six-killer childhood diseases in the region.

Let me state without equivocation that, routine childhood vaccines for the six-killer childhood diseases; measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, and pertussis are essential for protecting children from serious illness and death. Vaccination not only safeguards the individual who receives it but also creates herd immunity, which shields the community from disease. It is sad and condemnable for some unscrupulous political actors to want to be theatrical if not political with it. Once again, allow me some time to state the facts and subjugate the inaccuracies peddled by our shameless friends of the other side.

Allege lack of routine Vaccines for the Six Killer Disease

The NPP government’s commitment prior to taking office and subsequent delivery in the last six years is par excellence and transcends the supply of routine vaccines. While we welcome constructive development-driven political conversations, it is unfortunate and nauseating when such discourses are premised on medieval-day propaganda not fit for purpose in our 21^st century dispensation political dispensation.

To put this in perspective, I can report that the colossal sum of money the government has sunk into the procurement and distribution of such critical supplies are higher than ever bought. The self-tickling of the NDC on the contrary is laughable and begs the question. The palpable falsehood of the NDC claiming that they saved this country some $3.2million is simply propagandist. The comprehensive multi-year plan which is the medium-term planning tool with a costing component for the National Immunization Programme in Ghana was the brain of the NPP in 2007 under H.E J. A Kuffour (Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan for Immunizations, 2015).

The plan was developed to meet global immunization targets, national policy priorities and available resources. The programme was planned, and funding secured to run until 2014. It is appropriate for one to assume that if the NDC was not engaging in debate of convenience, then their state of amnesia demands urgent professional consideration. To ignore the fact that the NPP government in 2007 had successfully planned and rolled out a national immunization plan to focus on the expanded programme of 1978 and 80s is telling of who the NDC really is.

It is a corroborated facts from the WHO suggesting that many nations went into lockdown when COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic in March 2020 to try to stop the disease’s spread. Health personnel and resources were redeployed to help with the battle. These precautions, along with the fear of getting the virus, resulted in a decrease in the number of individuals seeking fundamental health services, such as routine infant immunizations. While our detractors will doze off this fact, such remains the incontrovertible as possible.

We have equally done a counter check from the Regional Health Directorate and the evidence is in sharp contrast to their claim. The regional health directorate opined that their last receipt of vaccines was as early as 4^th November, 2022 and 9^th February 2023 respectively. Regardless, the 4^th November consignment was utilized in December whiles the 9^th February, 2023 supplies are still available in good quantity as at 20^th February 2023. We wish to assure the general public that the government that has shown fidelity with them is working assiduously to replenish the stock levels. That notwithstanding, the situation which is nationwide has necessitating the sector Minister to be invited by parliament to update the house

Ladies and gentlemen, much to our dismay, the NDC now trust Zipline as a respectable state institution. Prior to its establishment, the NDC said the drones would be used to spy on Ghanaians while they were naked in the sky. It is important to state that Now, Zipline runs six distribution hubs in Ghana that provide more than 2,300 healthcare establishments. We have called Zipline, and their feedback is remarkable. According to them, their stocks hardly run out. They further posit that in an event where within a particular region, they don’t have a particular supply in stock at a time of need; they will usually, do cross regional supply and ascribe the bills to the receiving region. Their focus and mandate are one of save lives at all costs. Ladies and gentlemen, guess which government envisioned this and brought this to light; H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.

The call for a Dialysis Center
Ladies and gentlemen, another issue raised by the NDC which is germane but poorly premised is the lack of a dialysis center at the region hospital. The absence of a dialysis center means that patients with kidney-related conditions must travel to other regions to access dialysis services, which can be costly and time-consuming.

While we support the call for such a critical facility, the known convention around the country shows that government alone may not suffice in providing us this facility. We therefore support the calls for benevolent sons and daughter of upper east and beyond to lend their unflinching support to this worthy course.

In addition, the government has also stated that it is working on measures to prevent kidney-related conditions and promote healthy lifestyles. This includes initiatives to increase awareness about the importance of regular health check-ups, proper nutrition, and physical activity.

CHPS Compounds and Other Health Infrastructure

There is the claim by the NDC that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not done much in health infrastructure. However, this claim is not true, and there is evidence to suggest that the NPP has made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure.

Firstly, under the leadership of the NPP government, there has been an expansion of healthcare infrastructure, with the construction of several new hospitals and the upgrading of existing healthcare facilities (the Regional Hospital inclusive). The infectious disease center located in the Bawku west district, the agenda 111 found in eight (8) districts of the region namely: Bolgatanga East, Nabdam, Garu, Tempane, Pusiga, Binduri, Bulsa South and Kasena Nankana West. These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing accessible and quality healthcare to the citizens of the region.

Secondly, the NPP government has also invested in medical equipment and supplies to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery in the country. In 2018, the government launched the “One Constituency, One Ambulance” project, which aimed to provide an ambulance to each of the 275 constituencies in the country. The government also procured and distributed medical equipment, including hospital beds, wheelchairs, and surgical equipment to hospitals across the country.

Furthermore, the NPP government has also implemented policies to improve the human resource capacity in the healthcare sector. The government has recruited and trained healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the country (Upper east not left out). Additionally, the government has implemented policies to enhance the working conditions of healthcare professionals to improve retention rates and attract more healthcare workers to the sector.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the NPP government has made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment and supplies, and human resource capacity in the healthcare sector. These initiatives have improved the quality of healthcare delivery in the region and Ghana at large and have contributed to the overall development of the healthcare sector. Therefore, the claim that the NPP has not done much in health infrastructure in this region is inaccurate and misleading but mischievous.

We would like to state that the arguments put forward by the NDC during their press conference are nothing but baseless propaganda, lies, and ill-intended misinformation. The NPP has always been committed to governing Ghana with the utmost dedication and responsibility, and we firmly believe that our party remains the best choice to continue leading this great nation.

The NPP government has always been committed to ensuring that every region in Ghana gets its fair share of the national cake. We have implemented numerous policies and initiatives that have positively impacted the lives of people in the region, and we will continue to do so in the years to come.

We urge the people of the upper east to ignore the baseless accusations and false claims made by the NDC and to join us in building a stronger and more prosperous nation. Together, we can achieve great things and continue to move Ghana forward. Thank you.