Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia government have destroyed the “Fabrique” of Ghana’s democracy—Mahama

Speaking at the Governance Forum with Civil Society Organizations [CSOs] at the Teachers Hall in Accra on Thursday, 31^st October 2024, the Former President and Presidential Candidate for the National Democratic Congress [NDC], John Mahama reiterated his commitment to reset Ghana to its former glory through good governance rooted in the 24hrs Economic Policy when elected into office as the next President of the Republic of Ghana. According to JM, political leadership of the NPP government under Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumia depicts a “Horror” movie that displays impunity, state looting, institutional and unbridled corruption, economic mismanagement, social repression which has subjected many Ghanaians to abject poverty and economic hardship.

He said that the gargantuan promises of the NPP government does not reflect in the lives of Ghanaians and that, the promise that the NPP government will protect the public purse is a hoax and rather vice versa because they have stolen the public purse itself and emptied all our national coffers with nothing to show. Further, John Mahama stated that accountability, transparency, integrity, honesty as well as social justice are missing in the “fabrique” and body politic of Ghana’s democratic governance under the NPP government for which reason, Ghanaians should vote massively for the NDC government to write the wrongs of the maladministration of the Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumia led government. He stated that bad governance undermines the sanctity of democracy and promises that he would be a “Servant Leader” to the Ghanaian people offering realistic opportunities to meet the hopes and aspirations of Ghanaians especially the Youth. He entreated Ghanaians to eschew ethnocentric politics and have confidence in the policies that the NDC will roll out when elected into office that will have direct impact on the sustainable livelihood development of the Ghanaian people.

John Mahama touched on corruption and promises that the next NDC government will fight Institutional Corruption that has crippled the Ghanaian economy through the Operation Recover All Loot [O.R.A.L] Policy. He said the O.R.A.L will be a double-edge sword and that it will be extended to appointees of his government as well. He stated emphatically that, he would not be a “Clearing Agent” like Nana Akuffo who has failed to crack the whip on his corrupt appointees and rather exonerating them to loot more. He cited corrupt activities like the PDS scandal, Agyapa, Covid 19, Data Bank, Pwualugu Dam, National cathedral and many more scandals hanging on the neck of the President which has all been swept under the carpet. He said, when corruption is swept under the carpet, it leads to impunity in leadership and this is exactly what has happened under Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumia government and so, a vote for Dr. Bawumia is a vote for the 3^rd term of Nana Akuffo Addo to loot and plunder the state the more which he entreats Ghanaians to resist and change the narrative through the 7^th December ballot by voting for JM and the NDC to reset Ghana.

John Mahama was worried about the state of Ghana’s Judiciary whose image is sinking under this government of the NPP with many Ghanaians touting the Judiciary as “Unanimous Fc”. He promises to support the Judiciary through reforms to enable it regains its former glory by ensuring the de-politicization of the judiciary to restore hope and confidence in the Ghanaian people in-terms of justice delivery. He promises technology for virtual hearing of cases, motivation of Judicial Service staff to work under the 24hrs economic policy, expanding the courts to various Prisons across the country to facilitate justice delivery for remand prisoners. He also promises that his government will give prisoners a better care by addressing their feeding and medical challenges. Further, JM promises that the next NDC government will establish “Special Courts” to prosecute Auditor General Report of those cited for abuse of office and corrupt activities and by so doing, he will resource the Auditor General to discharge its mandate without fear or favour. He will also ensure the passage of the Internal Audit Bill to enhance auditing within MDAs audit regimes.

On Security, JM promises to sanitize the Security Services by addressing promotion gaps and give personnel better condition of service that will motivate security personnel to discharge their duties diligently. He also promises that he will prioritize the resolution of the Bawku conflict as well as the Galamsey menace which has destroyed our water and forest reserves when he is elected into office as the next President. According to JM he will ensure the revocation of licenses to mine in the Water bodies and forest reserves and audit all mining concessions across the country to address illegal mining. He said that no member of his government or appointee will be allowed to procure a concession for mining activities. He also promises to use political diplomacy to address the Sahel conflict by ensuring that the Sahel Junta Leaders returns their countries [Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea] back to the ECOWAS.

On Local Government, JM promises to decentralize Local Governance the more taking into consideration, the Sanitation Authority as an Agency under local Government and not a Ministry to ensure effective and efficiency in addressing sanitation challenges across the country. He also promises to upgrade some District Assemblies into Municipal Assemblies to enhance cosmopolitanism across the country. He also said that all Assembly Members across the Country will be paid monthly stipends to motivate them to discharge their duties diligently. Touching on Good Governance, JM assures Ghanaians that he will reduce the size of government to bring meaning to governance, Re-align some Ministries, Department and Agencies, and scrap Ex-Gratia emoluments. He promises a Constitutional Review when elected into office and would establish an “Independent Emolument Commission” to address all short falls within the Emolument regime, Fair Wages Scheme and Single Spine Salary Structure.

On Media Freedom, JM cited that the NPP government has stifled media freedom and promises to address this canker by supporting the Ghana Journalist Association, National Media Commission, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and other constitutional bodies mandated to promote media freedom in the discharge of their constitutional mandates. He assures that he will investigate the murder of Journalist Ahmed Suale who was killed in a broad day light and till date the perpetrators have not been brought to book and finally promises an economic diplomacy and foreign policies through Ghana Missions abroad to promote peace, security, development that will ensure economic freedom for the Ghanaian people both in Ghana and Abroad. John Mahama ended as he eulogized Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision and said he has the vision of Nkrumah for which reason, Ghanaians should vote for the JM and the NDC to reset Ghana through good governance for political and socio economic development of Ghana.

DR. MICHAEL RICHMOND SMART-ABBEY IS A POLITICAL AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST, GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY EXPERT, WRITER AND AUTHOR AND A COLUMNIST FOR MODERN GHANA NEWS WEDSITE, ICATV NEWS [A FRANCOPHONE MEDIA WEBSITE] AND EVENING TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER.

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