NDC’s ‘love’ will soon end as Ghanaians demand results — Bryan Acheampong
Former Food and Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong has warned that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will soon lose the goodwill it currently enjoys as Ghanaians begin demanding tangible results from President John Mahama’s government.
Speaking to the media, Mr Acheampong said the NDC was currently benefiting from a “love” and “honeymoon” period, but that would eventually give way to public scrutiny over its performance.
He cited the experience of former President Jerry John Rawlings, arguing that the excitement surrounding his rise to power eventually faded despite his fame.
“They said finally they had someone young and vibrant and even asked for the blood to flow [during the revolution], but see the excitement with which he was voted out during the 2000 election with people climbing articulated vehicles and traveling far and wide to vote him out. He was called a charming, charismatic leader but when the country was sending him away, Kufuor had 57 per cent of the votes during the second round and there was so much joy,” he recalled.
Mr Acheampong also pointed to the end of former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s tenure, saying the economic conditions under his administration did not prevent Ghanaians from demanding a change of government in 2008.
“The economy Kufuor left behind after his tenure was great so much so that banks were chasing people to give them money, unemployment went down, fuel prices went down and even prisoners were freed but what happened in 2008 when Ghanaians asked him and his team to step aside?” he said.
He cautioned President Mahama’s administration to consider that Ghanaians will give them an accountability test and return a verdict.
“It will not be long before the people start asking questions about results and proof of work. They'll ask about promised roads, poultry farming support...”
Mr Acheampong further accused the NDC government of failing to introduce significant new projects during its first 12 months in office, arguing that it had largely only continued initiatives inherited from the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.