Kofi Wayo Promises 3.5m Jobs

GHANA'S POLITICAL non-conformist, Mr. Charles Kofi Wayo, alias Chucks, has stated that if he becomes the president of the country he can create 3.5 million jobs within nine months.

“If I was the first gentleman of the land, I could easily create 3.5 million decent jobs within nine months across the country for members of the public to enjoy better life,” he claimed.

Against this background, the Founder and Leader of the United Renaissance Party (URP) stated that President Kufuor's inability to fulfill his campaign promise of creating 100,000 jobs within his first term of office was a mark of a non-performing Head of State.

Speaking on Nkosuo Radio's morning show last Tuesday, the former member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) stated that job opportunities abound in all parts of the country.

He explained that what was amiss was a visionary leader who would steadily unearth these job potentials for the general benefit of the people, especially the teeming unemployed youth.

The self-acclaimed energy expert noted that agriculture was one of the surest means by which he could create the 3.5 million jobs within the said period.

“If I become president of the country, I will personally ensure that every arable land is cultivated with the view of providing jobs and abundant food for the people,” Chucks indicated.

Mr. Wayo emphasized that apart from being able to provide the jobs within nine months he was also capable of turning the fortunes of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) around in a matter of weeks.

He mentioned corruption and production inefficiencies as the main problems bedeviling TOR which happens to be one of the biggest refineries in Africa.

“I can use only two weeks to wipe corruption totally from TOR and at the same time improve efficiency in production to lower the prices of oil in the country,” he said.

He added: “As a president of the country I will ensure that officials of TOR will not be riding in plush vehicles which are fueled with the proceeds of the common taxpayer.”

He said in spite of the ever-increasing hike in the price of crude on the international market, if he was the president of the country a gallon of petrol would not be selling for more than GH¢2.

Mr Wayo was of the view that as a country which has its own refinery to refine crude oil, a gallon of petrol should not be selling for 5 Ghana Cedis, 50 pesewas.

He noted that apart from production inefficiencies, the huge tax build up on petroleum products were the factors causing the cut-throat prices of petroleum products.

According to him, because the ruling government had failed to expand the country's tax net it was heavily relying on taxes on petroleum products which were always the cheapest means to raise revenue.

Mr. Wayo described the recent government intervention package which saw a marginal decrease in prices of certain petroleum products as insignificant.

“I don't think the so-called announced reduction in prices of certain petroleum products will really mitigate the suffering of the majority of Ghanaians,” he maintained.

Mr. Wayo, who suddenly became an enemy of the ruling government when his proposal to manage TOR was turned down, categorically stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) performed better in government than the ruling NPP.

He therefore urged the electorate to reject the NPP in the December 7 presidential election and entrust the rulership of the country into the care of the URP.

From Morgan Owusu, Kumasi