NDC's manifesto is an attack on the NPP- Kennedy

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday described as "welcome news" Saturday's launch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, but said the "Foreword" of the document contained many inaccuracies and falsehoods.

It said the foreword of the manifesto, written by the NDC flagbearer Professor John Atta Mills and released in advance; "is as an attack on the NPP rather than an outline of Prof. Mills's vision for Ghana.
"It is ironic that most of Prof. Mills's foreword was an attack on the NPP rather than an outline of his vision. That is a striking contrast to the NPP flag-bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's own foreword, which was focused on the future", said a statement issued by Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Chairman of Communication Committee of the NPP Campaign Committee.

"We in the NPP believe that we should seek power on the basis of our record in government and what we seek to do, rather than what or who we are against.

"We believe that over the last seven years, while we have not solved all the problems, we have taken Ghana very far."

"Furthermore, we are convinced that our manifesto of moving forward, compared to the NDC manifesto of maligning the NPP will stand up very well", said the statement.

"Prof Mills stated that in the areas of the economy, employment, the environment, health, education, and the utilities, failure is the best mark that can be given to the NPP government."
"That statement by Prof. Mills is at odds with the facts. It is inaccurate to describe an economy that has quadrupled from 3.9 billion USD to 15 billion USD, while inflation, interest rates and poverty were falling as a failure."

"It is inaccurate to describe a government that has replaced the "Cash-and-carry" system Prof Mills and the NDC left behind with the National Health Insurance Scheme as a failure.

"It is also inaccurate to describe a government whose policies have led to increases in enrolment across all levels of our educational system as a failure", said the statement.

"Elsewhere, Prof Mills states; " Allowing the market forces free and unrestrained rein to give direction to our development agenda has failed to give employment to willing workers, leaving a nation grappling with a large section of its population very despondent."

"This statement, coming from the man who as Chairman of the Economic Management team oversaw the privatization of hundreds of state-owned enterprises leading to the loss of about seventy-thousand jobs is breathtaking.

"If Prof Mills now believes that the unbridled privatization of the NDC era was wrong, let him admit that before criticizing others", the statement said.

The Statement said that in another section of the foreword, Prof Mills claimed that Guinea worm infestation in Ghana was second only to Sudan, describing this as falsehood.
"In fact, from 2003 to 2007, the number of cases reduced from 8000 to 3358 before dropping by a further 86% in the last year. Furthermore, in 2006, Ghana was certified by the WHO as polio-free"

"On social amenities, Prof. Mills states; "Water and electricity supply are extremely erratic or non-existent in some cases. That is "very rich" coming from Professor Atta-Mills."

"During its tenure in government, the NDC extended electricity to 1909 towns. To date, the NPP has extended electricity to 2413 towns and construction of the BUI DAM, on the drawing board since independence is underway.
"In the provision of water to communities, the NDC record is very pale in comparison to that of the NPP. While between 1994 and 2000, 3804 boreholes were completed, between 2001 and 2007, 8191 boreholes which over twice the number under NDC were completed.

The statement said that while the NDC completed 174 new pipe systems, the NPP had completed 411, including the water systems for Cape Coast, whose perennial water shortages were well-known to Prof. Mills.

It said that in the area of sanitation, the NPP had completed 43,861 toilets/KVIPs while the NDC completed only 11,002.

The statement said that Prof. Mills's pledge to provide security for all Ghanaians and rid Ghana of the drug menace was no news as "we have been here before".

"The drug issue was never resolved under the NDC and currently, the NDC is against the NPP plan to double the police force and give them better equipment and training. Indeed, just like in other areas, the NDC is known more for what it is against than for what it is for", it said.

It said that Prof Mills claims that 50% of JSS students failed their exams was false, adding, "While we need to improve the performance of our students, we should not distort the performance of our children to serve our political purposes".
"The NDC picked a Presidential candidate ahead of the NPP but it is only now that it is ready to tell Ghanaians where their government will lead us-if they are elected mistakenly."
"Tomorrow let the NDC focus on what they are for rather than what they are against", the statement said.

"We are for strengthening the NHIS and investing in sanitation. What are they for?

"We are for transforming the north. What are they for?

"We are for making secondary education free and putting the teacher at the centre of our education. What are they for?
"We are for expanding the National Youth Employment Program to cover 500 thousand people. What are they for?

"We are for doubling the police force to protect people. What are they for?

"We are for providing retirement security through housing and other benefits. What are they for?

"Let us have a campaign with a genuine contest of ideas-based on facts. Let us move forward", the statement said.