A BETTER GHANA INDEED

The “New NDC” came to power on the mantra of CHANGE. They promised the Ghanaian electorate a better Ghana. This message of hope was exactly what the ordinary Ghanaian was dreaming of and hoping for. The Ghanaian needed change from the old ways of doing things.

We got tired of politicians who, upon seeking political office, promise the poor Ghanaian heaven on earth only to lure him/her to hell. We got tired of politicians who could not be trusted, politicians with very impressive CVs but who could not deliver.

At long last help was here; we were told on countless occasions. We were introduced to a “new breed” of politician whose only aim of entering into Ghanaian politics was to seek the welfare of the ordinary man and woman on the street. The Good Lord has heeded our prayers.

After telling the whole world that the “insensitive” NPP-government looted from the public purse, Ghanaians breathed a sign of relief when the NDC told us their party, a party of “men of integrity”, was determined to manage the economy diligently and place the country on the right path to prosperity.

Before we could say amen, we read with utter disbelieve the case involving the “honourable” Minister of Youth and Sport – the NDC MP for Asewase constituency, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak. Where is the new breed of politician that we were constantly promised? What happened to the responsible government that we were promised, the CHANGE that made Ghanaians turn their backs on the NPP?

The allegations were numerous. It was reported among others that the minister collected US$2.000.00 imprest for the finals of the 1st CHAN tournament in Abidjan. It is alleged that the minister collected US$10.000.00 for landing rights for the aircraft which took the government delegation to the CHAN finals in Abidjan.

Alhaji Muntaka collected a per diem allowance of GHC2.000.00 for the Ghana-Benin match. This amount was authorised by the Chief Director, Mr. Albert Anthony Ampong, but the minister had no knowledge of what his per diem for the travel was supposed to be!

Investigations by National Security exonerated the minister! Yes you heard me right. Yet the NDC-government decided to relieve the minister of his ministerial duties by impressing upon him to resign.

Recently the managing director of the Insight newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt jnr. called on the Attorney General, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu to retract her statement that the former minister of Youth and Sport cannot be prosecuted since he had done nothing wrong and had been cleared of all corruption charges. Yes, that is NDC for you. Why resign if there are no wrong doings? NDC members in Asewase are demanding an answer to this simple question.

For over six months now Ghana`s new administration has done little beyond unleashing the BNI on former government officials. The latest round of the BNI tactics is to invite ex-government officials for what they call “a friendly chat” These friendly chats are so friendly that their “chat mates” cannot decline the invitation.

Meanwhile as this drama unfolds, the cedi is in free fall against all major currencies. International investors are growing increasingly uncomfortable doing business in Ghana and some are packing their bags to leave Ghana, a development that can starve our country of vitally needed foreign exchange and employment for our disillusioned youth.

The minority in Parliament has expressed disgust over what they describe as the reckless waste of resources by the government`s transition team. A whopping GHC361.924.41 was spent by the 150 member transition team whose work lasted close to two months.

In an interview with Joy New´s Evans Mensah, MP for Okere, Mr. Daniel Botwe slammed the government for the expenditure describing it as insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians. He called for sincerity from government, adding the call to duty must be public service. What happened to the “I care for you” slogan? Indeed a better Ghana has metamorphosed into a bitter Ghana.

Desmond Frimpong
NPP-Norway branch