Give Mills another four years -John Mahama appeals to Ghanaians
By: David Allan Paintsil, Winneba
Vice President John Dramani Mahama, who was recently described by Ghana's business tycoon, Azuma Banda as the most dynamic vice president in the world, has made a passionate appeal to the good people of Ghana to, as a matter of urgency, give President John Evans Atta Mills another four years to implement the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's 'Better Ghana Agenda.'
Speaking at the climax of the (Aboakyer) Live Deer Hunting Festival at Winneba on Saturday, John Mahama told the large crowd that it was imperative for Ghanaians to give President Mills a second chance, because former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor spent eight years in office, adding that such an opportunity would offer Ghanaians a better platform to make comparisons.
Vice President John Mahama, who did not mince words, said he had been impressed by the performance of President Mills' administration, claiming that when given another chance, Ghana would become one of the beacons of socio-economic models in the world.
Turning to the Aboakyer Festival, Vice President Mahama described it as one of the most beautiful festivals in Ghana, but was quick to point out that the protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area was gradually destroying the unique festival.
He, therefore, called on the two factions to eschew the chieftaincy dispute, so as to make the festival as vibrant as it used to be. He was happy that unity among the traditional rulers this year had made the celebration grand, as it was attended by a large crowd of people from diverse backgrounds.
According to him, festivals were meant to promote development and also attract investors, adding that investors usually shun areas where there was no peace.
The Vice President announced that plans were far advanced to construct an ultramodern canoe landing harbour with part of the Chinese Exim Bank loan facility, in which US$200 million had been set aside for the construction of landing beaches along the coast of Ghana. He added that they had reached the procurement stage, and that the selection for the contractor would end this month.
He further disclosed that the government was collaborating with the Fidelity Bank to construct an ultra-modern hospital at Winneba Junction to serve the Efutu Municipality and Gomoa District, while a modern market would also be constructed in the same area to serve the people.
On her part, the Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, called on the tourists to be careful of indiscriminate sex, because HIV/AIDS cases were on the rise in the region.
This year's festival was very unique, because there was peace with the Tuafo Asafo 1 first to catch the live deer and present it to the chief fetish priest, while Dantse Asafo II brought two live deer at tail end of Vice President Mahama' speech, making the occasion more ecstatic. There was no police intimation as happened last year.