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03.02.2013 Feature Article

40 Adversities Noticeable Under NDC Administration

40 Adversities Noticeable Under NDC Administration
03.02.2013 LISTEN

The following negativities usually occur any time the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its antecedent PNDC come onto the political scene.

1. The issue of homosexuality becomes a national topic because either the Vice President or Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection are perceived to be gay and lesbian respectively.

2. Tribal politics gain momentum and Akans, NPP, and Asantes become victims of this tribal hatred.

3. Politics of insults, and character assassination become the order of the day because the more you insult, the higher the promotion. Even party founders and their wives become victims. The Clergy, teachers, cocoa growers, nurses, and Christians suffer from these babies with sharp and poisonous teeth.

4. Politics of lies and propaganda is strengthened as even black sheep could easily be turned into white cow. A well-known gay in the person of Andrew Solomon could donate $20,000 to the president, but he could deny being a friend to him. Over 1.6m phantom jobs could be created in a spate of two years.

5. Armed robbers seize control of the state as Ministers of State either shoot themselves or get attacked by these robbers. Remember Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor's episode.

6. Massive Unemployment hits the country leading to the formation of Unemployed Graduates Association.

7. The standards of education at all levels seriously go down as the NDC draws its strength mostly from illiterates that accept the party's propaganda and lies.

8. The National (Public) Debt quadruples without a corresponding increase in socio-economic development. For instance, from GHC9.6bn as of 2009 to GHC23.5bn in 2011.

9. Many Ghanaians fall below the poverty line and this affects their standard of living.

10. Ghana unfortunately witnesses foot Soldierism that is characterised by seizure of state properties - toilets, toll booths, car parks, markets. They also determine which ministers should be appointed.

11. The level of corruption and thievery gets to a gargantuan level as the president, his brother, and ministers of state loot the state coffers.

12. Kyinkyinka, pampers, hampers become scarce commodities in the market because Ministers of State and Presidential Aides purchase them in bulk.

13. Load Shedding and Water Rationing are usually the party's solutions to energy crisis and water problems.

14. Strike actions and demonstrations among public sector workers become rampant.

15. There is general apathy among Ghanaians, especially Diasporans as people lose confidence in the calibre of people in the helm of affairs.

16. Machomen have the power to abuse innocent Ghanaians with impunity. They boast of their party being in government.

17. Team B Ministers are appointed or "greedy bastards" surround the president leading to mediocrity and economic mismanagement.

20. There is always profligate spending as huge amounts of money is spent on useless ventures like Nkrumah's birthday (GHC48m), Transition Team (GHC1.3m), NDC's party headquarters ($20m), Haiti ($3m), Military Jets ($250m) etc.

21. Judgement Debts suddenly become Negotiated Debts as the government doles out money to party members and companies for no work done. Eg. Woyome - GHC51.2m, Construction Pioneers - 94m euros, Isofoton, and African Automobile.

22. Foreign loan acquisition replaces taxation as the major source of government revenue; but such loans usually go into private pockets.

23. Ghana experiences disasters such fire outbreaks, floods, motor accidents, mining disasters, and spousal deaths without any proactive measures taken by the government.

24. Either a sitting president beats his Vice mercilessly and drives him away from Cabinet meeting, or Vice President "kills" the president to pave way for his political ambition to be materialised.

25. Factions emerge from the NDC leading to many breakaway parties - NRP, DFP, and NDP.

26. No major policy or programme is formulated or undertaken to move the country forward. All we hear is blame game politics.

27. Abuse of fundamental human rights of people as "fear and panic" replaces freedom of speech. Amina, Owusu Bempah, and Hon. Ken Agyapong come in mind.

28. State Security apparatus shows complete bias to the government and applies only selective justice. In effect, Ghana turns into a Police State.

29. Serial killings of women crop up; other women are stripped naked and caned in public.

30. Ghana turns into a Heavily Indebted and Poor Country due to reckless borrowing. Currently, each Ghanaian owes over GHC1000.

31. There is usually persecution and prosecution of political opponents for no apparent cause.

35. Either High Court Judges are murdered in cold blood or many ways are found to kill cats (Supreme Court Judges) by party chairmen.

36. Unwarranted dismissal of Ghanaians perceived to be political opponents. Eg. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Dr. Nsiah Asare, and employees of NYEP, NHIS, SFP etc.

37. Projects initiated by previous governments are left to rot. Typical example is the NPP's Affordable Housing Policy.

38. Constructive criticisms by the opposition are seen as insults and Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and even Caretaker Presidents respond to such criticisms with insults.

39. Collapse and poor management of pro-poor policies and programmes such as NHIS, free maternal care, school feeding.

40. Prices of goods and services - cement, electricity, water, gas, lorry fares etc go up arbitrarily.

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Enfield, London.
(Free SHS Ambassador) Official blog: (www.katakyie.com) [email protected] 07577626433

A native of Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri
"Vision, coupled with persistency, results in true success"

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