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07.07.2019 Feature Article

John Mahama Unprecendented Infrastructure Development A Hoax

Author: Abraham AcquahAuthor: Abraham Acquah
07.07.2019 LISTEN

According to the Cambridge.org/dictionary, unprecedented means something that has never happened or existed in the past. Similarly, Macmillan dictionary also defines unprecedented as something that has never happened or existed before. By implication, John Dramani Mahama and his NDC chorus of unprecedented infrastructure in Ghana means an infrastructure investment or development that has never happened in the history of Ghana from the administration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President John Evans Atta Mills and our current President Nana Akufo Addo except under the regime of John Dramani Mahama (See https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Infrastructural-development-under-me-unprecedented-Mahama-463023 ; https://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2018/june-10th/akufo-addo-mahama-exchange-blows-over-infrastructure-development.php ; https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/mahama-s-infrastructure-mantra-was-propaganda-akufo-addo.html ). The level of infrastructure stock/development would be assessed from quantity and quality based measures.

The quantity level of a country’s infrastructural stock/development is measured using gross fixed capital formation and for the purpose of this write-up based on current local currency unit to deal with exchange rate differential issue (sees empirical studies such as Ibrahim and Alagidede, 2018, Bist, 2018, and Trojette, 2016). Gross fixed capital formation (formerly gross domestic fixed investment) includes land improvements (fences, ditches, drains, and so on); plant, machinery, and equipment purchases; and the construction of roads, railways, and the likes, including schools, offices, hospitals, private residential dwellings, and commercial and industrial buildings (WDI, 2018).

For fair comparison, I will use data on the infrastructure expansion stock for first four years in the 21st century:

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor: 2001-2004, the stock of infrastructure expansion is 261.4%

Former President John Evans Atta Mills: 2009-2012, the stock of infrastructure expansion is 259.8%

Former President John Dramani Mahama: 2013-2016, the stock of infrastructure expansion is 59.3%

The above data clearly shows that the level of infrastructure stock expansion is huge under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, followed by former President John Evans Atta Mills. So, on what basis is former President Mahama saying infrastructure development under his tenure is unprecedented? Former President John Mahama and his NDC always think they can deceive Ghanaians with their lies. The above data confirms John Mahama’s abysmal performance compare to his predecessors and once again affirms John Mahama’s level of incompetence in the midst of oil revenue. This confirms President Akufo Addo assertion that the unprecedented infrastructure mantra of John Mahama is purely propaganda as exposed by the data.

On the quality of the infrastructure, the data below shows the overall quality of Ghana’s infrastructure and its rank where higher value indicates high quality level of Ghana’s infrastructure stock:

2008: Ghana was placed 74th (the value was captured in the report)

2012: Value: 3.9; Rank: 86/144

2013: Value: 3.8; Rank: 90/148

2014: Value: 3.4; Rank: 110/148

2015: Value: 3.0; Rank: 120/140

2016: Value: 3.2; Rank: 103/138

2017: Value: 3.7; Rank: 85/137 (Source: Global Competitive Reports, World Economic Forum). The above data clearly show Ghana’s infrastructure stock seriously deteriorated under the tenure of Former President John Dramani Mahama from a value of 3.9 in 2012 to 3.2 in 2016. This level of inferior infrastructural projects is confirmed by the fast deterioration of Fufulso-Sawla road within two years of completion, the flooding of terminal 3 and the circle interchange among others. However, the quality of infrastructure has improved under Nana Akufo Addo confirming the quality of investments Nana Addo government is making compared to John Dramani Mahama.

Clearly, John Mahama best sector of which the NDC boast of is the worse in the 21st century as shown by the data. What again does John Dramani Mahama and his NDC has for Ghana except covert and overt operations. This confirms Dr. Bawumia assertion that the worse of the NPP is the best of John Dramani Mahama and his NDC. This show NDC always destroys for NPP to rebuild. NPP might not the best but far better than NDC.

#The alternative is scary

#NDC destroys, NPP rebuild.

#Four more years for Nana Addo

*Abraham Mensah Acquah*

Polling Station Executive

Ahanta West Constituency

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