The removal of teacher and nurse trainee
allowances by the government has resulted in untold hardships on students and
parents, hence President John Mahama’s comments that he will not restore the
allowances even if his decision will affect his chances of winning the
elections, is “irresponsible”, Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina, Atiwa West Youth
Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said.According to him,
presidents and political parties are elected to solve economic problems, thus,
if certain decisions by the government are affecting the citizenry negatively,
the government must, as a matter of urgency, reverse those decisions. In his
view, for President Mahama to have turned a deaf ear to the cry of the students
showed that he did not have the interest of the citizens at heart.
Mr
Mahama recently told students of the University of Cape Coast that he would not
restore the allowances even if that would cost him victory in the December 7
elections.
But Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina in a statement on Monday September
26 said Mr Mahama’s comment “is the most irresponsible statement that had ever
been made by a civilian government in the political history of Ghana”, adding:
“President Mahama must know that he is a civilian government and the fact that
he likes wearing the military uniform doesn't make his government a military
government.”
“Political parties are voted into power to solve the
problems confronting the citizenry rather than worsen it. The Mahama-led NDC
government has worsened the plight of Ghanaians. The cancellation of the trainee
allowances has brought untold hardship to these students and no one would expect
a responsible government to come out with such statement.
“The allowance
was introduced to motivate brilliant students into the teacher and nurse
training colleges. A government which prioritises education and health won’t
take such a reckless decision. Aside from the cancellation of the allowance,
after graduation, posting also becomes a problem. Till date, there are nurses
who have completed their course for years under Mahama's government and yet
haven't been posted. Is this government responsible?”
The statement
added: “Youth unemployment keeps escalating [plus] high cost of education;
prices of goods and services keep soaring, companies keep laying workers off,
corruption within government keeps worsening, government keeps taking from the
masses in the name of dubious taxes. Are we serious to vote for this government
again? The NDC government is ready to lay off workers in 2017 per IMF
conditionalities for the bailout. Yet, the government keeps deceiving
us.
“Mahama's government, aside from corruption and what he termed as
'exercise in mediocrity', has not been able to achieve anything. Let's vote for
Nana Akufo-Addo (flag bearer of the NPP) and the NPP for jobs, for tax reduction
which will eventually cause a fall in the cost of living and also cause the cost
of production to come down as well and companies getting what it takes to
employ. Nana Akufo-Addo has a vision for Ghanaians.” |
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