The New Patriotic Party’s ‘Truth Forum’ has
called on President Mahama to work on his own incompetence and the corruption in
his government to save the country from final collapse, other than engaging in
vote buying. Speaking at a press conference in Accra this afternoon, a
leading member of ‘Truth Forum’, Lawyer Buaben Asamoah said, given the lack of
political traction for vote buying, the ‘Truth Forum’ would not have bothered to
engage on it but for the alarming waste of questionable resources involved in
reportedly and allegedly giving away vehicles, houses, motorbikes, outboard
motors, head pans, gas cylinders, tablets, mobile telephones and raw
cash.
“Indeed, the infamous picture of His Excellency President Mahama
stuffing cash in the pocket of a Chief on a street in the full glare of the
public shows the depths to which the Presidency has in desperation, sunk, in
pursuit of a phantom political desire,” he said.
The real question Mr.
President, is whether you are going to pay all of us to vote for you? Lawyer
Buabeng asked.
“Millions of Ghanaians are out of jobs, are dropping out
of school, are not being treated in hospital, cannot afford electricity and rent
and would rather walk than pay for transportation. This sorry plight is due
primarily to the misalignment of resources away from essential services and
priorities to high rent seeking projects,” he stated.
Mahama and his
NDC, the Truth Forum said, tested the mix in the three month run up to the 2012
elections with devastating results for public finances.
“Overspending in
excess of 8.7 billion Ghana cedisby the end of the year included but was not
limited to unexplained expenditures of about GHS350 million from the Ministry of
Youth and Sports, GHS650 million by the Office of the President or Office of
Government Machinery and GHS60 million for the Ministry of Environment, Science
and Technology, about GHS 300 million at NADMO as well as GHS 112 million on
capacity building not to talk about some $100 million dollars improperly
squandered at GYEEDA.”
According to the Truth Forum, even though the
President Mahama led NDC Government appears to have perfected the art of
electoral gift giving, the people have also wisely learnt their lessons from
2012 to date. “They have learnt that the vote buying cannot crowd out
incompetent economic management, provide jobs for the jobless, reduce
electricity bills, reduce excessive taxes, restore teacher and nursing training
allowances, pay school fees or ensure a functional NHIS.”
The Forum also
called on civil society to stand up and condemn what is going on, and bring some
decency into our politics. |
| |
|
|
|
