The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reminded Ghanaians of the difficult economic conditions the Mahama-led administration subjected them to. He has thus asked voters to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo for another four years.
At a characteristic, data-laden presentation last night at the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra, Dr. Bawumia told the Akufo-Addo government’s story, taking his audience and Ghanaians through a trajectory of the challenges Ghanaians faced under Mahama, the “dire” economic conditions the Akufo-Addo government inherited from the Mahama-led NDC; the key promises the NPP made in 2016; the successful programmes and interventions in the last four years by the Akufo-Addo government, as well as its vision beyond 2021.
Dr. Bawumia set the tone for his presentation by recalling the mismanagement of the economy, and its accompanying harsh conditions, that had hit the country under the administration of former President Mahama.
“I am aware you need no reminders of the dire economic conditions at the time we came into office. You lived and breathed it and bore the human cost of the economic mismanagement that was visited upon us by the Mahama-led NDC government,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The Vice President reminded Ghanaians about the many challenges, which included growing unemployment, leading to the formation of Unemployed Graduates Association, the effects of four years of dum-so which led to job losses, high electricity tariffs, collapsing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and ambulance service, lack of basic facilities like textbooks and chalks in public schools, cancellation of nursing and teacher trainee allowances, backlog of unemployed nurses, non-payment of teachers, burdensome taxes, and series of scandals, etc.
“It was clear that the Mahama-led NDC government had lost its way, failed Ghanaians, and did not have any idea how to get us out of the ditch it has driven us into,” the Vice President noted.
He also noted that having been overwhelmingly voted for by Ghanaians in 2016, the Akufo-Addo government set out to roll back the human cost of the economic mismanagement by the previous government, and to create the foundation for an inclusive, prosperous Ghana.
The Vice President added that the Akufo-Addo government vision was broadly anchored on seven objectives, which, he said, were to: “Stabilise and grow the economy; transform the economy; create jobs, especially for the youth; modernise, digitise and formalise the economy; make development inclusive and protect the vulnerable, fight corruption, and create a safe, secure environment for citizens and businesses to thrive.”
TRANSFORMING THE ECONOMY BEYOND STABILITY
Dr. Bawumia said the Akufo-Addo government did not only seek to stabilise the economy, but also took steps to transform the nature of the economy by improving agriculture productivity to reduce dependence on food imports, add value to raw materials through industrialisation, and reduce the cost of energy and running businesses and industries in Ghana.
“These we have achieved through Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development and Rearing for Food and Jobs. PFJ has led to a 71% increase in the national production of maize and 34% in paddy rice. Yields per hectare of maize, rice, and soybean have also increased significantly, and we now export 19 different food items, including maize, to the rest of ECOWAS countries.”
“Again, through One District One Factory and Strategic Anchor initiatives, we are adding value to our raw materials through industrialisation. In four years, 76 companies are in operation, and a total of 107 1D1F factories are also under construction. We expect every district to have a factory in the next two years.”
“We have also abolished or reduced 15 taxes and levies to reduce the burden of taxes on businesses and individuals. This is unprecedented in the history of economic management in Ghana.”
ELECTIONS 2020 AND BEYOND
Dr. Bawumia stated unequivocally that President Akufo-Addo had delivered on his 2016 promises, and appealed to Ghanaians to give him four more years to continue with his good works and move Ghana ahead.
“We ask you to give us four more years, because our government, borne out of the NPP, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has kept faith with you, Ghanaians, by delivering on the commitments we made to you.”
Dr. Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo had been able to restore in four years, what Mahama and the NDC destroyed in eight years, and he deserves another four years to continue to stimulate economic growth, support industrialisation, accelerate agriculture modernisation, and consolidate 1D1F and implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“On December 7, remember that we have achieved together, and what, we can achieve together over the next four years, and vote for to retain Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President, and for NPP MPs, all of whom are number 1 on the ballot, so we can deliver once again on our mandate.”
The post You lived and breathed bad economy under NDC -Bawumia reminds Ghanaians appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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