General News of Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Source: Joy Online

Blame Mills for economic woes – Kwamena Duncan

Central Regional Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the reign of late President John Evans Atta Mills as "weak, ineffective and indecisive".

According to Mr. Kwamena Duncan, although the late Professor was non-aggressive and patient in his demeanour, his leadership quality was a "complete disaster".

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo on Wednesday July 24, the NPP stalwart said the current economic woes of the country must be blamed squarely on the period of the late President's administration.

According to him, although late President Mills admonished political commentators to avoid the use of insults during radio discussions, his own party commentators were doing otherwise while "he [Mills] just sat down and looked on".

He waded into the Martin Amidu issue saying it was under President Mills' watch that the former Attoney-Genera's persecution began after he fingered some top officials for corruption, including President Mahama - who was Mills' vice then.

In Mr Duncan's view, although late President Mills may not be directly involved in the fraudulent Waterville and Isofoton contracts that robbed the country of several millions of cedis, the fact that they happened under his stewardship must be not be ignored.

To Kwamena Duncan, the corrupt Waterville, Isofoton and Woyome contracts are clear signs of his ineffectiveness as a leader.

Kwamena Duncan's views resonate with those of Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, son of Ghana’s first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

According Sekou Nkrumah, inasmuch as Ghanaians will eulogise late President Atta Mills, to him, Mills was a man of double standards.

Sekou Nkrumah also faulted President Mills for failing to rein in foul-mouthed appointees in his government and in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), although his admonition on numerous platforms was for political commentators to stop the politics of insults.

Kwamena Duncan and Sekou Nkrumah were presenting their views on the legacy of the late President on the programme as the country commemorates one year of his passing away.

President Mills died exactly a year today after several months of speculations about his deteriorating health.