The record levels of poverty among Ghanaians is as a result of the poor governance offered the nation by President John Dramani Mahama, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong Francis Addai Nimo has alleged.

For him, the previous leaders who have served the country under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and subsequently the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have not done any better, leaving the country in a worse state.

The Mampong MP insisted that the country could develop and fulfil its true potential of being the Black Star of Africa only under a Nana Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

“Ghana’s development rests with the NPP. Ghana has enjoyed 59 years of independence. 27 years of our independent life has been under PNDC/NDC. Let us ask ourselves: ‘What has this tradition done for Ghana?’ We in the NPP have only been at the helm of power for 10 years and 3 months, and our record has been sterling,” he said.

Mr Nimo, who is part of Nana Akufo-Addo’s entourage on tour of the Upper East region, made this known when he addressed a rally at Bolgatanga, on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park.

The Mampong MP revealed that “it was under the 2-year and 3-month old government of the late Dr K.A. Busia that the vast majority of teak used for the electrification programme in Ghana were planted, which ensured that electricity was extended to every part of the country”.

Again, he added: “The size of Ghana’s GDP in 2000 was $4 billion, at the time the party took office. In eight years, we moved it to $24 billion. This means that if Ghana is to have a bright future, it rests in the hands of the NPP.”

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to give the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo “the opportunity to serve this nation, to transform this nation, and improve on the quality of life of every Ghanaian”.

On the same platform, the NPP Campaign Sector Committee Chairperson on Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, indicated that the most important things required of any government were the development of the nation, as well as the improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.

“In spite of the NDC’s singular message of infrastructural development, Ghanaians are saying that their living conditions are worse off. Ghanaians are saying they cannot make ends meet; they cannot afford to live in these hard times. This is, clearly, a sign that the NDC has failed. Ghanaians are saying they want Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP,” he noted.

As per the NDC’s claims of having undertaken infrastructural development, Alan Kyerematen stated: “If the task is all about how many kilometres of road you have constructed, or the number of schools built, then the NDC is no match for the NPP,” adding: “In addition to providing infrastructural development, we in the NPP will give you jobs to do. That is why Nana Akufo-Addo’s message everywhere he goes is that he will help establish a factory in every district, to create jobs for you.”

Mr Kyerematen noted that President Kufuor’s government “rehabilitated the Pwalugu Tomato Factory, and the Zwarungu Meat Factory. This created thousands of jobs for the people. These factories, under President Mahama, have all collapsed. We are coming to revive all of these.”

He further assured that groundnut farmers in the region would also be beneficiaries of the setting up of a groundnut processing plant, when the NPP assumes office in January 2017.