PRESS STATEMENT

Ghana is ranked among the league of poor performing countries in the world. The cost of doing business has increased and confidence in the Ghanaian economy has gone down with high interest rates, a weakening currency and increased utility prices coupled with unstable electricity power. Businesses are folding up and others are relocating to the neighbouring countries because they cannot simply meet the operational cost of their work. The country is engulfed with filth and dirty-stingy environment. The country’s public debt is illogical and irrational due to reckless borrowings. In fact, Ghana can be likened to a psychiatric patient because there is no sense of direction; we have lost our sense of reasoning when it comes to issues of the economy.

President Mahama is not only a big disappointment, but also a leader of the worst form of government this country has ever had since independence. It is heart-breaking and amazing with the frequent rate at which prices of goods and services keep on increasing daily, at the detriment of ordinary Ghanaians who can hardly afford a decent three-square meal a day. It is very appalling and annoying how President Mahama’s style of governance has brought untold hardships on the millions of Ghanaians today.

We all know the damage the NDC has caused to the country since 2009: reckless spending, corruption and fiscal indiscipline have combined to kill the energy of the economy to create jobs. The depressing reality is that corruption is costing the nation jobs as government chooses to pay more money for less. Corruption is denying our children money to fund their education, the school feeding programme is starved of cash, contractors are not being paid, our development partners are refusing to release funds to support our budget, salaries are in arrears etc. It is unfortunate that all the economic gains the country achieved under the NPP government, led by President John Agyekum Kufour have been dwindled down by the NDC government, bringing the country on its knees. The deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country are just extremely bad. The withdrawal of subsidies to public tertiary institutions by the NDC government has for some time now perplexed the minds of the general public and students across the country. The allowances of our teacher and nursing training colleges have been scrabbled off. We are all aware of school leavers and graduates who are having great difficulty finding job in this economy. Youth unemployment remains high and increasing and there has been no better Ghana for our youth in the last five years.

The non-oil sectors of the economy, in particular agriculture, industry and services are still growing slower than they did in 2008 [8.4% GDP growth]. In 2012, real GDP growth was 7.9 percent (including oil). It is clear, therefore, that notwithstanding the production of oil, the non-oil sectors are experiencing declining growth. There is a noticeable slowdown in economic activity and both business and consumer confidence have weakened. The economic slowdown has meant that unemployment is getting worse. The NDC government is a government of wasted opportunities! Ghana’s total public debt has increased from GHC 9.5bn in 2008 to GHC43.9 billion as at August 2013 (an increase of 357% in less than 5 years)! The NDC government has borrowed the equivalent of $20 billion in just the last five years! What is worrying is that they tell us that this is only the first gear! Can you see or feel that $20 billion dollars has been pumped into this economy in the last five years? Where are the projects to show for the $20 billion? Just imagine the transformational effect if every region were given $2 billion for development projects. The unprecedented growth in corruption is denying the youth access to jobs and income.

The filthy Mahama’s government cannot even pay for statutory funds. As we speak, NHIS, GETfund, School Feeding Grants, Capitation Grants, Districts Assemblies Common Fund, etc are all in arrears. Parliament is unable to resume on the scheduled due to lack of funds. Indeed, no serious country will sit down and watch this filthy government to last in even two years.

Ghanaians are crying for the return of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to power to save them from the bad economic policies of the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NPP is looking for the opportunity to restore hope.We, therefore, urge supporters of the NPP across the country to remain united, focused and committed in order to wrest power from the NDC in 2016. And this can only be possible if we field Nana Akufo-Addo. Because over the years, Nana Akufo-Addo has proven to the rank and file of all Ghanaians that he is a patriotic citizen, peace loving and a visionary leader who has the interest of the nation at heart.

Long live Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo! Long live the New Patriotic Party (NPP)! And Long live Ghana!

Signed:

SAMUEL FRIMPONG, President, STUNNAD Central Region (0247 206 432)

SAMPSON S. BAKUTOMAH, Vice President, STUNNAD Central Region (Also TESCON-UCC President – 0244120521)