A group calling itself United Movement for Change (UMC) has called on the President Mills led government to seek the interest of the masses or count themselves out of power in 2012. The group said, “The STX Korea housing deal that Parliament approved recently is a clear signal that the NDC government is not a listening government after all”.

The newly formed pressure group UMC says it is poised to change the socio-political situation of the nation via the pragmatic tackling of Ghana’s socio-economic problems.

According to the group, which is made up of Ghanaian professionals with a slogan ‘add your name to history’, this generation can’t fail the future generation again: “this is our time to write the wrongs of the past” and set the agenda for selfless leadership coupled with systematic governance, with checks and balances towards Ghana’s development to middle income status, the group stated.

In an interview with Radio Gold in London, the chairman of the UMC Jacob Yeboah, said “over the years, political leaders in the country have failed to listen to the electorates and have taken them for a ride”. He sighted the Vodafone deal under the previous New Patriotic Party administration and the current Korean STX housing deal as examples of governments’ inability to listen to the voice of the people.

He pointed out that on the STX deal, his group and another Diaspora group, Ghana Leadership Union, which is based in Texas USA, sent proposals to the Speaker of Parliament, and the Majority and Minority leaders of parliament to reverse the deal, but because they have the power the deal has gone through.

He said “are our electorates fools, are Ghanaians fools, that day in day out we should vote for these politicians and our MPs, but when they get there they do what suits them and not what is in the interest of the citizenry, is that how we build a nation? He quizzed.

The chairman of the United Movement for Change and West Africa Director for VitalSource Limited Jacob Yeboah said, “Nobody in Ghana and the Diaspora is happy with what is going on in Ghana”. Our leaders are making a mockery of democracy, using the STX deal under the current administration and the Vodafone deal under NPP as examples of bad leadership that Ghana has had over the period. My friend once told me that “politicians behave like bananas; they all look yellow yet none are rich” He added.

On his observation of the President Mills-led government one and half years down the political line, Jacob Yeboah submitted that one of the things he appreciates about the NDC government is their quest to improve the tax system: “It is something Ghanaians should commend the government for”, adding that it’s the way of building a solid nation. He further added that, though President Mills has an enviable character, he needs to focus on his leadership qualities and take decisions that will benefit all and not a minute few, and also tackle the country’s value system. He said “today after Nkrumah, we are looking for leaders with good intentions of building the nation and not self seekers”. He however warned the government that “if they do not change and make sure they build something for the future generations, then the youth in Ghana and the Diaspora will start speaking through the UMC and they will hear”.

He announced that the UMC will use education and awareness programs to change the leadership style to ensure a safe future for posterity. Jacob Yeboah further called on Ghanaians to join with UMC to provide an alternate solution to the problems of Ghana with a concentration socio economic development via awareness creation.

Story by: Samuel Ablordeppey samuelablordepey@yahoo.com