Mr. Alhassan Yakubu Tali, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in Germany and a native of Tolon has noted that the much talked about Better Ghana Agenda by the NDC government has remained a mirage that only exists in the minds of NDC propagandists. According to him, the people of Tolon in the Northern Region for instance are yet to witness any sign of the Better Ghana Agenda. He therefore called on the Mahama administration to fulfill its campaign promise by connecting all the villages in the Tolon constituency to the National Grid
Mr. Yakubu Tali made this appeal while addressing the end of year get together of the Asanteman Association in Dusseldorf over the week end
He pointed out that the Tolon Constituency remains one of the most deprived constituencies in terms of infrastructural development, road network, health facilities, education and sanitation
He explained that the extension of electricity to these deprived communities will not only stimulate economic activity but more importantly reduce the level of poverty and help stem rural-urban migration
Touching on the economic crisis in Ghana Mr. Yakubu Tali blamed the current abysmal state of the economy on bad governance, poor leadership, mismanagement, policy incoherence and widespread corruption
He stated „the Mahama-led government not only demonstrated gross incompetence and ineptitude since assuming the reins of power but it has also become an epitome of corruption and plundered the national coffers
Mr. Yakubu-Tali was however, optimistic that all is not lost yet adding that 2016 presents an opportunity for Ghanaians to bring back the NPP under Nana Akuffo-Addo to once again get the economy moving in the right direction
He reminded audience of the well-attended event that the impressive economic successes recorded between 2001 and 2008 under President John Agyekum Kuffour were as a result of prudent economic management, well-designed policies and programmes as well as fiscal discipline.
These sound economic policies, he argued led to dramatic improvement in both the external and debt position and also kept inflation in check.
For his part Mr. Kwaku Anane-Gyinde, National Organizer of NPP-Germany urged Ghanaians in Diaspora not shy away from politics but to get actively involved so as to shape and determine the future direction of the country.
He told his compatriots that nation building is the collective responsibility of all citizens irrespective of place of residence hence the role of Ghanaians resident abroad should not be limited to sending remittances to relatives back home saying „ our expertise and experiences are equally important a but we need the support and encouragement from government to enable us put our international experiences at the disposal of our motherland“
Mr. Anane-Gyinde opined that the only government that has shown commitment to the cause of the Ghanaian in Diaspora is the NPP government under President Kuffour who in February 2006 signed into law the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) which sought to give Ghanaians resident abroad the right to vote.
Unfortunately six years after taking office the NDC government has not demonstrated any commitment in respect of implementing this law, a situation which underscores the hostility of past and present NDC governments towards Ghanaians in Diaspora he added.
According to the NPP activist, his greatest wish for 2015 is that „dumsor dumsor“ will be a thing of the past, that there will be less corruption in government, that all fraudulent judgment debts are recovered, that the national health insurance scheme becomes functional once again, that the school feeding programme is revived and that the office of the President does spend beyond and above its budgetary allocation.
The Communication Team
NPP-Germany