..... Investing In People, Jobs And Economy Only A Paper Work ?

The NDC, for 8 years, between 1992 and 2000, did its utmost best to reconstruct the nation’s foundation and build on such a foundation. The opportunity beckons once again for the NDC to seize the moment that a certain victory in this year’s election will bring to our great party to put Ghana back on its reconstructive path and work towards building a Better Ghana. HOW, AND WHEN "A BETTER GHANA" ?

because the current rulers have failed us miserably. In the areas of the economy, employment, the environment, health, education, the utilities – you name it – failure is the best mark that can be given to the NPP Government. Allowing the market forces free and unrestrained rein to give direction to our development agenda has failed to give employment to willing workers, leaving a nation grappling with a large section of its population very despondent. WHY ARE YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT THEN SACKING WORKERS INSTEAD OF CREATING MORE EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GHANAIAN PEOPLE?

Life under the NPP Government is demanding from the unemployed and the wage-earner the surrender of their hard-won standards of living. It is restricting and abandoning those social services which are essential features of a democratic society. IS THAT THE REASON WHY THE NDC GOVERNMENT IS NOT INTERESTED IN CREATING EMPLOYMENT?

Those currently in charge of managing the affairs of state have certainly not done a good job of it in spite of their claims that the economy is on track. The facts and figures paint a very bleak picture of an economy that is not on track. IF THE ECONOMY IS REALLY NOT ON TRACK AS YOU CLAIM WHY CAN'T YOU THEN PUT MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THE GHANAIAN PEOLPE AS YOU PROMISED?

A recent WHO Report ranked Ghana as the second filthiest nation in West Africa and the fourth filthiest in Africa – failure. WHY DID YOU TRY TO MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT FOR THE TOWN CLEANING COMPANY ZOOMLION INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING IT TO EMPLOY MORE GHANAIANS ?

After the NDC Government had virtually eradicated the guinea worm disease by the end of 2000, Ghana is currently ranking second behind war-torn Sudanin terms of guinea worm infestation –failure. WHAT AGAIN DID THE NDC DO FOR THE GHANAIAN PEOPLE?

Water and electricity supply are extremely erratic or non-existent in some cases. It is very common these days to see people using lanterns in the city of Accra and with gallons trekking for hours in search of water – failure. BUT WE STILL CAN'T SEE COSNTANT FLOWING OF ELECTRIC POWER AND WATER SUPPLY, WHY ?

The quality of education is all the time low with 50% of JSS students who last year sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, failing “beyond pardon” – failure. ARE TEACHERS GIVEN MORE PAY? DO WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTE FREE EDUCATION IN GHANA? HOW MANY CLASSROOMS HAVE YOU CONSTRUCTED ? HOW MANY NEW BOOKS AND OTHER SCHOOL EQUIPMENTS HAS YOUR GOVERNMENT PROVIDED SINCE YOUR 1 YEAR IN OFFICE?

Things need to change and change is what the NDC is promising this country as can be seen in the pages of this Manifesto. DON'T YOU THINK THE NDC MANIFESTO WAS ONLY FOR YOUR 2008 CAMPAIGN SAKE ?

As our teeming supporters now love to chant: “Yeresesamu”. The NDC believes that we must place the needs of the working people before the needs of those who already have more than they need. YOU MEAN YOU MUST FIRST PLACE THE NEED OF THE NDC GREEDY BASTARD MINISTERS, ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD "XXXL" SIZE HOUSES!

We are certainly not against wealth accumulation by individuals and groups but as a Party that is anchored to the social democracy philosophy and espouses the tenets of our ideology unashamedly, all our efforts must be geared towards protecting and supporting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the marginalized and the have-nots in society. "HAVE- NOTS" IS SURELY REFERRED TO THE NDC MINISTERS WHO SAT FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD ON THE OPPOSITION BENCH. THAT'S WHY THE DEPUTY BRONG-AHAFO REGIONAL MINISTER AND AMA BENYIWA-DOE COULD BUILD HOUSES VERY QUICKLY.

The youth in particular will be at the core of policy initiatives because we need to restore hope to them by investing in them and creating sustainable opportunities that will inure to their benefit and fill them with a sense of belonging such that they will be committed to the Better Ghana agenda not only for their benefit but also for the benefit of the generations that will come after them. OH! YES, THE YOUTH HAVE SOO MUCH BENEFITED THAT A GOOD HALF OF THEIR POPULATION HAVE TURNED TO ARMED ROBBERS.

There is more than enough evidence that point to the fact that under the NPP Government, a whole generation is being bequeathed with hopelessness, despair, drugs, immorality and crime and we must rescue them from their precarious and frightening dead-end lest we kill their future and kill the future of our dear country. WHEN DO YOU INTEND STARTING TO RESCUEING SOMETHING IN OUR DEAR COUNTRY, MAY BE WHEN ALL THE MINISTERS HAVE FINISHED BUILDING THEIR "XXXL" HOUSES? BUT YOUR TEA AND CHICHINGA PARTIES ARE NOT VERY CHEAP!

The NDC government will measure its successes (not that we are going to be obsessed with touting such successes) in the extent to which we shall be able to implement the policies contained in this Manifesto that will benefit the vast majority of Ghanaians by way of job creation and infrastructure expansion and the extent to which we will be able to provide Ghanaians with the needed social services. THE NDC GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO TAKE MEASURES TO PIONT OUT PEOPLE WHO TRY TO BRIBE THE PRESIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME BRING THEM TO BETTY MOULD,THE ATTORNEY GENERAL & MINISTER OF JUSTICE. NOT ONLY SUCH PEOPLE MUST BE IN QUESTION BUT ALSO PEOPLE LIKE SIPA YANKEY WHO COIL THEMSELVES IN BRIBERY CASES.

The provision of security to Ghanaians, ensuring justice for all, making the laws of the land work without fear or favour, as well as a committed approach to ridding Ghana of the drug menace, will feature prominently on the NDC’s agenda. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE STEALING CARS FROM THE JUBILEE PORT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DIASPORANS AND THE GHANAIAN TAX PAYERS ?

The NDC seeks a majority from the electorate upon the basis of a coherent and definite programme. We reaffirm our conviction that Social Democracy provides the best solution for the evils resulting from unregulated competition and the domination of vested interests. It presses for the extension of public-owned industries and services operated in the interests of the people. It works for the substitution of co-ordinated planning for the anarchy of individualistic acquisitions. IF SOCIAL DEMOCRACY REALLY PROVIDES THE BEST SOLUTION, WHY CAN'T SOME OF YOUR MINISTERS DECLARE THEIR ACCESS?

The NDC insists that we must plan a growth path that will lead to building a Better Ghana in which all with potential will be able to prosper. With zest, zeal, commitment, vision and love for country, a Better Ghana can, and will, be built. THE PLANT THAT SHOULD LEAD TO A BETTER GHANA IS ONLY GIVING SHADE TO THE MINISTERS, THE DIASPORANS ARE LEFT IN THE HOT SUNSHINE. THEY MUST PAY HIGH IMPORT DUTIES AND SOMETIMES HAVE THEIR CARS AND OTHER ITEMS STOLEN. IS THAT "A BETTER GHANA" ? OR JUST BECAUSE THE GHANAIAN DIASPORANS CAN'T VOTE THEY ARE NOT REGARDED AND THEREFORE HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAND UNDER YOUR SUNSHADE ?

This Manifesto is the NDC’s roadmap to building a prosperous Ghana. I am confident that with the Open, Honest Transparent and Humble Leadership I pledge to provide, together with our Team, the NDC and well-meaning Ghanaians, including those belonging to other sides of the political divide, we shall be able to build “a Better Ghana”. THE NDC INCLUDING WELL-MEANING GHANAIANS, WHY ARE YOU THEN RUNNING YOUR ADMINISTRATION WITH SOME TOGOLESE AND IVORIANS ?

This NDC Manifesto was created by Ghanaians of all walks of life and regions who spoke to Prof. Mills on the door-to-door tours. AND WHERE IS THE SAID MANIFESTO, AND WHY IS IT ONLY WRITTEN ON A SHEET PAPER? CAN'T IT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED ? IF YES! WHEN ? AFTER YOUR 4 YEARS IN OFFICE ?

The policies and pledges contained are built upon the difficulties and challenges Ghanaians find most important. BUT YOU SAID GHANAIANS COMPLAIN TOO MUCH ?

The NDC Manifesto is dedicated to those who work and contribute to their families, businesses and communities, but are blocked from social and economic openings. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPENINGS! WHERE ? BUT YOU HAVE BEEN COMPLINING TOO ABOUT OUR CURRENT "ecomini" isn't it ?

It seeks to empower every Ghanaian to access the necessities of life in security and play a meaningful part in developing our country. AND WHAT DO I GAIN FROM ACCESSING THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE IF MY POCKET IS DRY?

Yours sincerely, NDC MANIFESTO 2008 " A BETTER GHANA", INVESTING IN PEOPLE, JOBS AND ECONOMY.

FRANCIS TAWIAH ( DUISBURG - GERMANY )