Opinions of Friday, 11 November 2016

Columnist: Badu, K

Ungrateful Mahama keeps insulting memory of Mills

President John Mahama President John Mahama

Although the late President Mills met with stiff resistance on his decision to select John Dramani Mahama as his running mate for the 2008 general election, the indefatigable Mills defied the fierce opposition, stood by his then running mate John Dramani Mahama, worked synergistically and emerged victorious in the 2008 general election.

Following his victory in the 2008 general election, the late President Mills did his utmost best and continued with the excellent economic foundation laid by former President Kufuor and his NPP government until his sudden and inexplicable death in July 2012.

Of course, the late Mills was not without foibles, for he was a descendant of old man Adam. Yet his light shone among the corrupt and villainous NDC apparatchiks.

Take, for example, it is on record that prior to the scandalous Wayome’s judgement debt payment, the late Mills warned the ‘create, loot and share’ cabals not to effect payment, yet the conspiratorial plotters defied the good old Mills orders and doled out the staggering amount to Wayome, who had no contract with the government of Ghana.

, Apparently, it is on record that apart from the gargantuan corruption allegations that were bothering the late President Mills, he was also worried about the persistent shenanigans of his appointees, including the then Vice President, John Dramani Mahama.

And more so it was not only the late President Mills who was appalled about the Vice President John Dramani Mahama and other appointees inexorable shenanigans, other decent people in NDC like Mr. Martin Amidu showed concerns as well.

For example, Mr. Amidu has revealed that in 2010, he told the late President Mills and the then Chief of Staff that if the late President could advise his appointees to reduce corruption, abuse of office and arrogance for the remaining two years, the NDC would win the 2012 elections hands down.

It appears that there was a bad blood between the late Mills and his Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

For if that was not the case, how on earth would a whole president set up a Committee to investigate his vice president over the acquisition of aircrafts from Brazil?

The alleged feud between the late Mills and his Vice President Mahama may explain why after the death of Professor Mills, President Mahama impoliticly suggested: “God in his own wisdom has taken the old man, Professor Mills away to pave the way for youthful Mahama to take over the mantle”

It would appear that Mahama was after the late Mills job. Take, for example, following the demise of Mills, President Mahama went to the Northern region and declared that it was about time ‘Northerners’ took over the mantle of Presidency, because they (Northerners) were fed up serving in the Vice Presidency post.

Consequently, the enmity has continued up to this time. Based on that, President Mahama has obtrusively failed to give the late Mills any credit on the NDC’s much touted numerous infrastructural projects despite the fact that the late Mills initiated the vast majority of the projects.

Indeed, President Mahama and his NDC apparatchiks have flagrantly refused to give the late Mills a mention in their green book, which highlights their often contestable accomplishments.

For if nothing at all, the late mills pragmatically put the loans contracted by former President Kufuor into good use, initiated the Volta Region University, the Eastern Corridor road, all the numerous water projects and many other projects. Regrettably, however, President Mahama has made them his own without giving credit to the late Mills.

As I mentioned earlier, the late Mills did his utmost best in improving the booming economy left by former President Kufuor and his NPP government.

Take, for example, former President Kufuor quadrupled Ghana’s GDP to a staggering GH28 billion in 2008. While the late Mills inherited the discovery of oil in commercial quantities and managed to increase the GDP to GH47 billion in 2011.

Unfortunately, however, President Mahama has since reversed the GDP to an incredible GH40 billion as of October 2016.

Besides, the late Mills left an economic growth of around 14 per cent, but Mahama has succeeded to asphyxiate the economic growth to an amazing 4 per cent.

Moreover, President Mills left an agricultural growth of around 7.4 per cent in 2012, while President Mahama has reversed it to around 2.5 per cent as of October 2016.

It is also true that President Mahama has obliterated the late mills “unprecedented” single digit inflation and replaced it with double digits (15.8 as of October 2016).

Last but not least, the late Mills left a fairly stable currency exchange rate-it was around GH1.65 to 1 U.S Dollar in 2011. Currently, the exchange rate stands around GH4.00 to 1 U.S Dollar.

Believe it or not, the late Mills performed exceedingly better than President Mahama, so, for goodness’ sake, give him some credit and stop insulting his memory.

K. Badu, UK.