Accra, Ghana, July 27, 2020//-The Running Mate of Ghana’s largest opposition-National Democratic Congress (NDC) today rallied Ghanaians for political change in her major public event since assuming office.
Speaking at her outdooring ceremony in Accra, she urged them to come on board to rescue the country from poor leader and mismanagement, saying: “The time for change is now!”
Four critical factors
In today’s turbulent political and economic climate, there are four crucial factors to consider in tackling issues relating to youth and gender, according to her.
“First, we must be mindful of the fact that 60% of our population will be under the age of 30 in a few years. That is why it is so critical that we systematically reform all our systems to effectively address the aspirations of our youth and country.
Second, we need meaningful, quality and comprehensive education that goes beyond access and responds to the future we can actualize”.
Third, we must leverage on vocational and technical training to equip many into meaningful and fulfilling work.
Fourth, we must provide opportunities that transcend political patronage, ‘connection’ and the practice of whom- you- know. Equal and fair opportunities based on merit are an imperative for sustainable economic growth. The time for that shift is now.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang noted: “Truth be told, despite all our challenges, Ghana remains a special place where any dream is possible, where every aspiration matters, and where anyone – be it a little boy from Bole or a little girl from Komenda – can grow up to be anything they want to be.
Even President. Even Vice President. This is why we love this country so much. We must continue to make it a place we cherish and are proud to belong to, and a place of opportunities.”
In the past and more so very recently, I have had extensive discussions with H.E. John Mahama about issues confronting our country and his vision for the coming years. These have been broad, passionate and engaging. In John Mahama you find a person who is thoughtful, visionary, makes no claim to perfection and admits to mistakes or missteps and valuable lessons learnt. Our society will be better served with such down-to-earth, considerate and reflective leadership.
She said: “We have chosen the path of peace, inclusiveness, self-reliance and belief in ourselves. It is an important avenue through which to turn our current circumstances into opportunities that yield great dividends for us all. And ‘us’ includes generations unborn. Their lives also matter”.
It is clear that with the right direction and resolve, with all of us being part of the forward march, our country is destined for greatness. We can and must right the course of our country. We all admit that we can put our country on a firmer, more sustainable path, a path of peace, in order to move forth in ways that are meaningful and clear”.
Ill vices
Speaking earlier, former President John Mahama said the Akufo-Addo government has been a potpourri of ills and vices.
He added:“My brothers and sisters, the 2020 election will be a referendum on the four years of Nana Akufo-Addo’s presidency – four years of nepotism, corruption, stagnation, deliberate abandoning of badly needed social infrastructure, dehumanisation, disenfranchising Ghanaians, stripping Ghanaians of their citizenship, deliberate collapse of indigenous Ghanaian businesses, massive job losses and the attendant socio-economic hardship”.
“This will be a referendum on the term of a president who has no real solutions for Ghana, a president, hell-bent on doing whatever it takes to stay in power – including, against sound advice, replacing the very voters register, which brought him into office”, he said.
Mr Mahama said his “heart goes out to the many who have been affected by this Government’s unjustifiable collapse of Ghanaian-owned financial institutions”, adding: “It is heart-wrenching to hear government officials justify the huge amounts it is spending to manage the impact of the collapse, now put at 21 billion Ghana cedis”.
“I weep for the many who have lost their jobs, the many who have lost their businesses, the many who have lost their livelihood among others”, Mr Mahama said.
Promise to pay locked up funds
The former President pledged, “on behalf of the NDC that we shall pay, within one year, all who have funds locked up with the collapsed financial institutions. Within one year. I promise!”
“We shall not put up any long-term payment plans that will further worsen the living conditions of the victims.
“As has been introduced in other economies, the next NDC Administration will establish a Financial Services Authority that will be responsible for ensuring that consumer financial markets work for consumers, providers and the economy as a whole.”
The Authority, he noted, “will oversee all financial products and services that are offered to consumers, and will effectively and efficiently prevent and stop the challenges that have confronted customers of Menzgold, DKM among others”.
“We will restore Ghanaian indigenous investment in the banking and financial sector through a tiered banking structure in order to restore viable credit sources for Ghanaian SMEs. We will make amends for those whose businesses were collapsed due to political victimisation.
“We will send all contractors with valid contracts who have been sitting at home for 4 years without being paid for legitimate work done for government back to site.
“We will make immediate arrangements to pay them their hard-earned monies deliberately withheld by the Nana Addo administration due to politics”.
Misogynistic, some attacks
He described as misogynistic, some attacks hurled at Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang by members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), shortly after announcing her as his running mate a few weeks ago.
“It is regrettable that following my announcement of her as my running mate, several key leaders of the NPP administration and party launched a barrage of misogynistic attacks at her just on the basis of her gender”, Mr Mahama bemoaned, adding: “These attacks are unacceptable and most unfortunate”.
“This is not what the severely distressed people of Ghana deserve at this time”, he said, noting: “We surely can do better”.
“Our politics”, the flag bearer of the NDC noted, “has devolved into one of insults, intimidation and unfortunately in many cases has become increasingly violent”.
This is “anathema to the sustainability of the health and wealth of our Republic, fought for and won through the blood and toils of our forebears”, he observed.
He said as “servant-leaders, we pledge to abide by the ethics of a clean campaign devoid of insults. We shall present our message to the people of Ghana in a clear and succinct manner”.
“We also pledge that our promises would be a sacred social contract that will be honoured and not betrayed. This pledge is to all, including our compatriots, who have lost interest, faith and hope in our politics.
“We will change the face of our politics so that no one will be considered less Ghanaian or more Ghanaian than the other on the basis of ownership of a political party card.
“Let’s face it! There are many Ghanaians who do not belong to the NPP, the NDC or any recognisable political party. They detest the persistent acrimony associated with our politics.
They do not have a party card and yet they contribute significantly to build our country”, Mr Mahama said on Monday, 27 July 2020 when he outdoored Prof Opoku-Agyemang.
African Eye Report
