The New Patriotic Party’s ‘Truth Forum’ has called on President Mahama to work on his own incompetence and the corruption in his government to save the country from final collapse, other than engaging in vote buying.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra this afternoon, a leading member of ‘Truth Forum’, Lawyer Buaben Asamoah said, given the lack of political traction for vote buying, the ‘Truth Forum’ would not have bothered to engage on it but for the alarming waste of questionable resources involved in reportedly and allegedly giving away vehicles, houses, motorbikes, outboard motors, head pans, gas cylinders, tablets, mobile telephones and raw cash.
“Indeed, the infamous picture of His Excellency President Mahama stuffing cash in the pocket of a Chief on a street in the full glare of the public shows the depths to which the Presidency has in desperation, sunk, in pursuit of a phantom political desire,” he said.
The real question Mr. President, is whether you are going to pay all of us to vote for you? Lawyer Buabeng asked.
“Millions of Ghanaians are out of jobs, are dropping out of school, are not being treated in hospital, cannot afford electricity and rent and would rather walk than pay for transportation. This sorry plight is due primarily to the misalignment of resources away from essential services and priorities to high rent seeking projects,” he stated.
Mahama and his NDC, the Truth Forum said, tested the mix in the three month run up to the 2012 elections with devastating results for public finances.
“Overspending in excess of 8.7 billion Ghana cedisby the end of the year included but was not limited to unexplained expenditures of about GHS350 million from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, GHS650 million by the Office of the President or Office of Government Machinery and GHS60 million for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, about GHS 300 million at NADMO as well as GHS 112 million on capacity building not to talk about some $100 million dollars improperly squandered at GYEEDA.”
According to the Truth Forum, even though the President Mahama led NDC Government appears to have perfected the art of electoral gift giving, the people have also wisely learnt their lessons from 2012 to date.
“They have learnt that the vote buying cannot crowd out incompetent economic management, provide jobs for the jobless, reduce electricity bills, reduce excessive taxes, restore teacher and nursing training allowances, pay school fees or ensure a functional NHIS.”
The Forum also called on civil society to stand up and condemn what is going on, and bring some decency into our politics.
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