I didn’t lie to get votes – President Akufo-Addo

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured Asanteman, and the people of Ghana that the pledges he made during the electioneering period were not mere campaign platform talk, but rather are pledges that will be fulfilled during his tenure of office.

According to him, the fulfilment of these pledges remain the surest way to creating jobs and wealth for the people of Ghana, as well as returning the country to the path of progress and prosperity.

“I made a lot of pledges during the campaign. We have started fulfilling them. The Free Senior High School policy will commence from September 2017. So you should know that what I said during the campaign was not political talk. Yesterday, in Parliament, the ‘Asempa’ budget became law. The Appropriations Act has been made, so there is financial provision for Free SHS in the budget,” he said.

The President continued, “Ghanaians should know that I did not lie to them during the campaign, in order to get their votes. Whatever I said I was going to do, I will do.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the commencement of his 3-day tour of the Ashanti Region, in a meeting with transport unions and transport owners in the Ashanti Region, at the Kumasi Cultural Centre.

“We said we were going to reduce taxes, which had become a burden on businesses and was stifling productivity. We said were going to reduce import duties on imported spare parts. The first budget has removed taxes on imported spare parts in our country. We have also abolished a number of other taxes,” he stated.

This was met with a rapturous response by the packed hall at the cultural centre, with many expressing their appreciation for the gesture by the government of President Akufo-Addo.

The President assured the various transport unions gathered that “a review of the laws governing the transport sector is ongoing. We will make sure there is a proper licensing and proper registration system in place, which will protect all of us. I am giving you that assurance.”

He also reiterated his government’s commitment towards the provision of the requisite infrastructure for businesses of the transport unions and transport owners to thrive

With the Easter festivities on the horizon, President Akufo-Addo bemoaned the spate of accidents and causalities that have characterised the Easter celebrations over the years.

“Let us make it our priority that this year’s Easter will see a drastic reduction in the number of accidents and fatalities on our roads. Everyone should observe the rules of the road, and make this Easter the best in terms of a reduction in accidents and causalities on our road. It is a major concern of mine. Help me make this a reality,” he added.