Okudzeto-Ablakwa Blasts Akufo-Addo

• Says His 10-Year Policy Mantra Is Borne Out Of Mischief, Deceit And Hypocrisy

From: Mohammed Kamil Baba, Nyanpkala (The Catalyst)

A Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Samuel Akudzeto Ablakwa, has described as mischievous, deceitful and hypocritical, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent controversial statement that in ten years, he would take Ghana to the ‘Promised Land’ of transformation and industrialisation.

Nana Akufo-Addo recently made public a claim that he has devised a 10-year development policy modelled along the Brazilian and Taiwanese experience of aggressive industrialisation.

The NPP flagbearer stated emphatically that the plan would move the country out of what he called the ‘Guggisberg economy’ which produced raw materials for export, into a "Nana-Addo economy" of which the country would became an industrialised one. This, he said would become a reality under him as President. But the deputy Information Minister said the NPP flagbearer’s claim stems from nothing but mischief, deceit and hypocrisy.

According to him, “...The new country and the new vision that the youth and people of this country seek is the vision that is home-grown; that is owned by Ghanaians; that understands and appreciates our reality; a concrete situation on the ground; the unique conditions of our country; that is the only vision that will make this country progress.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that “Apart from the fact that the ten-year policy was so empty, visionless and only a copy cat of the Brazilian model, everybody in development economics in the modern world has been impressed with development with the BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China - and so it is very easy to just grab one of the BRIC countries as they are doing and say you will be like them.”

According to Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa the constitution has made provision for a two 4-year terms of presidency for anyone. He wondered where Mr Akufo-Akufo was going to get a 10-year mandate from in order to execute his ‘Akufo-Addo Economy’ Policy.

The deputy minister challenged the flag-bearer of NPP to refer to the constitution since no government can rule for ten years. He said every single day Ghanaians live under the able leadership of President Mills-led administration brings series of transformation to their lives.

Mr. Ablakwa was addressing Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) of NDC at UDS, Nyankpala Campus over the weekend, as part of TEIN ladies week celebration. He said no amount of threat and ill-fated pronouncements by any opposition element can sway government’s attention from achieving the better Ghana agenda and the action year declared by President Mills.

On the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), he disclosed that millennium village project is committing 30 million US dollars in addition to the 25,000 seed money into SADA for its implementation. He therefore urged all to embrace SADA since the project is expected to transform the northern ecological zone.

The Acting President of TEIN UDS, Nyankpala campus Mrs Abdulai Sharifatu encouraged women to take up leadership positions, saying that women’s contribution can help transform the nation.

She therefore pledged her outfit’s commitment to the NDC and pledged to help marshal votes to enable the party retain power in the 2012 general elections.