'Stolen' coronavirus ideas: Kweku Baako deflates NDC's argument

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr., has condemned some arguments made by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in relation to COVID-19 and measures put in place by the current administration to halt the spread of the pandemic, describing them "pollution of the environment".

Some communicators of the NDC have accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of 'stealing' ideas from former President John Mahama on COVID-19.

President Akufo-Addo during his 5th address to the nation on measures being taken by his government in battling with the deadly COVID-19 announced a number of reliefs for nurses, the vulnerable in society and Ghanaians in general.

Some of these freebies include no water bills for three months, free transportation for health workers and so on.

But the NDC believes some of them were ideas from their flagbearer; hence he should be given the credit.

Reacting to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kweku Baako said such claims are 'unsustainable' and that it only 'pollutes the environment'.

“I’m hearing that the President’s address and proposals were stolen from Mahama. When did Mahama speak? If I’m not mistaken, Mahama spoke on April 4. They claim the President is executing prescriptions by President Mahama”.

“Has anyone read Ofori-Atta’s presentation to Parliament on March 11 and 30. He told Parliament that measures are being put in place to close a possible financial gap in the 2020 Budget that could result from the coronavirus”.



“On March 30 before Mahama spoke, he (Ofori-Atta) came out with a document captioned “Covid Alleviation Programme”. Paragraph 38 of Ofori-Atta’s speech to Parliament reads “Mr Speaker, that is why to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on businesses and households and ensure that economic activities are sustained while minimizing job losses. The Ministry of Finance will immediately release an amount of GHC1million upon approval by Parliament”.

“The Ministry is proposing to use an equivalent of $219m from the Stabilization Fund. The cap will focus on areas that will provide maximum result on alleviating the impact of the virus pandemic with a focus on protecting job losses, livelihoods, supporting small businesses and ensuring the programme is efficiently and sustainably implemented".

“Targeted business and households will include those in the health sector, education sector, hospitality industry, small and medium enterprises and households hit by the coronavirus. The specific details of the cap will be fashioned out shortly."

"So, if you check the sequence, the point that someone has stolen someone’s idea is unsustainable . . . every Ghanaian including the former President have the right to make suggestions but to suggest that the sitting president had no ideas as to how to go about this matter and so deliberately went to pick what the former President said belittles the . . . it pollutes the environment," he indicated.