We'll start Ghana afresh again - Dr Mahama

The People's National Convention says it is set to start Ghana from a new footing grounded on programmes and projects that would lift the country from its numerous developmental challenges.

"We are proposing that with the new beginnings [one of three themes for the party], we are going to start Ghana afresh again. It's loaded with programmes and projects in it," Presidential candidate for the party, Dr Edward Mahama said on TV3's New Day show Tuesday.

He argued it is unfortunate that after 59 years of independence, the country's machinery, especially the civil and public services are not working as required, saying "after 59 years of independence, our systems are still not working well".

According to him, he receives calls daily from teachers who have worked for months and are not paid, pensioners who are having difficulties accessing their pension, and how frustrating it is for people to access some useful services at government agencies due to bureaucracies.

Dr Mahama said a PNC government will collapse Ghana's superfluous ministries, arguing that although Ghana has a lot of ministers, it is not getting value for money.

"It [the new beginning] will look at the number of ministers we have. Ghana is 27 million [and] we have more ministers than the UK" and America which he said has a population of more than 60 million and 260 million respectively

"So are Ghanaians getting value for money when you have so many ministers?" he said, noting that Ghana does not need more than 27 ministers to run the affairs of the government. He was however, unable to readily say which ministers he would collapse when he wins the election except to say "the details will come later. I have a paper on it on my laptop "

Dr Mahama who is making his fifth attempt at the country's presidency said unlike other politicians, he is to be believed on promises he make, saying "believe you me, what I say, I will do it."

He said his motivation in politics is to see the lives of the people changed and not just because he is a politician. "I'm not in politics because I'm politician. I'm in politics because I see so many areas of our lives as a nation that can be corrected and I can't understand why those who call themselves professionals, politicians are unable to do it," he wondered.