Full cost recovery on services, a conspiracy - Mahama.

Takoradi, Feb.1 - GNA - The policy of full cost recovery on services of the NPP administration, is a conspiracy with international organisations to erode the little comfort that had been achieved for the people in the efforts to make life worth living, says Mr. John Mahama, minority spokesman on communication.

He said, even though the NDC is not against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund programmes per se, it had the experience in dealing with these institutions and would not have accepted the full cost recovery situation.


Inaugurating a new NDC Identification Card at a rally organised by the Takoradi constituency of the party at Takoradi on Saturday, Mr. Mahama said the situation was being forced on the people as the result of pressure from these institutions only to worsen their plight. "Even though the world price for commodities such as gold and cocoa have gone up steadily and oil prices are comparably stable, many people are being financially strangulated, and are indeed suffering". Mr. Mahama said the party would refocus on the orientation of its philosophy of social democracy, which, he explained is not a new one, that would give priority to social services including health and education among others.


He said after the youth have been disappointed by the NPP following its inability to fulfil the 2000 "sweet campaign promises", he expects the youth to tend their attention to the NDC which has the opportunity for the young generation to steer the affairs of the country.


He said, central to what President John Agyekum Kufuor presented in his state of the nation address recently, infrastructure were not in shambles, giving credence to the spinning by the government and its hierarchy.


Mr. Mahama said the government had not been ruthless with corruption in high places as promised Ghanaians, "indicating that the fight against corruption has been lost".


He said for sometime now, the NDC had had problems with the state media for "unfair coverage" and indicated that the protest would continue, "Until we have a level ground".

The party has agreed on certain guidelines with the state media, he said, adding that, to forestall further protests, this, must be adhered to, by all.


Mr. Mahama told the people that the forthcoming elections would be a "media elections" because the media would be the major decider and this should not be ignored.


He said they should strike relations with perceived "hostile" radio or media houses to enable them to use these facilities to explain their views on important political issues.


Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, Member of Parliament for Wenchi East said corruption in high places is on the ascendancy and not until the present Auditor-General, Mr Dua Agyemang was removed from office, this would continue to eat into the fabric of the society.


"Corruption in the country seemed to be institutionalised, and this time no government official, minister or even the president talks about efforts to minimize this canker".


Mr. Asiedu-Nketia said the assertion that the increase in cocoa production was as the result of pragmatic measures including mass spraying and introduction of hi-tech fertilizer application was totally false.

He said he has the evidence that hundreds of tonnes of cocoa were smuggled into the country from Cote d'Ivoire due to the civil strife in that country.


Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, deputy regional chairperson of the party said the youth have now realised their mistake of voting the NPP into power in the 2000 elections.


She said the people have confidence in the flagbearer of the party, Professor John Atta Mills, because " He is his own man and a force to be reckon with in the political arena".


She urged those who have attained the voting age of 18 years to register when the Electoral Commission begins the registration of voters and advised the people to be vigilant to expose any fraud during the exercise.


The first ID card was bought for five million cedis by Madam Ama Mesre, trader, while the second was bought for three million cedis by Fiifi Sangari, a businessman.