Fare thee well, Mr. President

(2) “The President shall report to Parliament at least once a year all the steps taken to ensure the realization of the policy objectives contained in this Chapter and, in particular, the realization of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to work, the right to good health care and the right to education”.

What is expected of every President regarding governance has been succinctly encapsulated in the constitutional provision quoted above. The people of Ghana will not be short change with selective minimal dramatization of individual achievements or accomplishments at the expense of the general Ghanaian hardship and suffering.

The President approach of treating serious issues in a light or comical manner is making the Presidency looks indifferent to the plight of Ghanaians. Well-meaning and like-minded progressive Ghanaians must rise to the occasion and lead a coalition to vote out the current government in the interest of the future of our children.

HEALTH

It is unfortunate the President paid no heed to the death toll in the case of a preventable diseases like the Pneumococcal meningitis that has claimed 100 Ghanaian lives. It’s a clear indication that the President has no respect for Ghanaian lives. How can the President overlook the death of 100 Ghanaians who died because of the pneumococcal meningitis yet was quick to chalk parliamentary sympathy by mentioning the death of the Hon. J.B. Dankwah?

CURRUPTION

Over the last 7 years, Ghanaians have been witnesses to the most glaring cases of corruption in public office as well as organized crimes perpetuated by institutions, such as GYEEDA, AZONTABA, SADA, SUBA and most recently BUS BRANDING SAGA. Also individual like Wayome, Abugu Pele, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Madam Betty Mould Iddrisu have all being cited for corruption in one way or the other. Yet not a single one of these cases of corruption has been dealt with completely.

The PPP will like to reiterate that, the surest way of checking corruption in this country is to separate the Attorney Generals Department from the Ministry of Justice. This is the only way to resolve this canker of corruption.

EDUCATION

According to Child Rights International, about 2million Ghanaian children are not in school. These statistics is alarming and negates all the achievement JM is trumpeting. Until we give our children free and compulsory education from Kindergarten to the Secondary School level, we cannot pat ourselves on the shoulder and claim to have done so much in Education. Our constitution is clear on education and cannot be adulterated by anyone for political gains.

DKM

The President’s attempt to hide under the cover of Bank of Ghana to ward off all blames regarding the DKM saga cannot be acceptable. The government of Ghana has the mandate to monitor and correct every public institution in Ghana. After all we have ceded our individual rights to create the sovereign State, and given Parliament and the President, the constitutional mandate to make laws and execute these on our behalf. He cannot turn his back on the people when they have been swindle due to the negligence of one state institution. The government of Ghana must ensure he steps in this matter; punish the culprits and rescue the poor.

ECONOMY

The loud silence of the much touted single digit inflation is enough evidence of an economic night mare. Today our inflation 17% plus and the cedi is continuously warbling against the dollar. Agricultural growth is 0.004% and interest rate is as high as 27%. Not to mentioned the debt toll in the country.

ENERGY

With due respect Mr. President, Dumsor is not completely over. Even yesterday, some part of the country slept in darkness. The President must therefore tread with caution and stop making heroes out of a half job done.

Finally, we “bid thee farewell” in your farewell state of the nation address.

Murtala Mohammed

(National Secretary)