NDC Ministers are substandard & lack direction

It is hard to begrudge a writer who recently acknowledged that it is a bad time to be a Ghanaian. We in the Coalition of Ghanaian Youth (CoGY) cut across the political and demographic interests wish to add our voice to the numerous calls for the current government of Mahama/Amissah to wake up to the cries of Ghanaians. It is indeed not an overstatement to say that the past four(4) years have been a challenging period for Ghanaians which could be attributed to bad governance and mediocre leadership. A period in which our political elites have legalized corruption as an institution by itself crafted to amass wealth at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian who pays the taxes. A period in which Ghanaians are asked to shift nationality by a top government appointee, such as the National Security Advisor to the President, for the mere fact that citizens are demanding better services and astute leadership from those elected to public office.

We in the Coalition of Ghanaian Youth are however saddened with the President and the NDC leadership for the public support of the careless statement of Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah that if the kitchen is hot, we Ghanaians should take our passports and leave for other countries. Many of us are ready to leave Ghana but have resolved to stay in this unbearable economic decay of a country often touted to be a shining economy in the sub-region. To borrow the words of Alban Bagbin, we Ghanaian youth are not “defeatist” therefore will not leave our country for any ingrates of a politician. With only one reason, to indicate to Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah , the President and his NDC that we the suffering citizens outnumber their looting brigade led by the $1million rated Victoria Hammah. And barring any unforeseen changes in the governance of our country, maybe, by December 2016, when elections are over, President Mahama and his NDC will come to terms with the consequences of mediocre appointments and their being insensitive to citizens. And if the government continues as it is doing now, never again will the NDC come to power, not in our generation.

Our group has also realized that some of the sector ministers, their deputies and CEOs, D-Gs and heads of critical agencies are either incompetent or are insensitive to the plight of those they are to serve. We are yet to see or hear any policy statement or program from any of these second-rated ministers of the NDC government. From the public utterances of some of the NDC party members, it is even clearer that within the NDC itself, the President is no longer attractive a candidate to consider for the next general elections. It may be early days yet, but so far he is seen as woefully failed not only Ghanaians but also his own party colleagues and confidants. Just some weeks ago, the former majority leader in parliament, Alban Bagbin lambasted the office of the President saying he has turned over government into the hands of family members and cronies leaving out some of them that sacrificed to see the NDC through to regaining power. Most of them in the NDC also cannot come to terms with the unsavoury neglect of some of known NDC faces for government appointments over the gargantuan nepotism and favouritism that brought people like Dr Atuguba, Prosper Bani, Stan Dogbe, Victoria Hammah and some unseen family co-looters into government.

One major concern is the current NDC government’s unconcerned attitudes toward farmers. Farmers who play a key role in national development were given a fair treatment even during the PNDC era of Flight Lit. Jerry Rawlings. Why then are farmers not actively compensated for their immense contribution to the Ghanaian economy in a more democratic dispensation? Or is Prez.Mahama waiting for farmers to also lay down their farm tools and to go on strike? That will surely lead to anarchy and potential recipe for a coup d’ etat.

And now we are receiving information from the office of the Vice- President that he is no longer prepared to be subdued by those who have played no major role in bringing the NDC to power but are enjoying their rise to power. They wish to exercise more power than that of the Vice-President. The camp of the VEEP is said to be so peeved that, our nation Ghana may soon see a power struggle never seen before at the presidency. The center at Flagstaff House is no more holding as things are falling apart. What a people we have entrusted the future of our country to? Is it true the Vice –President is considering tending his resignation for the second time as the President continues to snub his appointments to various boards?

From the opinion polls that our group conducted a few weeks ago, it is apparent that many of the NDC sympathizers are calling for changes in the government appointments as they seem not to be content with the performance of some of the government appointees. This unfortunate situation in the NDC is what leading opposition parties such as the NPP ought to capitalize on in order to wrest power from the seemingly corrupt and ineffective NDC government in 2016 elections. Mr.Mahama and his team seem to be heading toward failing Ghanaians beyond imagination. And as a group that seeks the nation’s interest foremost, a better alternative to the NDC is all our country needs now to turn around the economy. However, Ghanaians will still have to wait until 2016 to correct the mistakes that brought NDC to power. Or is Prez Mahama aware of the ineffectiveness of those he appointed into office and trying to turn the clock to reshuffle them with more experienced and qualified ones? Ghana deserves better than what Mr.Mahama has forced on us by way of Ministers, MCEs, DCEs, Board Chairs, Ambassadors, CEOs and the rest. ? Or is Ghana short of competence? And if NDC lacks the quality, the NPP, CPP,PPP and even the NDP have a stock-pile of competent individuals to draw from?

What the NDC has failed to know is that we are in a global world where technology has made every Ghanaian now abreast with developments in Ghana and other countries, and therefore are better informed than ever. Most older Ghanaians remember that during the almost 20 years rule of former President Rawlings when people like, Kwame Peprah, E. T. Mensah, Dan Abodakpi, Tony Aidoo, Kwesi Botchwey, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Nana Konadu, Huudu Yayah, Totobi Quakyi, KwabenaAhoi, Obed Asamoah and others could come cunningly and say anything to Ghanaians and we applauded them as saints. Those days of political propaganda are well gone and thank God those named above have realized that and have kept their mouth shut on national issues albeit for now?

As a coalition of all youth groups with representatives all over the length and breadth of Ghana, we shall conduct our final opinion poll to determine if the NPP is a better alternative to the ever polarizing Mahama government with his many sub-standard Ministers who can only fit to be masters in the Northern enclave of Ghana where SADA lost all the Akofems.?

To the point, at every juncture characterized in this write-up, Ghana has more question marks than answers.

Nana Owusu- Ntim

President

Coalition of Ghanaian Youth.(CoGY)

Headquaters- Adabraka

ghanaianyouth2000@gmail.com