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Comment: How better is the “Better Ghana Agenda”?

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Fri, 30 Jan 2015 Source: Today Newspaper

We all know that political parties are noted for coining slogans and acronyms that aid them to win elections. This, in fact, is an accepted norm in every democratic society where politicians over the years have used in securing power.

For instance, in 2008, the then candidate of the Democrats in the United States of America (USA,) Barrack Husein Obama’s rise to fame which subsequently earned him the presidency of the USA as the first Black American was his slogan; “I Believe.” Indeed, the world all over, including enemies of America, was enthused by Obama’s slogan and gave him their support one way or the other.

Similarly, in the case of Ghana, during the same period, the then candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC,) the late Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, also campaigned on a slogan; “Better Ghana” which gave him victory over his arch rival of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP,) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

However, unlike Obama, whose slogan has impacted positively on his people, the late Professor Mill’s own, which is still being continued by President John Dramani Mahama is rather worsening the plight of majority of Ghanaians who had confidence in the slogan.

As the NDC slogan goes-“Better Ghana,” it pre-supposes that the government from day one knew she had to improve the living conditions of the citizenry. But the question is: How better is the Better Ghana agenda in the lives of millions of Ghanaians who thought their lives would change with the message of the NDC?

We on Today can say without mincing words that the ruling government for the last six years has failed woefully in ensuring that every Ghanaian lives a better life. This is because in every sector of the economy there has been serious challenges which have consequently compounded the woes of the people.

Sector by sector of the economy, Today can say, has not witnessed any significant improvement. For example, one area where the government has performed abysmally which has had debilitating effects on the economy is the energy sector. Currently, we are grappling as a country on how to get a constant supply of energy for both commercial and domestic use.

This situation has accounted for the increasing number of the unemployed population in the country, as many industries and companies are relocating to other neighbouring countries while those which cannot do same are folding up resulting in unemployment.

It is, therefore, obvious that the slogan of the governing NDC party was just a mere political gimmick as the proponents of the slogan have failed to make it work. We believe it is a deliberate action because the Mahama-led administration has no excuse for not ensuring that the lives of Ghanaians are indeed bettered. And it is in the light of this that we cannot forgive the NDC for plunging the whole country into darkness, a situation we consider as unfortunate and unacceptable!

Columnist: Today Newspaper