Abu Sakara: Ghana Has Lost National Pride

The Convention People's Party Tuesday became the first political party to launch its manifesto for the 2012 general elections, with a focus on social transformation, a sustainable economy and social justice.

The 20-page manifesto dubbed “CPP’s S-cube Programme to Get Ghana Working Again” seeks to ensure a coherent approach to the management of the socio-economic policies of Ghana.

The launch also coincided with the 63rd anniversary of CPP which drew hundreds of party supporters and sympathisers clad in party paraphernalia to the venue, where more than 500 market women at Agbogbloshie were offered free health screening and medication as part of the party’s community health treatment programme.

Addressing the gathering, Abu Sakara Foster, the party’s Presidential Candidate, promised to restore what he described as the country’s lost national pride “which has made Ghana to lose its international reputation as beacon of hope on the African continent.”

He explained that the manifesto had been designed to address the monetary and fiscal policies, managing an oil and gas economy, industrial policy, agriculture and rural transformation and infrastructure development.

According to him, Ghana’s economy since 1966 had suffered from bad policy decisions emanating from what he said was ineffective leadership.

“We will pursue food security by investing in a modern food production method. We will encourage thorough incentive systems, private investment in manufacturing aimed at replacing imports wherever and providing job opportunities,’’ Dr Abu Sakara assured.

According to him, a CPP government would work with and re-orient the Bank of Ghana to ensure that employment creation remains a key monetary policy objective.

“A CPP government will ensure that banks bring down interest rates to realistic levels. We shall not determine interest rates for the banks but shall take actions, including legislation, to ensure that interest rates are reasonable,” he stressed.

Outlining some key areas in the manifesto, Dr Kweku Osafo, the campaign committee chairman, said the manifesto centres on policies aimed at developing the economy, particularly raising the standard of living of the citizenry.

With its sustainable economic policy, the manifesto depicts that the current economic structure has failed to focus on the future needs of Ghana. According to the CPP manifesto, the country is not earning enough foreign exchange from its major exports to meet the extravagant import habit.

“CPP believes the role to dignity and respect for Ghanaians and the eventual emancipation of people of African descent begins with self determination. We believe we must practise self reliance and pursue self sufficiency if we are to attain both economic and political freedom,” the document states.

Under its social justice policy, the party is of the firm belief that the availability of food at affordable prices, access to good health, provision of affordable housing are basic rights that every Ghanaian deserves.

“We regard quality education as a means of creating equal opportunity for all and we shall use it as an instrument to make our country an equal competitor with the rest of the world,” it states.

Samia Nkrumah, CPP Chairperson, called on Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to have confidence in the leadership of the party, giving the assurance that the CPP would restore hope and vision to the people.

“Enough is enough, we cannot continue to sit down and watch the country’s economy suffer at the hands of our leaders whose only aim is to fill their own pockets,’’ she said.

Ms Nkrumah said the leadership of the CPP would not fail the country if given the mandate to rule, stressing: “CPP will take the responsibility to ensure that the standard of living of Ghanaians is improved.”