'Kum yen Preko’ demo is a scam - Abronye DC fires

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe popularly known as Abronye DC has described the Coalition of Social Justice's (CSJ) "Kum yen Preko" demonstration slated for July 9 as a scam.

According to the NDC's National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi who is an Executive Member of CJS, said the date for the demonstration has moved from July 2 to July 9, 2019, which will start at Obra Sport, Accra.

To Sammy Gyamfi, the march against ‘Hardship and Oppression’ in Ghana under the Akufo-Addo-led administration is a replication of the President’s own demonstration he led in 1995 in Ghana.

“Nana Addo instituted ‘Kum yen Preko’ and we are going to protest the same way under the same oppression and hardships under which he led protesters in 1995 when former President Rawlings wanted to implement the Value Added Tax in Ghana,” he said this to newsmen.

He added that the demonstration was also inspired by the “unfulfilled” promises of President Akufo-Addo which led to his victory.

“We had so much hope in the Akufo-Addo administration to transform Ghana after they made all those campaign promises in 2016 but it seems all these promises have become 419,” he added.

But in a statement issued and signed by Abronye DC, copied to the media, opined that the upcoming 'Kum yen Preko' demonstration is being organized by the NDC, not any real group called Coalition of Social Justice (CSJ) adding that the demonstration is a way to trick Ghanaians.

"NDC's Kum yen Preko demonstration is nothing but a way to scam Ghanaians", he said.

According to him, the NDC has started a house to house campaign to mobilize people for their forthcoming demonstration.

"I will plead with Ghanaians to extensively consider certain things before they step out to join the demonstration", he emphasized.

Abronye DC, therefore, admitted that when NPP was in opposition, they staged a series of demonstrations against the then John Mahama-led Administration but stated that they did those demonstrations on tangible reasons.

"Whilst NPP was in opposition, we organized a series of demonstrations I will describe as helping to lift our democratic status. Most notable among them was “Won Gbo “.The main reasons why the NPP as the main opposition party as at that time organized that demonstration was; To register our displeasure towards the unstable power supply. For the first time in Ghana’s history, citizens were experiencing a load shedding exercise dubbed "dumsor’’, 12 hours of power, 24hours of lights out. This scenario placed great stress on the daily lives of Ghanaians, with a myriad of economic consequences", he wrote.

He explained that "The party led by its leader Nana Akufo-Addo fronted a demonstration which brought together men and women from all walks of life. The protest dubbed ‘’Wongbo’’ was to send a clear message to President Mahama and his cohorts that Ghanaians were suffering".

Abronye DC revealed that former President John Mahama led a "Kwashiorkor" economy.

"Over 30,000 qualified trained teachers were also unemployed. They were all jobless, Failure to employ qualified trained teachers from 2012 up to the time of the demo in 2015, Corruption was at its peak. Eg. SADA, GYEEDA, Bus branding, Opuni Cocobod mismanagement and Woyome Scandal", he opined.

He chided Mr. John Mahama "Fast forward 2019, we have an opposition party who is led by this same Mr. TIO hiding behind a group established by their deputy youth organizer Edem Abgana to organize a demonstration whilst Nana Addo has fixed all the mess they created".

Abronye DC has, however, hailed President Akufo-Addo for chalking more successes than former President John Mahama.

"Under President Nana Akufo-Addo, 54,000 nurses have been employed already, 45,000 teaching and nonteaching staff have also been employed, 22,000 pollinators have been recruited to nationwide to fumigate cocoa farms, Dumsor is now a thing of the historic annals", he said.

He added that "Government has also obtained clearance to employ another 80,000 nurses which include both private and public sector nurses. It is important to note that, under the NDC regime they never employed private nurses not to even talk about public sector nurses during his presidential tenure".

He is, therefore, daring the NDC to and some questions before going ahead to demonstrate;

1. All their communicators are complaining of hardship and hence the reason for the demonstration. My question here is what work or business were they engaged in during president Mahama’s tenure as president that the NPP has collapsed ?

2. If they claim the NDC managed the economy better than the NPP is doing now, why is it that, John Mahama could not pay the contractors, teachers, nurses, NHIS service providers, etc..... it is a fact that the Mahama Ndc administration spent Ghs 87.5 billion in four years whilst in power. What did they use the money for?

3. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish Free SHS?

4. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish NABCO?

5. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will bring back dumsor?

He said, "After you have soberly reflected and answered these question with sincerity, you can go ahead and do your useless demonstration".

He concluded that "Ghanaians are certainly not ready to accommodate The Incompetent One for the second time".

Below is the full statement;

Kwame Baffoe Abronye Writes!

NDC’s KUM YE PREKO DEMONSTRATION IS NOTHING BUT A WAY TO SCAM GHANAIANS

I am very much aware that, the NDC has started a house to house campaign to mobilize people for their forthcoming demonstration dubbed KUM ye PREKO.

I will plead with Ghanaians to extensively consider certain things before they step out to join the demonstration.

Whilst NPP was in opposition, we organized series of demonstrations I will describe as helping to lift our democratic status. Most notable among them was “Won Gbo “. The main reasons why the NPP as the main opposition party as at that time organized that demonstration was;

1.To register our displeasure towards the unstable power supply. For the first time in Ghana’s history, citizens were experiencing a load shedding exercise dubbed ‘’dumsor’’, 12 hours of power, 24hours of lights out. This scenario placed great stress on the daily lives of Ghanaians , with a myriad of economic consequences.

The party led by its leader Nana Akuffo Addo fronted a demonstration which brought together men and women from all walks of life. The protest dubbed ‘’Wongbo’’ was to send a clear message to President Mahama and his cohorts that Ghanaians were suffering.

We in the NPP and Ghanaians realized that the government of John Mahama was not a listening one and the only option we had was to pour into the streets to get the attention of the government to address the issues that bothered Ghanaians.

2. Also, another reason for which the NPP organized the demonstration was that, the economy under John Mahama and the NDC was very feeble and porous and for that matter, Ghana as a sovereign state had no option than to run to IMF for a bailout and this bailout placed an embargo on the public sector. This meant that, the public sector was under a contractual obligation not to recruit Ghanaians into the public sector. The economy under Mahama was suffering from “Kwashiorkor”

Some other reasons which necessitated the NPP demo included among other things;

3. Failure to employ qualified trained teachers from 2012 up to the time of the demo in 2015

4. Over 30,000 qualified trained teachers were also unemployed. They were all jobless

5. Unpaid contractors were suffering and crying

6. Porous health sector. The NDC collapsed the NHIS scheme under their regime which made it difficult for patients to visit the hospital. The entire health sector was in dismay.

7. Bad road networks even though the petroleum reconciliation report records that monies were paid to fix those roads.

8. Corruption was at its peak. Eg. SADA, GYEEDA, Bus branding, Opuni Cocobod mismanagement and Woyome Scandal

9. Lack of Cocoa pollinators for farmers

10. Abolishing of Teacher and Nursing Training allowance

11.Imposition of unnecessary taxes including;

1 percent Special Import Levy;

17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on financial services;

17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines, that are not produced locally;

17.5 percent VAT/NHIL on domestic airline tickets;

5 percent VAT/NHIL on Real Estate sales;

Excise duty on petroleum; – Special petroleum tax rate from 17.5 percent

Base on all these sacred and evidential hardships, we had a president who likes to be called Mr TIO (The Incompetent One) who is also allegedly known as Mrs. Andrew Solomon Dramami the husband of the world gay renowned activist and a staunch financier of the NDC and their flag bearer in particular Andrew Solomon telling Ghanaians that, the country was on track and that, Ghana was a safe haven for that matter, so he refused to listen to anyone.

Fast forward 2019, we have an opposition party who is led by this same Mr. TIO hiding behind a group established by their deputy youth organizer Edem Abgana to organize a demonstration whilst Nana Addo has fixed all the mess they created.

Under President Nana Akuffo Addo,

1. 54,000 nurses have been employed already

2. 45,000 teaching and non teaching staff have also been employed

3. 22,000 pollinators have been recruited to nationwide to fumigate cocoa farms.

4. Government has also obtained clearance to employ another 80,000 nurses which include both private and public sector nurses. It is important to note that, under the NDC regime they never employed private nurses not to even talk about public sector nurses during his presidential tenure.

5. Dumsor is now a thing of the historic annals

6. 65% of contractors have also been paid

7. Forestry commission has also employed over 50, 000 Ghanaian youth

8. Planting for Export and Rural Development is also working and has created massive employment

9. Planting for food and Jobs has also created jobs

10. NABCO has also employed over 100,000 Ghanaian youth

11. Abolishing of all the unnecessary taxes stated above

12. Introduction of Free SHS

13. Corruption is on the check.

14. Rearing for food and jobs which has just kick started and will create massive employment in the coming days.

Now, I want the NDC foot soldiers and the organizers of the Demonstration to answer the questions below with all sincerity, honesty and patriotism before pouring out unto the streets to waste their time to demonstrate.

1. All their communicators are complaining of hardship and hence the reason for the demonstration. My question here is what work or business were they engaged in during president Mahama’s tenure as president that the NPP has collapsed ?

2. If they claim the NDC managed the economy better than the NPP is doing now, why is it that, John Mahama could not pay the contractors, teachers, nurses, NHIS service providers, etc..... it is a fact that the Mahama Ndc administration spent Ghs 87.5 billion in four years whilst in power. What did they use the money for?

3. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish Free SHS?

4. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate against NPP and Nana Addo so that when Mahama assumes power he will abolish teacher and nursing training allowance?

5. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will put an embargo on public sector?

6. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish Planting for Food and Jobs?

7. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish NABCO?

8. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will stop paying NHIS service providers and further collapse the scheme?

9. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will stop employing nurses and teachers?

10. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will re introduce 17.5% VAT /NHIL on domestic airline ticket and on financial services?

11. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will re introduce 5% VAT /NHIL on real estate?

12. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will bring back dumsor?

13. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will abolish Planting For Export and Rural Development which has invariably created employment?

14. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will willfully give tax payers money to Woyome and other NDC faithfuls like Seidu Agongo for no work done?

15. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will conspire with Lordina to milk COCOBOD and amass wealth for themselves?

16. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will conspire with his CEO’s to milk SSNIT by way of purchasing software for a cost of $87 million of which that matter is now pending in court?

17. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will lavishly spend our tax money at the next World Cup and allow his sports minister purchase one coconut for 150 dollars?

18. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will use the sweat of tax payers money to brand buses at an unimaginable inflated cost?

19. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power, he will use our monies to fund Mohammed Atiku of Nigeria in his next election and buy Range Rover and a Mercedes Benz for his 18 year old son the next time he celebrates his birthday?

20. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will come and superintend and supervise corruption ?

21. Should Ghanaians demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power, he will lease 58% of the Nyinahini Bauxite concession to his brother?

22. Should Ghanaians come out to demonstrate for Mahama so that when he assumes power he will increase electricity tariffs?

After you have soberly reflected and answered these question with sincerity, you can go ahead and do your useless demonstration.

Ghanaians are certainly not ready to accommodate The Incompetent One for the second time.

#GhanaIsWorkingAgain

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