lecturer with the KNUST support a call for an Arab spring

A political science lecturer with the Kwame Nkrumah University Of science

and Technology has supported a call for an Arab spring to register

displeasure at current economic hardship been experience in the country. With

a greater mandate as Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic

Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako has sworn he will never rest until the

governing National Democratic Congress loses power. The 36-year old

businessman elected last January, is promising to replicate in the Ashanti

Region, a regime-changing uprising in Tunsia popularly known as Arab

Springs.

Speaking at a rally in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako popularly

called Chairman Wontumi, said people in the Region are disgusted with

the capitation policy of the National Health Insurance Scheme piloted in

the region.

Under capitation, a pre-determined ration of health service will be

allocated to each Ghanaian to be used within a certain period. The amount

paid to the health service provider is irrespective of whether a person

would seek care or not during the designated period. The policy, government

says, is an attempt to cut spiraling cost of healthcare. The opposition,

however have nailed the scheme's problem as down to corruption and

mismanagment of a once healthy scheme into a a crisis-ridden one facing

imminent collapse.

"If [President] Mahama knows what is better for him, he will abandon this

capitation [policy]", Chairman Wontumi said.

In opposition to this policy, he told the crowd, "in a month's time, I

chairman Wontumi will call on one million to two million people in the

Ashanti Region to join a big demonstration for about a month".

He pleaded with chiefs in the region to ignore the President because he has

nothing good to offer the region. He alleged the President's brother,

Ibrahim jets off to South Africa every week fueled with tax payer's money.

"

"What the Tunisians did, We are going to do here in Ashanti Region; May

Chairman Wontumi never rest until the NDC is overthrown" he swore.

Commenting on the issue, Dr. Richard Amoako Baah said is legal to organize

an Arab spring; he said the current economic hardship gives support to such

move if the organizers see the move as the only means to resolve the

economic problem bedeviled the country.

"Is possibly to do it if he want to do, am sure, because as things get hard

people are more likely to respond to it. But the government is not in

Kumasi. If he able to pull it down and the government is made aware that

the public will not tolerate incompetent. It is possibly, there is nothing

illegal about that. I don't think is going to change much. Five years ago

did we know something called Arab spring? is possible. We don't know any

solution to our problem. I don't think it will change more but if he able

to do it, will make the government sit"