General incompetence cause of Ghana's economic woes - Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama says Ghanaians are suffering economic hardships because of what he describes as "general incompetence and corruption" in the Akufo-Addo-led government.
For him, the incumbent President Akufo-Addo and his government has failed to demonstrate competence in the delivery of his promises to the Ghanaian electorate.
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He said whereas President Akufo-Addo promised to turn the country’s economy into that of a prosperous nations, he has rather worsened the economic situation in the country due to the general incompetence in his government.
Former President Mahama made the remarks when he launched the TEIN app at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Monday afternoon, March 21, 2022.
He is of the view that general incompetence, corruption and mismanagement have combined to make life unbearable for Ghanaians, particularly the youth under the Akufo-Addo-led government.
For him, no group is harder hit by the general hardship in the country than the young people, adding that “the issues that affect the youth of Ghana who dominate our population are many.”
Mr Mahama added that the youth have been worse off than any other demographic group in the country under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.
He said right from Senior High School to the tertiary level, students are all suffering the economic and social distress created by the bad leadership of President Akufo-Addo.
The former President said non-release of funds, poor management of curricular, erratic school calendars, and poor relationship with teachers and lecturers among others, has created turbulent conditions that are far from what is needed to ensure quality educational outcomes in the country.
Mr Mahama said the country is experiencing its worse form of unemployment under the watch of President Akufo-Addo with no hope to address the situation.
He described the government’s efforts to address the rising unemployment situation in the country as short-sighted, populist and poorly conceived ideas that have done more harm than good.
He expressed the worry that government has not been able to pay the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) and National Service Personnel for several months.
The former President also expressed the concern that many government institutions have been politicised, with many of them now virtually serving as a wing for the incumbent government.
He said “the failure of this government has been spectacular in all fronts”, adding that NDC as a party would use all constitutional instruments to make the Akufo-Addo-led government accountable to Ghanaians.
Mr Mahama was of the view that the Akufo-Addo-led government came to power on the “back of mouthwatering promises to make life easier for Ghanaians and ensure rapid development of our country”, but has badly mismanaged the economy than any President under the country’s Fourth Republic.
“Indeed we all recollect some of those mouthwatering promises including one by the current President to transform this country Ghana within 18 months,” he noted, adding that hardship created by the bad governance of the Akufo-Addo-led government has never been witnessed in the country before in the past 30 years.
Commendation
He commended the youth wing of the NDC for the initiative, urging them to continue to work for the return of the party to power.
He further urged the party’s youth to make the NDC the party of choice for the young people in the country, adding that TEIN has produced many young and talented politicians for the party and the country as a whole.
Mr Mahama said the App will ensure seamless communication among all TEIN chapters across the country, adding that the App will also help to mobilise volunteers for the party.
He noted that the App would particularly help the party to select members to serve as polling agents in their respective polling stations and also in the performance of some special party duties.
He has therefore called on TEIN members to mobilise more young people for the party, particularly those in the informal sector, saying that everyone counts in the NDC.
Better managers
The 2020 running mate of former President Mahama, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, for her part, said Mr Mahama would better manage the country than the current government since “he (Mr Mahama) understands power” and how to use it to transform the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people.
She said “he uses his power to encourage and not to intimidate”, adding that Mr Mahama understands that the essence of power is to create peace and not insecurity.
For her, the NDC as a party cares about the youth and that the party will continue to invest in the youth to help build the country.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also encouraged the leadership of TEIN to reach out to more women in their mobilisation drive, as women play key roles in all institutions.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo also commended the leadership of TEIN for developing the app.
He said the party’s leadership would take keen interest in activities on the app, urging the developers to upload all the party’s documents there to help TEIN members and all users of the app to better understand the party and its principles.
He, however, admonished TEIN members to combine social media activities on the app with the grounds work in order to optimise the party’s efforts in winning power in the 2024 general elections.