Akufo-Addo not fighting corruption as promised — Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has rounded up his five-day tour of the Western Region with the observation that it is appalling that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not matching his promise with delivery on the issue of corruption.
President Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) made the fight against corruption a major issue of their campaign ahead of the 2016 general elections.
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But many people have expressed dissatisfaction over the President’s handling of allegations of corruption against his ministers and other appointees.
At variance
Addressing delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Axim in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency on Tuesday, Mr Mahama said the President had consistently cleared his appointees of corruption allegations, pointing out that it was at variance with his promises in opposition.
Speaking on issues affecting fishermen, Mr Mahama said the rising cost of pre-mix fuel and the astronomical prices of outboard motors were taking a toll on the sector.
He, therefore, called on all members of the NDC to unite and work hard for the victory in 2020 in order to address the challenges.
Mr Mahama also promised to work hard to provide jobs and reduce the high cost of living when elected in the next presidential election.
Earlier, when the former president addressed delegates at Asankragwa, he said it was untrue that the government inherited empty coffers from his administration.
NPP inherited much money
Discounting claims by some government officials and apologists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that they inherited nothing from the national kitty, Mr Mahama said that claim was false and must be corrected.
Mr Mahama touched on money inherited from various sources by the NPP administration when they took over the reigns of government on January 7, 2017.
He explained that his administration left behind 200 million US Dollars in the Ghana Infrastructure Development Fund, GH¢700 million in the Road Fund and money from cocoa syndication, among others.
He said the loans taken by the NDC administration were invested in roads, water, education, hospitals and electricity, adding that there was nothing to show for all the money that the NPP had borrowed.
Mr Mahama was also unhappy that the government was selling fertiliser marked “not for sale” to cocoa farmers, even though his government distributed them for free to the farmers.