SPEAKING POINTS ON NPP CONGRESS 1. The outcome of the NPP congress further demonstrated the confusion and disorganization that has beset the party. The results add up to 100.01% which is a mathematical impossibility. The breakdown is as follows; NAME OF CANDIDATE TOTAL VOTES OBTAINED PERCENTAGE AKUFO ADDO 117,413 94.35% ALAN KYEREMATENG 5,908 4.75% ADDAI NIMO 1,198 0.91% TOTAL 134,519 100.01% This raises serious questions about the credibility of the elections and whether the winner of such a contest can be said to be legitimately elected. 2. Nana Addo’s victory does not come as a surprise. The very idea that Nana Akufo Addo financed delegates to the tune of GHC600, 000 was always going to tilt the scales in his favour. The outcome of the election was effectively bought by Nana Addo. This singular act belies claims that he is incorruptible. It also exposes his claims about the need for clean elections as hollow 3. There was once again open and brazen violation of party guidelines and rules governing the election. It was made clear that no candidate could campaign two days to the election. Akufo Addo however in clear violation of this provision, gave out letters to delegates containing campaign messages and GHC10 on Election Day. How can a man who does not respect his party’s rules be trusted to respect the constitution if elected President? 4. The margin of victory is not unprecedented and still falls short of the 97.4% and 99.5% obtained by Presidents Mills and Mahama respectively at their respective congresses. 5. The whole contest has been marred by months of bickering, intense animosity, violent confrontations (fight at NPP headquarters) and total breakdown of discipline, comical organization, and intimidation. A party that exhibits these traits has not got what it takes to effectively govern a country. During the period, the Chairman of the NPP also revealed corruption in the party when he said certain individuals in the NPP had clandestinely open forex accounts and operating it on the blind side of the National executive. Minority leader Kyei Mensa Bonsu also revealed corruption, inflation of prices and wasteful expenditure in the handling of party finances (US$1.5 million on vuvuzelas, US$90,000 on hotel accommodation etc.).Can a party in this sort of chaos be trusted to govern properly? 6. In his victory speech, Akufo Addo, called on his party members to unite to “kick out the incompetent Mahama Administration”. Given his disastrous record of public service both as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice as well as Foreign Minister, he would be committing political suicide if he speaks about incompetence. Below is just one example of the record of performance of President Mahama in the Water sector 1. KPONG WATER SUPPLY EXPANSION PROJECT The Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project is being carried out at an estimated cost of US$273 million with funding from the Government of Ghana and China Exim Bank. The project is envisaged to increase water supply to GAMA by 40 MGD. Water will be supplied from Kpong through Dodowa to the existing Terminal Reservoir at Okponglo and newly constructed ones at Madina and Boi. This is to improve water supply to areas including Adenta, Madina, Kwabenya, Ashongman, North, East and West Legon, Ashaley Botwe, Haatso, Boi, Asofaa, Dome and many others. The project which is 94% complete is ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of December, 2014 instead of the contractual completion date of June, 2015. 2. KPONG INTAKE REHABILITATION PROJECT The Kpong Intake expansion project carried out to improve efficiency by replacing all the existing pumps is complete. As part of the project, a 3.3 MGD treatment plant was built to increase water supply to Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA Rural). Communities to benefit from the project include; Dodowa, Ningo, Prampram and the Akuapem Ridge. The project which is at the cost of €16.5 million commenced production of water in July this year. 3. ACCRA - TEMA METROPOLITAN AREA (ATMA RURAL) WATER SUPPLY PROJECT The major components of this project are: • A new water treatment plant to produce an additional 9 MGD • 4 new reservoirs at Adukrom, Dodowa, Atimpoku and Akorley. • 92km of transmission pipelines. This will improve water supply to the following areas: Michel Camp, Afienya, Kpone, Prampram, Old Ningo, New Ningo, Ayitepa, Kponguno, Omankope, Kodiabe, Doyumu, Agomeda, Adumanya, Menyum, Dodowa, Odese, Nganompian, Bawalashie, Oyibi, Amanfro, Latehman, Ashiyie, Fafraha, Abominya, Amanfro, Ayikuma, Abokobi, Pantang and Ayi Mensah (all in the Greater Accra Region) and Akorley, Abonse, Aperede, Adukrom, Awukugua, Dawu, Abiriw, Akropong, Mamfe, Amanokrom, Tutu, Obosomase, Ahwerase, Aburi, Gyankama, Peduase, Kitase, Berekuso, Frankadua, Apeguso, Aboasa, Kwanyako, Juapong, Ogoli, Akwamufie, Mangoasi, Atimpoku, New Senchi, Akrade, Senchi, Domeabra, Lolonyo, Agomanya, Manya Kpowonu, Odumasi, Menekpo, Sra, Sawe and Ogome (in the Eastern Region). The project which costs €56.5 million is 98% complete and will serve 250,000 inhabitants. 4. TESHIE-NUNGUA DESALINATION WATER PROJECT The Teshie-Nungua Desalination Water Project is a 13 MGD treatment plant planned to serve about 500,000 people in the project area. It is being implemented through a Build, Operate, Own and Transfer (BOOT) mechanism. The project involves the desalination of sea water and aims at improving water delivery to the following areas; Teshie, Nungua, the Teshie Military barracks, Batsoona, Sakumono and parts of La-Dadekotopon. The project is 92% complete and is expected to be completed in November, 2014. These four projects will meet all the water demand for the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area and leave an excess supply of about 8 million Gallons of water per day. Together with the over 30 different projects in the water sector at a cost of about US$ 900million, about 85% of Ghanaians will access to potable water by 2016 as compared to just about 52% in 2008.In actual figures, nearly 5 million more Ghanaians will have access to potable water in this period. 6. Now what is Akufo Addo’s public service record? i. The President vs Tsatsu Tsikata As Attorney General, Akufo Addo went to court in the Tsatsu Tsikata case with a charge sheet that read “The President vs Tsatsu Tsikata”. This singular blunder resulted in an embarrassing loss for the Kufour Administration compelling President Kufour to pack the Supreme Court just to procure judgment against Tsatsu Tsikata. ii. Three Dzorwulu Women case. In 2002, three top women activists of the NPP were arrested at the Kotoka International Airport for trafficking heroin. As Attorney-General Akufo Addo had the responsibility to ensure speedy prosecution of these women. He failed to do so. We were later to be told in 2008 that the docket on that case had vanished into thin air under the watch of Akufo Addo. Surely this dereliction of duty is hardly evidence of competence. iii. Killing of 44 Ghanaians in Gambia When 44 Ghanaians were slaughtered in Gambia, Akufo Addo, then Foreign Minister who had responsibility for ensuring that justice was done in that matter failed to act to ensure that justice was done in the matter .In spite of constant pressure from President John Mahama who was then MP for Bole and Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Civil Society Activists like Nana Oye Lithur, Akufo Addo failed to resolve that matter. It took foreign Ministers under President Mills to finally resolve that matter. iv. Foreign Affairs Land. As Foreign Minister, Akufo Addo sat aloof and watched on as the international students hostel land which was the property of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was carved out and shared amongst NPP Ministers, Party functionaries including his brother-in-law at ridiculous prices. Under the NDC administration, these lands were reclaimed and today has been used for the construction of an ultra-modern Office for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after fire gutted their old building. These just four examples of the staggering incompetence Akufo Addo showed in the period when he was in government. A man with such a lamentable record cannot be trusted to handle the affairs of the Nation. President Mahama stands head and shoulders above him when it comes to performance as can be seen from the water example. President Mahama’s solid track record of performance is eventually what will ensure his reelection in 2016 and this time the victory will be so comprehensive that there will be no wasting of time at the Supreme Court.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 09:06:37 +0000
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