Former President John Mahama has described the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a government that is "intolerant to criticisms" and only implements "adhoc solutions" to challenges confronting the country.
Addressing supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Ramsey Park at Bolgatanga on Saturday after the ninth edition of the Unity Walk, the former President wondered why anytime the NPP government was criticised about its approach to addressing certain issues in the country they get so "worked up".
Galamsey
Making references to the galamsey issue, Mr Mahama expressed regret that some personalities in the current government allegedly used all kinds of unprintable words on him [Mahama] when he tried to offer some suggestions as to how best the NPP could go about the galamsey issue without creating unnecessary hardship for the youth engaged in the business.
He reiterated that the NPP government should have been working hard at providing alternative means of livelihood for the affected people who were mainly the youth.
"The simple point I made was that we as the NDC have tried that approach of using soldiers to stop the illegal mining issue but it did not work and so we realized that the best way to stop them from illegal mining was to be working on providing them with alternatives" Mr Mahama pointed out.
According to him, if there is any President who has been heavily criticised then it is him [Mahama] but "as a good leader you must be calm and be focused in the face of criticisms."
Failed promises
The former President also took a swipe at the NPP government for "using statutory funds" meant for the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to finance some of its flagship programmes to the detriment of the NHIS and the GETFUND.
Mr Mahama explained that because of those bad decisions by the NPP, the NHIS is suffering as the current government is not able to pay claims under that intervention while funds for delivering projects under the GETFUND has also reduced and stalled GETFUND projects.
He further observed that the NPP government was still struggling to fulfill its promises like the ‘one million dollar-one constituency’, ‘one-village-one-dam’, ‘one-district-one-factory’ and other policies.
Mr Mahama noted that all the programmes the NPP has spelt out do not have policy guidelines which was a recipe for the unsustainability of the programmes.
"It is as if the NPP is running a government as you go because for every programme that they roll out there is no policy nor guidelines; at least take it easy and fulfill your promises sustainably," he stressed.
The former President also stated that if the current government would not continue the various projects started under the Mahama regime, the NPP should at least for the sake of the people of the Upper East Region consider completing the Bolgatanga-Bawku road project.
He said he was highly elated about the fortitude, enthusiasm and resilience displayed by the supporters of the party in the region and expressed the hope that in 2020, such attitude would be translated into votes to bring the NDC back to power.
Unity walk
The walk attracted hundreds of supporters of the NDC. In attendance were former ministers of state, former and current parliamentarians, former DCEs.
Notable among them were Mark Woyongo, Albert Abongo, Professor Avea Nsoh, James Tiigah, Cletus Avoka, Daniel Syme, Isaac Adongo and Dr Dominic Ayine.
Source: Graphic.com
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MAHAMA ANYTIME I HEAR U SPEAK I FEEL TO EASE MYSELF U HAD THE WHOLE 8YRS WHAT TANGIBLE THING DID U DO? IF GHANAIAN'S WILL FORGET SO SOON AND GIVE YOU THAT MANDATE AGAIN THEN GHANAIAN'S HAVE SHORT MEMORY. INCOMPETENT MAHAMA GONE FOR GOOD. U WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT AGAIN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
Suddenly Mahama has solution to all problems in Ghana but when given 8 whole years he was busy rebranding buses and taking Ford Expeditions. Even common Guinea fowls could not stay in Ghana under his watch. For NPP, Mahama on NDC 2020 ticket would be an easy ride for any NPP candidate... What would Mahama campaign on??? I guess Circle Dubai...
Mahama for what and where and how? Dream on, ndc because dreams don't cost. Dreams are free either day time or night.
Handsome and Sensible man. Tell them. NANA Addo is short of ideas. Failed Promises and UN-AWARE govt. Fulfill your promises ooo, NPP and stop reacting to everything NDC says. They give you free advice yet you react with insults. 2020 will come. We are watching closely. When you LIE to get Voted that is what happens. Lack of concrete ideas will show up and you will be found wanting.
Wow ! you talk about policy guide lines? For 8 years in office as vice president and president, Does the NDC GOVERNMENT EVER HAD A POLICY GUIDE LINES IN ANY OF ITS DEALINGS? And did you say Intolerant of the government? This loquacious man would not stop amazing me.. When YOU UNLISHED your notorious hatchet men in the persons of Okudzeto Ablakwa, Omane Boama, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Agyenim Boateng, Mr setting the record straight press conference man, Fiafitor Fiifi Kuetteh, Korku the ***barred word*** Anyidoho and the we smoking Kwabena bObie Ansah and the Montie 3 colleagues, were you tolerant of criticism? And who said you are the MOST INSULTED, criticized and VILIFIED in the Ghanaian Politics of the last 2 decades ..... You were ONLY an INCOMPETENT LEADER OF NDC'S last 8 years in Government. But the most degraded, Insulted, Criticised and Vilified is no doubt the current president who withstood and survived all the slanderous and visciously orchestrated propaganda never witnessed in Africa. HE SURVIVED B'COS THE BATTLE CRY WAS APT AND RESONATED WITH TOLLERANCE -'The Battle Is The Lords' when you were arrogantly doing Hussein Bolt at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium and failed to listen to the words of wisdom and warning from Papa J. SHAMEFUL DUDE
Say again, HIS EXCELLENCE JOHN MAHAMA. Tell this pay as you go Govt the truth. The truth is only ONE. NPP is CLUELlESS.
GHANAIANS have given you red card due to your corrupt nature and bad GOVERNANCE, steaalling from the state, paying double salary to your ministers. Inflating government contracts, taking bribes from contractors. How much debt did your administration left in health insurance scheme?You should be ashamed of yourself. Investing in Dubai whilst your people from the north share same water with animals. Shamelessss man
Mahama do you know the mean of intolerance? Where you not the one who said people couldn’t criticize you because they’ve never been presidents before? Mahama talking about policies? Gracious God or he thinks contents of green book were policies? What can you be remembered for apart from create, loot and share. Stealers
I don't think he understood what he was on abt, or.......nsɛmfooo a'hye papa.
With all due to respect to His excellency the former president, what vision and guidelines you had for Ghana. Your vision was to rape the country of it resources, create, loot and share with your cronies. You have nothing better to offer this country apart from stealing our monies. You have failed as a youthful president and Ghanaian's have rejected so as God. Go find something to do with your life and allow people with vision to govern. You dont deserve to lead this nation again!!!