“Our opponents in the NDC say we are making a lot of promises. But I know one thing: Akufo-Addo promises today, tomorrow it is NDC policy. So, my promises are never empty promises. Our party (NPP) will continue to bring out ideas for the development and progress of the Ghanaian people. That is why all the best ideas of social development, in the last decade, have all come from the NPP.”
These were the words of the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Yapei Traditional Area, Yapei Wura Soale Alhassan, on Friday, September 2, 2016.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, anytime he makes a policy announcement, it is bastardised by functionaries and apologists of the Mahama government, only for them to turn around a few days after to lay ownership claim to the policy.
This, the NPP flagbearer pointed out, is an indication of the fact that the Mahama government is bereft of ideas, and has no vision of how to develop and move Ghana forward.
Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the National Health Insurance Scheme, the School Feeding Programme, the Free Maternal Care, the Capitation Grant, the National Youth Employment Programme, Metro Mass Transit, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), MASLOC, amongst others, “came from the brains of the NPP.”
It was, therefore, not a surprise to him that the NHIS, under the leadership of President Mahama, has collapsed.
“When the Bill for the passing of the NHIS was laid in Parliament, the NDC MPs, including Bole/Bamboi MP, John Dramani Mahama, walked out. They didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I’m not surprised that it has collapsed under them. The Ghanaian people like the NHIS, it’s a good idea, and, God-willing, when I get the chance I am going to make sure it works for the people of Ghana,” he assured.
Having already announced the ‘1-District-1-Factory’ policy, ‘1-Village-1-Dam’ policy, the diversification of the country’s agriculture, the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, the setting up of an Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), the restoration of teacher and nursing training allowances, amongst others, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that “all these will allow the progress of our people to continue.
“So I am not perturbed when I hear them saying we are making promises. We will make promises that we can deliver on, and that will help the people of Ghana.”
Vote for me
Recounting President Mahama’s recent statement at the palace of the Nayiri, in Nalerigu, that the people of Mamprugu should vote for him, even though he is not their “blood brother”, because “I can do good for you”, Nana Akufo-Addo also called on the people of Yapei to vote for him (Akufo-Addo), because he has the welfare of Gonjas at heart.
“Me, I am not a Gonja, but I am coming to do good for the people of Gonja. I want you to look upon me as your partner, somebody who is committed to people of Yapei Kusawgu, Gonjaland and the people of Ghana”, he said.
In response to the request by the Paramount Chief of Yapei for the provision of potable, drinking water and the construction of a secondary school, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that it is for such reasons why he has announced the setting up of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).
This programme, he explained, will allocate US$275 million per year to tackle issues relating to infrastructural development and poverty eradication in rural and deprived communities across the country. This amount translates into US$1 million per constituency per year, to address the developmental needs of all constituencies across the country.
Nana Akufo-Addo further assured the Yapei Chief that his request for the creation of a district in the Yapei/Kusawgu area will be addressed and responded to when he wins this year’s elections.
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(Nana Kwesi)