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Opinions of Sunday, 28 December 2008

Columnist: Boateng, Kwaku

Prof. John Evans Atta Mills- The redemption we deserve

Without attempting to make any detailed comparative analysis of the two individuals vying for the highest post of the land, I think PROF JOHN ATTA MILLS is the right man for Ghana now.

All the virtues professed by the NPP for which the good people of Ghana voted for them have turned out to be deceit, double standards and an insult to the intelligence of Ghanaians. The NPP told Ghanaians they are scholars, have their own houses, have their own businesses, have lived abroad and know what national development is about. But what did we observe and experience for the past eight (8) years?

An unending list of Corruption, Arrogance, Deceit, Molestation, Destruction of governance institutions, Destruction of the image of the Police Service, Power obsession, 419 Loan Scams in governmental and executive proportions, Destruction of the Judicial system, Self-centeredness and Cronyism.

The economy

A nation’s growth and development is enhanced through the identification, harnessing and maximization of internal resources. The NPP themselves have alluded to the fact that PROF. JOHN ATTA MILLS was a member of the economic management team of Ghana under Rawlings. At the time that VAT was being introduced, these same NPP people who pride themselves of having lived abroad and therefore should know the value and contribution of VAT to an economy, opposed its implementation. PROF. JOHN ATTA MILLS remained resolute and ensured it was introduced. This is money generated locally and internally to manage one’s economy. What is the result of the VAT initiative by PROF. JOHN ATTA MILLS to Ghana today?

Again, PROF. JOHN ATTA MILLS ensured the introduction of the GETFUND which is also locally generated fund for educational development which is another drive towards self-dependence. Today, the contribution of the GETFUND to Ghana’s development is enormous and it even beats my imagination why this NPP government owes the GETFUND Secretariat millions of Ghana Cedis in arrears.

Today, the NPP is telling Ghanaians PROF. JOHN ATTA MILLS is not his own man and can therefore, not lead Ghana. What an absolute absurdity and nonsense to say the least. Who can Ghanaians trust? A man who initiates programs to generate internal resource for national development or a man who is begging donors for handouts to carry out SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME and turn around to boast about it? The sad case in this situation is that huge part of the donor money is diverted into private pockets while our little children are being fed with unwholesome food. More demeaning was when President Kufour sent our innocent children to Rome, Italy to beg for food.

The NPP Nonsense against Ghanaians

It is now believed that the NPP came to power based on their suspicion that Ghanaians were fools and stupid. The first thing they did was to revoke a responsible wise law that banned imported vehicles over 10 years of age. Although it may be argued that some over aged vehicles can perform well, that law was good in ensuring that descent vehicles were brought into the country. They went further to import left-hand drive over 15 years of age buses to be used for public transport (The Metro Mass Transport). A legislation and law that took effect on 4th August, 1974 regarding left- hand drive was broken with impunity by this so-called NPP “Men and Women” who claim they are more EDUCATED than the rest of us and understand the rule of law. One would ask today where these buses are. Again, majority of these buses and cargo trucks which mostly ply the Accra- Kumasi road often break down causing series of very fatal accidents on our roads.

If these so-called educated “Men” can abuse well intentioned laws with impunity, are we then surprise when other drivers on our roads also take the law into their own hands? Or are we surprise when the Police act in unprofessional manner against all ethics and rule of law? The indiscipline in Ghana and our roads were initiated by the executive in Government.

Here are some of the reasons why we MUST CHANGE this Kangaroo Regime.

• These so-called sages went against all common and logical sense to contract loan at a HAIRDRESSER’S SALON for the people of Ghana, a country known to have produced some of the world’s well educated and knowledgeable people including Mr. KOFI ANNAN. Ghana deserves better than this. • These so-called sages went to another non-existent financial institution the IFC to solicit loan for Ghana despite all the caution from several concerned Ghanaian groups. Ghana deserves better than this. • These so-called sages dehumanized our innocent children by asking them to beg for food but turned around to feed them with expired and fake food under the guise of SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME. This act is cruel and irresponsible. Ghana deserves better than this. • These so-called sages recently lied about VALCO getting strategic Norwegian and Brazilian investors and deceived the august house of parliament to pass the bill against stiff opposition from the minority side. The two supposed investors denied any deal whatsoever with the Government of Ghana. This was the deal both President Kufour and Nana Akufo Addo claimed was a good deal for Ghana. This deal was an atrocity on Ghanaians.Ghana certainly deserves better than this. Observation

NANA AKUFFO ADDO was a key personality in some of these wrong economic decisions taken by this NPP government, and one good reason the NPP has difficulty campaigning against his direct contender, PROF. ATTA MILLS on key economic issues. The easy way out is engaging in fear mongering on how former President, J.J Rawlings will recapture power from Prof. John Atta Mills. Nonsense But the truth about these elections is the needs that confront the Ghanaian people and how they failed in providing answers. Can the NPP for once stop fooling themselves and face the realities confronting Ghanaians and stop the fear mongering?

Reasons Why Prof JOHN ATTA MILLS is a Better Choice

• His ability to innovate and harness local and internal resources for national development. This is the direction Ghana must take in order to drive itself towards self-sufficiency. • His grasp of the economy and can prioritize the expected oil revenues for national development. • Can be trusted to wage the war on drug compared to Nana Akufo Addo who is personally alleged to be part of the drug use. • Nana Akufo Addo as Justice Minister and Attorney General abysmally failed to prosecute drug barons, and armed robbery. Ghana needs someone we can trust to tackle this menace. • His ability and credibility in fighting corruption. • His ability to deliver in these uncertain times of world economic crisis. • His ability to find Ghanaian solutions to Ghanaian problems instead of globe trotting around the world in search of non-existing answers at the great expense of the Ghanaian taxpayer. • His ability to make this nation one again devoid of polarization and tribal or ethnic politics. • His ability to redeem and restore the image of our governance institutions, the Police force and Judiciary. • He is a leader Ghanaians can trust based on his good character having served this nation in several positions of trust without being mentioned in any scandal, corruption, and amassing wealth and involving in drugs.

Fellow Ghanaians, lets make no mistake we cannot correct with four more years of cocaine, arrogance and crime. On December 28, let’s make the right decision of electing Prof John Atta Mills as the next President of this GREAT NATION for our present and future, for us and our children, choosing between better and best, and living peacefully as neighbours. He is a leader that can make Ghana proud again.

Let’s reject this NPP Kangaroo Men that have taken Ghanaians for fools for far too long.

Credit: Kwaku Boateng Email: [email protected]