NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY MOURNS THE DEATH OF HER EXCELLENCY MRS. THERESA KUFUOR; DIRECTS PARTY FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-MAST

NPP — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:24:00 +0000

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) deeply mourns the passing of Her Excellency Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, the beloved wife of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former First Lady of the Republic which sad event occurred on October 1, 2023.

Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, who served as Ghana’s First Lady from January 7, 2001, to January 6, 2009, dedicated her life to supporting her husband throughout his political career and to the service of humanity.

Inspired by her profession as a nurse, Mrs. Kufour championed the cause of improved healthcare in our country. Notably, she established the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF) which supports the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of diseases, including HIV/ AIDS.

Mrs. Kufuor was also a beacon for female advancement, fostering initiatives to inspire and empower both young and adult females in various facets of life.

The members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, together with all Ghanaians whose lives were positively touched by her, extend our deepest condolences to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, their children, and the entire family. We stand united with you in this time of sorrow, praying that the Almighty God grants all of us the fortitude to bear this great loss.

In tribute to the memory of the late Mrs. Kufuor, the NPP directs that all Party flags across the country be flown at half-mast for the next seven days. May her gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace until we meet again on the resurrection morning.

“Damirifa Due!”

Signed

Justin Kodua Frimpong
(General Secretary)

NPP-MOURNS-MRS-THERESA-KUFUOR Download

THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY INAUGURATES VETTING COMMITTEE FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

NPP — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:44:18 +0000

In accordance with Article 10(3)(F)(ii) of the New Patriotic Party’s Constitution, the National Steering Committee, acting for and on behalf of the National Council, at its emergency meeting held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and upon further stakeholder consultations, constituted a Vetting Committee for the Party’s forthcoming Presidential Primary Election, and appointed Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye Chairman of the said Committee.

Consequent to the above development, Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the Party, on Friday, June 30, 2023, inaugurated the Vetting Committee at the Party’s Headquarters. He reiterated the need to uphold the Party’s Constitution in managing all its affairs and urged the Committee members to ensure a free, fair, and transparent vetting process.

The Members of the Vetting Committee are as follows:

Rt. Rev. Hon. Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye Member & Chairman
Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta Member
Mr. Stephen Abankwa Sekyere Member
Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah Member
Lord Oblitey Commey Member
Lawyer Frank Davies Member
Mad. Rita Talata Asobayire Member
Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman Member
Mad. Adelaide Ahwireng Member

Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, the Member of Parliament for the Akwapem South Constituency and a member of the Vetting Committee, has been appointed the Spokesperson for the Committee.

Signed

Justin Kodua Frimpong
General Secretary

THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONGRATULATES JAMES GYAKYE QUAYSON, MP-ELECT FOR ASSIN NORTH CONSTITUENCY AND EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION TO ALL PARTY FAITHFULS

NPP — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 06:17:00 +0000

Press ReleaseFor Immediate Release*June 28, 2023

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) expresses its profound gratitude to all who contributed to the Party’s preparations for the Assin North by-election held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The leadership of the Party would like to express its deepest appreciation to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic; H. E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President; Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff; Regional Chairmen of the Party; Presidential Aspirants; and the stalwart Campaign Team for their unwavering dedication, commitment, and overwhelming support.

We are equally grateful to all Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chief Executive Officers, Deputy Chief Executive Officers, MMDCES, other government appointees, and all Party adherents for their diverse contributions towards our efforts. While we had diligently worked towards reclaiming the Assin North parliamentary seat, we respect the decision and judgment of the people of the Assin North Constituency. The NDC’S victory in the by-election adds to Ghana’s democratic credentials. Indeed, the recent two by-elections have demonstrated the strength of the country’s democracy, with outcomes favouring different political parties.

This is a testament to Ghana’s much touted accolade as a bastion of peace and stable democracy on the African continent.The Party extends its warmest congratulations to the National Democratic Congress and the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North Constituency on their electoral victory.In spite of the conduct of some personnel of the Ghana Police Service that were deployed to man the elections, we commend the security services for their joint efforts during and after the elections. We further commend the Electoral Commission for ensuring a successful election.

Finally, we express our gratitude to the hundreds of journalists who worked tirelessly and responsibly to provide up-to-date feedback from the Assin North poll for the benefit of all Ghanaians.The New Patriotic Party reiterates its unwavering commitment to collaborating with other political parties, key electoral stakeholders, and the people of Ghana to further enhance the practice of democracy in the country.The Party views the outcome of the by-election as a wake-up call, prompting us to evaluate our approach, make rational retrospective assessments, and conduct thorough analysis.

We urge our dedicated party supporters to submit their comments and recommendations to the national secretariat of the party for consideration and possible implementation.

Signed

Justin Kodua Frimpong

General Secretary

Rendezvous with National & Regional Council of Elders.

NPP — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:30:46 +0000

Yesterday in the morning, I had the privilege of engaging with the esteemed National and regional council of elders, as well as some national executives of our Party. During this interaction, I seized the opportunity to express my admiration for their exemplary leadership and also emphasized the importance of impartiality across all levels of the Party’s organizational framework in the forthcoming presidential primaries. Furthermore, I restated my unwavering dedication to ensuring a process that is characterized by fairness, transparency, and serenity.Justin Kodua Frimpong (G.S)

Revised Timelines For Presidential and Orphan Constituencies Primaries

NPP — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:52:57 +0000

The New Patriotic Party has revised the timelines for the primaries for Presidential and orphan constituencies. You can download a pdf below.

REVISED-TIMELINES-PR-1 Download

HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG DONATES PICK-UP VEHICLE TO THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY

NPP — Fri, 12 May 2023 16:56:56 +0000

Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, donated a Nissan Navara Pick-up vehicle to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Hon. Agyapong is a known financier of the NPP who has been supporting the Party in diverse ways over the years.

He has also been in the headlines for numerous philanthropic projects and assistance to communities and individuals in and out of his constituency and across the political divide. Addressing the representatives of the Party, who hosted him at its headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra, Hon. Ken, the vociferous politician, noted that the Pick-up vehicle was his contribution to the Party’s efforts at winning the Kumawu parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election scheduled for May 23, 2023. He asserted that, but for the short notice, he would have provided other forms of support. He pledged his immense contributions to the Party later in its preparations for the 2024 general elections. Mr. William Yamoah, Director for Finance and Administration, who spoke on behalf of the leadership of the Party, conveyed the Party’s appreciation to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong for his kind gesture. He assured that the vehicle would complement the determination of the Party to secure a landslide victory in the Kumawu by-elections. The NPP’s flagbearer hopeful was received by Mr. Fred Danquah Smith Buttey, National First Vice Chairman of the Party; Mr. William Yamoah, Director for Finance and Administration; Mr Eric Ntori, Director for Information Technology; and Mr. Stephen Forson, Deputy Director for Information Technology.

NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONGRATULATES MUSLIMS ON THE SUCCESFFUL COMPLETION OF RAMADAN AND WISHES THEM EID MUBARAK

NPP — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 10:14:22 +0000

For Immediate Release

April 22, 2023

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) congratulates all Muslims in Ghana and across the globe on the successful completion of one month of Fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan, which occasion is climaxed with the observance of Eid-Ul-Fitr, scheduled for today, April 22, 2023.

Without a doubt, one month of Fasting and supplication to Almighty Allah, characterized by the culture of alms-giving, acceleration of all forms of good deeds and the observance of special congregational prayers such as iftar, tarawih and tahajjud prayers among others, constitute a great sacrifice that is worth celebrating.

We rejoice in the abundant blessings and mercies bestowed on our country and people in this Holy Month. We are also reminded to continue to emphasize the things that bind us together as a proud nation. We hope that all Muslims would use the occasion to straighten the path of love for all in the remaining months of the year and beyond.

We take this opportunity to remind Ghanaians of all faith that we owe it to ourselves and our dear nation to be guided at all times, by the spirit of service, oneness, selflessness and sacrifice in our pursuit for growth and development.

Finally, the Party calls on Muslims living in Ghana to use this occasion of Eid to pray for our Leaders, Government and the Nation, to overcome all the ills plaguing our society including our current socioeconomic challenges in order to put the country on the path of sustained growth and prosperity.

Once again, EID MUBARAK to our Muslim constituents here in Ghana and across the globe. May Almighty ALLAH bring you joy, happiness, great fortunes and prosperity on this blessed occasion.

Barka Da Sallah

…Signed…

JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY

THE NPP PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. DR. ANTHONY OSEI AKOTO.

NPP — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:44:56 +0000

Yesterday, the New Patriotic Party paid its last respect to the late Honourable Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei (Former Minister of State and MP for Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region) and mourned with the bereaved family as he was laid to rest.

A delegation from the Party’s head office were Dr. Charles Dwamena, National Treasurer, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary, Mr. William Yamoah, Director of Finance and Administration, and Jennifer Oforiwaa Queen, Deputy Communications Director.

Also, In attendance was the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, First Lady, Rebecca Akufo Addo, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament.

May his soul rest in the bossom of the Almighty.

NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY REACTS TO NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS’ ILL-FOUNDED ATTACK ON BRYAN ACHEAMPONG

NPP — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:41:15 +0000

For Immediate Release

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sighted a flippant statement signed by the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on comments made by Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for the Abetifi Constituency and Minister for Food and Agriculture while addressing some party supporters in the Eastern Region which the NDC describes as treasonable.

The NPP finds the NDC’s statement not only ill- founded, hypocritical, illogical, and baseless, but also one that lacks contextual substance for the consumption of the discerning Ghanaians who are not oblivious to the modus operandi of the main opposition party in deliberately putting diabolic and mischievous slant to an otherwise innocuous comments of the Member of Parliament in furtherance of their selfish political interest.

Since the NDC pretends not to appreciate and logically decode Bryan’s message, we would once again educate them, just as we have done on many occasions. For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Bryan Acheampong, was responding to the NDC’s perpetual flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, who had on many occasions described the 2024 general elections as one of “do or die” for the NDC. It is, in fact, a no secret that the NDC has always resorted to violence and intimidation against their opponents during the conduct of general elections, and this was summed up by their 2024 presumptive presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama. He has stated emphatically that:

“NDC has revolutionary root, and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us [NDC] in unleashing violence”.

Other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the national chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments. Indeed, following his election as National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah stated in his victory speech that, the NDC would fight the 2024 general elections to win a second independence for Ghana, and that, they are prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives for an NDC victory.

In was in response to these myriad of reckless and treasonable comments from the NDC that Hon. Bryan Acheampong gave encouragement to supporters of the NPP, who may feel intimated by the many threats coming from the NDC, that, under no circumstance should they feel intimated because the NPP has men of courage who can rise to the defense of our democracy and the 1992 Constitution of the Republic as enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution.

Hon. Bryan, thereupon, proceeded to give NPP supporters a firm assurance that the Party [NPP] will not lose the 2024 general elections and hand power to the NDC but will do everything to retain power. Considering the steps being taken by the Akufo-Addo-led government to tackling Ghana’s socioeconomic challenges, which have begun bearing positive dividends, and also by the conduct of the NPP since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Bryan Acheampong’s comment can only be interpreted to mean that the NPP, just as it has done in the past, is determined to do everything legally possible to win the 2024 general elections. The NPP’s track record of winning elections through free, fair, and transparent means is not in doubt at all.

It is thus nerve-wracking to see the very persons who have over time made the worst of unguarded statements, and acted in a manner that has the potential to subvert the nation’s democratic order and plunge the country into chaos and instability, to turn around and cry foul of a statement that seeks to energize the base of the NPP, give assurance of hope to party faithfuls and the Ghanaian citizenry. Ghanaians are fully awoken to such gimmicks by the NDC.

The NPP considers the NDC’s attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support.

From the foregoing, if anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous “Do or die for the NDC ” in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections.

We wish to conclude by once again assuring the good people of this great nation that the NPP remains a peace-loving party and would not do anything to jeopardize the peace and security of the state. We hold the enviable title as the bastion of democracy in Ghana and on the African continent, and this, we intend to guard jealously. The 2024 general elections shall be free, fair, and the most transparent elections in the Fourth Republic, and by the grace of God, the NPP would emerge victors to continue our transformation agenda.

Thank you

..Signed…

JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY

THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY, STEPHEN AYESU NTIM, RESPONDS TO THE NDC’S SO-CALLED TRUE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

NPP — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:48:11 +0000

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Media, and dear People of Ghana! Good
morning, and thank you for honouring our invitation to attend this press
conference.
On 8th March 2023, the President of the Republic of Ghana delivered a
Message on the State of the Nation (SONA) under Article 67 of the 1992
Constitution as a symbol and practical demonstration of accountability, and with
the utmost respect to the people of Ghana.
The President, in his delivery, addressed critical issues of concern to all
Ghanaians. The focus of the SONA was on the economic situation of our
country and how quickly we are stabilising the economy and working our way
back to the period of rapid economic growth.
The SONA provided an honest assessment of our country’s situation and sought
the support of Ghanaians in addressing the challenges facing our country with
hope and confidence.
Then, on 20th March 2023, the opposition National Democratic Congress
(NDC), as usual, produced a distorted account of the President’s state of the
nation address in an attempt to ride on the emotions of Ghanaians for their
political gain. Activities leading to the NDC’s UPSA press conference were
dramatised as though the NDC had something unprecedented to present. It was
an anticlimax because, in the end, nothing new was said except the same old
exaggeration and deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
The statement read by the NDC Chairman, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, was far
from a document seeking to discuss the state of our country. There was no
serious analysis of the economy, no assessment of sectoral developments, and
no attempt to propose solutions to the current economic challenges.
Ordinarily, we would refrain from responding to the NDC on the SONA.
However, given the extent of misinformation contained in their statement, we
owe a duty to Ghanaians to straighten the distortions designed to incite
disaffection rather than to inform Ghanaians.
My clarification of the NDC’s statement will focus mainly on the economy and
comments on the other matters to do with the misinformation about the size of
the government and the subject of corruption.
The Economy
First, let me thank the good people of Ghana for supporting the government as
we work together to resolve this historic economic crisis that has disrupted the
global economy and impacted Ghana.
Ghana’s economy was the toast of the world until Covid-19. Before 2020,
Ghana was hailed among the fastest-growing economies in the world. But
COVID-19 disrupted the growth momentum of our economy and later the
Russia-Ukraine War. As a result of these factors, Ghana’s economy, which was
among the fastest-growing economies in the world, started to decelerate in
2020, and the government has committed everything in its toolkit to regenerate
it.
Ladies and gentlemen, the ravaging impact of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine
War on the global economy are visible all around us. But somehow, the NDC
has refused to acknowledge or admit this fact to continue misinforming
Ghanaians that this government has mismanaged the economy.
So, the NDC’s press conference was merely a repetition of their denial of the
impact of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War on the economy. The NDC
hopes that by consistently propagating this blatant misinformation, it will get
enough Ghanaians to come to believe it.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I am concerned about this deliberate
misinformation campaign by the NDC to deny the impact of Covid-19 and the
Russia-Ukraine War on Ghana’s economy. This is because, over time, by
hearing this lie repeatedly, it begins to resemble the truth for the consumption or
acceptance of the general public.
The media is targeted exempted from this misinformation campaign because
you too are feeling the pinch of the hardships in the country. Our pensioners
were recently demonstrating against the inevitable Domestic Debt Exchange
Programme, and many others are concerned about increasing taxes. These real
bread-and-butter issues that make it difficult for anyone to believe it is not the
government’s fault that we are going through these hard times. This is the
opportunity the NDC seeks to exploit, to weaponise the hardships caused by
these external factors to make the government unpopular.
The plain truth is that this government has managed the economy diligently and
well. The hardships we are experiencing in Ghana are being experienced
everywhere because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.
Workers in some of the world’s biggest economies are demanding salary
increases due to historic global inflation. It is happening in—the United
Kingdom, France and Germany. In the United Kingdom, I was told a couple of
weeks ago that they had to ration vegetables and cooking oil. Can you imagine
rationing pepper in Ghana?
The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, confirmed the impact
of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War on the United States economy and
how difficult the effort to rebuild has been.
Kenya, one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa, has recently run out
of U.S. dollars. Most fuel and oil importers claim they cannot import the
product because they do not have foreign currency. This has led to widespread
fuel shortages in major towns and cities, especially in Nairobi.
When called upon by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee on 10th
March 2023 to explain the situation, the Kenyan Treasury Principal Secretary,
Dr Chris Kiptoo, said: “that the Kenyan shilling was weakening against the U.S.
dollar at a very fast rate because of external shock factors such as the Covid-19
pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.”
In his press conference, you would recall that the NDC Chairman was touting
and holding Ivory Coast as a standard Ghana should aspire to become. The
NDC deliberately misrepresented the economic situation in Ivory Coast by
suggesting all in well with our western neighbours. In actuality, the Ivory Coast
they were advertising was negotiating at the time with the IMF to obtain $2.6
billion in a blended Extended Credit Facility.
Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to quote from the IMF’s release after its staff
concluded a mission to Ivory Coast on 15th March 2023.
“The Ivorian authorities and IMF staf have reached a broad agreement
on the authorities’ economic reform program that an IMF financial
arrangement could support.
The authorities are advancing their agenda for deeper economic
transformation under the 2021-25 National Development Plan. They have
taken measures to strengthen macroeconomic stability and reverse
widening fiscal and external imbalances as the economy has been hit
hard by the triple shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, global financial
tightening, and adverse spillovers from Russia’s War in Ukraine.”
As it turned out, the NDC as a party are not just incompetent managers of
Ghana’s economy but also incompetent researchers. They should have known
about this Ivory Coast-IMF negotiated deal just five days prior to their press
conference.
Please share this link with Chairman Asiedu Nketiah or his communicators to
read about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War on
the Ivorian economy, as it has had on Ghana’s.
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/03/15/pr2374-cote-divoire-im
f-staf -concludes-mission
RECORD OF THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES—2013-2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s spend a few minutes examining the performance of
the NDC and NPP governments between 2013-2019 before Covid-19 and the
War. Before Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War, the NPP government
recorded an impressive 7 percent average GDP growth for three fiscal years
(2017-2019). Had Covid-19 not happened, Ghana’s economy would have
continued to grow into 2020, and the story of Ghana’s economy today would not
be one of hardship but of growth and prosperity.
The NDC-Mahama administration performed poorly. Between 2013 to 2016, the
NDC returned a mournful 3.9 percent average growth. GDP declined
consistently over that period (2013-2016). Somehow, those who could not
manage Ghana’s economy in a relatively stable global economic environment
suddenly claim they have a magic wand to turn the fortunes of Ghana around in
this volatile global economy.
Ladies and gentlemen, the NPP took office in 2017 and turned around the
mismanaged and collapsed economy inherited from the NDC. The Industrial
sector grew from 4.3 percent in 2016 to 15.6 percent in 2017. The Services
sector increased from 2.8 percent in 2016 to 3.4 percent in 2017, and the
agriculture sector also grew from a dismal 2.7 percent in 2016 to 6.2 percent in
2017.
Let me remind you that the abysmal performance of the NDC in the Real sector
was against the NDC inheriting a booming economy from the Kufuor-led NPP
administration, which gifted the NDC oil discovery in commercial quantities.
After inheriting a booming economy, Ex-President Mahama and NDC left their
successor, President Nana Addo, a collapsed economy in 2016. Ladies and
gentlemen, sɛ wei nyɛ abrɔ a, na ɛyɛ deɛn?
We managed the Cedi better before the pandemic and the War. The NPP
managed the Cedi, with an average depreciation of 6.8% from 2017 to 2021,
compared to the NDC’s record of 18% average depreciation from 2013 to 2016.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are not particularly happy about the level of inflation
today. It has affected our economy badly, but the truth is that it is a global
problem. In February 2023, the United Kingdom’s inflation was 10.4 percent, up
from the usual average of 2.7 percent since 1989. In Nigeria, inflation jumped
from 11.4 percent in 2019 to 21.8 percent in January 2023. That is almost a 50
percent rise in inflation. The World Economic Outlook report, released on 11th
October 2022, forecasted global inflation to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8
percent in 2022. That represents about a 50 percent upwards jump in global
inflation.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, the Nana Addo-NPP administration has
managed all aspects of the economy better than the NDC would have in this
situation. Ghanaians would have been worse off.
Comparing the time the NDC went to the IMF for support in August 2014,
Ghana had only seven days’ worth of imports in net foreign exchange reserves,
equivalent to $400 million. However, when the NPP sought the support of the
IMF in July last year, Ghana’s international reserves stood at $7.6 billion,
covering 3.4 months of import cover.
One of the central claims of the NDC’s false state of the nation address is that
this government has over-borrowed. This is not true, but the NDC keeps
repeating it.
The NDC likes to promote this misinformation by computing our debt stock
using nominal figures because it hides their unprecedented rate of debt
accumulation. The best way to compute our debt to see which government has
borrowed more, is by using the rate accumulation.
Former President Kufuor inherited a debt stock of approximately GHs5.4 billion
in 2001 and added about 81 percent. The NDC inherited a debt stock of GHs 9.7
billion in 2009; by 2016, they increased it to GHs 122 billion. That represents
819 percent growth in the debt stock. The NPP government, which the NDC
characterises as having over-borrowed, has added just about 304 percent to the
debt stock. The 304 percent of the total accumulated debt under this government
includes the cost of the banking sector cleanup, energy sector debt payment and
Covid-19 debt.
Official data from the Ministry of Finance shows that the nominal debt stock
increased by 50% from 2013 to 2014 under Ex-President John Mahama. For
example, if Ghana owed GHS 80 billion in 2013, the John Mahama
administration added 40 billion cedis, making it GHS 120 billion in 2014 alone.
Ladies and gentlemen, yes, Ghana has a debt challenge, but it is inaccurate for
the NDC to suggest that this government has over-borrowed. This
misinformation was captured on page 4 of the NDC’s press statement. The
borrowing narrative the NDC keeps propagating is a product of a misleading
computation of Ghana’s debt designed to misinform and mischaracterize the
record of this government. Now, they have recruited their Chairman to sing this
deceitful chorus.
Ladies and gentlemen, every adult knows, and young people who might not
know ought to learn and know that in our personal lives, in the lives of our
families, in the running of our businesses and enterprises, and while managing
the affairs of any country, difficulties are inevitable; challenges will sometimes
occur. However, true and bold leadership lies in confronting and solving
problems when they arise. We had Covid-19, and we fixed it. If we had listened
to the advice of the NDC’s supposed Covid-19 Advisory Team, our children and
students would not have gone to school until maybe two years later. They said
the children would die; not a single student was killed by Covid-19.
Similarly, we are finding solutions to our current economic difficulties. We shall
fix the economy. We have done it before in 2001 and 2017; we will fix the
economy again. We did what needed to be done to save lives; now we are
tackling the economy, and with the kind support of our hard working citizens,
we shall fix this one too.
Now, let me clarify and set the record straight on these other issues being
disingenuously propagated by our friends who always struggle with the fact.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the government has addressed the call to reduce its size.
Indeed, between this government’s first and second terms, the number of
Ministers and Deputy Ministers has been significantly reduced from 126 to 86.
This is because we are a listening Government. Additionally, the government
has taken a difficult path by implementing further cost-cutting measures,
including the following:
a. A 30% cut of the salaries of the President, Vice President,
Ministers and Heads of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
b. A discretionary 20% cut to central government spending has
been implemented.
c. A 50% cut in fuel coupon allocation for all political appointees
and heads of government institutions to ensure efficient use of
energy resources.
d. Suspension of the purchase of imported vehicles for 2022 to
reduce total vehicle purchases for the year.
e. Suspension of all foreign travels except pre-approved statutory
travels or critical travels.
f. Moratorium on the establishment of new public sector
institutions.
g. A ban on using V8s or its equivalent, except for cross-country
travels.
h. Meetings and workshops should be held within the official
environment or government facilities.
i. Government-sponsored external training and Staff
Development activities at the Office of the President, Ministries,
and SOEs have been put on hold.
j. A freeze on tax waivers for foreign companies while tax
exemptions for companies in the free zone will be reviewed,
including mining and oil and gas companies.
k. No Ministry, Department or Agency, including SOEs, is
permitted to use public funds to purchase and distribute hampers.
l. There shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars, and
other promotional merchandise by MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs.
m. A moratorium on bonus payment for SOEs that record losses in
the year for which the bonus applies.
n. All non-critical projects that can wait for a year have been
suspended.
o. Expunged “ghost” names from Payroll through periodic payroll
audits and the link of the Ghana Card to the Payroll.
p. Address off-budget expenditures by making sure all government
expenditures go through GIFMIS.
q. Enforce commitment control within the various ministries, i.e.,
eliminate unauthorised expenditure, as well as ensure that MDAs
do not sign contracts without an approved budget.
r. Establish inter-sectoral working groups to address cross-cutting
issues; review contracts and ensure standard reporting among
ministries.
Ladies and gentlemen, the preceding measures are among the decisive steps the
government is taking to ensure fiscal discipline. The point I intend to make from
the expenditure control measures outlined above is that the party and
government took the feedback on the size of government seriously, considerably
reduced the numbers from the first term, and are working diligently to control
the expenditure as shown above.
Therefore, it is not true that the government has ignored calls to reduce its size.
Instead, the government has been listening to Ghanaians, establishing a more
robust control mechanism to manage expenditure while maintaining a dynamic
team of ministers and appointees to deliver on its mandate.
Ladies and gentlemen, The NDC has been promoting the view that this
government has appointed people to needless positions and is paying them for
doing nothing. It must be stated on record that many of the workers at the
Presidency are public sector employees. Today, out of the 995 workers at the
Presidency, 658 (66%) are public sector employees.
As a matter of fact, the NDC Government had more presidential staffers than
this administration. While we have 44 presidential staffers and 1 Minister of
State at the Presidency, the Mahama-NDC Administration had 61 presidential
staffers, 6 Ministers of State and the 3 “wise men.”
Under President Mahama, the NDC appointed people to all kinds of roles,
including:
a. Valuer
b. Brand Executive Officer
c. Administrative Manager
d. Citizenship Development Officer
e. Personal Assistant
f. Research and Monitoring Officer
g. Research Assistant
h. Officer Manager
i. Senior Executive Assistant
j. Executive Assistant/Officer
k. Senior Administrative Liaison Officer
l. Corporate/Stakeholder relations Manager
I can cite more, but that would be pointless because every President has a
constitutional duty to create the relevant offices and portfolios to deliver his or
her vision and development for the good people of Ghana.
Ladies and gentlemen, the NPP-led government has demonstrated its utmost
commitment to fighting corruption.
You would recall that an NPP administration led by former President John
Agyekum Kufuor passed the Public Procurement Act (Act 663) and the
Whistleblowers Act (Act 720) to cure corruption in the public sector. The
passage of these laws to regulate procurement in the public space has saved the
economy billions of cedis from going into private pockets. Before the enactment
of these acts by the Kufuor Administration, the PNDC/NDC had been in power
for nineteen years but did nothing about the naked corruption in public
procurement.
Consistent with the NPP’s anti-corruption regulatory history established under
former President Kufuor, President Akufo-Addo, established the Office of
Special Prosecutor (OSP) by an Act of Parliament and has empowered the
Special Prosecutor to fight corruption proactively. In addition, the historic Right
To Information (RTI) Act has been passed. The Akufo-Addo administration
continues to demonstrate support for anti-corruption agencies such as the
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the Auditor
General’s Department to protect the public purse.
Ladies and gentlemen, the NDC is a party that talks about corruption but not a
party that fights corruption. If the fight against corruption has been a challenge
for any group of people in Ghana, it is the NDC. They are the only political
party in this Fourth Republic whose appointees or officials have been convicted
and sentenced for corruption-related offences. Do you remember—create loot
and share? That is the NDC’s record,
The media may recall how the NDC vilified former President Kufuor and his
appointees, claiming they were corrupt. But, when the NDC won in 2008 and
formed a government in 2009 until 2016, they could not convict a single
appointee of the Kufuor Administration. This is a fact.
Today, the NDC is again talking about corruption and labelling President
Akufo-Addo and his appointees as corrupt. I appeal humbly to Ghanaians to
ignore and regard the NDC’s shouts and name-calling as a ploy to create the
impression of widespread corruption and to align itself undeservedly with
public disapproval of the act of corruption.
I call on the rank and file of the NPP to arise and mobilise behind our
government to defeat the onslaught of the NDC propaganda. This means that all
of us in the NPP, from polling stations upward, must become canvassers and
communicators to help disabuse the minds of our fellow Ghanaians from the
misinformation that the NDC is feeding the nation.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me end by passing this piece of advice through you to
the NDC. As a political party, the NDC has a sacred responsibility to be honest
and upfront with Ghanaians in all things. The NDC must desist from the habit
and strategy of deceit in its quest for power. Such methods are often short-term
but have long-term ramifications for democracy, public confidence, and, not
least, the global perception and embrace of our dear country, Ghana.
Thank you for coming, and God bless you all.

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