There was no policy in Mahama’s statement – Sir John

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Created on Wednesday, 05 September 2012 00:00

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There was no policy in Mahama’s statement – Sir John

The General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party has described President John Dramani Mahama’s address to the nation yesterday as lacking any policy initiatives, despite claims by government officials that it contained the national development blueprint for the next three months.

In fulfillment of a pledge made two weeks ago, President Mahama yesterday September 4, 2012 announced what he called Critical Policy Actions for the remainder of the NDC government’s term of office in fulfillment of the Better Ghana Agenda.

The president’s address covered issues of education, job creation, corruption, judgment debts, and infrastructure development. He also charged his Ministers and other appointees to meet stringent timelines set by the presidency in order to meet the expectations of Ghanaians.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Wednesday September 5, 2012 however, General Secretary of the largest opposition party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John dismissed the address as mere statements, not policies or initiatives.

“All you see is a pledge to ensure that contractors complete their projects. Is that policy? If he says ‘I’m instructing’, ‘I’m directing’, is that policy?” he asked.

“His direction that Finance Ministry should pay all contractors is laughable. I’m sure the Finance Minister was laughing in his head. Even Ministers have not been paid for two months, capitation grant has not been paid and he is ‘instructing’ the Ministry to pay? In any case, is that a policy?”

‘Sir John’ also panned the President’s pledge to take a critical look into the contentious issue of judgement debt with the appointment of a sole commissioner to investigate all payments and retrieve monies paid to undeserving persons and institutions.

“He (President Mahama) presided over the payment of these debts, as head of the government’s Economic Management team. The nation’s tax is being squandered on unnecessary and undeserving payments, and he comes to tell us about things he calls policy. In any case if he says he is going to look at it again, is that a policy?

“I think his policy is “It’s on my table, about to be signed”, just as he has promised the people of Cape Coast and other places, despite virtually being in charge of running the nation.

“When Akufo-Addo said he would provide free education President Mahama and the NDC rubbished this ambition yet today, in paragraph 6 of his statement he says “we must work towards free secondary and tertiary education. Does he realize it can be done now?

"The same way when NPP proposed Northern Development Authority they rubbished it but turned around to bring SADA.

“President Mahama should let his yes be yes and no be no.”

Sir John advised the electorate to check their names in the Voters' register to ensure they are not disenfranchised, following reports from Ashanti region in particular about several hundreds of names missing from the Register.

From: Adomonline.com