Bismark Bebli
6 October 2008
As one of its cardinal points in their manifesto dubbed -"A better Ghana", among other relevant issues, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), under the flagbearership of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills has declared total war on corruption. Speaker after Speaker at the launch of the manifesto in Accra, last Saturday, underscored that corruption stifles development.
Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, the Presidential candidate of the party, who launched the manifesto said under his administration, the NDC would create a society in which corruption would be punishable and probity, integrity and dedicated service would be applauded and appreciated.
According to him, at the end of the term of office of the NDC, "The NDC would have established a social order where crime, especially the drug trade, with particular emphasis on cocaine and heroin, and the violent crime generated by this drug trade is drastically reduced."
He noted that life under the ruling government was full of massive unemployment, dishonesty, and insensitivity over the plight of Ghanaians and that the nation was now poised to vote for the NDC to change the situation. "Today, our dear country is in the grips of multi-faceted crises. A crisis caused by hardships, incompetence, parochialism and systemic corruption," adding that, "this state of affairs must not endure any longer. The time for change will be upon us soon, it is the sacred pledge of the next NDC government, in assuming office on January 7th 2009, to end this creeping crisis by eliminating their causes and launch the country onto the road to prosperity, through opportunities for all, which a better managed and strong economy will create."
Prof. Mills asked Ghanaians to look for an honest, dedicated and God-fearing leader with integrity, to spearhead the affairs of the nation. He said there was enough evidence to prove that the country was moving in a wrong direction.
According to him, the nation has not only lost its sense of direction but has equally lost the moral values with its attendant increasing social exclusion.
He said, in order to reverse the backward trend that the nation is going through under the NPP regime, Ghanaians must look for an honest person to lead the nation.
Prof. Mills, known in political circles as "Asomdwehene" - to wit, the man of peace, stated that under the NPP regime, Ghanaians were being bequeathed with hopelessness, despair, drugs, immorality and crime, and maintained that the NDC was determined to rescue the nation from the precarious and frightening future future of the country.
According to Prof. Mills NDC was not against wealth accumulation by individuals and groups, but "As a party that is anchored to the social democracy philosophy, and espouses the tenets of our ideology unashamedly, all efforts must be geared towards protecting and supporting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the marginalized and the have-nots in society."
The NDC flag bearer, noted for his oratorical delivery, observed that things must change and that was why the NDC was promising the nation a better Ghana that would be ruled with honesty, truth, fairness, transparency and accountability to all.
According to Prof. Mills, the NDC government will measure its success by the extent to which they implement their policies as contained in their manifesto, which he asserted will benefit the vast majority of Ghanaians by way of job creation and infrastructure expansion, among others.
He said, "The provision of security to Ghanaians, ensuring justice for all, making the laws of the land work without fear or favour, as well as a committed approach to ridding Ghana of the drug menace, will feature prominently on the NDC agenda."
Mills, who said he has absolute confidence in his party's manifesto further noted, "With zest, zeal, commitment, vision and love for country, a Better Ghana can and will be built. I am confident that with the openness, honesty, transparency and humble leadership, I pledge to provide, together with my team and well-meaning Ghanaians, including those belonging to other sides of the political divide, we shall be able to build a Better Ghana."
According to the learned Professor, within 100 days of the NDC in office, bold and comprehensive decisions will be taken to deal with the appalling filth in the nation's communities, related health problems, caused by inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective waste management system and practices.
He said, within the 100 days, the NDC would establish a lean but effective and efficient government by cutting out ostentation and profligate expenditure, rationalize ministerial appointments and promote service, humility and integrity as canons of government.
The party would also prepare and present to parliament legislation on various tax and tariff measures designed to provide relief for Ghanaians, with a promise to review and re-constitute the membership of all commissions and Boards, solely on the basis of expertise and competence and above all to eschew partisan considerations.
Various speakers at the forum were designated to speak on a particular policy of the manifesto, raging from health, education, infrastructure, governance reform agenda of the NDC, private sector, local government and decentralisation, law and justice, sanitation, the media and a host of others.
The vice-Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, on his part said the NDC would establish an oversight and evaluation committee that would monitor the policies of the party.
According to him, it beats his imagination why at the time that the nation was engulfed with squalor and filth, with traffic lights not functioning, the NPP was promising to take the nation to the first world.
John Mahama, who has been nicknamed "Obama", received thunderous applause anytime his name was mentioned, said because of the party's desire to fight against corruption, the Serious Fraud Office would be reviewed and given powers to initiate prosecution without depending on the Attorney General.
In addition, the current legislator for Bole-Bamboi, said under the Presidency of Prof. Mills, the NDC would review the mandate of CHRAJ to give them power to investigate allegations of corruption against government officials.
Hannah Tetteh, the NDC's Communications Director, who gave an overview of the manifesto of the party, said NDC would build vocational Institutions to absorb Junior High School (JHS) graduates who may not get admission to the Senior High School (SHS).
She supported the views of the various speakers that corruption would be seriously dealt with. "At the first term of office of the NDC, we would also have created a society where corruption is punishable and probity, integrity and dedication are applauded and appreciated."
Ms. Tetteh noted that considering the impact of the party's manifesto, it would create wealth for the nation, and extended a hand of friendship to Ghanaians to join the NDC to re-build the nation.
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