The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has put forth the strongest defence yet of its performance in government, asserting that it has delivered on its first term mandate and therefore deserves of a second term in order to do more.
This position of the party was succinctly articulated by the party’s representatives, led by its General Secretary, John Boadu, at an Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Policy Dialogue on the NPP’s 2020 Manifesto held on Thursday at the Institute’s auditorium in Accra.
The Dialogue brought together persons from academia, industry, civil society organizations, security and governance institutions, the media among other stakeholders to interact with the New NPP on key highlights of its 2020 Manifesto.
The party’s representatives also responded to questions from the participants and gave further and better particulars on the means through which the party was going to implement the Manifesto pledges.
John Boadu, the NPP chief scribe, set the stage for the party’s presentation and gave an overview of the NPP 2020 Manifesto which is anchored on the theme, “LEADERSHIP OF SERVICE: Protecting Our Progress, Transforming Ghana for All”.
He painted a vivid picture of the state of Ghana as inherited by the Akufo-Addo government including poorly managed financial sector; debilitating dumsor crisis and high water and electricity tariff regime.
He mentioned the other ills of the John Mahama administration such as worsening unemployment situation; collapsing NHIS; unprecedented levels of corruption; government’s inability to meet its financial obligations such as the payment of utility subsidies and trainee allowance, economic mismanagement, resulting in complete freeze in public sector employment, collapsing businesses, unprecedented economic hardship and the need to run to the IMF for a bailout in order to survive.
These ills, according to John Boadu, have largely been addressed by the three-and- half-year-old Akufo-Addo government.
He chronicled some of the landmark achievements of the government including the famous Free SHS policy, 1D1F, Planting for Food and Jobs, Pwalugu dam project, revamping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), restoration of teachers and nurses trainee allowances, Nation Builders Corps (NABCo) and competent economic management and transformation culminating in Ghana successfully exiting the IMF programme by 2019.
Speaker after speaker also made a solid case for the Akufo-Addo government as having delivered on its mandate and exhibited strong commitment to implementing its 2020 Manifesto promises.
The CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, spoke extensively about the sector-specific aspects of the 2020 Manifesto, whereas Dr. Nsiah Asare, the Presidential Advisor on Health, outlined the progress made by government in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On his part, Charles Adu Boahene, a Deputy Minister for Finance, justified government’s intervention in the Banking sector, which he said, has resulted in the strong viability of the sector to even withstand all kinds of shocks including the shocks occasioned by the deadly COVID-19.
Similarly, the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum defended government’s unbeaten record in the Education sector including the award winning Free SHS policy and all associated matters.
The NPP’s team for the Policy Dialogue also included Mr. Evron Hughes, a Technical Economic Advisor at the Office of the Vice President.
