In what can best pass for a direct shade at former President John Mahama following his questioning of the current administration's decision to purchase drones for the health sector, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he will rather spend on that intriguing and transformational idea of drones flying medicines to citizens than to invest in guinea fowls farming.
The Former president, addressing supporters and other National Democratic Congress (NDC) faithfuls at the International Trade Fair Center in Accra after filing his nomination Monday, criticised the Akufo-Addo government for its decision to use drones to deliver medical essentials, especially to remote areas in the country.
Not A Priority
He said the sector needs more urgent interventions than the Drone Delivery Service that the current administration is busying itself with introducing.
“…instead of prioritizing the needs of the health sector, the NPP government chose to acquire drones to fly blood....Government should get its priorities right by spending the limited resources on more essential interventions other than copying innovations blindly without relevance to the realities of Ghana’s current needs,” Mr Mahama said.
But in a sharp riposte, President Akufo Addo, addressing journalists at the seat of government in his yearly presidential encounter with the media said; “I prefer drones flying to deliver essential medicines to our people that an investment in guinea fowls that allegedly fly to Burkina Faso any trace.”
SADA's Guinea Fowl
In 2009, the then NDC government launched the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA); a programme meant to accelerate development in some of Ghana’s poor Regions.
Through the programme, government promised to put GH¢200 million as seed money to develop the aforementioned areas and also to put infrastructures in place to attract investors.
But later, Joy News investigations by Manasseh Azure in 2014, revealed massive rot at the Authority which had become a vehicle for severe mismanagement.
Further investigations by the Auditor-General confirmed that government wasted GH¢48 million into a Guinea Fowl rearing and Tree Planting projects.
There are no Guinea fowls to show for the investment and there was no value for money for the tree planting project.
Drones Backlash
The President's comment comes on the back of government’s $12.5 million agreement between US-based firm Zipline International Inc. and government of Ghana for the latter to distribute essential medical suppliers with the use of drones across the country.
The decision has been greeted with some protest from the Minority in Parliament and some Ghanaians who questioned the amount involved and source of funding the project.
Some critics were not happy the contract was sole-sourced when drone technology abounds in the world. Others were of the view that the project is ill-timed because the health sector us fraught with litany of issues that ought to be dealt with first.
Nonetheless, Parliament through Majority vote approved the contract, giving government the go ahead to execute same.
The president answered questions on the progress of his administration’s flagship programmes as well as queries on the current state of the economy.
This is the third time a similar event has taken place at the Jubilee House within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
A similar exercise was conducted in July 2017, and January 2018 where Nana Akufo-Addo promised to meet the journalists in the country every six months in the entire duration of his tenure as President.
'Not On Public Budget'
President Akufo-Addo further stated that the initiative will not be borne by the taxpayer.
“This programme is NOT going to be run on the public budget. Corporate Social Responsibility contributions from private sector players will pay for the service. I prefer drones flying to deliver essential medicines to our people than an investment in guinea fowls that allegedly fly off to Burkina Faso without any trace,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He added that “the drone delivery service will save lives, decrease wastage in the system, guarantee healthcare access for more than 14 million people nationwide, and employ over two hundred (200) Ghanaians.”
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash
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Hmmmmm just asking oo is the competent one now the incompetent. Please just watch the clip and observe the body language and make your own deductions. And Mr. information minister it's better you keep quite on this particular issue and let it go. YOU ARE NOT A LIAR AND THE COAT DOESN'T FIT YOU KORAAA. GM
What's the relevance of this comparison? Mahama built hospitals and chip compounds to help medical delivery in the country. You are using drones. Who is doing better? The guinea fowls were not to deliver blood and medicines. Mr. President, built hospitals as Mahama did.
But if the drones fail you will be publicly hanged like a hanging DOG.
Drones better than bus branding.....
Nana addo you are not credible. You are worse than mahama. You know guinea fowl has run to Burkina yet two years into your administration you have not prosecuted half a person for this despicable malfeasance. You claim to be incorruptible, so why the delay in making sure someone pays for these wrongs. If Ghanaians wanted to listen to some of this ***barred word***, they wouldn't have voted out ndc. You accused woyome of wrongdoing, yet he is still walking a free man, talk about bus branding, sada, geeda etc. Why are you not arresting and prosecuting people but keeps saying these same things you use for campaign. Either no one did wrong or you are more corrupt that is why you are idle about these cases. I was surprised that last year, you said you have forgotten about the Brazil world cup commission report. You are really not on top of the game. You may be laughing on the wrong side of your mouth come 2020. With all the corruption allegations of barwumia about the ndc, today he doesn't even speak. We are watching you closely.
Can you imagine, this is the man who wants Ghanaians to believe he is a Christian, and therefore building a cathedral, look at what is coming from his mouth, indecency of insults. If you pretend to be a saint, you own words will expose you. Such a dishonest being.
Mr president, this is below the belt. This type of cheeky response is why mahama is rotting in opposition. Never think because mahama did wrong, you can also do same and get away with it. Mahama paid for his arrogance and you will also pay for yours. Its Ghanaians you are dealing with, we are a very unpredictable and sophisticated voters
This is not a good answer from a respected man like you. Any way do you now answer issues raised by political flag bearers like the N D C ?
Peace FM online please situate your headline very well. The Prez added 'that alledgelly flew to Burkina Faso.' You see because of your bad headline someone ( key) is insulting the prez for saying he will not invest in Guinea fowl business. He added something which is captured in the body of the story so pls add it so people can get the full import of what he said.
Technology is the key.Just imagine nkonfem vrs drones.drone to send medicines would save life.Joy news mony3 are koraa because your journalist didn’t get time to ask questions you say the press soirée is bad hasba