The people of the Volta region, particularly those residing in the capital, Ho expressed shock at the lavish expenditure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the launch of the party�s manifesto.
The residents wondered how the NDC, after a modest campaign in 2008, could hold �an extravagant campaign.� The NDC has erected giant billboards advertising President John Mahama at every available location.
�I am marveled at the �miniature bill boards.� These sign posts or miniature billboards are scattered all over the capital, one situated at every quarter of a kilometer, Seth Kwao Agbeko told DAILY GUIDE.
�If billboards could be erected over night, what was stopping the NDC government from filling the potholes in the town at least within a week.�
Madam Koker of Sokode noted that �how can the NDC, a social democratic party and a simple party that believes in leading modest lives spend so much in mounting about six gigantic billboards in Ho alone, not to talk about the smaller ones. �
�If you multiply the cost of the billboards in Ho alone, not to talk about the small ones, you can imagine the money involved.�
She added that �there was no money in the system, so where are they getting all this money from?�
According to her, the money could be used by the ruling social democrats to improve roads in Ho or eliminate more schools under trees.
During last week�s manifesto launch in the Volta region, the large convoy was accompanied by at least three vehicles carrying speakers and a generator to provide uninterrupted power.
At the Jubilee Park, the venue for the event, the whole place was branded by the NDC.
Mark Senaya, a teacher who was at the Jubilee Park said, �ega le� to wit �money is in abundance.�
He said, �Just look at the quality of T-shirts and �lacosts� being shared, we can�t even afford it and all these people are wearing them in different colours.�
He expressed surprise at the expensive cars that were used by the government officials and party bigwigs who thronged the regional capital, saying �these people are more capitalists.�
The NDC, in 2008, lambasted the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for conducting a lavish campaign.
Some political analysts believe the move contributed to the defeat of the NPP in 2008.
Former President Mills, leader of the NDC, during his short reign, emphasized that NDC would cut spending as a party and government.
Interesting, it appears his policy has been ignored by officials.
Although some people did not find the spending by the NDC worrying, many others were afraid to speak to DAILY GUIDE in Ho.
�If this is the kind of transformation the NDC has attained in three years, we should be scared because in eight years, one cannot tell what will happen,� said Ivan Kpodo, a taxi driver.
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