Panic Grips Akufo Addo To Join Priesthood In 2017

The certainty of the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government rolling out the constitutionally mandated �progressive� free Senior High education (SHS), anticipated end of the energy crisis and the prospect of medium to long-term economic outlook is said to be causing consternation in the camp of the 2016 flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Credible information gathered by The aL-hAJJ indicates that the swift manner the Mahama-led government arrested the free fall of the cedi and with measures to end the debilitating energy crisis christened �Dumsor� and the almost completion of first batch of 200 community day senior high schools, leading to the takeoff of the �Free SHS,� has left the NPP flag bearer in a panicky mood. Even with almost two years to the next presidential elections, the four-time flag bearer aspirant, according to party insiders, and with a third looming defeat stirring, has firmed up decision on joining the already crowed pastoral world in 2017, as he is alleged to have accused the ruling party of snatching his �free SHS� policy and depriving him of his last campaign message. All indications are that Nana Akufo-Addo is coming to terms with the reality that the Mahama-led administration was likely to surmount the present economic difficulties, end the energy crisis facing the country by 2016 and with the takeoff of the free SHS; Ghanaians would not be interested in any opposition rhetoric to elect NPP ahead of the ruling party. �The free SHS campaign which Nana had wanted to use to entice Ghanaians in the 2016 campaign has been taken away from him. The issues about dumsor which the NPP had wanted to rely on to hound out the government will be a thing of the past, the government is also seen to be fighting corruption, all indications are pointing to a booming economy by 2016 and so there is nothing for him to make a case out of� �If you want to unseat an incumbent you have to convince a voter that there is something that the sitting president is not doing right that you can do when elected�but here is the case where government has taken over everything and there is nothing for the main opposition to campaign on. If there is nothing like dumsor, hardship and you have a stable currency which obviously will mean your economy is improving, who will listen to your message to vote against a ruling party?� a source close to Nana Akufo-Addo asked rhetorically. Reports are that the challenges the Mahama government faced with the depreciating Cedi, energy crisis and perceived corruption in government among others were part of reasons why Nana Akufo-Addo risked to take a third bite at the presidency even at an advanced age of 72. Sources say even though the NDC promised during the 2012 campaign to build 200 community day senior high school in order to progressively roll out free SHS, Nana Akufo-Addo and his handlers were skeptical about the promise and was convinced president Mahama and the NDC will renege on its promise. However, Finance Minister Seth Terkper announced during the presentation of the 2015 budget that government was ready to implement the policy starting from 2015. �The pledge of the president during the 2014 State of the Nation Address to this august house, to implement progressively free secondary education beginning 2015 is ready for take-off. The agreed roadmap beginning with day students has been adequately catered for in this budget. As a result, government is on course with the construction of 200 senior high schools across the country. Already about 50 of such schools are at various stages of completion, Mr. Terkper claimed, adding that the 2015 budget has made provisions for the construction of additional 50 schools. Funding has so far been secured for 123 out of the 200 promised SHS. 23 of the new Senior High Schools would be constructed under the World Bank�s Supported Secondary Education Improvement project. Under the project some 125 existing schools are receiving facility upgrades, 125 head teachers undergoing leadership and management training,� he stated. Demonstrating government�s commitment to implementing the programme, a deputy minister of education, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa told the media �you noticed that President Mahama did not begin with free SHS immediately as Nana Akufo-Addo had promised. He began with cutting the sod for the construction of 200 Senior High School by 2016 and as I speak to you by September 2015 we expect that the first 50 of these senior high schools to be ready. �He (Mahama) also managed to secure $156 million facility from the World Bank which is helping us improve quality in selected senior high school; we selected 125 out of 838 senior high school that we have, and we are improving the quality by ensuring that we move in to provide good science labs, computers, chemicals for science students, science equipment, rehabilitation, renovation. This among other things like the supply of gas from Gas Processing plant at Atuabo to power thermal plants which will greatly improve the power situation in Ghana, coupled with government�s sound management of the national economy has rendered Nana Akufo-Addo as a candidate with nothing to tell Ghanaians for their votes in the 2016 general elections.