NDCs Ultimate Campaign Weapon

The ruling National Democratic congress has unleashed, what it claims, to be its ultimate campaign weapon that will ensure Ghanaians retain them in power for another four more years. Sources within the headquarters of the NDC have hinted the New Statesman that the Mills-Mahama administration�s campaign strategy is hinged on �making more and more juicy promises to the Ghanaian electorate�, since �this was an effective campaign tool in 2008.� According to our sources, the NDC is unperturbed by the fact that it has broken nearly all the promises it made to Ghanaians in the run-up to the 2008 elections, and is rather certain that making more promises will �woo� Ghanaians into voting for them into office at the December polls. The NDC�s initial campaign strategy was to exaggerate their achievements, resulting in the tagging of their achievements as �unprecedented�. This was, however, exposed by Dr Bawumia in the �State of our economy� speech. This development, according to our NDC sources, resulted in the return to making grandiose promises. This strategy was made evident yesterday, when Vice President John Dramani Mahama, announced that government had secured $150 million for the construction and upgrading of the Tamale Airport. This, according to John Mahama, would be completed over a four-year period, thus paving the way for Northerners to vote for the NDC in the December polls to ensure the completion of this project. It is recalled that in the run-up to the 2008 elections, then candidate Mills, when he addressed residents of Tamale stated: �The Tamale Airport, we would turn it into an International Airport so when you are travelling to Mecca, you don�t need to go to Accra [sic]. You will go from Tamale to Mecca and Mecca to Tamale.� The next promise to be made by the NDC will be the construction of the Kotokuraba market, an �Action Year� promise by President Mills. The NDC plans on sending bulldozers within the next three months to the market to signal government�s intent on fulfilling the President�s promise. Also, caterpillars are to be sent to the site for the construction of the Cape Coast stadium to commence clearing the land, so residents will renew their confidence and trust in the NDC. When the NPP was contacted for its view this strategy, executives at the party�s headquarters told this paper that Ghanaians have woken up to the lies and deceit of the NDC, adding that this latest propaganda with the intent to �brain-wash� Ghanaians will no wash. �When we told Ghanaians that the STX housing deal would not happen, government quickly sent bulldozers and caterpillars to clear the sites for the supposed construction of the houses. At the end of the day, the project never materialised�, the NPP executive said. Some the unfulfilled promises made by the Mills-Mahama administration in the run-up to the 2008 elections, as contained in its manifesto, include: � Construct and furnish a standard �Member of Parliament Office� in the constituencies for each of the 230 constituencies and pay one Administrator identified by the Member of Parliament a monthly stipend to be in charge of the Office. (Page 24) � Aiming for a minimum of 40% representation of women at Conferences and Congresses of the Party and in government and public service. (Page 25) � Separate the Attorney General�s Department from the Ministry of Justice to promote greater efficiency and better transparency in the administration of justice. (Page 33) � Set up a new and truly non-partisan professionally competent and independent Presidential Commission to reopen investigations into the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II and his elders in March 2002. (Page 34) � The new NDC government will not introduce any new taxes. (Page 45) � Employment opportunities for all those who are willing and able to work. (Page 46) � The NDC government will establish a Fisheries College. (Page 56) � A onetime premium payment for registration with the scheme. (Page 68) � The NDC Government will construct a modern office complex for the NUGS. (Page 73) � The NDC Government will also provide micronutrient supplements to pregnant women and children under five years of age. (Page 75) � By the end of our first term, there should be a sufficient number of vocational and technical institutes to absorb JHS graduates who opt for them. (Page 77) � Establish a lean but effective and efficient government by cutting out ostentation and profligate expenditure; rationalizing ministries and ministerial appointments; and promoting service, humility and integrity as canons of government. � Prepare and present to Parliament, legislation on various tax and tariff measures designed to provide relief for Ghanaians. � Review and re-constitute the membership of Commissions and Boards, solely on the basis of expertise and competence; eschewing all partisan and familial considerations. � Take bold and comprehensive measures to deal with the appalling filth in our communities, and the related health problems of our people caused by inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective waste management systems and practices. � Present to Parliament a co-ordinated programme of economic and social development, including agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels, in all sectors, and in all regions of Ghana as required under Article 36 (5) of the Constitution. BY THE END OF OUR FIRST TERM IN OFFICE-- THE NDC WOULD HAVE: � Fielded a Government based on competence, efficiency and merit, whose members worked as a coherent team and abided by the principles of service with Integrity and Humility. � Achieved significantly measurable improvements in the delivery of quality health and quality education�affordable by the people and accessible to the people. � Provided enough Vocational Institutes to absorb JSS graduates who do not gain admission into the SHS or the Technical Schools. � Ended the perennial water crisis and the troubling filth of our communities and cities by significantly expanding and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure. � Significantly improved the supply of housing delivery and the provision of utilities and infrastructural facilities in all Regions with particular emphasis on disadvantaged areas, both rural and urban. � Achieved appreciable improvements in the area of Human Safety and Security; Law and Justice, and reformed Public Services that are efficient, dynamic, client-friendly and performance driven. � Sufficiently modernized agriculture to assure food security for the people and dependable raw materials source for industry. � Created a society in which corruption is punished, and probity, integrity and dedicated service are applauded and appreciated.