President Mahama has stated that victory in the general elections in 2016 for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a “done deal.”
“I seek you mandate to clinch another one touch victory in 2016". He made the comment after filing his nomination to contest the party’s presidential primaries on November 7, 2015.
President Mahama noted that the deep-seated trust Ghanaians have in his government will guarantee the NDC a landslide victory in next year’s elections.
“Ghanaians expect the NDC to write chapters in the development history of Ghana and in unity, togetherness, hard work, the grace of God will win us the landmark victory” he stated.
"They [Ghanaians] see in the NDC as a party that has sound leadership and a clear sense of purpose for the development of Ghana"
President Mahama said the NDC still remains the strongest, most united and formidable party which will continue the transformation agenda if retained in power.
He charged party members to work together in unity because “with Christ in our vessel, we shall smile at the storm”
“I look forward to four more years in the Flagstaff House" the President added.
173 COMMUNITY SHS
That notwithstanding, he said his government has been able to roll out the community day senior high schools. He claimed 120 SHS are under construction as part of the progressively free education policy.
He had promised to construct 200 of such schools within four years but he conceded today that the promise is not achievable.
Rather, Ghanaians, he said, should envisage 173 schools by the end of 2016. Since independence the country can boast of only 608 senior high schools, he said to sort of justify his inability to make his mark.
With the new schools, many more children can continue to SHS without having their education truncated at the basic level, he pointed out.
President Mahama revealed that another university would be established in the Eastern Region following the successes of the two in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
He also mentioned what he termed a “significant expansion” in the area of healthcare. He cited the construction of a military hospital in Kumasi in the Ashanti region and dozens of polyclinics and hospitals across the country to be fitted with modern diagnostic equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs).
He said ongoing expansion of water projects would continue to ensure that about 85% coverage is attained nationwide by the end of next year.
MIDDLE INCOME STATUS
President Mahama made reference to the three-year bailout with the IMF. “With two successful reviews of the IMF extended credit facility following our home grown policy, it is very clear that our economy is turning around,” he asserted. He said this is being achieved because he took “quite tough decisions”.
He promised thousands of NDC supporters cheering him up that he will maintain fiscal discipline even during the election year.
“We will accelerate the economic growth of this country and consolidate the transition of Ghana into middle status within the next five years,” President Mahama assured Ghanaians.
ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTION PLAN
He maintained that his government would not give rooms to corrupt people to operate. He said persons who engaged in corruption under his administration are being dealt with according to the laws.
Also a committee would be set up to implement the National Anti-corruption Action Plan, he stated.
The President promised all and sundry that his government will continue to promote tolerance, freedom and justice in the country.
CHRIST IN OUR VESSEL
He called for fair play and decency in the party’s primaries. Meanwhile the only person who showed up to challenge his presidency has been ridiculed and automatically disqualified on technically grounds. Mr. George Boateng a constituency youth organiser was said to have bought a photocopy of the presidential nomination forms.
President John Mahama ended his address on a high hope: “With Christ in our vessel we shall smile at the storm…and by the grace of the almighty God I look forward to four more years in the Flagstaff House.”
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