The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a con man.
According to the party, the former President remains empty, and is not an alternative to the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government.
Speaking at its maiden media engagement dubbed ‘Truth and Facts Series’, on Wednesday 31st May 2023, National Youth Organizer of the party, Salam Mustapha questioned whether the Mahama of 2012-2016 is the same Mahama the NDC is bringing back for 2024.
“John Mahama remains as empty as ever and even more unsure of himself now than ever. He is fond of throwing out policy initiatives on his campaign platform. Promises he has not thought through and has no intention of implementing. If voters dare make the mistake of trying him again. In the memorable words of John Peter Amewu, ‘John Mahama is a con man.’
Ken Ofori-Atta has used less than a year to get Ghana this deal, and that deserves applause, not chastisement.
According to him, the former President claimed he would scrap ex-gratia in a promise he made in 2012 but failed to implement same in the four years he was president.
“He repeated the same promise in 2014 and went back to sleep. Today, he has reawakened the promise, and yet he continues to enjoy ex gratia. That is the mark of a con man. His answer to graduate unemployment is to support Ghanaians with a couple of chicks for backyard poultry.”
“But his four-year record was rather to create unemployment and kill businesses with dumsor. John Mahama will turn off the lights on your dream as a young man or woman.”
World economic meltdown
Salam Mustapha noted that countries across the world are experiencing significant inflation. And this is leading to an increase in the cost of living and its attendant difficulties.
According to him, there are serious economic crises in Europe and even America for the first time in many years.
The story in Africa, he said, is similar with 29 African countries currently before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiating for one programme or the other.
The NPP youth organizer argued it is for these reasons that the attempts to blame the Finance Minister and the government for the economic difficulties are uncalled for. And that Ken Ofori-Atta, at best, deserves commendations for working tirelessly to secure Ghana an IMF deal in record time contrary to false prophecies of the NDC.
According to him, many countries that have gone to the IMF and spent more than a year or two but are yet to get approval from the Fund.
“Ofori-Atta used less than a year to get Ghana this deal, and that deserves applause, not a chastisement,” he said.
He said before Covid-19 struck, Ghana’s economy under the same man was celebrated as the fastest-growing in the world.
“If through fury of nature and a war in Eastern Europe, there is a downturn, it isn’t his fault. We believe sincerely, his portion is not opprobrium and unjustified vilification. Rather, he needs encouragement to get it right and bring us all reprieve,” he added.