The National Democratic Congress (NDC) transition team must be politically assertive and wise to avoid falling into the propaganda traps set by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during their eight years in power. It is crucial for the transition team to set the record straight and expose the economic mismanagement and corruption of the previous government, providing Ghanaians with a clear understanding of the true state of the economy.
Dr. Tony Aidoo, a former Senior Presidential Aide and Head of Policy and Evaluation under the late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, made these remarks on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He believes that the NPP has a history of creating political and economic deficits that set the stage for the new government to fail. According to Dr. Aidoo, the NPP’s failures have become an albatross around the neck of the incoming administration.
He emphasized the urgency for the transition team to clearly outline the mismanagement and corruption across various sectors, engaging in bipartisan discussions to help the new government transition smoothly and reset the country’s trajectory.
Dr. Aidoo also referenced former President John Agyekum Kufuor of the NPP, who left behind an unfinished policy on a single salary structure for the civil service when he exited in 2008. He argued that this was another tactic by the NPP to tarnish the image of the incoming NDC government led by John Dramani Mahama.
In a related development, President Mahama expressed shock over the severity of the looming power crisis as he assumed office. This concern was echoed by John Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, who warned of a severe fuel shortage that threatens to plunge the country into an energy crisis, commonly referred to as “dumsor.”
Following President Mahama’s inauguration on January 7, 2024, Jinapor revealed that Ghana’s fuel reserves were critically low, with only five hours of supply remaining. He criticized the outgoing administration for failing to secure adequate fuel supplies, leaving the incoming government in a precarious position.
During a meeting with a delegation from the World Bank, President Mahama emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating crisis, stating that immediate action is required to prevent widespread power outages. “The transition has taken place smoothly and cordially, but there are a few surprises regarding the energy sector and certain government decisions over the past seven years. However, Ghana has the human resources to address the situation and turn things around quickly,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) urged President Mahama to act swiftly to avert the possibility of a dumsor crisis.
Story By: Alexander Kukah
