Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Mahama has described sod-cuttings by the government as election approaches as ‘Sakawa’.
According to the flagbearer of the opposition NDC, funding for these projects is non-existent.
His comments are in view of the recent sod-cutting ceremonies for the commencement of various projects across the country by the President, Akufo-Addo and other officials of government.
Speaking at the NDC’s Town Hall meeting held in Kumasi, John Mahama questioned the authenticity of those projects, explaining that funding for the projects is neither captured in the budget nor approved by parliament.
“If they come to your town to cut sod for a project ask them two questions, let them tell you if the project were captured under the 2020 budget or whether parliament has approved a loan for the project. If they’re unable to answer then it means the sod cutting is a scam, it’s because of the elections. It is sakawa or 419,” Mahama said.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia alleged that the NPP is suddenly implementating the policies listed out in the NDC’s People’s Manifesto despite its backlash.
His comment comes on the back of government’s U-turn in legalising the okada business in the country after vehemently opposing the NDC’s proposal to do so.
“They always call us dumb. We sat to write our small manifesto and now the brilliant ones have started implementing that. So I ask, between the dumb student and teacher, who is dumb?” he queried.
Former Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku says the NPP’s stronghold of Ashanti Region is yet to benefit from the $140 billion loan contracted by Akufo-Addo since he became president.
He believes the NDC is miles ahead in infrastructural development.
“We roofed and screened the maternity and baby unit at KATH. Later we realised the machinery and furnishing was capital intensive so we started looking for funds to complete it.
“Unfortunately, the NDC lost elections and the NPP abandoned it. They just went back to it and they’re saying we neglected it. We have weighed the two parties and we now know the difference,” he stated.
