John Dramani Mahama, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on Ghanaians to vote out the ruling NPP government to save the country.
He emphasized that the only viable option for Ghanaians is to seek change in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Mahama highlighted the alarming rise in unemployment, stating, “Change is coming, and change must come because the unemployment rate could possibly exceed 20% under the current administration, having already increased from 8.4% in 2016 to 14.7%.”
The former President described the 2024 elections as a critical opportunity for change, noting that after eight years of NPP leadership, the country’s economy has deteriorated significantly, causing widespread suffering among citizens.
He pointed out that he had warned a year ago about the crossroads facing Ghana, but the government failed to heed his warnings, leading to the current economic crisis.
“After almost eight years under the deplorable leadership of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia, we have seen our country sink into a serious economic abyss. The current economic mess sums up the verdict on this NPP administration,” Mr. Mahama stated.
He accused the government of masking their incompetence with slogans, noting that no one has been spared from the resulting hardship.
During a media engagement, Mr. Mahama expressed hope, grounded in his faith in God, that together they can turn things around.
He announced plans to hold more media encounters not just in Accra but across the country.
John Mahama believes he is the right leader to restore Ghana’s fortunes, citing his track record in infrastructure development, including the establishment of the Ghana National Gas Company and numerous power plants to address the energy crisis known as “dumsor.”
He outlined five key reasons why he is the right choice to lead Ghana out of its economic troubles:
1. Experience: Mr. Mahama highlighted his experience in navigating Ghana through tough economic times, emphasizing his achievements in infrastructure development and microfinance stability.
2. Visionary Leadership: He promised to revitalize industrialization and improve agriculture, inspired by farmers and fishers. Mr. Mahama believes that agriculture is the foundation of the country’s future and pledged innovative measures to address the frustrations and anger among the youth caused by the failed NPP government.
3. Commitment to Job Creation: Mahama promised to create job opportunities for the youth through a partnership between the government and private businesses.
4. Champion Social Justice and Equality: He assured that gender equality would be a core feature of his administration, proposing a women’s bank that would benefit one million women.
5. National Cohesion: Mr. Mahama vowed to unite Ghanaians, regardless of their political or ethnic backgrounds.
He emphasized the need for Ghana to keep pace with global changes, advocating for a 24-hour economy that would open up foreign markets for Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
He committed to reducing government expenditure by cutting the size of the government, asserting that the current size should not be a standard for governance.
John Mahama concluded by promising to reset the economy and make Ghana open for business 24/7.
He pledged to personally chair an export development program to incentivize businesses to produce for international markets. Mahama believes that the time to replace the non-performing, corrupt government is now, and the 2024 elections are the perfect opportunity to bring about this change.
He also promised to lower internet costs, ensuring everyone has access to connectivity, which he views as essential in the modern world.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites✍️) / Ahotoronline.com
