By Mohammed Balu
Tumu (UWR), Oct. 15, GNA-Former President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to Ghanaians to stage a vote of no confidence to send the ruling NPP government into opposition for the NDC to reset the country.
He said the NPP administration had betrayed the trust and confidence the electorate reposed in them in 2016, and there was a need to vote them out to ensure that next time they take the Ghanaian voter seriously.
Mr John Mahama, flag bearer of the NDC made the appeal in Tumu when he addressed a rally mainly sympathizers of the party.
The former President was in the constituency to galvanise support from the electorate to vote for the NDC to wrestle power from the ruling NPP to exert good governance for Ghanaians.
He said, “The NPP deserves to go back to opposition for the pain they inflicted on Ghanaians for them to reflect on their bad deeds so that they can be considered one day if they change”.
The former president said the 2024 general election was about the economy and unemployment and that the NPP had failed in both areas.
He said the time had come for the elephant party to be sent to the opposition saying, “Luckily, there is a Game Reserve near Tumu, so let’s push them into the forest”.
He stated that in 2017 when he handed over power, the debt level was 67 per cent of GDP and for eight years the NPP moved it to 104 per cent of GDP and that the country’s total public debt was currently over GH¢760 billion as against the GH¢120 billion the NDC left.
According to him, inflation was also down and the people who said the electricity bill was too high were paying more electricity tariffs now while petroleum products were also higher than before.
He said, “When I left power in 2017, the total unemployment rate was 8.4 per cent, which had risen to almost 15 per cent making it difficult for young people to secure jobs.
“The roads we started in the Sisala enclave have been left to deteriorate and fortunately, by the grace of God, your son is coming back as president and I promise to fix the Tumu-Navrongo highway, which will be my number one priority”.
On Agriculture, former president Mahama reiterated the call to create farmer’s service centres, where all farmers would be registered.
“We will implement farming service centres where farmers can access tractors, inputs and fertilizers at a subsidized price so that at the end of the season, farmers will pay back”, he said.
He said, “We will also revive the Cotton Company and cotton farming in Sissala East and West and leave it in the hands of the private sector for better management to bring employment to the youth”.
He said the age-long cattle owners and farmers conflict would be solved under his government to ensure the people lived in peace and harmony with their Fulani counterparts.
He promised the people of Nabulo that he would consider the creation of the Sissala South District if he won but that all the Sissala Chiefs should put in an application for the creation of Sissala South for consideration.
GNA