Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has slammed the NDC government, noting that President Mahama’s much-touted 24-hour economy has become a “24-hour demolition exercise”
The NPP flagbearer argued that the NPP is struggling to fulfil its lofty promises to Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
Addressing NPP delegates during the National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, Dr Bawumia stated, “The NDC promised Ghanaians and the youth of this country in search of jobs a flagship 24-hour economy with one job, three shifts and 3 people (1-3-3). Nearly two years have passed, and the jobs have not come or even shown any signs of coming.”
“The young graduate and artisan who voted for the NDC because of this sweet promise of a dramatic job boom through the 1 job 3 shifts, 3 people offer under the NDC is still waiting for his or her shift”, Dr Bawumia said.
He added, “Sadly, the promised 24-hour economy jobs have now turned into 24-hour demolition of buildings for a so-called 24-hour market, even the NDC cannot explain.”
Dr Bawumia added, “Today, the barber shop owner, the hair salon operator, the bread baker and many young businesses who were promised better electricity tariffs are now striving to survive because much of their sales are going into electricity bills under the NDC government”.
“Records show how the programme saved our economy from a serious crisis and revamped the Cedi. And the programme is today the major support behind the stability of the cedi, and with it the easing of inflation and interest rates that this government now celebrates. Ironically, key officials of the government today opposed the policy when it was introduced, vehemently claiming it was not feasible”, he said.
He further accused the NDC of making unrealistic promises to end galamsey.
He added, “Ghanaians are reminded every day of how the NDC and its senior officials, many of whom are Cabinet Ministers and top CEOs today, lambasted the NPP government and told Ghanaians that they possessed the magic to end galamsey instantly if voted into office. Today, under their watch, in nearly two years, galamsey has grown embarrassingly worse”.
Dr Bawumia also claimed the Free SHS programme is suffering after the NDC promised to improve it.
He added, “After they promised to improve meals for students, today it has deteriorated. Many of our young BECE graduates are being deliberately cut off from Free SHS, and what frustrated parents are told by the government is that their wards have deservedly failed”.
“The promises to cocoa farmers to increase the cocoa price to GHC 6500 have turned out to be a scam. The promise of automatic posting of teachers and nurses…has turned out to be another scam. Even their much-touted Nkoko nkitikiti program has failed”.
Meanwhile, Mahama Ayariga, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has announced that the government is reviewing the design and scope of its flagship 24-hour model market initiative and plans to rename the project “District Model Markets”.
The Local Government Minister disclosed that the review followed consultations on how best to align the projects with available resources for their completion in two years.
Mahama Ayariga disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama had already cut the sod for the commencement of the flagship markets in seven regions, noting that the projects are now at various stages of development across the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 5, Mr Ayariga stated, “Deliberations are ongoing with a view to remodelling the designs and rescoping the project to fit readily available budget and urgent need to complete the markets within two years”.
He further disclosed that negotiations had been completed to enable contractors to return to site to complete the Kumasi Central Market Phase II and Takoradi Market Circle projects.
Mr Ayairga added that the market programme would form part of the government’s broader efforts to promote local economic development and improve trading infrastructure.
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