Name one Akufo-Addo project in Ashanti Region, Mahama dares NPP
Mahama challenges the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to cite a single project it has undertaken in its stronghold, Ashanti Region, within the past four years
The presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has dared the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to mention a single project the party has undertaken in the Ashanti Region.
The former president, who began his campaign tour in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, 10 November 2020, to canvass votes in the lead-up to the 7 December polls, said the governing NPP has taken the people of Ashanti Region for granted, despite being its stronghold.
He urged electorates in the region to vote the governing NPP out of power because the party has failed to undertake any significant development in the region.
Lack of commitment
Mahama reiterated the long-held narrative by NDC party members that the NPP has not shown a commitment to developing the Ashanti Region, despite having the support base.
The former president emphasised that President Akufo-Addo cannot boast of one significant project in the Ashanti Region.
“When I was leaving power, from previous governments to president Kufuor’s term in office to mine, Ghana’s debt stood at GHS122 billion. Within four years Akufo-Addo has added GHS143 billion,” Mahama told Kumasi-based Ultimate FM.
“In four years, I added GHS56 billion to Ghana’s debt but I can show you many things that I did with 56 billion. However, despite adding 143 billion to Ghana’s debt, President Akufo-Addo cannot boast of building a single hospital, school, extending electricity or constructing roads across the country,” he added.
He stressed that Ghana’s public debt stood at GHS120 billion when the NDC left power in 2016, but the country’s debt has spiked in just three and a half years under the Akufo-Addo-led government.
He ridiculed the NPP, saying that despite the huge debt the ruling party has only built toilets and still owes some 538 toilet contractors for nonpayment after work was done.
NDC did more for Ashanti Region
Mahama said the NDC while in power undertook major developments in the region, including the construction of the Afari Media Hospital, Kejetia Market and others.
He challenged the NPP and the president to come out and tell Ghanaians the projects the party has undertaken in the region within the last four years to deserve the votes of the electorates in the 7 December polls.
“Electorates in Ashanti Region continue to vote for the NPP but the region has not seen any major development. The NPP and President Nana Akufo-Addo should mention just one project – not toilets – the party has undertaken in the region,” Mahama dared the governing NPP.
Nathaniel Crabbe
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