Mills barks at NPP leadership SHUT UP!

… You destroyed the economy and I need time to fix it

By Isaac Akwetey, Donkorkrom

President John Atta Mills

President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills has descended heavily on the erstwhile Kufour led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for what he described as their continuous destructive criticisms to derail his administration’s agenda of achieving a ‘Better Ghana’.

President John Evans Atta Mills called on the leadership of the opposition NPP, who have subjected his government to unending criticisms to ‘shut up’, because they have nothing better to offer this country.

According to the President, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has been in office for nine months out of the four years mandate, and the government has already demonstrated that it has what it takes to change the country’s hard economic situation to the advantage of Ghanaians.

The President pointed out that the NPP was speaking as if they left money in the national coffers for development purposes, insisting that his government inherited virtually empty coffers.

Buttressing his assertion, he said his visit to one of the district assemblies in the Brong-Ahafo Region uncovered a debt of GH¢17 million Ghana cedis, yet the same people who caused the problems are not giving his government any breathing space to correct the mess.

President Mills, who was addressing the chiefs and people of Donkorkrom in the Afram plains, during his recent visit to the Eastern region to thank the people for his electoral success, reiterated that his government met what can best be described as a broken economy, and pleaded with the people to give him time to fix it. The obviously emotional President, asked the people what sort of development the past NPP administration brought to them over the past eight years.

He assured the audience that his team was not disturbed about the criticisms of government by its opponents, because they have the ability to stabilize the economy. According to him, the NDC is in power to create jobs and improve upon the living standard of the people.

President Mills stated that his party had pledged to use the resources of the country to benefit the people, but not for their families and cronies. This, he hoped, would entice Ghanaians to retain his party in power, come 2012.

He assured the inhabitants of the area about NDC’s commitment and readiness to justify the confidence reposed in the party and government, by ensuring that they get their fair share of the national cake.

He expressed appreciation to the founder of the NDC - Jerry John Rawlings, who has shown keen interest in the development of the area, and promised to continue from where the former President left.

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Joe Gidisu, on his part said the NDC has not come to the area to make new promises, but to reaffirm the party’s dedication and commitment in ensuring the development of the area as captured in their 2008 manifesto.

Prior to the durbar, the President visited Kwanim GDK Farms at Kwasi Fante, suburb of Maame Krobo, to acquaint himself with activities on the farm.

He was overwhelmed with the impressive state of the farm, and assured his government’s support to the management, to make the Afram Plains area Ghana’s food basket.

Addressing a similar durbar at Akropong, President Mills acknowledged the hard economic crisis Ghanaians are going through but quickly called on the citizenry to exercise patience and have faith in the NDC government.

The former law lecturer stressed that even though he is a member of the NDC, he would ensure that no Ghanaian, irrespective of his or her political, education or cultural background would be deprived of their equal share of the national cake..

However, he disclosed that the issue of improving the standard of living of the people was not the sole responsibility of government, but a collective responsibility of positive minded Ghanaians.

To this end, he appealed to the people of the Eastern Region and Ghanaians as a whole to support the NDC government to turn round the economy. President Mills asked Political office holders to be mindful of the fact that they have a sacred responsibility, since the destiny of the country has been entrusted in their hands. Addressing the three Krobo states at Somanya, the President assured the people of his government’s readiness and commitment to provide potable drinking water and to improve the condition of roads in the area.

The chiefs raised serious concerns over the poor condition of road network and the inability to access potable drinking water, even though the area is close to the Akosombo dam.

CHRONICLE