Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, says the rising cost of living and disregard for the rule of law under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government have increased public support for the NDC in this year’s election.
Speaking at the “Worship with the Clergy” event in Kumasi, the former president criticized the NPP’s economic management, citing soaring food inflation, the cedi’s depreciation, debt restructuring, and the reemergence of “dumsor” (power outages) due to energy sector debts.
“For some time now, there have been rampant power outages resulting from the current government’s accumulated debt. They’re unwilling to announce a load-shedding timetable, but Ghanaians feel the impact. Food prices are also high—among the highest in Africa according to the World Bank. Ghanaians are tired of the hardship and are calling for the return of the NDC, which has a strong track record in economic management,” Mahama stated.
Addressing recent tensions between Parliament and the Supreme Court, Mahama urged the President to lead by engaging the clergy to mediate between the branches of government. He also called for a constitutional review to reduce dependence on the Supreme Court for interpretations.
“What’s happening in Parliament is easily resolvable if the President calls on both Parliament and the Supreme Court to collaborate, with the clergy’s involvement. I’ve long advocated for a review of our constitution to address recurring issues and avoid frequent visits to the Supreme Court. This will ultimately strengthen our democracy,” he said.
Mahama further pledged that if elected, his government would tackle illegal mining (galamsey) by banning mining in forest reserves and water bodies and enforcing responsible mining practices to protect Ghana’s environment.
“One of the biggest problems in this country is galamsey. Our lands, water bodies, and forests are being destroyed. The NDC will ban mining in rivers and forests to ensure the protection of our environment,” he affirmed.
Emphasizing the importance of democracy, Mahama appealed to the clergy and all Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful election, warning against calls for a return to military rule. He noted that Ghana’s democracy had been rated poorly and expressed concern over young Ghanaians’ declining trust in democratic governance.
“We must not revert to military rule, where power was held through force. Our democracy, which guarantees peace, must be protected at all costs,” Mahama concluded, calling for unity in safeguarding Ghana’s democratic foundation.
Source: OccupyGh.com
Tap To Join Our WhatsApp Community
