The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cautioned Ghanaians against the sugar-coated words of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leader, Mr John Dramani Mahama, on lifting the ban on the commercialisation of motorcycles operations.
According to the NPP, if former President Mahama could not enforce the ban he placed on that business, he could not be trusted to regulate it.
Addressing journalists in Accra yesterday, a former Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea, indicated that in 2012, the okada business was banned under Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (L.I 2180) because then NDC government could not enforce the laid down regulations.
“…Now he says that he is going to lift the ban and regulate them, but it was precisely because he could not enforce the regulations,” he said.
Before the ban, some regulations were that okada riders must wear helmets, license their bikes, needed a license to operate, and had to obey traffic rules.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea, said: “…because he (Mahama) couldn’t ensure that those [regulations] were enforced that’s why he banned them.
“So, now that you say you are going to bring the regulations: the regulations are already there. How do you then convince us this time that you will be able to enforce the regulations,” he opined.
Nana Akomea believed it was valid for Mr Mahama to answer the question as to why he could not enforce the law when he had power.
Acknowledging the hassle of the okada riders, Nana Akomea stated: “He hasn’t answered the question why he banned Okada. And what was the problem of Okada? The problem was with the nature of the operation,” he enlightened.
Speaking on the banking sector crisis, Nana Akomea noted that the NDC’s intervention to provide liquidity support to banks which were on the verge of collapse, without effective supervision, was catastrophic, to say the least.
He remarked that monies allocated to safeguard depositors’ funds were insensitively misappropriated by heads of the banking institutions, with government making no effort to demand accountability.
On the contrary, Nana Akomea said President Akufo-Addo showed decisive leadership by cutting the rot that had engulfed Ghana’s financial system.
He also spoke on what he termed as empty promises and double standards of the NDC.
He said: “The NDC, over the years, has proven to be gravely inconsistent, especially under the leadership of Mr. Mahama. One would expect that as an opposition, they would have drawn lessons from their incompetence in managing the economy and safeguarding the welfare of Ghanaians.”
He continued: “Characteristic of the NDC, a myriad of empty promises has been made to hoodwink [the] electorate. Is it not interesting that the NDC is promising to pay depositors of [the] defunct financial institutions, when the ruling NPP has settled over 90% of the customers and is in the process of making good the rest?
“Is it not this same NDC that superintended the collapse of the financial sector and denied depositors of DKM and other microfinance institutions any compensation? So I ask, what has changed? I suppose your guess is as good as mine. This is an obvious demonstration of gross incompetence.
“We must commit to keep progress on course by voting for the NPP, come December 7, 2020. We cannot afford to take Ghana back to the dark days under Mr. Mahama.”
He reminded Ghanaians that the NDC has always doubted the promises of the NPP, which have later turned to be beneficial to Ghanaians hence there is no need to return them to power come the December 2020 elections.
“Friends of the media, we all are witnesses to the unambitious proclamation by the NDC that Free SHS was only possible in 20 years. That assertion boldly exemplified their penchant for glorifying mediocrity. Today, they have made a sudden U-turn on what they hitherto considered impossible.
“Again, under the erstwhile NDC administration, the Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (L.I 2180) which outlawed the ‘Okada’ business was passed. It is therefore unfathomable that the same party that criminalised ‘Okada’ business is today trumpeting the legalisation of same as a headline campaign message.
“Dr. Bawumia’s caution of a banking sector crisis prior to the 2016 general elections only for it to occur affirms the NPP’s ability to effectively identify challenges in the economy. Sadly, not only did the incompetent NDC fail to take action to avert the crisis, but also they emotionally assaulted victims of the financial sector crisis. Asiedu Nketia’s disparaging comment added salt to the injuries of the victims. Interestingly, the same party is today promising to “reimburse them” when elected. God save Ghanaians from such deliberate deceit!
“The NDC’s recent promise to pay customers of DKM, when they earlier described the victims as reckless investors, is a manifestation of double standards. Evidently, Mr. Mahama and his NDC, when in government, find it expedient to cancel what is good for Ghanaians – such as the teachers’ and nurses’ trainee allowances, only to promise their restoration when in opposition,” he reminded Ghanaians.
He concluded: “Such U-turns are not accidental, rather, they are clear manifestations of Mr. Mahama’s indecisiveness, lack of credibility, penchant for vain promises intended to score cheap political points, and his general insensitivity to the plight of Ghanaians, particularly victims of the financial sector crisis, which thrived under his watch.
“It had to take the promise-keeper, President Akufo-Addo, to clean the financial sector mess, inject the requisite financial resources that saved existing financial institutions from collapsing, and prevent the loss of jobs. By the end of October, 2020, all affected persons would have received their investments in full. This can only happen under an Akufo-Addo-led government, in spite of the ravaging effects of COVID-19. Let us ask Mr. Mahama whether he still considers Ghanaians as having short memories, hence, cannot remember his misdeeds? Although Mr. Mahama doubts our ability to remember, his continuous display of double standards and vain promises clearly indicate the kind of leadership he offers, as opposed to that of the promise-keeper, President Akufo-Addo.
“Ghanaians have seen the light of progress and inclusive development under President Akufo-Addo. We also witnessed the deprivation, stagnation and selectivity that characterised the Mahama-led government. We cannot afford to take Ghana back to the dark days under Mr. Mahama. We rather must commit to keep progress on course by voting for the NPP come December 7, 2020.”
The post Don’t trust Mahama on Okada legalisation pledge -NPP appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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