“UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAHAMA ADMINISTRATION WAS A FANTASY, EXISTING IN THE GREENBOOK,AND NOT ON THE GROUND” – President Akufo-Addo!
Only a person whose mind is full of mischiefs, propaganda and lies could have said such a petty thing. I felt extremely sad that the President of such a Great nation resorted to lying brazenly. Facts don’t matter to President Akufo-Addo. He doesn’t have anything to talk about his own achievements.
Instead of exposing the President’s lies and cheap propaganda, the Npp media machine has focused its energies not merely on building up the failed President and his administration but on pulling down anyone who exposes or criticises him. The media’s silence is a measure of the success of the Akufo-Addo government in controlling the media’s agenda.
When a journalists, presenter or a producer persists in ignoring advice to withhold criticism or to avoid associating Akufo-Addo’s name with stories of disappointment with his government, the heat is turned on, a boycott of the programme, platform or refusal to grant interviews by government officials, party officials and threat to close down the radio station. Most media owners in the country, who band together to lobby for fiscal and other concessions rarely, if ever, band together to defend their journalists’ right to report freely. This makes it easier to turn the screws on them. Compounding the situation is the system manner in which the government and its propagandists have gone about trying to discredit the professional media.
The President will continue to lie abd deceive the masses because, the media has still not forced him to substantiate those frivolous allegations he made in 2016. The First Deputy Speaker lied that the former first lady was putting up a warehouse inside the flagstaff house. He was rewarded with that important position for spewing that dangerous lie. Bawumia has still not furnished us with the names and identities of the rest of the Togolese who were registered by the Electoral Commission. The President has still not tell us why he said cost of certain projects executed by the last administration were inflated. Npp executives and communicators have still not provided details (evidence) of the hotels they claimed Mahama owned in Dubai and Japan. The Cedi is on its knees but the media will not force Bawumia to explain why he has reneged on his cedi revolution agenda. Our debt has increased exponentially but our media still sees this danger as something ordinary. What about the the tall promises? So, the President will still have the courage and confidence to lies to Ghanaians and blame his abysmal performance and unprecedented incompetence on his predecessor.
In his 2015 State of the Nation address, President Mahama clearly stated his road policy. He said “We are working on many road projects to open up the country to reduce traffic accidents, boost economic activities, and bring foodstuffs to the market centers with ease”. He said, the project would see investments of about GHC 1 billion in roads commencing that year and ending in 2019. He told Parliament that the project were going to be funded with a mix cocoa infrastructure fund and government of Ghana budgetary support. He delivered as he promised and it touched every part of the country. This revolutionised the road network. The projects include; Tetteh Quarshie- Madina, Nsawan- Apedwa road, Buipe-Tamale, Fufulso- Swala, Dodi-Pepesu Nkwanta, Tarkwa- Bogoso-Ayamfuri road, Ayamfuri-Asawunso road, Wa-Han, Awoshie-Anyan, Burma Camp road, Sunyani road, Kansaworodo- Bypass, Nkrumah Interchange, Kasoa Interchange, Bridge over Benya Lagoon at Elmina,Nadowli- Lawra-Hamile, Navrongo-Tumu,Bolgatanga-Bongo, Wikongo-Tongo,Bolga- Bawku, Misiga-Kulungu,Sandema-Wiesi, Asikuma Junction-Kpeve, Sagokope-Battor, Juapong-Fodzoku, Kete Krachie- Buya, Ho-Fume, Worawora-Dambai, Ho- Adidomme, Adutor-Akutuope, Metrikasa- Havedzi,Golokwati-Wli-Hohoe, Sewhi Bekwai-Eshiem, Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra, Enchi-Oseikojokrom, Juaboso-Bodi-Akomtombra, Nkawkaw-Namase, Wenchi-Sampa, Mankesim-Abura Dunkwa, Assin Twifo Praso, Essiam Town roads, Breman Asikuma- Amanfopong, Atebubu- Kwame Danso-Kwadwokrom, Dormaa Ahenkro-Nkrankwanta, Asiwa-Bekwai, Bekwai-Ampaha, Kumawu-Timaate-Drobonso, Obuasi-Dunkwa-Ayamfuri, Kwafokrom-Apedwa, Nsawan-Aburi, Suhum-Asamankese, Nkawkaw-Atibie, Koforidua-Bunso junction.
The Mahama administration also rehabilitated the Adomi bridge at Senchi, Atimpoku. The government also rehabilitated and constructed new road in Sekondi Takoradi. Also the administration embarked in expansion work at this Takoradi port to reduce cost of operations at the port and also support Ghana’s traditional exports that pass through the port. The project included the development of an oil service facility by reclaiming and redeveloping an old oil log pond at the part to support the oil industry. Other works included dredging, and the construction of not only cocoa sheds outside the port premises, but also quay walls of 500 meters, and 650- meter deep oil berth.
All these roads have brought immense social benefits to the good people of Ghana. They have also eased traffic and helping motorists to make savings on fuel consumption and maintenance cost.
INTERESTING TWIST(S)-
Former President Mahama in his last State of the Nation address, mentioned a number of projects his administration had implemented and those the government had secured fund to execute.
He said: a number of major road and many other projects are ongoing such as the Tema motorway roundabout decongestion project and a new bridge from flowerpot roundabout on the Spintex Road over the Accra-Tema motorway into East Legon. There are others ready to commence with financing arranged such as the Obetsebi Lamptey interchange, the Pokuase interchange, and Motorway expansion project among others.”
As far back as 2013, the Mahama administration had planned the expansion of the Tema motorway. Mr Mahama said in 2013 that, his “government would soon expand the Tema motorway into a six lane with an interchange at the Tema roundabout to ease traffic congestion and avoid numerous crashes along the road”. In the original plan, apart from providing an ultramodern interchange in the city, an ambulance centre, fire station and a police station were also be built under the interchange to cater for emergencies and criminal activities within the vicinity. President Mahama also announced that government would also change the Accra-Kumasi road into a dual carriage way to reduce the perennial traffic congestion between the two cities. He also announced his government’s plan to increase rail and sea transport policy to give commuters more choices in the transport industry.
In the President’s own town, the Mahama government established a water project at a cost of 7.9 million euros to serve Kyebi and surrounding communities. The President, in his 12 years as member of Parliament for the area did nothing about the problem. The only water facility in the area was established during the CPP administration which to serve a population of 5,000 people. The Mahama administration took a concessionary loan from Australia to establish the water project to serve a population of about 30,000.
-Is the President telling Ghanaians that he is not aware of the establishment of that facility
-What about the Kyebi town roads
-The President in opposition alleged that the Mahama administration had inflated cost of some project. How can cost of projects that do not exist on the ground be inflated?
What about projects such as:
-The Accra Digital Centre
-The Data center
-The NCA tower
-The Exim bank
-The Terminal 3 and the shops now being occupied by sons and daughters of government officials
-The Expanded ports
-The excess power his administration is exporting to neighboring States
-The Ghc 500 million his government saves annually as a result of the establishment of the Atuabo gas plant
By Ohenenana Obonti Krow