Below are some key points as contained in the powerful speech delivered by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of NDC:
“The purpose of celebrating our founder JJ Rawlings is to learn from the principles he tried to put in the psychic of Ghanaians. For each day we do the celebration, we must go home with some takeaways. I want to urge the party that we should take the lead to try to define our national values – there is no country that has developed without regards for its values ”
” We need to ask questions, as Ghanaians, what are our aspirations, what are the things we believe in, what represent our code of conduct. It is not too late. We can look at our great leaders and the values they espouse, even if possible, let us take the debate to Parliament and define our national values to Judge our leadership and citizens. Going forward, so if you are deviating from our national values, there is something we can use to measure our conducts- that our founder JJ Rawlings espoused Probity and accountability. That it doesn’t matter where you are placed or position you occupied as a citizen, you must always remember that you must account for your stewardship how you exercise that authority”
“Our founder was known for his punctuality : he understood time as money and would not tolerate lateness to any event ; is it too much for us to demand punctuality from our citizens?? Let us try and push punctuality into our Citzen and it will help us save a lot of money by using time ”
” JJ Rawlings respected time hence he would apologize to even school children when he was late to any event due to urgent circumstances : it is a value we must take home.
“JJ espoused the value of Positive Defiance. He thought us to be defiant positively and question leadership respectfully when they are doing something wrong but they want to take us along”
” Whatever affects all must be decided by all – JJ held this view and he was tagged as a dictator. Before budget drafts were to be discussed at cabinet, JJ always took steps and called on market women to seek their views first. That is the man we are celebrating today”
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress has ridiculed the recent National Honor awards calling it as awarding of ‘murderers and looters’.
While addressing members of 31st December Movement and NDC sympathizers at 43rd celebration at Nungua today, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah expressed his dissatisfaction against the people who were awarded in spite of the atrocities they have meted to innocent Ghanaians and the country at large.
He was disgusted that, people like Bryan Acheampong, Mavis Hawa Koomson among others were awarded national honours, indicating that national awards should not be reduced to such deliberate glorification of evil doing.
Mr Asiedu explained that, there is no one in Ghana who does not know that Hawa Koomson shot and killed a Ghanaian and in other cases unleashed his vigilante boys to shot, kill and beat innocent citizens at Kasoa during election related activities.
Jokingly, Asiedu Nketiah teased that, “if national awards has become soo cheap this way, then President Akufo-Addo did not do well for Bonos and Asantes for not awarding NPP ‘holigans’ such as; Kwame Baffoe (Abronye) NPP Chairman of Bono region and Bernard Antwi Bosiako (Wontumi), Ashanti Regional chairman of NPP.”
However, the NDC chairman suggested that, a national bipartisan committee should be established to handle the process of selecting and awarding national heroes and heroines.
He charged the NDC members to safeguard the values of the 31st December Movement which are probity, equity and accountability while serving the nation with spirit of patriotism.
Other speakers like Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of NDC and Dr Zenator Rawlings, MP for Korle Klottey and daughter of former President J.J. Rawlings took turns to emphasis the significance of 31st December Movement to Ghanaians.
Compiled By: Bismark Kwabla Kpobi
Team Member in Charge of Social Media, PR, and Publicity
INTRODUCTION
The 2024 retail campaign led by Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah was the third arm of H.E. John Mahama’s NDC campaign. The team embarked on a retail campaign in rural parts of the constituency, covering community to community, traditional areas, constituencies, and regions for almost three months.
CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCES
As stated earlier, we campaigned in very hard-to-reach rural communities to canvass for their votes and support for H.E. John Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates across the country. Through our journey, interactions, observations, and many more, we identified thematic areas of challenges that the Mahama and Jane NDC government must address.
DEVELOPMENTAL GAPS AND CHALLENGES
1. ROAD CHALLENGES
It will surprise you to know that the roads projects the NPP government has been touting to have constructed are nowhere to be seen in the country. Aside from regional capitals and some parts of major roads, almost all district roads are very bad with huge potholes and dust.
Solution: H.E. John Mahama’s NDC government must prioritize all cocoa roads projects for re-awarding and continuation by giving time limits for their completion with firm supervision to ensure quality works by the contractors for the roads to last. Formation of a Cashew Board which will also take care of roads in cashew-growing communities in the Bono regions. Lastly, the remaining roads should also be awarded for construction to boost transportation of goods and people for economic growth. All MMDCEs must be held accountable for any conflicts associated with project awards and construction.
2. TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK CHALLENGES
It is unfortunate that the sloganeering ‘digitalization’ is not felt in major parts of the country. Most communities have been cut off from the world entirely and are living in ignorance or misinformation and disinformation since they don’t have access to internet connectivity to cross-check facts and information. Chiefs, Assembly members, etc. lamented on the repercussions on their education, health, and security, etc.
Solution: It is my suggestion that the next Minister for Telecommunication embark on holistic rural telecommunication connectivity in collaboration with MTN and Telecel companies across every community by building their poles and mast bags and ensuring there are continuous flows of telecommunication signals. This will go a long way to help with information dissemination, education, communication with families and loved ones, emergency situations, etc. It can be done before the end of this year’s term of office.
3. PORTABLE WATER CHALLENGES
We say ‘water is life,’ but many are wallowing in dust and bushes without access to water, even as the rains didn’t stop entirely. Most communities experience water challenges with people sharing waterlogged ponds with animals.
Solution: The government should take a keen interest in constructing dams and mechanized boreholes for the people in every community to take their burdens off. 21st-century people shouldn’t be walking miles to go and fetch dirty water to cool and bathe. The Pwalugu Dam should be taken care of fast to shoulder some communities.
4. HEALTH FACILITIES
Due to the roads’ nature, poor telecommunications networks, many communities are without accessible good health facilities. Even those with CHPs zones and Health centers are without drugs and logistics to work and take care of the health needs of the people. Some constituencies are without District Hospitals, e.g., WA East, etc. In times of emergencies, the victims are then carried on motorbikes through deplorable roads and dusts to very far to reach health facilities. This leads to contamination of the injuries with dusts and worsening of the health conditions in cases of fractures, labor, etc.
Solution: As a health professional with over 8 years of practice, I would love to suggest to H.E. John Mahama to intentionally embark on expansion projects of hospitals – CHPs Zones into Health Centers, Health Centers into Polyclinics by equipping the facilities with medication, logistics, and human resources by providing staff bungalows to entice the workers to those rural areas. Train more nurses and post them timely with some incentives to entice them to work in those areas.
5. EDUCATION FACILITIES
We always say ‘education is the master key,’ but we hardly make conscious efforts to implement policies to ensure quality basic education in our rural communities. Having gone through most rural communities, we saw how communities are without proper school infrastructure, and teachers. Pupils are dirty without uniforms and shoes; some are under trees or temporal dilapidated structures with very limited chairs and tables.
6. ELECTRICITY EXPANSION CHALLENGES
If it hadn’t been for this campaign, we wouldn’t have known that some big communities are without electricity, even in the Ashanti Region. Some communities lack electricity poles, while others have outgrown their existing electricity infrastructure. This leaves the communities in darkness at night, especially when engaging with people and driving through communities during campaigns.
Solution: Where electricity is lacking, Gridco and ECG must embark on “operation experience electricity.” Where communities need extensions, there should be “operation light every corner.”
7. EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES
It is heartbreaking to see many people wallowing in abject poverty. Their children, who are of age to help with jobs, also lack employment, leading to them living in villages and, in some cases, impregnating girls, starting another cycle of poverty. H.E. John Mahama should fast-track the free apprenticeship program to train many with skills, enabling them to secure employment. Those with education should be considered for security services, allowing them to support their families. Providing a conducive environment with good policies and opportunities will give hope and faith to many, enabling them to thrive on their own.
8. FARMING SUPPORTS CHALLENGES
Rural communities are largely composed of farmers. With good roads and a farming support system, they will be able to produce foodstuffs to feed the entire country, reducing the importation of such goods.
Solution: I am happy that Mahama NDC’s manifesto promises Farming Services Centres. We must ensure this policy is well-implemented to help our farmers access support for their farming endeavors.
CONCLUSION
Although the NDC has won the election massively, we must not take the people for granted if we intend to stay in government for long to reset the country. The campaign experiences will guide some of us to continue reminding the NDC government to remember our campaign promises to the people and not be complacent and arrogant in power.
