Omane Boamah Questions Bawumia’s Political Sincerity

‘Consider Busia’s Ban On University & Poly Students’ Allowances Too’

The Minister of Communications, has asked Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to be sincere by considering the university and polytechnic students in their promise to restore allowances for teacher trainees and trainee nurses, as part of their 2016 electioneering campaign.

According to Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the allowances for university and polytechnic students in Ghana, were first scrapped by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia; one of the founders of NPP’s tradition, hence if Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia, and the NPP were considering restoring the scrapped teacher and nurses allowances, they must first consider revising Dr. Busia’s policy to bring parity and equity.

He suggested that, the former deputy Bank of Ghana (GoG) governor, and three time running mate of the NPP, was only making unrealistic campaign promises to score cheap political points for students’ votes in the coming elections.

Dr. Omane Boamah, addressing members of the Tertiary Education Institute Network (TEIN) of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the University of Ghana – Legon, advised the students to stick to the party at all times, especially as the campaign for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, draws near.

The public lecture at the Akuafo Hall themed, “Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana-The Key Issues”, was held last Wednesday.

Speaking to a hall filled to capacity, Dr. Omane Boamah, charged the students never to fall for the propaganda by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) where they question the TEIN members, what they have gotten, since the NDC took the reign of power.

Dr. Omane Boamah, who spoke as the Guest Speaker for the programme said, the NDC government, does not believe in working for only it members or selected few, but aims at working for the general populace.

He said, the party belongs to every member and it has over the years shown that, it does not discriminate against any tribe or group, unlike it closest opponent, whose claim that it is for all, exist only on paper. “The queue is shorter here. We don’t believe in what your background is”, he reminded the students amidst thunderous applauds and cheers.

The Minister, charged the students to work hard to support the national campaign to sustain the NDC in power, so that their individual goals and that of all Ghanaians, could be achieved.

“We have every reason to be proud of our party and our government. Let us expose the light wherever we find ourselves”, he tasked the students.

In his view, the NDC, which was formed as a national party cuts across every ethnic, tribal or religious divide and so whenever members distinguish themselves creditably, the party, will be prepared to support them to attain higher height.

On the impending elections, Dr. Omane Boamah, enumerated sector by sector, the many projects, infrastructural developments that have been built under the four year mandate of President John Dramani Mahama.

On the educational sector, he said the many infrastructural projects springing up across the country, were unparallel to any government in the country’s history. “The massive infrastructure in the educational sector is unparallel”, he noted.

He encouraged the students to take advantage of government’s decision to build Communication Information Centres (CIC), nationwide by not limiting themselves to what they studied in school, but venture in to ICT to explore the many opportunities that exist there.

He told the students that, they do not need any special training, because so long as they have had average education, they are free to enter into that field. “I want to encourage you not to just restrict yourselves to your field of studies”, he said.

On the economy he said, Ghana attaining the Lower Middle Income status though was in the right direction, it affected the sector, because some of the things that the country enjoyed before attaining that status, could not be enjoyed or were reduced drastically, and this played critical role in that sector.

He mentioned that, the status led to Ghana paying higher interest rate on loans, removal or reduction of grants from donor countries and organizations and so on.

The party’s Deputy Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer, Edudzi Tamakloe, said the NDC would have to work hard to retire the NPP’s three times presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.

He said, Nana Addo, should not be allowed to get close to the presidency, because he cannot hold the nation together.

The young lawyer said, If the students doubted him, they should “look at how he has managed his party which is just a fraction of the nation; the disarray and the battling of anyone who dissented from his views”.

He continued that, because the 72-year-old sees defeat staring him in the face, he has resorted to “emotional blackmail”, pleading “I beg you try me”.

According to him, when such a candidate, who has a bad record of performance, says this, and Ghanaians give him the mandate, and he fails, “what are you going to
do”?

He examined the two main contenders of the upcoming elections describing, Nana Akufo Addo and President John Mahama as “night and day”.
According to him, the two men can be examined by looking at the chaos in the opposition party and the peace enjoyed in the governing party.

“We can’t risk this country into the hands of him [Nana Addo]”, he told the students.

Other speakers were, former Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi and now chairman of the Energy Commission, Dr. Kwame Ampofo, as well as the chairman of Workers
and Lecturers Caucus of NDC at the University of Ghana, Prof. Kodwo Gavua.