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The Eastern Regional Executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress have expressed disappointment at the Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo led administration for failing to fulfill the lofty promises he made to his people
Below is the full statement
MAIDEN EDITION OF THE “EASTERN: εFIE NYε”SERIES” BY THE COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, EASTERN REGION.
DATE: 22ND SEPTEMBER, 2020
TIME: 1:00PM
VENUE: REGIONAL SECRETARIAT, KOFORIDUA
Ladies and Gentlemen from the press, on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by President John Dramani Mahama, we welcome you to our maiden edition of the “Eastern: εfie nyε” series.
The Eastern Region is the home region of the sitting President who doubles as the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party. Expectations were that, the region would witness unprecedented development if no other region did.
Unfortunately the situation in Eastern region can be summarized as, “Home No Good” (In Twi, we say, “Eastern: εfie nyε”; In Krobo, “W’emi Hi” And in Ewe, “Afε me menyo”). Indeed, we the people of Eastern Region, are disappointed in Nana Akufo-Addo and his government. He came to power on the basis of lofty promises such as: One village one dam, one constituency; one million dollars; putting money in our pockets among others.
When he assured us that, “Yεte sika so nanso kɔm de yɛn” little did we know in less than four years he was going to borrow over One Hundred and Thirty Billion Ghana Cedis (GHC 130 Billion), use the money to seek the welfare of his close family members and friends to the neglect of Eastern region and Ghana as a whole. Sadly, this is what the Family and friends Akufo-Addo government has delivered.
You all know the monumental projects and programmes President John Dramani Mahama delivered nationwide – Hospitals, Community Day Schools, roads, port expansion etc. – when he added a little over GHC 50 Billion to the national debt. So, today, we ask what has Akufo-Addo used the over GHC130Billion for? ‘Nana na sika no w) he’?
Specifically, in today’s “Eastern: εfie nyε” series, we seek to make three major observations:
1. Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP have woefully failed the Eastern Region, ‘εfie nyε’. And has only delivered or partially delivered just a paltry 14.28% (3 out of the 21) of the promises they made to the people of Eastern Region in the 2016 elections.
2. Even for the abysmal 14.28% of promises delivered, its deployment was discriminatory and selectively targeted to benefit a few in the Eastern region because major parts of the region have been neglected.
3. On account of this, we submit that, President John Dramani Mahama has superior record of achievement in the Eastern region, he distributed development equitably within the Eastern Region, not just for a few, and can be trusted but NOT Akufo-Addo.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We proceed to adduce evidence to support why the Eastern region is saying ‘εfie nyε’:
1. Nana Akufo-Addo Has Failed the Eastern Region on His promises and Scores a Paltry 14.28%.
So far, we have counted up to 21 promises by Nana Akufo-Addo that potentially impacted the Eastern Region. The sources are shown in Figure 1:
Figure 1: Sources of Nana Akufo-Addo’s promises to the Eastern Region
From this framework, we then developed a measuring mechanism based on the current state of delivery of the promises (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Measuring Campaign Promises Outcomes
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press in the Eastern region, on account of this sound methodology, we proceed to present Nana Akufo-Addo’s abysmal score card.
We start with the Manifesto promises:
No PROMISE PAGE NO REMARKS STATUS
1 1 District 1 Factory in all 32 MDAs 10 Over 18 Districts are yet to see any semblance of a factory. Whilst others are existing factories. Failed
2 Leverage oil revenue to complete the Accra-Kumasi rail line connections (which runs through the Eastern
Region) 16 No effort has been made towards it.
Failed
3 Develop irrigation schemes in the Afram Plains. 17 No work done Failed
4 Establishment of a Middle Belt Development Authority to develop the Eastern, Ashanti, Northern Volta
(now Oti), Brong Ahafo and Western North Regions. 22 The Authority has been established by Law and a CEO appointed.
But no practical work has been done so far. Partially Delivered
5 Provide access to portable water to all citizens in the Eastern Region under the
‘Water For All Programme’ 23 The water coverage as at 2016 is almost unchanged. Failed
6 A quality and affordable Housing for all under the “Housing for All Strategy” 23 Nothing has been done about Housing so far. Failed
7 Comprehensively protect all water catchment areas in the region through the “Clean Rivers Programme (CRP)” 27 No comprehensive effort has been made since 2017. The situation has rather gotten worse. Failed
8 Structure and regulate Galamsey and Small Scale mining in the region. 27 Concessions were seized from original owners and reallocated to NPP functionaries and foot-soldiers under the guise of community mining. The disgraceful cases of stolen excavators, physical abuse of small scale miners and seizure of their monies have still not been addressed. Failed
9 Establish a Regional Technology Park in the Eastern Region to expand the research and
development capabilities. 29 No Regional Technology Park has been established. Failed
10 Provide free Wi-Fi coverage for all senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the Eastern
Region. 32 This has not been fulfilled. Failed
11 Upgrade all existing District Hospitals in the Eastern Region where they exist and where they do not, establish one.
At least 1 District, 1 Hospital 34 Not a single hospital has been built in addition to the stock handed over by John Mahama. Even ongoing projects like the Abetifi District Hospital has been Neglected. Failed
12 Introduce a District Integrated Social Services programme for children, families and vulnerable adults to consolidate the relevant health, education and justice systems as well as all social protection
programmes in all districts in the Eastern Region. 38 No clear effort has been made so far. Failed
13 Oversee the direct election of Municipal and District Chief Executives within 24 months of election into office, to coincide with the next District Assembly elections in 2019. 41 Till date, all MDCEs are appointees of the President. The President never intended to keep this promise. Failed
14 The NPP will roll out a National Barracks Regeneration Programme that will invest in rehabilitating and upgrading their living quarters across the country. (Emphasis on Eastern
Region) 43 This has not been fulfilled. No attempt has been made so far towards it. Conditions at the barracks have worsened. Failed
15 Provide each District with a Fire Service Station where none exists. Where there is one, the NPP will upgrade it as required to meet the minimum standards expected of a modern, well- equipped fire station (Emphasis on Eastern Region). 44 There has been NO upgrading of existing fire service stations. No new station has been built as there are still Districts without fire stations Failed
16 Develop an Industrial Park in the Eastern Region targeting young Ghanaians who start or wish to start small business, to provide them with access to workplaces, equipment and basic services, including
electricity and water. 47 The only effort made is the acquisition of land in the Akuapem South District. https://www.ghanaiantimes.com. gh/govt-secures-5-000-acres-of- land-industrial-park/
Failed
17 Develop a Youth Development and Sports Centre in the Eastern Region. It will house a fully- equipped library, ICT hub, social hall, multi-purpose pitch and court. 47 Work ongoing at a TERRIBLY slow pace.
http://www.nya.gov.gh/leadershi p-national-youth-authority- begins-working-tours-selected- youth-resource-centers
Failed
18 Provide a modern multi- sport stadium in the Eastern Region. 48 This has not been fulfilled. Failed
19 Construct a modern large
seating theatre in the Each Region (Eastern Region). 44 Government has ONLY completed the Regional Cultural Centre theatre. This is not a new project. Delivered
Ladies and Gentlemen, obviously ‘εfie nyε’!
We also identified one promise (Number 20) that was smuggled into the manifesto. The project had been initiated and funding arrangements completed by the John Mahama administration.
Again, we include one major Campaign promise in the region that did not find its way into the Manifesto:
No PROMISE PAGE NO REMARKS STATUS
20 Build a Tema-Akosombo Rail Link to tie in with a vibrant and revived Volta lake transportation system 24 Work is ongoing.
However, the funding was secured and contract signed by the John Mahama administration in November 2016.
In Progress
21 Construct a suspension bridge on the Afram river to connect Kwahu South to the
Kwahu Afram Plains
Campaign Promise Nothing has been done Failed
In Summary, Only 3 out of the 21 Promises made by Nana Akufo-Addo to the Eastern Region is either delivered, partially delivered or In-Progress representing a Monumental failure. Simply put, ‘εfie nyε’!
2. The few Central government Projects in the Eastern Region has been selective and discriminatory.
In this instance, we will use the Critical Road Projects distribution as an example to buttress the feelings of the chiefs and people of the Eastern region.
We refer to pages 34 to 38 of the NPPs 2020 Mid-year Budget Review and Supplementary estimates:
Captured from Table 8:
Ladies and Gentlemen: There is an important and revealing contradiction in table 9 about the New Abirem to OfoaseKuma road. Whilst in table 8, that road has commenced, it is “yet to commence” on Table 9.
Nevertheless, we proceed to map out where these projects have been assigned. This is not to say these areas do not need these roads. In fact, many of these roads were started by President John Mahama together with many others, in different parts of the Region which would have been completed by now if not for his painful exit.
The Political Map of the Eastern Region
The Northern part of the Region consists of the Kwahu East, Kwahu West, Kwahu South, Kwahu Afram Plains North and Kwahu Afram Plains South.
The southern Zone of the Region consists of Upper West Akim, Ayensuano, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Suhum, Akwapim North and South, Okere, New Juaben North and South.
The Eastern Zone consists of Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman.
The western Zone consists of Birim North (Abirem), Kwaebibirem (Kade), Denkyembuor (Akwatia), Akyemansa, Birim South (Achiase and Swedro), Birim Central (Oda and Akroso,-Asene-Manso) and West Akim (Asamankese).
The Central Zone consists of Atiwa (East and West), Fanteakwa (North and South) and East Akim (Abuakwa North and South).
Now let us plot the major Central Government roads per the 2020 budget on this map.
No Road km Status Distribution
1 Rehabilitation of the Osiem-Begoro Road 24.8 Significant progress Central
2 Reconstruction of Kwabeng-Abomosu-Asuom Road 41.4 Significant progress Central
3 Reconstruction of Kwabeng-Akropong and Akropong Town Roads 23.3 Ongoing Central
4 Rehabilitation of Adankrono-Kade-New Abirem Road 43.4 Ongoing West
5 Reconstruction of Asuom-Subi-Kade Road 22 Significant progress West
6 Reconstruction of Akropong-Pramkese-Adankrono Road 27.2 Ongoing Central
7 Rehabilitation of Nkawkaw-Noyem-New Abirem Road and Upgrade of Akoase town Road 27.6 Mobilizing West
8 Rehabilitation of New Abirem-Ofoasekuma Road 33.2 Commenced West
9 Reconstruction of Akim-Oda-Ofoasekuma Roads 36.2 Ongoing West
10 Rehabilitation of Suhum-Asamankese Road 13.7 Ongoing West
11 Rehabilitation of Asamankese-Akroso and Akroso Town Roads 20.6 Ongoing West
12 Rehabilitation of Eshiem-Akroso-Oda Road 42 Commenced West
13 Rehabilitation of Asamankese Town Roads 15 Commenced West
In Summary, out of the 370.4 km of roads in the eastern region captured by the 2020 bye-bye budget of the NPP, none is located in the:
Northern part of the Region: Kwahu East, Kwahu West, Kwahu South, Kwahu Afram Plains North and Kwahu Afram Plains South.
Southern Zone of the Region: Upper West Akim, Ayensuano, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Suhum, Akwapim North and South, Okere, New Juaben North and South.
Eastern Zone of the region: Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman.
As earlier stated, we are not against those who are benefitting from the road projects. Even for them, but for the 2016 elections, these roads would have been fixed by President Mahama.
All we are asking for on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Eastern region who talk to us on daily basis is, opportunities for all including roads for all and jobs for all not just a few.
‘Sakawa’ Projects
Ladies and Gentlemen, after this government neglected most Mahama government initiated road projects in the name of their useless and baseless failed investigations into coca road projects contracts, some of these roads are now seeing some activities with a few weeks to the December general elections.
The people of the Eastern region call these roads “Sakawa” campaign projects. In fact, ‘Sakawa’ projects that is only meant to deceive them for votes. But they are wide awake and have promised to punish Nana Akufo-Addo for taking them for granted for over three and half years since 2017; only to surface few months to elections with deceitful projects. It is abundantly clear that, ‘Eastern: εfie nyε’!
The assurance is that; John Mahama’s 10 billion United States Dollars Big Push infrastructure plan will benefit the region equitably. So, there is hope in John Mahama for the Eastern Region and Ghana as a whole.
3. We Trust John Mahama; Not Akufo-Addo
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press,
We trust John Mahama to deliver and create opportunities for all because of his massive Infrastructure record. We trust him to implement Free primary Health Care such that no Ghanaian will pay a pesewa when you seek health care in District hospitals, Polyclinics, Health Centres and CHPS Compounds. This is what Mahama means when he says, “Free Primary Health Care for All.”
Furthermore, we trust John Mahama to complete the Abetifi Hospital and all abandoned road projects.
Also, we trust John Mahama to provide potable drinking water for all and extend electricity to unserved towns and villages.
In addition, we trust John Mahama to establish a University in the Afram Plains just as he started on Kroboland.
We also trust his government not to create tensions within the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
Small scale miners and chiefs in mining communities can trust him to:
• make abandoned lands available from existing large-scale mining concessions for small and medium scale miners to operate on them legally.
• transform medium and small-scale mining to become attractive and well-paid business ventures, creating jobs for the youth.
• re-issue confiscated legitimate mining licenses and excavators to miners.
• return seized legitimate concessions to their owners.
• abrogate the Sakawa Agyapa mineral royalties deal and in addition link royalty payments to targeted community developmental projects to address the increasing demands by host communities.
• review the structure of the Mineral Development Fund to ensure that mining communities benefit significantly from corporate social responsibility practices.
And last but not least, we trust John Mahama to create one million jobs because he cares for all.
He cares for us!
He creates opportunities for all; not just a few.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, this is a clear demonstration that:
President Akufo-Addo has failed woefully on his promises to the Eastern Region (14.28% delivered) and that the few regular projects are being done selectively and discriminatory. Again, we trust President John Mahama to deliver on his promises based on his track record in the region.
Thank you for attending the maiden edition of the Eastern: εfie nyε series.
You may now ask questions.
