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Press Statement
February 22, 2012
AFAG’s RESPONSE ON PRESIDENT MILLS’ STATE OF
THE NATION ADDRESS
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is disturbed by
the half-truths and great deception which characterized the
Presidents recent ‘State Of The Nation Address’.
In line with article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, a president
is to deliver a message on the state of the nation at the
beginning of each session of parliament and before dissolution
of parliament. It is however interesting to note, that in
fulfilling this statutory obligation, H.E. John Evans Atta
Mills left many wondering if he truly gave an address on the
current state of Ghana or an address to members of the NDC
propaganda outfit to subsequently churn out ahead of the
general elections in December.
Speaking on the themes, Economy, Education, Job Creation,
Agriculture, Energy, Corruption, Health, Roads, Youth and
Sports etc, the President at any given occasion reinforced the
widely held believe that he is completely not on top of the
happenings in the country.
On the Economy, President Mills did not cease to sing his
usual song of reducing inflation to single digit without
establishing a linkage on the cost of living for Ghanaians.
Thus as government is quick to tout its achievement in
reducing inflation, the reality is that, prices of basic
commodities have tripled and in some cases quadrupled, leading
to high cost of living for the ordinary Ghanaian. It should be
said that, President Mills is on record to have said on
several occasions that, macro and micro economic gains are
irrelevant as long as it failed to reflect in the pockets of
the masses.
On education, the President woefully failed to prescribe a
single solution to tackle the declining trend in the area of
results at the basic level in the past three years. Whiles
government’s commitment to removing schools under trees is
commendable, AFAG is of the view that the basic level is the
most important stage on the educational journey and should be
given the needed attention. The President again failed to
address the rising cost of education, a situation which is
gradually making education a preserve of the rich.
On job creation, the President failed to throw light on which
sectors the purported 1.6million jobs have been created. Given
the problems associated with unemployment, it is in the
interest of this government and any future government to find
innovative ways to stem the tide. The Mills-Mahama government
should therefore move away from creating phantom and imaginary
jobs to the creation of real jobs to address the high rate of
unemployment we are saddled with as a country.
AFAG has at all times called on all Ghanaians to fight
corruption, given the negative effects it has on a nation.
Surprisingly corruption only constituted a minute aspect of
the president’s address. More shocking to us was the
president’s refusal to comment on the huge judgment debts paid
to undeserving individuals and companies as well as purported
beneficiaries who have publicly denied receipt of payment.
In the area of sports, the President got it completely wrong,
when he suggested Ghana was ranked 14 by FIFA in 2011. For the
records, the only time Ghana has been rated or ranked 14th was
in the year 2008 and not 2011 as suggested by the president.
AFAG is also
petrified by the reason the President gave for the exit of the
Black Stars from the recent AFCON Competition. The President’s
comments sought to suggest that, one player should be blamed
for the exit of the entire team. AFAG sees the game of
football as a team sport, thus one player should not be blamed
for his inability to convert a spot kick. This is unhealthy to
come from the father of the nation.
In conclusion, it is obvious that President Mills better Ghana
is being enjoyed by only a privileged few who find themselves
in government. These privileged few as a result of the
largesse which comes with being in government have simply
found it difficult to comprehend when the ordinary man makes a
demand for better living conditions. They sing better Ghana
whiles the masses sing bitter Ghana.
SIGNED
HENRY ASANTE 0248274646 KWABENA BOMFEH 0244535472
HAJIA SALIA 0262481240 HON APEATU ANKRAH 0244375034
ABU RAMADAN 0244570006 DAVIS OPOKU 0244861593
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