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Dr Mahama embarks on American tour
Accra, July 21, Ghanadot/GNA – Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama,
Flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) on
Monday embarked on a two-week international image building
tour of the United States of America.
The tour would offer Dr Mahama an opportunity to interact
with Ghanaian communities in some cities, meet American
business executives, and exchange political notes with
seasoned Africa/American politicians, the PNC Flag bearer
told the Ghana News Agency in a pre-departure interview in
Accra, shortly before embankment.
Dr Mahama said the trip would also be used to consult
eminent African/Americans on broad based national and
international developmental Issues, especially on the
geo-political trend, its effect on Africa and Ghana in
particular and invite international observers to come and
monitor December general polls.
The PNC Flag bearer said the party would introduce its
Election 2008 Manifesto “Service with Honesty,” which was
launched in Tamale recently.
The 83-page book, focuses on a wide range of issues,
including national economic morass; the legacy of 20 years
of PNDC/NDC era worsened by eight years under the NPP rule.
The continuing agenda of the Nkrumiasts; PNC political
commitment; its foreign policy; the resumption of the
tradition of probity and accountability; widening the voter
net; local government; consensus for every critical policy
issues; economic objective and commitment; and restoration
of public and investor confidence in the economy.
Other were; strategies for self-reliance, reducing costs or
increasing revenue; improvement in tax collection; rural
development; urban concerns; energy and industrialization
policy; tourism; labour issues; protection of the right of
the child; education, housing, law and order; terms and
condition of service; security agencies; the legal system
and medium to long term measures.
Dr. Mahama explained that the degenerating of the economic
and social conditions in Ghana over the past few years have
forced him and likeminded Ghanaians to search for the means
and methods of effecting the needed change.
“I sincerely believe that the main factor that has prevented
us from nurturing the new Ghanaian is the rampant waste of
human potential in our land. Our current national system of
governance has been grossly irresponsible, is opaque, devoid
of probity and lacks accountability to the population,” he
said.
He said over the past seven years under the New Patriotic
party’s misrule, Ghana has sunk to its lowest depth in
rampant corruption under a government that is bent on
staying in power, even if this continues to worsen the
economic plight of most of the population.
The PNC Flag bearer said: “Here is a government that
restricts itself to friends, party cronies and spiced with a
sprinkling of equally predatory foreigners whose desire for
wealth makes them indifferent, even while they bleed Ghana
into trauma and anemia”.
He said these factors were the same conditions that former
President Jerry John Rawlings and others of his clique of
self-styled revolutionists used as their justification for
their treasonous coups d’etat, respectively of 1979 and
1981.
Dr Mahama reminded Ghanaians that Election 2008 offers the
electorate the opportunity to sincerely join forces with PNC
to identify the blocks to our individual and national
progress, support and boost the healing and rebuilding of
Ghana’s economic and heal the social wounds.
He urged leaders to exercise the appropriate levels of
modesty, show irrevocable commitment to transparency,
accountability, probity and honesty.
“Each and every one of us needs a change in our individual
attitudes. I believe that I can be trusted with the
leadership of our nation. What our country needs most is
principled and honest leadership.
“If the people of Ghana elect me as their president, my
ceaseless duty will be to galvanize all the talents and
energies available to us, regardless of our respective
political persuasions, religious beliefs, age, gender and
ethnic roots,” Dr Mahama noted.
The PNC Flag bearer assured the nation that: “We shall and
should all work together in changing the current system for
the betterment of all so as to achieve this new state of
affairs.
He said under the government of the PNC the people would be
empowered to take responsibility and initiatives that would
enable each of us to bring something to the market, not just
to go and buy and resell.
“A PNC Government would consider all citizens of Ghana as
shareholders in our national enterprise called Ghana. We
shall establish a most enabling environment, using the views
of all who have practical ideas to contribute to the
commercial, social and economic development of our country.
“We shall cherish role models in business, the professions,
trades, science, technology and other pursuits. Instead of
penalizing, victimizing and harassing role models, as has
been characteristic in the past,” Dr Mahama said.
Dr Mahama urged Ghanaians to reject the propagandist
effusion “that even though Dr. Mahama is the finest and more
articulate Flag bearer he cannot win the election…this is
false; I have the capability and ability to win, Ghanaian
electorate should give the chance to bring real change and
hope to all”.
GNA
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