The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Sulemana Briamah has said Ghana needs an honest and accountable leader.
In his view, Ghana’s destiny does not depend on manifestos.
Sharing his views on the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on his X platform, he said “The destiny of Ghana doesn’t depend on Manifestos. We’ve seen the best of manifestos before. What we need is honest, accountable leadership. We need a leader who will want to be remembered by present and future generations for how well he/she served this country.”
The NPP launched its manifesto in Takoradi on Sunday, August 18 while the NDC did theirs at the University of Education, Winneba on Saturday, August 24.
Both parties have made a number of promises.
The flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for instance promised among other things that “my government will reduce the fiscal burden on government by empowering the private sector to do more. Fundamental to building any modern, prosperous society is ensuring that access to education and health is available to all and that there is a safety net for the most vulnerable. Under the two-term administration of His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, I can say without any fear of contradiction that no past leader did more to uplift the poor and vulnerable in society than my boss. We put in place new ones and expanded existing social policies and programmes for the masses across Ghana, like free SHS, Free TVET, Agenda 111, expanding school feeding, NHIS care for childhood cancer, sickle cell and kidney dialysis etc.
“I pledge to you that my government will protect and deepen all these programmes that several millions of you depend on. From all my interactions with the people, the three top major concerns of Ghanaians are (1) the Cost of Living (2) Unemployment and (3) Roads. The 2024 Manifesto of the New Patriotic Party prioritises what you the Ghanaian people say are your priorities. This manifesto lays out a clear path of how we plan to solve these major problems, among others. That is why my government will make business and jobs our number one priority.
“True to our philosophy, I believe, the private sector has the capacity to provide jobs and create wealth for society. My administration will, therefore, incentivise and empower the private sector to do more in complementing government in the provision and management of many infrastructures and other public services. This can reduce government expenditure, increase efficiency and accountability, create competition and improve maintenance. Yes, we have built more roads than any government in the Fourth Republic. But we still have a lot more to do. In the last 8 years we have been deliberate in empowering Ghanaian contractors to undertake many of the major infrastructural projects that would otherwise have gone to foreign contractors.”
His opposite number in the NDC, John Dramani Mahama also promised that the NDC would exempt new small businesses from corporate and personal income tax for the first two years after their incorporation.
He also says they will review Customs (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1014) to scrap the ban on importation of salvaged vehicles.
He said these while launching the NDC manifesto on Saturday, August 24 at Winneba.
Below is a list of the NDC’s other plans for business development…
Save the local automotive industries—Suame Magazine, Kokompe, Abossey Okai.
Support the redevelopment of the Abossey Okai, Suame, Kokompe and Cape Coast Artisanal enclaves.
Implement a ‘Made in Ghana Agenda’ for production and consumption of Made-in-Ghana goods.
Launch an “Export Ghana Policy” (AfCFTA & other external trade programmes).
Enhance the role of Ghana EXIM Bank in financing non-traditional exports.
Mo-Ne-Yo Pension Scheme for informal sector workers.
Commercial drivers and motorcyclists (Okada).
Small scale miners, farmers, fishermen, traders, market women
