Cape Coast, Aug. 15, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has stated that government’s investment in socio-economic infrastructure is an investment for the future well-being of the country.
He said the achievements of the Government in terms of the infrastructure, littered everywhere in the country, were there for all to see.
President Mahama said this when he addressed the teeming supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the launch of its 2016 Campaign at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Campaign launch was on the theme: "Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana," and was attended by party bigwigs, ministers of state, Council of State members, chief executives of the various districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, party faithful and supporters who cheered and cheered amidst slogans.
He said the Government should be applauded for investing massively in road networks across the country, building new hospitals, constructing new schools and expanding water systems among other things.
President Mahama said the enviable image of the country among the comity of nations as a result of the leading role the country played in the fight against the Ebola epidemic in some affected countries in West Africa testifies to the good works of the Government.
He said the Government’s heavy investments in the power sector had significantly improved the power situation in the country adding that government was committed to making Ghana the power hub in the whole of the West African sub-region.
President Mahama said despite the few challenges, Ghana was emerging as a strong and credible country, noting that; "the outlook being forecasted by international financial organisations post 2016 is bright."
He said the Government was committed to adhering to its policy of zero financing from the Bank of Ghana and that the country would come out of the International Monetary Fund programme next year with single digit inflation.
President Mahama said he had been monitoring the way some functionaries of the New Patriotic Party had been bastardising the Electoral Commission (EC) and that some of the insults heaped on the EC were “unprintable” which must be condemned by all Ghanaians considering the crucial nature of the 2016 election.
“As students of politics the NPP’s attack is an old trick where you discredit the referee to prove a case, this is the underlying force for all the whining against the EC,” he said.
He called on the EC to collaborate with all the political parties to ensure that the integrity of this year's election is not compromised.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, on his part, stated that the call by the NPP for a change is nothing new from opposition parties and besides, this change is already happening under President Mahama’s Government.
He said Ghanaians would rather prefer a change that transformed lives, change that was inclusive and ensured stability and peace.
He said he had worked with President Mahama for the last four years and there were many good things about him including being tolerant of all views, compassionate and accessible to all manner of people.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said: “President Mahama is a safe pair of hands for us in Ghana because he brings stability to the country even as change is taking place in Ghana.
“I choose JM because he has united our party and our country, I choose JM because he brought change and transformation, as well as peace and stability.”
Former President Jerry John Rawlings urged the NDC to address its weaknesses if it was to beat the opposition New Patriotic Party.
He said the party must regain its founding principles if it was to be unbeatable in elections.
“I would not like to make any explosive commentary until after the general election in December.
“We must reach into the principles that emerged from the circumstances that gave us power. If we do this, no one can ever defeat us,” he said.
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