The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has discredited the recently launched manifesto of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2020 elections.
According to Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, the admittance by government officials that some of the projects listed on the delivery tracker, which formed the basis for the drafting of the party’s 2020 manifesto, do not exist is an indication that the manifesto cannot be relied on to address the needs of the Ghanaian people.
The MP believes the manifesto would shortchange people of communities in which projects listed on the delivery tracker as being undertaken in such communities do not exist.
“If your shady tracker lists roads, hospitals, bridges, Astro Turfs and schools which cannot be found anywhere, it is only logical to conclude that your manifesto proceeds on a dubious foundation and it is the people in the aforementioned communities who are bound to be shortchanged,” he stated.
Mr. Okudzeto argued that the NDC’S manifesto for the 2020 elections which is set to be launched on Monday, August 31, 2020 would be a more reliable policy framework in addressing the needs of the people. This, he explained, is because the views of the people whose needs the party seeks to address were solicited in drafting the manifesto.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa opined that the NDC’S yet-to-be out doored ‘the People’s Manifesto’ captures the real needs, hopes and aspirations of the people since they were engaged in outlining the policy framework of the party for the 2020 elections.
“Certainly, the NDC is better positioned to present a far superior manifesto on Monday. A manifesto from the people and for the people as it ought to be,” he added.
On calls by his party Flagbearer, John Mahama for a debate between the former president and president Akufo-Addo on their governments’ achievements on infrastructural development, the MP said the NPP has rejected the calls for a debate because the projects that they touted as their achievements are non-existent.
The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs asserted that it is unacceptable for aspirants of the highest office of the land to turned down public scrutiny of their stewardship towards the nation through debates.
While urging Ghanaians to rise up against such acts which he says undermines democratic purity, he emphasized the need for multiple presidential debates for aspirants instead of single debate.
His comments come on the back of concession by government that some of the projects listed on its delivery tracker website do not exist. Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the inclusion of such non-existent projects was an oversight on the part of MMDCES.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who presented the projects at a town hall meeting and results fair however maintained that the non-existent projects do not discredit the data on government’s infrastructural achievements.
