Why I will vote against Akufo-Addo even if he gives me free water and electricity for life

Akufo-Addo has failed Ghanaians in many ways which have led to Ghanaians losing the trust they had in him when he was voted into power in 2016. Below are some of the reasons why I will not vote for Akufo-Addo even if he gives me free water and electricity for life.

INCREASED DEBT

The Akufo-Addo-led NPP government in 2016 campaigned against borrowing and claimed they would desist from borrowing when they come into power. Dr. Bawumia, at a public lecture in 2016, accused the NDC government of accumulating 66% of Ghana’s total debt since independence as a result of “reckless” and unbridled “borrowing.”

He said: “The real effects of the reckless borrowing undertaken in the last seven years is seen in the magnitude of interest payments Ghana has burdened with, which has meant that vital resources which should have gone into vital sectors, infrastructural development and social services, are now being pumped into the settling of debt obligations.”

The then NPP running mate stated that the NDC had borrowed 39 billion cedis in eight (8) years of power. As at 2016, when NDC was about to leave power, the total public debt in Ghana was 122 billion cedis. In December 2019, three years after NPP came into power, the total public debt increased drastically from 122 billion to a ‘whooping’ 218 billion cedis. That is the worst borrowing ever in such a short period.

A government who promised not to borrow, and also claimed that its predecessor borrowed “recklessly” in 8 years has now borrowed more than that in just 3 years, i.e. 39 billion compared to 96 billion. The NPP has borrowed more than any government within 3 years, and the fact that they are offering free water and electricity does not change that fact. Such an administration has no reason to be in power for even a year.

LACK OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

The NPP government promised to build 350 Senior High Schools within 18 months in power. As at today, 43 months after NPP came into power, and not even 50 SHS schools have been built. This shows how the NPP is more concerned about the free SHS than the infrastructure in the various sectors of education in Ghana.

Students are sitting under trees in villages and rural areas. Meanwhile, the President always covers that up with his ‘free SHS’ policy. Even under the free SHS policy, many schools always complain of inadequate food supply, making it difficult to provide food for students.

The NDC government built more than 200 basic, secondary and tertiary schools all over the country. Education, as we all say, is the key to success and education without the infrastructure in no better education at all. Ghana needs a government that will take into consideration the building of more educational facilities, especially in the rural areas. The NPP government has proved that they are not capable of providing such infrastructure and thus, are not worthy of my vote no matter the situation.

LACK OF HEALTH FACILITIES

The NDC government built a number of health facilities all over the country. The most notable ones are the renovation of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (RIDGE) and the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), all in the capital city of Accra. The NDC also provided mobile health van which was sent to rural areas without hospital to provide for their basic health needs. This vision of the NDC has been ‘flushed’ out of the system by the NPP.

Over three and a half years now since the NPP came into power, they are now cutting sod for the construction of regional hospitals. These hospitals are being built because of how the COVID-19 showed the vulnerability of the country in the health sector. A government which waits for a situation before they take the initiative is not a government that can be trusted for another 4 years—supposing every citizen dies, who is going to benefit from the free water and electricity?

POOR ROAD NETWORK

Ghana is one of the most advanced African countries with poor roads. Every year, politicians travel to rural areas and promise to build their roads for them when they are voted into power. The NPP and the NDC have all exhibited that characteristic. The NPP promised Ghanaians that 2020 was going to be the year of roads and with just 5 months to go, they are now cutting sod.

Since the NPP came into power in 2017, they cannot boast of any major road construction they have made. This is such a failure to the people of Ghana, and such a government should never be allowed to take control of the country.

The NPP has failed Ghanaians in many sectors, and the above are just a few of them. Considering these basic needs that have been ignored, I will never vote for Akufo-Addo even if he lures me with free water and electricity for life.