Okudzeto Ablakwa Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency and former Deputy Minister of State, has written  on Tracking ghost, Keeping 14% and running from Presidential debate.

 

In a Facebook Post of Okudzeto  Ablakwa sighted by Talks Africa Media, He writes;

 

With every passing day, the NPP’s delivery tracker seems to be fast gaining infamy as a ghost tracker.

Many individuals, communities and reputable organizations have had to issue embarrassing disclaimers either exposing non-existent projects or protecting their ownership over projects they laboured to erect without any government support. Independent media fact-checks have revealed even more dodgy claims.

Dr. Bawumia’s uninspiring effort to convince Ghanaians they deserve more than the abysmal 14% our empirical and surgical scorecard returned on its 2016 manifesto implementation has totally collapsed like a pack of dominoes and further dented his tottering image.

Beyond the damage to the credibility of the Akufo-Addo administration, we must reflect on the implications, particularly, for the NPP’s 2020 manifesto. With government officials finally conceding to a discredited database, the question is: how can the NPP’s 2020 manifesto be regarded as a credible blueprint for addressing the real needs and aspirations of Ghanaians? In much clearer terms – if your shady tracker lists roads, hospitals, bridges, AstroTurfs 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.

One can therefore immediately see the wisdom of the NDC leadership when they chose to embark on a people’s manifesto which our opponents ridiculed. Clearly, you cannot get it wrong when you go to the people and engage them directly on what constitutes their needs, hopes and aspirations. 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.

It can now be understood why President Akufo-Addo is running away from a debate with former President John Mahama despite the latter’s passionate appeals. When your record is defined by ghost projects and blatant deception which has resulted in a gaping trust deficit, you will obviously not present yourself to the Bukom Boxing Arena, not because that is another JM legacy but more because you need to desperately avoid a TKO from Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa’s descendant.

We must all agree that no matter the excuse, no politician especially those seeking to occupy the highest office of the land should have a choice whether to debate or not. Employees cannot determine that they won’t agree to be interviewed and yet expect to be hired by employers who in this case are the masses of this country. No functioning democracy worth its salt allows those managing national resources and those seeking to superintend over same to escape scrutiny with such utter contempt.

The Ghanaian people as employers must no longer be tolerant of conduct that undermines our democratic purity. We actually should be having multiple presidential debates not one.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
[MP, North Tongu
Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs]

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Information gathered on Talks Africa background checks on the above contents from Myjoyonline revealed that, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described 26 projects captured on the government’s delivery tracker website as nonexistent.

During a press briefing on Monday, the Party’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi noted that the achievements presented by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday, August 18, was “a cocktail of blatant falsehoods, ghost projects, and stolen projects”.

This, he said was a deliberate attempt by Dr. Bawumia together with President Nana Akufo-Addo, to distort the facts.

Listing the non-existent projects the Communications Officer said;

“Bawumia’s claim that this government is constructing 13 housing units at Sekondi (Ituma Estate) which is about 70% complete is a figment of his own imagination as same does not exist anywhere in the Sekondi metropolis.

“The claim that this government is constructing 500 housing units at Sefwi Wiawso which is 20% complete is palpable falsehood, as no such project exist.

“The claim that this government is constructing 120 affordable housing units in the Talensi District of the Upper East region which is 20% complete is yet another lie, as no such project exists.

“Dromankese town roads in the Bono East region have not been tarred as claimed by government’s “delivery tracker”.

“The claim that this government has rehabilitated the Anyinabrim Primary School in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality is yet another lie. No such rehabilitation has been undertaken at the said school.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker that the Akufo Addo-government has constructed an Astroturf in the Adenta constituency is another palpable falsehood, as no such project exists on the ground.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker of complete electrification of Ananekrom and Pataban townships in the Asante Akyem North Constituency of the Ashanti region is a lie. No such project has been undertaken by this government, as the two towns don’t have electricity as we speak.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker of having constructed the Asuoso-Derma-Techimantia road in the Bono East Region as captured by government’s delivery tracker is yet another palpable falsehood, as no such road exists anywhere in the referenced area.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker about Re-roofing of cluster of schools at Akanteng in the Eastern region is a lie. No such project has been undertaken by this government.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker about an ongoing 1D1F Palm Oil Processing factory in West Akim is a lie. No such project exist.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker about an ongoing construction of solar powered water system at Dindani in the East Mamprusi Municipality (Nalerigu/Gambaga) is a lie. No such project can be found in and around Dindani.

“The claim on the delivery tracker about the ongoing construction of a water system at Zangu-Vuga in the East Mamprusi Municipality (Nalerigu/Gambaga) is a lie.

“The claim on government’s delivery tracker that government has constructed and completed a 1V1D project at Zandua in the West Mamprusi Municipality is false, as no such community exists in the West Mamprusi Municipality.

“The claim about an ongoing construction of a six (6) seater toilet block for St. Thomas Senior High/Tech at Asamankese in West Akim Municipality is another ghost project, as nothing like that exist on the ground.

“The claim that there is an ongoing construction of a 12-unit classroom block for Pentecost SHS at Akropong in the Akuapem North Municipality is false, as no such project exist.

“The claim of having completed a 10-seater toilet facility at Ahibenso in Bodi District is a lie, as no such project exist.

“Also, the claim that this government has completed the Construction of 1 NO. 6 Units Classroom Block with Auxiliary Facilities at Debiso in the Bia West constituency is a lie, as no such project exist.

“The claim of having completed the construction of a 16-seater water closet and 4 shower facility in selected communities in Bia West is also a lie, as no such project exists.

“The claim about ongoing construction of a 2-storey dormitory block for Ghana Senior High School at Damango in the West Gonja Municipality is a fabricated lie, as no such school exists.

“The claim about construction of a 6-unit classroom block at Jamara in the  Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency is a lie, as no such project exist.

“No Power Supply System at Afofosu in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency exist contrary to claims by government’s delivery tracker.

“The claim of a 10-seater WC toilet at Anwhiam in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency does not exist.

“The claim of a 10-seater WC toilet at Asikuma is a palpable lie.

“The claim of Abamkrom Clinic in the Agona West Constituency of the Central region as contained on government’s delivery tracker is a ghost project.

“The claim by the so-called delivery tracker that the Akufo-Addo government has completed the construction of the Anum Primary school at Anum Apapam in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern region is a lie. There is no town in Asuogyaman called Anum Apapam, and there is no block constructed by the NPP in Anum Presbyterian Primary School at the Anum that we know in Asuogyaman.

“The Claim of construction works at Dabala market is a lie. There is no such construction work ongoing in the Dabala market as claimed by the NPP on their website.”

Since Dr Bawumia decleared that government has initiated 17,334 infrastructure projects since its assumption of office in 2017 there have been jabs and counter-jabs; with the NDC accusing the governing New Patriotic Party of refusing to give credit to the erstwhile administration for projects commenced and completed during its time in office.

Among other things, they have also accused government of touting their projects as personal achievements when there are documentary evidence to prove otherwise.

Already, former President John Mahama has thrown a challenge to his successor for a debate on the performance record of their respective governments, especially in the infrastructural development sector.

Mr Mahama who is now the flagbearer of the NDC said he is poised to compare records of both administrations to clearly assess who had done more for the country even though the incumbent government had earlier described infrastructural development as unnecessary, ahead of the 2016 elections.

This challenge has however been rejected by government with the Deputy Information Minister, Pius Hadzie calling it pointless.

But Mr Mahama has emphasised  the stance of his party with regards to development.

The former president said a new NDC government will devote its early years in power to completing abandoned projects before initiating new ones.

 

Iddrisu Muftaw | Talks Africa Media