By Stephen Asante
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s largest opposition party, is demanding of key players in the conduct of the December 07 elections to play their various roles effectively to enhance a successful exercise.
“There can be no peace without justice,” former President John Dramani Mahama noted, urging the Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies and related bodies to ensure transparency and accountability in their activities.
This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the former President by his Campaign Manager, Professor Joshua Alabi, at a durbar to climax the ‘Eweza 2024’ in Kumasi.
The ‘Eweza’ is a gathering of people of Ewe descent in the Ashanti, Ahafo and Bono Regions aimed at promoting unity of purpose and the cultural heritage of the people.
The programme was organised under the auspices of the Council of Ewe Chiefs in collaboration with the Manhyia Palace.
It was on the theme: “Unite, Progress and Keep the Peace”, and characterised by some cultural activities, including a candle light procession, reconciliation rite (Nugbuidodo), remembrance of the departed souls and traditional dancing and drumming.
Former President Mahama rallied Ghanaians to take their destiny into their own hands by voting out the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the Government had disappointed the people.
The NPP, he said, had made life unbearable for the people by mismanaging the economy, resulting in the high cost of living, high exchange and inflationary rates, youth unemployment, amongst others.
He said the NDC had the panacea to resolving the current socio-economic difficulties in the country, and appealed to the citizenry to vote massively in ensuring victory for the largest opposition party in this year’s polls.
A Mahama-led government, he said, would be committed to the introduction of a 24-hour economy policy, setting up a Women’s Development Bank, scrapping academic fees for first-year students in public universities, and extending the free SHS programme to private schools.
“We have the expertise to restore confidence in Ghana’s economy,” he assured, saying the NDC would also embark on a comprehensive programme to revamp most sectors of the economy, including agriculture, health, job creation, tourism, science and technology.
