NDC battle-ready for 2012 polls

By Samuel Agbewode

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is battle ready for the 2012 general elections.

Yesterday, the party launched its Manifesto on four thematic areas; promising to promote transparent governance; build a strong economy and accelerate infrastructure development in all parts of the country.

Addressing the large crowd after launching the Manifesto, President John Dramani Mahama commended the people of the Volta Region for their unflinching support for the party in all elections, and assured the people that the party was ready for the poll.

President Mahama said he was sure of winning the December vote to give him the mandate to build on the foundation the first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah laid, when he built some key universities like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Caped Coast.

Mr. Mahama stressed that after the rule of the first President, the NDC government is the only administration that has built more Senior High Schools (SHS) and Universities.

According to the President, the Volta University of Health and Allied Sciences and the University of Renewable Energy in Sunyani, built under the leadership of the late President Atta Mills, have all started admitting new students, which clearly show that the NDC led government was a party that promises and delivers.

Touching on the Free Education policy being promoted by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,  the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), President Mahama said that the idea should not be seen as something new, because “farmers, fishermen, drivers and all Ghanaians” agreed on free education, which is in the Constitution.

Mr. Mahama said the only problem about free education, particularly at the basic level, was that instead of education being free at that level, parents continue to pay some money, adding that the debate should not be on whether there was extra money, and if there is, how should it be invested.

Mr. Mahama told the cheering crowd that it was the policy of the NDC to build 200 new SHSs across the country, increase Colleges of Education by building 10 more Teacher Colleges to expand teacher training and to move the new SHS concept forward.

He said he was committed to reducing corruption by strengthening state institutions that deal with corrupt activities and to ensure that the Right to Information Bill was passed by Parliament.

The President promised that very soon, load shedding would no longer be experienced in the country.

The President promised that very soon, load shedding would  no longer be experienced in the country.

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