Salam Mustaph
The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has called on President John Mahama to render an unqualified apology to Ghanaians over his inability to deliver lofty promises, especially in tackling illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.
According to Mr. Mustapha, since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government assumed the reigns of power, early signs clearly show that they are not going to deal with the challenges facing the country as promised, especially on illegal mining, and should therefore apologise to Ghanaians.
He said that members of the NDC who made all manner of accusations against former President Akufo-Addo for failing to deal with illegal mining and proffered to have solutions to the menace are now heavily engulfed in it, with some of its members heckling security operatives.
He said, “Today, the very people who were shouting on rooftops, who were veneers of propaganda, accused Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hounded on him, called him names, and knew all the solutions, today are found wanting. Sadly, you can see NDC operatives heckling state security apparatus in full display of the public.”
“This shows the level of deception that the NDC engaged in as far as the electioneering was concerned. It was all for votes and nothing else. I think and I believe that this NDC administration needs to render an unqualified apology to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP,” he stressed.
The National Youth Organiser, who addressed journalists at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down following a meeting with the Regional Youth Organisers of the party, described the attitude of the NDC towards its own promises as malicious and should not be countenanced in modern governance, particularly under a government that took office few months ago.
“You cannot tell us that it was bad when you were in opposition but now, it is good because you are in office and your people are dabbling in it. No, that is unprincipled position, and we are asking government to do all it can. If it doesn’t have its hands in what is going on, fueling it, then it has the power to stop it. Like appointees of this government told the NPP government. They should declare a state of emergency. Because these were the things they campaigned on and used against the New Patriotic Party,” he stated.
The National Youth Organiser, who also touted some achievements of the previous government, said the NPP government created over 1.3 million jobs, which in his view, would be a difficult thing for President Mahama to achieve even under the 24-hour economy.
He also urged President Mahama to fulfil his promise of repealing the LI 2462 that permitted mining in forest areas, instead of an announcement to amend portions of the act, as promised in the lead up to the December 7 elections.
The Youth Organiser also described the current dismissals of public servants by the NDC government as a recipe for disaster and existential threat that could destroy the fabric of the Ghanaian society, citing the example of the Arab Spring that occurred in 2011.
He also called on the youth not to be discouraged by the challenges facing them under the leadership of President Mahama, who is presiding over unlawful and wrongful arrest and detention of individuals, while urging the government to deal with the upsurge of drug abuse by the youth.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah