What would have happened had any of the phenomenon being experienced by Ghanaians in the past three years and 4 months occurred under a John Mahama/NDC administration? Chaos, curses, namecalling, a cacophony of accusations of corruption, incompetence, and whatnots! That’s what!
So why is the NDC not paying the NPP back in their own kind? Are the NDC afraid? Don’t they have badass communicators who can dish it out like it’s nobody’s business? Yes, they do.
But, the NDC is not like the NPP. They are better than that! The NDC practices a different brand of politics. A brand of politics that is firmly rooted in providing genuine service, not lip service. And that’s why the NDC focus must be on holding the feet of the Nana Akufo-Addo/NPP government to the white hot fire of accountability. The NDC must do this with a laser focu and professional skepticism.
As a responsible government-in-waiting, NDC demands immediate answers to the following questions:
1. What is the Covid-19 status of ALL the government officials who accompanied Nana Akufo-Addo on the 5-nation and 12-day tour of Europe starting from February 22, 2020 to the arrival date in Ghana? Especially those who
a. were in proximity to and interacted with the Norwegian ambassador to Ghana?
b. were around him at the Independence Day celebrations in Kumasi?
c. attended the party he threw soon after the celebrations
2. Specifically the Covid-19 status of the following:
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Osafo Marfo, Ayorkor Botwe, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Asante- Bediatuo
It is also demanded that the members of Parliament and the Executive who are exempted from the lockdown must go through mandatory testing.
2. Where is the $100 million Nana Akufo-Addo instructed Ken Ofori-Atta to make available in the fight against the Coronavirus and how has it been utilized?
3. From a public health perspective, it is evident that Ghana was not prepared for Covid-19. The questions to be answered now are : a.Why the delay in closing the land, sea, and air borders? b.Why the delay in starting mass testing? c. What methods are used to do contact tracing?
d. Why are there only two major testing centers in the whole of Ghana – Noguchi Memorial institute and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine ( KCCR ) when other facilities could have been upgraded to be involved in the testing?
e. What is the daily testing capacity at Noguchi , KCCR?
f. What is the epidemiological model showing the best, expected, and worst case scenarios of the spread of Covid-19? What is the potential death toll from Covid-19?
g. Why are the Covid-19 test results not shared with the media by the testing centers?
h. Why are Noguchi and KCCR not reporting the test results on their websites?
i. Is the Nana Akufo-Addo/NPP government manipulating the numbers?
4. With the closure of all schools, where is the budgeted but unexpensed (unused) money during the school closing period? Especially the Free SHS?
5. Why increase the Marking Margin for fuels and introduce the Cylinder Recovery Margin for LPG? Especially at a time when consumers are experiencing a downturn in economic activity due to Covid-19?
It is interesting to note that , some African countries such as Togo and Rwanda have announced lockdowns but provided free electricity and shared free food to their citizens and residents. What is the Nana Akufo-Addo/NPP government’s plan to cushion the burden of those forced to stay at home? Especially, those in the informal sector (by-day workers)?
6. What is their relief package and when is it coming? How do we ensure equitable distribution of the relief items to individuals and households?
7. What is the financial support for SMEs? When is it coming?
8. Videos of unprofessional conduct by some GAF soldiers and GPS officers brutalizing civilians for allegedly breaking the lockdown rules. What disciplinary actions have been taken against the perpetrators?
9. Why are some state institutions actively flouting the emergency directives with the acquiescence of the President? Electoral Commission, Parliament, National IdentificationAuthority, Special Prosecutor, etc?
10. Since Parliament has clothed the President with all powers to do whatever is necessary during this emergency, why should Parliament continue sitting and engaging in business unrelated to the emergency?
Answers to these questions are needed promptly.
Honest and factual answers would help inform Ghanaians about the government’s intention as Ghanaians prepare for the uncertain months ahead.
Alhaji Haruna Rashid Ibrahim
East Legon
April 3, 2020