Since Ghana returned to constitutional rule in 1992, every President of the country is given a 4year mandate to prove he has what it takes to seek another 4years mandate from Ghanaians.
The first President of the fourth republic of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings had 8years mandate so was former President John Agyekum Kuffour.
The third President of the four republics, late John Evans Atta Millis, unfortunately, could not make end his first term, he died on July 23, 2012, few months to the 2012 general election giving way to former President Mahama to be sworn in as President to complete the unexpired term of his late boss.
In December 2012, former President John Mahama defeated the then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo to secure year fresh 4years mandate from the people of Ghana but however lost the 2016 General Election to the now President Akufo-Addo.
The reelection of each of these Presidents was largely believed to be based on their achievements whiles serving their first four-year mandate.
It is good noting that one of the key factors that make a country a developed nation is its infrastructure base – good roads, hospitals, schools, energy, water, sanitation, industries among others. The infrastructure base is said to be the pillar that supports social intervention programs and policies.
One Senyo TV and Awake News‘ “The Truth Agenda”, we are lacing the spotlight on former President John Mahama who 4years ago, was named the Commissioner-General by Ghanaians.
Former President John Mahama
Ghanaians nick-named former President Mahama, Commissioner-General due to a number of Infrastructure Projects he was commissioning across the country in the run-up to the 2016 general elections. Though he lost the election, these projects which are benefiting Ghanaians now forms part of the John Mahama Legacy.
Notable among these projects include but not limited to the below:
Ridge Hospital
- Ridge Hospital
- Kwame Nkrumah Interchange
- Shai Osudoku District Hospital, Dodowa
- Newly constructed Communication SHS schools (E-Block)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre
- Kedjetia Market
- Kotokoraba Market
- Ho Airport
- Teminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport
- Cape Cost Sports Stadium
See the tall list of former President John Mahama’s projects – click here
These many projects earned him the name Commissioner-General and those projects are alive and form part of his legacy on which he is riding to show what he has done in the past and can do if elected come December 2020. Some of his projects were recommissioned by the current President Akufo-Addo.
On June 7, 2016, this is whats John Mahama was reported in the media to have said about the name:
President John Mahama says he has earned the title “Commissioner-General” due to the various projects he has been commissioning in recent times.
“…We will be commissioning the data center in a short time. That is why I am developing the name Commissioner-General. I am being called to commission things all over the place,” Mahama, who is seeking re-election in November, said at the 2016 edition of African ICT and Mobile expo.
He stated his government is almost done with a number of projects in the Information and Communications Technology sector and will soon commission them. They include an e-government data centre with a capacity of 600 racks to store government and private sector data and an $8.84 million Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) center at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
He added that the first phase of the Tema ICT Park has been completed and is currently housing E-Services, which has already employed 150 people.
Mahama recently commissioned the Komenda Sugar Factory, some Community SHSs, a Cold Store in the Western region, roads and the Volta Lake ferry among others.
Who is Nana Akufo-Addo today?
President Akufo-Addo
Now today, 4years on, President Akufo-Addo is cutting sod for some infrastructure projects (Eastern Regional Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital expansion, etc) which may be the basis of seeking his reelection.
President Akufo-Addo and the governing NPP led the implementation of Free SHS, which is the most visible policy of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government on which, undoubtedly, they are riding enough to secure them another four-year mandate from Ghanaians.
Some of the promises made by President Akufo-Addo such as the One Village One Dam, One District One Factory, One Constituency One Million per Year are all yet to be seen despite the 121 large side government and over ¢116 billion borrowed by the President Akufo-Addo’s government in just 4years.
Ghana’s Public debt:
In May 2020, the Minority in Parliament said the country’s public debt now at ¢236.1 billion, meaning each Ghanaian owes ¢7,836.
Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, said the new figure is due to what to the continuous reckless borrowing by the Akufo-Addo government.
He stated that Ghana’s debt has increased from ¢120.3 billion in December 2016 [when former President Mahama left office] to ¢236.1 billion by 31st March 2020, with the Akufo-Addo government having nothing to show for the borrowing.
“The data further reveals that Ghana’s debt increased from ¢120.3 billion in December 2016 to ¢236.1 billion by 31st March 2020. Despite his vociferous public debt politics in opposition, President Akufo-Addo has added some ¢116 billion to our public debt in just three years and a few months.”
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com