The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has asked President Akufo-Addo to show what he has done with the GHC140 billion that his government has borrowed since assuming office.
Mr Mahama says despite the Akufo-Addo regime taking more than twice the amount of loans the Mahama administration took, the president has not embarked on any major development project to justify the loans.
Addressing the chiefs and people of Sampa in the Jaman North constituency as part of his tour of the Bono Region, the NDC presidential candidate wondered what the government had been using the borrowed money for, especially as many communities are lamenting the absence of development projects.
Mr Mahama said the government’s GHC140 billion loans constitute a significant addition to the national debt stock, yet the president and his officials cannot point to development projects.
“When I was in government, we borrowed 54 billion Cedis and Ghanaians could visibly see what we used the money for, in the area of roads, water, electricity, airport, harbour, and schools, among others”, he explained.
Mr Mahama said the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) accused the NDC government of borrowing too much, thereby promising to develop Ghana without taking loans.
“But after staying in office for four years, do you know the money they have borrowed?”, he quizzed. He added “the NPP government has borrowed 140 billion Cedis and the sad aspect is that the government has failed to explain to Ghanaians what they have used the money for in the area of roads, water and schools, among others.
So what are they using the money for?” Mr Mahama said it is not true that the Akufo-Addo government has borrowed to finance Free Senior High School education as it is claimed by some government spokespersons, adding that the Free SHS is funded from Ghana’s share of oil revenue.
He said the Akufo-Addo government is driving the country in the wrong direction with its negative policies and the deliberate collapse of businesses owned by persons perceived to be non-supporters of the NPP. Mr Mahama therefore urged Ghanaians to vote for the NDC in the upcoming December 7, 2020 general elections to create prosperity for all and work hard to provide jobs and reduce economic hardship.
Mr Mahama promised to construct Sampa town roads and renovate its hospital when he is elected president in the December elections.
