[ 2017-04-19 ]

Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper

Akufo-Addo first 100 days: NDC firing blank bullets – Baako
Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide
Newspaper says the opposition National Democratic
Congress’ criticism of President Akufo-Addo’s
first 100 days in office is much ado about
nothing.

Mr Baako said the criticisms are premature,
because it was impossible for the president to
have chalked significant successes within the
period.
Speaking on Peace FM's morning Show
‘Kokrokoo’, the veteran journalist said
“they [NDC] are firing blank bullets.”

The Akufo-Addo-led administration has marked its
first 100 days in office.
At a Joy News Town Hall interaction with Vice
President Mahamadu Bawumia on Monday, he revealed
that government had fulfilled most of its campaign
promises and are on the path to achieving its
objectives of putting the economy on the right
footing.

The Vice President also revealed that government
has chalked 103 achievements in the 100-day
period.


Some of the achievements he mentioned included
“arresting the running cedi”, replacement of
the 17.5 percent VAT/NHIS rate with a flat rate of
three percent for traders, reduction of the
inflation rate from 15.4 to 12.8 percent and
abolishing import duties on petroleum products.

But the opposition NDC says the president’s
first 100 days has been a colossal failure. They
described the period as one of “lawlessness and
deception.”

The party’s Central Regional Chairman, Allotey
Jacobs, who was also on the show said the
president promised to construct a factory in every
district, yet nothing has been seen in 100 days,
not even the lands for the construction of these
factories have been identified.


He also said the promise that electricity and
water tariffs will be reduced have not
materialized neither has the reduction in payment
of allowances to nursing and teacher trainees
manifested.

For this reason, he said, government cannot claim
it has fulfilled its promises.

But Mr Baako disagrees. He said creating the
impression that nothing has happened within the
period is unfair, not factual and not an honest
approach .

He said goverement mentioned the one district, one
factory project in its budget statement and has
proceeded to release some funds for that purpose.
For him, the NDC’s criticism is a mere
propaganda.

“If someone says they have achieved something,
we look at the timeframe and the essence of the
policy the person is talking about.
“You don’t expect that what you are pushing
out there will happen within 100 days. You
don’t, what you will see is a certain level of
intent and if they are doing anything to bring
these things into being or not, and I am saying
yes, they are.”

He quoted stories about funds allocated in the
budget and subsequently released for the
construction of at least 47 of the new factories
and for the expansion of some existing ones.

On the criticisms on the Zongo Development fund,
Mr Baako said a Minister has been appointed and
some funds released for the process to begin, and
100 days is insufficient time to do any
assessment.

“Within that limited time frame of 100 days not
much can happen, but whatever has happened you
look at its significance and see whether indeed it
indicates a certain sincerity and commitment by
the person who made them.”

In his view the NDC is still suffering from the
“pain of the electoral annihilation and it is
understandable.”

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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