Continue to demand accountability from government – Mahama to Ghanaians

Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to hold the current political leadership of the country to the fire of accountability and demand higher standards of governance.

He said the duty to hold those in government accountable, was not a sole preserve of the opposition, but a collective democratic responsibility of the Ghanaian people.

Mahama was speaking when he joined the chiefs and people of Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District for the Paga-pio’s 50th anniversary commemorative thanksgiving mass.

The former president stated that the effects of bad governance impacted every Ghanaian and it was imperative to not limit the role of democratic governance to just queuing to vote during elections.

“We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are very much alive to our responsibility of holding the feet of those in government to the fire of accountability and ensuring that we shine the light brightly on the way our country is governed.

“That duty is, however, not the sole preserve of the official opposition. Every one of us has a duty to join the effort to demand higher standards of governance and accountability from those we give our mandate to, to run our affairs.”

The former president added that “the effects of bad governance impact all of us, as we are currently witnessing and that is why it is important that we do not limit our role in democratic governance to just queuing to vote during elections but sustaining our interest in the way that mandate is utilised.”

Touching on the economy, Mahama said the difficulties Ghanaians are currently experiencing were due to the inability of the current administration to properly manage the country’s economy.

He noted that the hard times in the country were further exacerbated by deep-rooted corruption, growing unemployment and nepotism in the current government.

“It is indisputable that the Ghanaian economy is in dire straits and there is palpable suffering and hardships all over our country, decadent nepotism and glaring incompetence. The overwhelming consensus is that our country is moving in the wrong direction.”

Exemplary leadership
The former president extolled Pe Awiah Awumpaga II, for his exemplary leadership and selfless dedication to the development of the area.

He said Pe Awumpaga, who has served three terms as president of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, is a dynamic and proactive leader through whom Paga has attained tremendous development in the areas of health, education and tourism among others.

The former president particularly commended the Paga-Pio for his continuous respect for the constitutional provisions barring chiefs from dabbling in partisan politics, adding that his good example is worthy of emulation by traditional leaders.

“In the area of politics, Pe Charles Awumpaga is one of the chiefs who has continued to respect the constitutional provisions barring chiefs from partisan politics. He has always been a father to all and I and members of my party, the National Democratic Congress shall continue to count on him as a worthy partner in development for the progress of our dear nation.”

Donation
Mahama later presented a cash amount of GHC10,000, a bull, a ram, 10 bags of rice, cartons of tomatoes and oil, among others, towards the celebration of the Paga-pio’s 50th anniversary.

He commended the eminent chief for his remarkable achievement of successfully leading his people for half a century, adding that traditional leadership has always been a cornerstone for the development of any given society.

Mahama praised Paga-pio for being proactive in issues of national security and urged him to continue to offer his support to the country’s security agencies in this period of threats of terrorism and looming cross-border crimes.

The former president attended the occasion with Members of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress, former government appointees, members of the national and regional party leadership and party members.