Press Release

AFAG

July 10, 2012

 

"WONKY3DI" DEMO IN TAKORADI

Good morning ladies and gentlemen

In spite of the persistent calls from AFAG to get government to modify its desire to prioritize the complete amortization of judgment debts over the basic needs of Ghanaians, it is clear that government is adamant but however interested in settling non-existent debts to largely cronies of the NDC government as opposed to providing for the welfare of Ghanaians. With notice taken thereof, where Government is interested in misallocating the hard earned resources of state to pay for rather controversial judgement debts and without any commitment to retrieve such monies back into the state coffers. AFAG inescapably, is announcing in this regard, its maiden "Demo" among the series of selected regional actions to be taken to press forward the desires of Ghanaians to see to the immediate halt of such wanton abuse of state loans, grants and tax payer’s monies, as opposed to using such monies to improve the lot of Ghanaians. We are therefore announcing the "‘WONKYENDI" Demo to be held on Tuesday, July 31 2012 at Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana.


JUDGEMENT DEBT PAYMENTS VS. IMPOVERISHED STATE OF WESTERN REGION

It is no secret that, the developmental situation in the Western Region is one of the greatest contradictions of our time. As a region endowed with all the natural resources needed for development, the region has for centuries not benefited from the resources it produces. The distribution of the national cake to the WR as promised by the NDC government has been reduced to mere rhetoric. Thus, although oil revenues accrued to state since 2010 is well over 500 million USD, judgement debts continue to be the priority of the NDC Government as the infrastructural situations in the WR grow from worse to worst couple with the high cost of living engulfing its indigenes.
Ladies and gentlemen, though the WR is faced with such enormous challenges, AFAG finds it ironic that the Mills-Mahama government can afford to pay judgment debt totaling over 400million dollars, much of which is tainted with corruption. A classic example is the case of the GHC51.0M paid to Mr. Alfred Woyome, an NDC financier, who has publicly stated that he has never had any contract with the state. Could this money have been used to lift the face of the poor roads in Sekondi-Takoradi township, and hence have averted the demonstrations held last week by mechanics in the kokompe area?
Is it not obvious that the NDC government’s inability to attend to our developmental needs today does not stem from insufficient resources, but rather, a shallow understanding of basic prioritization of needs and hence remains helpless in the fight against corruption?

Ladies and gentlemen, AFAG is hopeful that, the WR demonstration to be held in Takoradi, may draw the attention of government to the suffering of the people of the western Region, and bring to the fore the following;

• The fact that, the Tarkwa, Bogoso ,Prestea and Yamfori roads have been abandoned in spite of the fact that the NDC government inherited a secured amount of 350million USD from the American Exim bank sourced by the Kufour led NPP government for that project, and confirmed by the WR minister last year in parliament.
• The fact that the Asankragwaa- Enchi road has not seen the day of light even though the Kufour-led NPP government secured an EU grant of 73million euros for that project. This has been confirmed by the WR minister last year in parliament.

• The fact that the local economy has become so bad that farmers cannot afford the high cost of fertilizers in the cocoa growing areas in the WR. As of 2008 a bag of cocoa could buy 7 bags of fertilizer in the WR. However, as of now, a bag of cocoa can purchase 4 fertilizers.

• The fact that, fisher folks along the coastal areas of the WR cannot afford the high cost of outboard motors and fishing nets which until 2008 was available at a highly subsidized fee. Currently, they cannot even get them to buy since it's been controlled by NDC apparatchiks with no idea of managing this nonpartisan industry.

• The fact that the management of premix fuel has been left in the hands of known NDC activists who in turn makes it available to their fellow party folks.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with these reasons and many which shall be revealed in due course that have made this action inevitable. We are therefore calling on all well-meaning Ghanaians particularly those in the western region to join us in their numbers to send a clear signal to government, that all is not well with the people.

AFAG is challenging the western regional minister to come forward on behalf of his region to state otherwise the aforementioned.


Thank you and God bless Ghana.

Signed:

Henry Asante 0248274646
Abu Ramadan 0244570006
Bright Acheampong 0545230621
Mutala Mohammed 0243807244
Davis Opoku 0244861593