President Mahama asks Asantehene to help address economic woes
President John Dramani Mahama is counting on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to put his influence at the disposal of the new government to address the country’s biting economic challenges.
He said the Asantehene had done it before when the country went through economic difficulties, expressing the hope that he would once again rise to the occasion.
President Mahama made the appeal when he joined Asanteman to celebrate the first Akwasidae of the year at the Manhyia Palace yesterday.
Economic crisis
Painting a picture of the dire economic situation his administration inherited, the President stated: “Our nation Ghana is facing a dire economic crisis. While it is not the first time we have been in such a crisis, this particular crisis is characterised by a high rate of inflation, macroeconomic instability, a depreciating currency and a debt default which has shut us out of the international credit market.”
“It is a more daunting challenge than we have ever experienced in our history,” he added.
Proceeding to request the intervention of the Asantehene, Mr Mahama said: “Your Royal Majesty, as a former President between 2013 and 2017, we faced macroeconomic instability and I remember some of the times we had obstacles in our way of bringing stability to our economy and restoring economic growth”.
“I had the privilege of calling on you to use your influence and diplomacy to smoothen the path so that it could open up the path towards prosperity and progress and anytime I called on you, you didn’t hesitate. And I would like to thank you for the cooperation I enjoyed with you at that time.”
Having inherited what the President described as “a difficult economic situation”, President Mahama added, “I will be calling on you again from time to time and I know that anytime I call on you, you will not hesitate so that we work together to put our nation back on its feet.”
Ceremony
The Akwasidae was celebrated with all the ingredients of the rich Asante tradition and culture.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, in his glory, arrived at the Dwabrem durbar grounds in a palanquin bedecked in gold, dancing to the throbbing of fontonfrom drums.
He then sat in state to receive homage from the President and other guests, some members of the diplomatic corps, as well as his chiefs and subjects.
President Mahama, in a sparkling white flowing agbada, arrived at the durbar grounds at 2 p.m., accompanied by a large delegation of government and National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials.
They included the NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia; the NDC National Vice-Chairman, Samuel Sarpong; the Director of Operations at the Presidency, Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathan Kofi Boakye (retd); former Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA), Kojo Bonsu; former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Opong-Fosu; NDC Ashanti Regional executive members, and businessman, Ibrahim Mahama.
President Mahama donated assorted drinks and an undisclosed amount to the Asantehene and the Asantehemaa for the celebration of Akwasidae.
Also in attendance was a delegation from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Development projects
Touching on the development of the Ashanti Region, President Mahama assured Otumfuo and his people that his government would ensure the immediate completion of some projects in the region, including the Regional Hospital at Sewua and the Afari Military Hospital.
Three days before he exited office as President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo performed a ceremony to inaugurate the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital.
The following day, the contractor, Euroget De Invest, issued a statement that the inauguration was bizarre as the facility had neither been handed over nor was it complete.
It is 22 days after that ceremony, and his successor, President Mahama has stated categorically that the project in its current stage, was not complete.
The President said he was aware that the Asantehene had in recent times complained about the lack of development in the region, including a number of uncompleted projects.
“Otumfuo, I will work with you to complete the Sewua Regional Hospital, the Afari Military Hospital and other uncompleted projects in your kingdom,” President Mahama assured.
He said the hospitals were among some notable projects his government initiated but after the Nana Akufo-Addo's NPP government took over, such key infrastructural projects were abandoned.
Ashanti support
President Mahama noted the immense support the Ashanti Region gave him and the NDC in the last elections.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank Asanteman. Many might not consider this the stronghold of my party but in this election, I believe that the confidence and the votes that the Ashanti Region gave us contributed to the overwhelming victory that I scored,” the President said.
Otumfuo grateful
Speaking on behalf of Otumfuo, the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, thanked the President for his interest in the development of Asanteman and expressed hope that he would continue with the spirit in his comeback to the Presidency.
He said Asanteman saw Mr Mahama as a “precious President”, adding, “We have absolute trust in you to deliver”.