Nothing can stop change — Bawumia
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said there is nothing anyone can do to stop the wind of change and that in 216 days, Nana Akufo-Addo will be President-elect of Ghana God willing.
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“There is little anyone can do to stop change. Change cannot be stopped and it cannot be delayed and in 216 days, Nana Akufo-Addo will be the President-elect, Insha Allah," he said.
Dr Bawumia was speaking to students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, at the Tarkwa Roman Catholic Parish Hall.
Speaking on the reckless management of the economy, Dr Bawumia explained that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had added over a GH¢100 billion to Ghana’s debt stock in seven years and three months.
Ghana’s total debt
“In the last seven years alone under this NDC government Ghana’s total debt has ballooned from GH¢9.5billion to GH¢97 billion by the end of 2015 and GH¢111 billion by the end of March 2016! What is clear is that over 90 per cent (i.e. GH¢101.5 billion) of Ghana’s total debt since independence has been accumulated under this NDC government between 2009-2015 i.e. the last seven years and three months”, he said.
Dr Bawumia noted that records from the Bank of Ghana indicated that in the first three months of 2016, the NDC had borrowed a whopping GH¢14 billion, taking the total debt to GH¢111 billion.
“Indeed, the GH¢14 billion debt accumulated by the NDC government in the first three months of this year is much more than the total debt of GH¢9.5 billion at the end of 2008 when the NDC took over office,” he said.
The NPP Vice-Presidential Candidate pointed out that the reckless borrowing in the last seven years had taken a toll on the economy, particularly its vital sectors.
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Real effects of borrowing
“The real effects of the reckless borrowing undertaken in the last seven years is seen in the magnitude of interest payments Ghana has been burdened with, which has meant that vital resources which should have gone into vital sectors, infrastructural development and social services, are now being pumped into settling our debt obligations.
“In 2015, interest payment amounted to more than GH¢9.6 billion. That figure was more than the total debt stock of GH¢9.5 billion in 2008 at the end of President Kufuor’s term for which debt stock both President Mills and John Mahama lampooned the NPP government,” he said.
Two clear alternatives
Dr Bawumia stated that the youth of the country had two clear alternatives before them and was convinced that between a future of joblessness and hopelessness and one of jobs and economic transformation, the youth will choose right.
Dr Bawumia was accompanied to the forum by the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Sammy Awuku.