Professor Godfred Bokpin, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, has cast doubt on the actualisation of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifestoes should they win the upcoming elections.
He explained that the economy had been badly affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic, and raising resources and funds to achieve the numerous promises listed by both parties would be difficult.
Prof Bokpin noted that the manifestoes didn’t recognise COVID-19, that these are unusual times and talking about the economy where recovery now would go beyond three years and they were not talking about growth and development post COVID-19 among others.
His comments come after NDC’s flagbearer and former President John Mahama together with his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and some top NDC officials highlighted their policies, programmes and initiatives should they win December 7, polls.
In the 143 page document titled ‘The People’s Manifesto’, NDC pledged at least 18 free items across all sectors and there was mention of free primary healthcare, tertiary education to persons with disability, seedlings for cocoa farmers under agriculture among others.
According to Prof Bokpin, he had realised big disconnect between reality on the ground, medium term outlook and manifestoes considered, however, commenting on NDC’s ‘Big Push’ agenda that is to invest $10 billion in infrastructure, education and agriculture, and insisted the country’s debt stock would rise.
“This will retrogress growth and development of economy post COVID-19, when you go through entire manifesto and there is very little effort at demonstrating how funds will be accumulated to finance them without adding to public debt stock.
“The NDC must come clearly and demonstrate bearing in mind challenges we have, outlook for next three to four years, how promises sits within, until then, I think we do not have anything to discuss,” Prof Bokpin decried.
But responding to the senior lecturer, the NDC parliamentary candidate for Abura-Asebu- Kwamankese in the Central Region, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said former President Mahama was committed, dedicated and determined to using internal means to generate revenue for the $10 billion Big Push agenda.
He indicated that impression should not be created merely because we have COVID-19, revenue collection would cease or no longer benefit from oil revenue but readjust priorities and cut down on non-critical consumption related expenditure. -myjoyonline.com
