Fire4Fire: NPP reacts to Dormaahene’s allegation against government
PRESS STATEMENT ADDRESSED BY KWAME BAFFOE ABRONYE, NPP BONO REGIONAL CHAIRMAN.
DATE: 14TH JANUARY, 2022
SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT ON CLAIMS THAT PRESIDENT NANA ADDO DANQUAH AKUFO ADDO HAS ABANDONED PROJECTS INITIATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA.
Good afternoon distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media.
On behalf of the Bono Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP), I thank you for honoring our invitation at such short notice and welcome you to the Regent Hotel (Sunyani) for this all-important press conference.
Before we proceed further and given the fact that this presser is the first for the year 2022, I wish to on behalf of my good self and the leadership of the NPP extend to you, our friends from the media best compliments of the season and wish all those listening and watching this event across the length and breadth of Ghana, a very fruitful and prosperous new year.
Venerable friends of the media, the New Patriotic Party is utterly staggered by certain pronouncements and utterances emanating from Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II who doubles as the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.
✓ To begin with, Dormaahene is a very good personal friend who I accord a lot of respect. The Bono regional NPP under my auspices as Chairman has established a very good cordial relationship and peaceful coexistence amongst ourselves and under no circumstances shall we seek to underrate the Overlord of the Dormaa Traditional council or undermine our relationship. It is intriguing to point out that, due to my very good relations with Nana Agyemang Badu ll, he has even promised me 20 acres of land of which I will be going for same after this very presser.
✓ Notwithstanding the foregoing fact, it seems the respected Chief has fallen for the convincing propaganda and fiction of the National Democratic Congress and therefore it has become very significant that, I respond to certain statements made by the Chief in recent times and clear all misconceptions that has arisen therefrom. Ladies and gentlemen in the media, this Presser will take a different dimension from our regular encounters. Today’s presser is accompanied by audio visuals and graphics to substantiate our claims and assertions.
✓ Few days ago, Osagyefo Nana Agyemang Badu II was seen a video widely circulated on social media and by especially persons noted to be aligned to the National Democratic Congress specifically their social media activists where Omanhene sought to suggest that, “John Mahama is not an enemy to President Akufo Addo and that Nana Addo must complete projects started by John Mahama”.
This very video has since received wide publications from various news outlets.
✓ I do not want to believe that, the NDC has hired Dormaahene to speak on their behalf however, I am totally convinced that, the respected Chief has rather fallen for the sweet lies and propaganda of the NDC and hence his recent inaccurate statements about the Nana Akufo Addo led NPP government.
As a high court judge in good standing and a person who has enormous knowledge of the law and tradition it is very important Nana Dormaahene verifies any information before commenting on same because if his comments are later fact checked and found to be inaccurate, misleading or untrue, it has the tendency of bringing the traditional seat he occupies into disrepute.
✓ In the prevailing circumstances, the claims by Dormaahene in the video which has received wide publications suggesting that Akufo Addo has abandoned all projects of the former government led by Mahama is not only far-fetched but simply preposterous and a figment of Dormaahene’s own imagination. This is because in Nana Agyemang Badu’s own back yard ie Bono Region the President Akufo Addo led NPP Government has completed several projects abandoned by the government of NDC led by John Mahama.
✓ Specifically, the asphalting of Dormaa Town roads which were awarded in the erstwhile NPP led President Kuffour Government was totally abandoned throughout the 8 years tenure of the NDC led John Mahama Government. However, the Dormaa Town roads were re awarded to a contractor in 2018 under President Akufo Addo and thus I leave it with the good people of Dormaa to testify themselves the current state of their town roads. The entire Dormaa Township has witnessed unprecedented asphalt roads. I do not remember Nana Agyemang Badu lamenting over the abandoned roads between 2009 to 2016.
✓ Ladies and gentlemen from the media, Dormaa to Nkrakwanta (Dormaa west) road was also awarded by the government of Prez Kuffour. Graciously the contractor completed about 50% of the road ie Dormaa to Diabaa however, this road was abandoned by John Mahama and his NDC. Reconstruction resumed in 2018 and currently the road is 93% near completion and the good people of Dormaa west including Nana Dormaahene himself can attest to the good works of the President.
✓ Again, Construction of Manje to Bui road was awarded in 2007 by President Kuffour but frustrated and the contract terminated by President Mahama. Between 2010 to 2016, that road was described as one of the most deplorable roads in the Bono Region. In 2019 after President Akufo Addo had directed Hon Amoako Atta, Roads Minister to re award the contract, works have started progressing steadily and currently the road is 84% near completion.
✓ Jamdede to Koraso road construction started in 2007, terminated in 2009, Re awarded in 2019 and as at 2021 the road had been tarred.
✓ Reconstruction of New Dormaa Kotokrom road contract was awarded in 2011 by President Mills and abandoned by President Mahama in 2012. It has taken the intervention of President Akufo Addo to reconstruct this road.
✓ Dormaa is known to be the hub of eggs and chicken rearing in Ghana. In view of this, President Kuffour started the construction of a veterinary laboratory in 2007 however, this was left to rot from 2009. It is under the Presidency of President Akufo Addo that works are about to resume on the project. Why was Dormaahene quiet during the tenure of the National Democratic congress? Was he in bed with them?
✓ At Dormaa Senior High School, a 2500 capacity assembly hall started in 2007 was abandoned by the President Mahama led NDC. This very project is situated exactly at the heart of Dormaahene was left to rot in the bush from 2009 to 2016 I.e 8 solid years. The Dormaahene is not on record to have accused or even commented on this project after same was abandoned in the bush. As for the reason behind Omanhene’s quietness during the tenure of NDC only the gods and Nana Agyemang Badu ll himself can explain.
Upon a report submitted to President Akufo Addo in his first term, he directed the former minister for Education Hon Napo to ensure works resumes and the project is completed. As I speak now, works on the project has started and same will be completed soon.
✓ At Berekum, which is the next door neighbour of Dormaa, Prez Kuffour started a 3 storey 9 unit municipal police headquarters. This project was abandoned in 2009. A report was sent to the President just last year and he promised through the minister of interior that works on the project will commence this year.
So why didn’t John Mahama complete such an important project initiated by Kuffour or is it the case that Kuffour is not a Ghanaian? And again why didn’t Dormaahene lament over the neglect of the project between 2009 to 2016?
✓ Again, Jaman South municipal assembly office started started in 2006 was abandoned throughout the entire 8 years of the John Mahama led NDC. A report has recently been sent to the local government minister and the president. Works on the project will commence soon.
✓ At Sunyani West, NDC terminated and abandoned the construction of the municipal assembly office located at Odumasi my own back yard, which was started by the government of Prez Kuffour in 2007. The NDC Government abandoned the project because the good people of Odumasi have consistently voted for the NPP.
In 2018 during the President’s visit to the region, he cut sod for construction of the assembly office and currently same is almost complete awaiting commissioning.
✓ It is interesting to note that, John Mahama after losing the 2016 election cut sod for the construction of the Eastern Regional University of Sustainable Development on 29th December, 2016.
This project has been completed, commissioned and in operation under the government of HE. Nana Addo.
✓ At Wenchi, 1500 girls dormitory at Wenchi Senior High which was 70% near completion in 2007 under President Kuffour. Same was abandoned in 2009 by the John Mahama led NDC Government. A report has been sent to Hon Adutwum and works will commence soon on the project.
SUNYANI REGIONAL LIBRARY
✓ The Sunyani Regional Library was abandoned in 2010 by the John Mahama government and ever since, the project has been in a deplorable state. But for the intervention of President Akufo Addo, the library project has been captured in the 2022 budget and very soon the project will receive a massive face lift.
SUNYANI AIRPORT
✓ I am surprised that Dormaahene is lambasting the Akufo Addo led NPP Government for failing to operationalize the Sunyani Airport. We all know the facts surrounding the closure of the Sunyani Airport however, Dormaahene went ahead to blindly chastise the current president. It is a matter of public knowledge that the Sunyani Regional Airport was closed down in 2014 and nothing was done by the government then led by Mahama. Was President Akufo Addo the leader of the country in 2014? If no, why blame him for the closure of the Sunyani Airport.
In 2019, during President Akufo Addo’s visit to the region, he cut sod for the re construction and expansion of the Sunyani Regional Airport of which Phase 1 is 95% near completion and Phase ll of the project has also been captured in the 2022 budget and hence expected to be completed soon.
Do we blame a President who seeks to expand and operationalize the airport or blame the one who closed it down without any recourse? Certainly Nana Addo cannot be blamed.
HO AIRPORT
✓ President Mahama in September 2015 cut sod for the construction of the first phase of the Ho Regional Airport which cost Ghanaians $25 million however, the edifice constructed could only be described as a single room self-contain of a young graduate and not fit to even been described as a bus terminal let alone to be called an airport.
It is under President Akufo Addo that the Ho Airport received a massive facelift.
SAGLEMI HOUSING PROJECT
✓ On the Saglemi housing project as mentioned by Dormaahene, The original output target of the Saglemi project of 5,000 units at a total cost of US$200 million, as stipulated in the financing agreement presented to and approved by Parliament, had drastically reduced to 1,502.
Of that number, 1,389 units had been completed, without a commensurate reduction in the overall loan financing.
An amount of approximately US$197 million, representing 98 per cent of the financing cost, had been expended on 1,502 units, as against the planned 5,000 units.
Currently the Saglemi Housing Project is a matter of criminal litigation of which some appointees of the Mahama Government including our good friend Hon Collins Dauda is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.
A cursory inspection of the current state of development belies the fundamental challenge of the absence of the primary infrastructure the site suffers, for which reason a further investment is required.
Currently, there is no water supply and electricity hence how can people live there?
To add to that the drainage system is also nothing to write home about.
Will my good friend Nana Dormaahene allow his children who are my nephews live at a house without Water and Electricity? If no why should another persons son or daughter be allowed by the government live there as suggested by Dormaahene.
HEALTH
Under the Euroget Invest SA partnership, President Kuffour started the following projects in 2008. These projects included but not limited to;
• Tain District Hospital
• Wa Regional Hospital
• Konongo Odumasi District Hospital
• Tepa District Hospital
• Twifo Praso District Hospital
The NDC in their 8 years in power failed to complete these projects. They abandoned these health infrastructures started by President Kuffour and left them to rot.
However under President Akufo Addo these projects have been completed and same commissioned and in operations.
Despite the fact that the NDC Mahama led Administration abandoned health infrastructure projects started by Kuffour, President Akuffo did not do same.
Below is a list of health infrastructures inherited from the Mahama led NDC Government by the President Akufo Addo Government which been completed and others are also near completion. These include;
INHERITED PROJECTS COMPLETED/ONGOING
1 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Bisease Completed
2 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Gomoa Dawurampong Completed
3 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Ekumfi Nuakwa Completed
4 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Biriwa Completed
5 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Etsii Sunkwa Completed
6 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Bimpong Egya Completed
7 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Gomoa Potsin Completed
8 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Gyamera Completed
9 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Mankrong Completed
10 CENTRAL Completed Construction of ongoing Polyclinic at Akonfude Completed
11 GREATER ACCRA Completed Ongoing Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Tamale Teaching Hospital Phase2 Completed
12 GREATER ACCRA Completed Ongoing Construction of Offices for Ministry of Health , and Regulatory Bodies at Ridge Accra Completed
13 GREATER ACCRA COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF GA EAST MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL Completed
14 GREATER ACCRA COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF DODOWA DISTRICT HOSPITAL Completed
15 NORTHERN Completed Ongoing construction of 597 Bed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital Completed
16 UPPER WEST COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF WA REGIONAL HOSPITAL Completed
17 ASHANTI ONGOING EXPANSION OF RADIOTHERAPY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE SERVICES AT KATH On Going
18 ASHANTI ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN FOMENA On Going
19 BONO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF TEPA DISTRICT HOSPITAL On Going
20 CENTRAL ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF TWIFO-PRASO DISTRICT HOSPITAL On Going
21 EASTERN ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF KONONGO DISTRICT HOSPITAL On Going
22 EASTERN ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF NSAWKAW DISTRICT HOSPITAL On Going
23 EASTERN ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN ABETIFI On Going
24 GREATER ACCRA COMMENCED CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE II OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA MEDICAL CENTRE On Going
25 GREATER ACCRA ONGOING EXPANSION OF RADIOTHERAPY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE SERVICES AT KBTH On Going
26 SAVANNAH ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF SALAGA DISTRICT HOSPITAL On Going
27 UPPER EAST ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN TAKORADI On Going
28 EASTERN CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN KUMAWU re-awarding
29 UPPER EAST CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN GARU re-awarding
30 WESTERN CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN SEKONDI – KASAWIRADO re-awarding
31 NATIONWIDE Equipment for Ongoing Nationwide TB Detection Programe Installed Completed
POKUASE INTERCHANGE
Assuming without Admitting that the NDC Mahama led government secured funding for the POKUASE interchange, same was not abandoned but has been completed and commissioned under the leadership of President Akufo Addo.
The Tema interchange is also another point of reference.
CONCLUSION
It is interesting how Dormaahene is always quiet whenever NDC is power but always uses any little opportunity he gets to ridicule President Akufo Addo and his Government.
I do not want to believe this is borne out of Personal disaffection or dislike.
From the above points, it is clear that Dormaahene erred in his statement that President has failed to complete projects started by the John Mahama Government. That assertion is next to what could be described as falsehood.
I wish to conclude by reiterating the respect I personally have for Dormaahene however, I want to state categorically that considering his recent unsubstantiated utterances which have proven to be highly in-factual and inaccurate he should consider forfeiting his chieftaincy and join the NDC if he so wishes so he could be addressed as such if he seeks to continue with pushing the propaganda and agenda of the NDC.
I am therefore entreating Dormaahene not to reduce his respected seat to cheap politics and propaganda because same will directly bring disrepute to his seat.
Thank you.
Credit: K DEE(Nimde3 FM-Sunyani)/filasconews
