Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has asked the Akufo-Addo led government to emulate measures put in place by their counterparts in Togo to fight the deadly coronavirus.
Specific social interventions Mahama has asked the president to reproduce from his Togolese counterparts include provision of free electricity for Ghanaians.
The Togolese government, as part of its measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, cushioned the burden of citizens with the free supply of water and electricity for citizens for three months.
Even though President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 5th address to nation announced some social interventions which included his government’s plan to absorb water bills of Ghanaians for three months, the NDC’s flagbearer has emphasized that those are not enough.
Per John Mahama’s assertion, as penned by the NDC’ Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi in a statement, there are more interventions that could be enforced to ensure that the average Ghanaian does not suffer the harsh impacts caused by the spread of the deadly virus.
He says free electricity is as important as any of the interventions so far.
“…but aside the announced interventions, the Flag-bearer of the NDC, H.E John Dramani Mahama has made other far-sighted proposals, that government must adopt to enhance our mitigation efforts against the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. President Mahama has proposed that… 3. government provides Ghanaians with free electricity, as has been done by the Government of Togo…,” the statement signed by Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi and reflecting the ideas of the flagbearer, Former President John Dramani Mahama, read in part.
The former President also wants his successor to scrap the Communication Service tax and some other taxes imposed on essential commodities during this period.
The party also alleged that the president and his team are being secretive about some details that could be useful to the average Ghanaian.
“So far, government’s response to the pandemic has been one of Public Relations and Information Management. There are a lot of things government is not telling us The statement however indicated that the proposals laid out are the ideas of the party’s flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama…”
