The President, John Dramani Mahama has chastised the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of parliament for their rude behavior during the presentation of the 2016 budget by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning , Seth Terkper.
The President said the showing of the ‘dead goat’ placards by the NPP MPs clearly indicates that the MPs were not listening to the finance minister but rather waiting to show the cards to the Ghanaian public in spite of Ghanaians expressing a lot of dissatisfaction with the extreme partisanship in the country. The budget will stabilize the economy despite what skeptics say. “Immediately, the finance minister finished his presentation, they got up and were showing the dead goat’s cards. It clearly shows that they made their minds up before the presentation,” Mahama said.
President Mahama made these remarks when he addressed party supporters in Tamale as part of his #changinglives, #Transforming Ghana tour. The tour, according to the president was to energize party members ahead of its primaries scheduled for November 21.
President was grateful to the NDC party for giving him the opportunity to lead the party, stressing that the party much unlike its rival the NPP, does not place emphasis on one’s social or economic status before you are chosen to lead it.
The Northern region tour brings to eight the number of regions the president has toured after successfully going through filing and presentation of his presidential nomination form.
NDC universal adult suffrage: President Mahama lauded the party’s adoption of universal adult suffrage which gives majority of party members voting rights during primaries. The old system of electing parliamentary candidates affected the party in the 2012 elections resulting in the party losing 22 seats in the country, 11 in the northern region alone, president Mahama noted.
“Candidates must be prepared to accept the results of the election come November 21, we don’t want failed aspirants to become independent candidates, the NDC leader warned.
The system is not perfect but the NDC is the first party to try it. He lamented the continued spoilt ballot papers in every election. He charged Party executives to teach party members how to cast their ballot to avoid spoilt ballot.
On the renewal of votes, president Mahama said the constitution of Ghana makes it a four year-term for every party. The four years he explains serve as a the foundation stage for every party.
