How Nana Addo is ripping-off the taxpayer with his many launches

Now let me tell you why.

In the heat of the campaign ahead of election 2016, then Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made many promises, so did the then President who was seeking a second term, John Mahama.

The NPP made promises which include ‘1-district,1factory’, ‘Free SHS’, ‘1 village,1 dam’, restoration of teacher and nursing trainees allowance among others.

He had promised not to spend the taxpayers money on frivolous things. He accused the then governing party of corruption and misuse of money.

Maybe many Ghanaians believed in Nana Addo.

He won the election by over a 1million margin. Impressive!

The President told Ghanaians that he was in a hurry. He was going to start working immediately.

The budget was read and after appointing ministers and their deputies some of the policies started running.

President Akufo-Addo was on a mission to start as many projects in his first year.

I don’t have an issue with that. However, my challenge is with the idea of launching every program.

The President has launched policies like Free SHS, national ID, One District, One factory, Planting for food and jobs among others.

A press release also issued by the Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang-Manu said there will be a launch of the restoration of the nursing trainee allowance on “October 10, 2017, at the Nursing and Midwifery Training School, Sunyani, Brong Ahafo.”

In a statement issued on October 4, 2017, Agyemang-Manu said the President will be the Special Guest of Honour and main speaker for the occasion.

In my opinion, it is not necessary to launch the restoration of nursing trainee allowance. It was not necessary to launch some policies that have already been inaugurated.

It is a waste of the taxpayers money.

Consider how many V8s will make their way to Sunyani on Tuesday. The fuel they will consume and the fact that the money will be from the taxpayers money.

If the President is going, think of the security for him alone and the cost involved. We haven’t mentioned the cost of getting the venue ready for the event itself.

Official government work will likely come to a halt or reduce for the day of the launch. Some ministers and their deputies will follow the President to the launch and return later when the day is almost ending.

A sympathiser of the NPP argued that this is their way of informing the world of which policies they have started.

My response: we cannot continue this way. We cannot keep launching every policy before implementation begins. I know the government wants the media to trumpet the beginning of every program but you can send a press release which will be given the needed attention.

The total amount of money that would be wasted for the launch of the restoration of the nursing trainee allowance can pay a number of the students.

I am saying this because this is the same President who said he did not inherit a rich father.

Dear President Akufo-Addo if your predecessor left you with a bad economy don’t you think you should rather be using the little you have for the needed things instead of chanelling it into launching policies?

This is a rip-off but just a reminder, you promised not to govern in similar ways your predecessor did. Many Ghanaians believed in you and voted for you. Please deliver on your promises.

A Ghanaian citizen not a spectator.