The NDC parliamentary candidate for Lambussie and the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association Professor Titus K. Beyuo has highlighted key policy proposals and promises that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is offering ahead of the 2024 elections.

According to Prof. Beyuo, NDC is positioning itself as a party that is ready to tackle the pressing issues facing Ghana with a detailed and actionable manifesto.

Prof. Beyuo began by expressing excitement about the upcoming manifesto launch, noting that the NDC has significant good news to offer the people of Ghana. The NDC’s policy proposals range from tax cuts aimed at revitalizing Ghana’s economy to a firm commitment to accountability and the recovery of stolen funds.

“For the first time, you are seeing a presidential candidate that gives you a social contract for the first 120 days to tell you how ready we are.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

This social contract is a notable pledge, signifying the party’s readiness to take immediate action once in power. According to Prof. Beyuo, One of the standout initiatives from the manifesto is the focus on healthcare, particularly in addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Prof. Beyuo Pointed out that those who operate within the health sector emphasize the importance of tackling diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and sickle cell, which are major contributors to the burden of renal failure in Ghana. The creation of the Mahama Care Fund is proposed as a solution to these challenges.

“The burden of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cancers, Sickle cell is significant and these things are the ones leading to the renal failure, leading to dialysis and you know the crisis we have.”

This fund is intended to address the financial strain on the healthcare system and improve access to care for individuals suffering from these conditions.

According to Prof. Beyuo In addition to addressing noncommunicable diseases, the NDC’s manifesto includes a promise to introduce a risk exposure allowance for healthcare workers. This policy is aimed at providing additional financial support to healthcare professionals who are at the frontline of tackling the country’s health challenges. The MP believes that this initiative will not only support healthcare workers but also improve the overall quality of healthcare in Ghana.

Prof. Beyuo also dismisses the notion of a “honeymoon phase” for the NDC’s presidential candidate, indicating that there will be no delay in getting to work if elected. “There’s no more honeymoon. His Excellency is more experienced to want to have a honeymoon,” Prof. Beyuo stated, reinforcing the idea that the NDC’s candidate John Mahama is prepared to hit the ground running.

Moreover, Prof. Beyuo mentioned that Mahama has committed to announcing his entire cabinet within the first 14 days of taking office. This move demonstrates a sense of urgency and preparedness on the part of the NDC.

According to Prof. Beyuo, The NDC also plans to organize a national economic dialogue within the first 90 days of Mahama’s presidency. This dialogue will bring together the best economic minds in the country to chart a path out of the current economic crisis. Prof. Beyuo emphasized the importance of this initiative.

“We’ve been calling for this, that when we are in crisis, bring the best brains in Ghana together, but we’ve never had that from this government.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

This national dialogue represents a collaborative approach to addressing the country’s economic challenges, in stark contrast to the current government’s handling of the situation. Moreover, the NDC’s manifesto reflects a strong commitment to accountability through its proposed “Operation Recover All the Loots.” This initiative seeks to recover funds that have been misappropriated or stolen from the state, demonstrating the NDC’s commitment to transparency and good governance. Prof. Beyuo highlighted this as a key part of the NDC’s promise to the people of Ghana.

“..There’s a promise of accountability to recover all the loots.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

Prof. Beyuo emphasized that the NDC’s manifesto is being presented as a comprehensive plan to address the pressing issues facing Ghana, from healthcare and economic recovery to good governance and accountability.

Prof. Beyuo’s excitement about the policy proposals reflects a belief that the NDC is ready and capable of leading Ghana towards a brighter future. With a focus on immediate action, experienced leadership, and a commitment to the well-being of the Ghanaian people, the NDC is positioning itself as the party that can bring about real and meaningful change.

SML Scandals under the Current Administration

Prof. Beyuo Highlighted the issue of state capture and scandals under the current administration, particularly focusing on the SML deal.

Prof. Beyuo questioned the necessity of the contract with SML, a company responsible for revenue assurance, suggesting that it added no real value to the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) work. Concerns were also raised about the lack of due process in signing contracts

“What they were doing is exactly what the GRA was doing and they were able to monitor their resources or revenues coming in. So, what was the need for this?”
“You signed all these contracts, single-sourced, you didn’t have any proper value for [it].”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

These lapses Prof. Beyuo suggested are shocking particularly under the leadership of a lawyer-president.

“It’s almost unthinkable to imagine that things like this can happen.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

Prof. Beyuo tied these issues to the broader promise of accountability under the NDC’s leadership. They stressed that under John Dramani Mahama’s administration, the party would pursue forensic audits of various contracts and scandals of public interest.

“The scandals have become a daily affair, is one scandal per day, someone said that they are like the grace of God, they are new every morning.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

Prof. Beyuo criticized the $60 million National Cathedral scandal, describing it as the most expensive pit in the world. They also referenced an alleged ambulance scandal, lamenting;

“As a medical person when I hear it, I can’t think far. You are paying over 34,000,000 Ghana cedis or $1,000,000 for ambulance repairs… not to purchase new ambulances.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

Prof. Beyuo called for significant measures to address these issues, advocating for special courts, forensic audits, and specialized vehicles to tackle such scandals. They expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to hold itself accountable.

“This same government and its surrogates can never hold themselves accountable and that’s why you’ve never heard Bawumia mention these scandals.”
Professor Titus K. Beyuo General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association

Prof. Beyuo reaffirmed that the NDC’s commitment to investigating these scandals is firm, assuring Ghanaians that the loot that we recoup may be sufficient to support a lot of initiatives.