The leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Hassan Ayariga urged Ghanaians to break free from the cycle of political dominance by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr. Ayariga emphasized the need for change and presented the APC as the third force capable of leading the country toward better governance and development. Dr. Ayariga began by acknowledging the leadership of the APC and the dignitaries present at the APC event. Dr. Ayariga underscored the importance of the upcoming 2024 election, calling it a difficult challenge due to the persistent dominance of the two major political parties.
“Going into the 2024 election is not going to be an easy work. It’s very difficult work because there’s so much work to do.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
Dr. Ayariga highlighted that the continuous recycling of leadership between these two parties has led to corruption, mismanagement, and bad governance.
“When we refuse to make changes, then we are endorsing corruption. We’re endorsing mismanagement. We’re endorsing bad leadership.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
Dr. Ayariga criticized the reluctance of many Ghanaians to vote for smaller parties, stating that, this attitude only perpetuates the power of the NDC and NPP. Dr. Ayariga pointed out that, over five million eligible voters do not participate in elections, leading to low voter turnout.
“We cannot sit down and fold our arms and agree and allow certain groups of people and crop of leadership to mismanage our country.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
Dr. Ayariga urged Ghanaians to take action and vote for the APC as a third force. Dr. Ayariga appealed directly to non-voters.
“We the APC, are offering ourselves to the 7,000,000 Ghanaians who do not want to vote for NDC and NPP. Make us the 3rd force because we are the 3rd force for you.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
Dr. Ayariga emphasized that change is only possible if Ghanaians are willing to vote for alternatives and not allow the major parties to dominate the political landscape. Dr. Ayariga presented the APC as a party with fresh ideas and policies, contrasting it with the lack of substantive policies from the NDC and NPP. He criticized the policy platforms of both parties.
“Right now, they have no policy. They have only two, and the two of them have two policies. One says it’s possible. What is possible? Is it a policy? It’s not a policy.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
Dr. Ayariga’s vision for Ghana extends beyond just winning the election. He painted a picture of a country where the economy is managed in a way that allows citizens to live comfortably, rather than struggling with the high cost of living.
He stated; “The suffering is real. Inflation is high. High cost of goods and services in the market. Fuel prices have gone up. Electricity is high. Rent has gone up. Even pure water has gone up.”
The Impact of Gambling on Youth
One of the major concerns Dr. Ayariga raised was the rise of gambling among the youth. He lamented that the future of the country is being jeopardized as young people turn to gambling due to a lack of opportunities. He asserted “Now the future of Ghana is the youth, and where are the youth? They are gamblers. They’ve become gamblers.”
Dr. Ayariga warned that gambling addiction among the youth could lead to a future where Ghana lacks skilled professionals.
“We are going to be losing doctors in the future, losing engineers in the future, losing professors in the future, and in the future, we are all going to be lazy people and gambling.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga leader and founder of the All-People’s Congress (APC)
A Challenge to the NDC and NPP
Dr. Ayariga did not shy away from directly challenging the leadership of the NDC and NPP. He expressed his willingness to debate the leaders of both parties, declaring, “We will debate them, we want to debate them, I want to debate them.” Dr. Ayariga’s call for a debate reflects his confidence in the APC’s platform and his belief that his party can offer better leadership for Ghana.
Dr. Ayariga called for a new kind of leadership that truly represents the interests of the Ghanaian people. Dr. Ayariga criticized the current leadership for their failure to address the concerns of the people, particularly about the country’s economic challenges and the growing desire of many Ghanaians to leave the country. “People are running out of this country. The embassies are full. He reiterated. The appointment list for each embassy is 1 year,” he said, highlighting the desperation of many citizens under the current political regime.
Dr. Ayariga’s passionate plea for Ghanaians to reject the status quo and embrace the APC as a viable alternative. His message was clear: the time for change is now, and the APC is ready to lead the country toward a better future.