The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has launched a scathing critique of the Mahama administration, accusing it of betraying the confidence of Ghanaians within just six months in office.
According to Ahiagbah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, has taken steps that are not only retrogressive but also deeply injurious to the well-being of the population.
In a detailed assessment titled “The sins of the NDC-Mahama government in the past six months against the people of Ghana,” Ahiagbah enumerated a series of actions and inactions that he claims have compounded the struggles of citizens across multiple sectors.
“The passage of the insensitive, incompetent, and lazy D-levy is a testament to this government’s disregard for the economic distress of Ghanaians”
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the NPP
He emphasized that while the previous E-levy largely exempted the masses, the D-levy affects “all Ghanaians, including unborn babies.”
The communications chief also accused the Mahama administration of a blatant failure to protect the country’s environment from illegal mining. According to him, Ghana’s rivers and forests are under siege and deteriorating, yet the president has refused to declare a state of emergency that could galvanize stronger action.
“The devastation caused by galamsey is unparalleled,” Ahiagbah stated, wondering why the government has refused to take the kind of drastic action needed to give impetus to the fight to save Ghana’s rivers and forests.
Beyond environmental degradation, Ahiagbah outlined the government’s failure to fulfil campaign promises, including the removal of the COVID-19 levy and the 5% Communications Service Tax. He revealed that the cost of internet services is projected to increase by 10% in July, yet the communications minister has reportedly stated that there is nothing government can do about it.
“The government promised to reduce the cost of living, but instead has extended the Special Import Levy until 2028, pushing up prices and making life harder for the average Ghanaian”
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the NPP
He also cited what he described as a betrayal of public sector workers, particularly nurses and midwives. Rather than engaging with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to resolve ongoing disputes, the administration has allegedly opted to call on retired personnel to fill the gap.
“Over 120,000 active nurses and midwives have been side-stepped. This move shows blatant disrespect for the dedication and needs of our healthcare professionals”
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the NPP
Other grievances listed include the return of erratic power supply, popularly known as dumsor, which has intensified the financial burden caused by the new levy, and the refusal of the administration to offer reasonable salary increments in the face of rising utility costs.
Ahiagbah pointed out that while essential services have seen cost hikes of up to 27%, the government only offered workers a 10% raise in base pay.
The NPP official further raised alarm over what he termed as the Mahama government’s authoritarian tendencies. He cited the alleged political harassment of individuals such as Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Wontumi.
“The government has engaged in a systematic witch-hunting of its political opponents while clearing NDC partisans and affiliates of all corruption and related charges”
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the NPP
He expressed grave concern over the suspension of the Chief Justice, calling it “an audacious political effort by the government to undermine and subjugate the judiciary to the whims and caprices of the executive.”
Further still, Ahiagbah criticized the abandonment of Ghanaian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and the alleged starvation of ministries and agencies of funds, particularly in critical sectors such as health.
He highlighted what he saw as gross misplacement of priorities, pointing to the allocation of GHS 2.71 million for Jubilee House compensation while nurses and midwives continue to fight for agreed working conditions.
“The cost of living has been aggravated by electricity and water tariff hikes of 14.75% and 4.02% respectively. Meanwhile, essential public institutions are operating on fumes”
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the NPP
He concluded by condemning the NDC’s parliamentary majority for what he called a rubber-stamp approval of the D-levy without consulting the Ghanaian people, describing it as a flagrant violation of representative democracy.
According to Ahiagbah, if elections were held today, the NDC “would struggle to make 50% +1,” indicating waning public confidence in the current administration.
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