“He was my very good friend in Parliament, but I completely disagree with him because the development partners are completely confused as to what we mean by that.”

Mr. Bagbin, who was speaking to the media after a radio programme in Accra, said the propaganda that had become the personal gospel of the President has jolted the country’s donors into confusion that could possibly lead to an abrupt disengagement of badly needed help.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DFZdIPmoWqTBggaDJS4wAvQC4Af5s4zl”]“Due to the confusion within donor circles, people have become expectant of an unavailable blueprint from the NPP government in respect of the rhetoric.”

The Second Deputy Speaker, who is also the MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, warned government to reconsider the sloganeering.

Mr. Bagbin had called on government to come out with a comprehensive official document on Ghana Beyond Aid to put to rest various speculations that were making the rounds.

Giving a historical background to the important global aid culture, Mr Bagbin said “Aid does not just come out of the blue, not from the magnanimity of the donor countries, aid comes out of a struggle by the oppressed, the exploited and the poor nations.

“You will recall that after the first and second world wars, the economies of these (less developed) countries, were so devastated that they were struggling to survive and they had to look back at these poor nations and to use their might at that time to support the poor nations. And it is the economies of the poor nations that sustained them to develop. So when the poor nations started putting pressure for compensation, the developed nations quickly decided to respond,” Hon. Bagbin said.

Mr. Bagbin said Ghana did not need aid to develop because the aid that the country was receiving over the years was in a way misapplied.

“Again, aid is not just giving out without being attached to a programme of government. If rather we present a programme and end up not doing exactly that, then you can raise such issues, but they are attached to programmes that are even approved by development partners.”

He said anybody that wanted evidence about Ghana’s dire need for aid, should go to the health sector where many Ghanaian children were dying of childhood killer diseases because donor countries had cut back on vaccine donations.

He also dismissed claims that Ghana had enough natural resources to ride on into the sunny days of “Ghana Beyond Aid” pointing out that in the digital age, natural resource is not what is needed for development.

“You don’t develop by relying on your natural resources, you develop a nation by relying on your education; developing your minds to be able to create things, not just the raw materials, no! You have to add some value to what actually you market and that comes from your mind. And that is why research, technology, mathematics and science are key to the development of every society.

“And so the natural resources we have to renegotiate the agreement, but how do you do that when you don’t have the mind power to negotiate properly…You don’t need natural resources to develop software!” Hon. Bagbin said.

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Source: GNA

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“We have one goal and that goal is that 2020 we must win the election. We are not just going to show Nana in 2020 we are going to win the election to develop mother Ghana,” he said.

According to Bagbin who is also the Member of Parliament for the Nadoli-Kaleo constituency, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) lied its way to power, adding that those same lies will lead to the NPP’s downfall.

“Politics is service to the people, if you deceive the people to win power it is like pregnancy, tomorrow it is the lies that will lead to your downfall. So I want to appeal to all of you in politics to let truth prevail. If you are leading people and the people don’t trust you, there is no way you can develop the people because leaders themselves don’t produce, it is the followers who work and produce,” he added.

Bagbin made the remarks on Saturday when he addressed a mini-rally at Asawase in the Ashanti Region.

The NDC which was defeated in the 2012 election is currently re-strategizing and preparing to elect a presidential candidate to lead the party in the 2020 polls.

Aside Alban Bagbin and former President John Mahama who have hinted of plans to vie for the NDC’s presidential slot, others including the former boss of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi, former Trades and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, former Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon Nii Amasah Namoale, and Stephen Atubiga have all declared their intention to contest.

Mr. Bagbin used the opportunity to urge members of the party to support whoever is elected as flagbearer.

“The problems challenging Ghana, the problems challenging the NDC, the problems challenging the Asawase constituency are not for the faint-hearted. We need bold, courageous leadership to be able to solve the problems. What we are doing now in trying to reorganize the party is a family matter. We want everybody onboard. We want everybody to show love and loyalty to the NDC.”

“Competition is the spirit of democracy and so wherever there is competition, it’s a show of how competent or how better you are than your opponent. It is not a time for war; it is not a time for insults. This is the time you have to show commitment to the vision. And so whatever is happening in NDC should not discourage any persons, it’s a family contest. And I’m assuring you that whoever is elected the parliamentary candidate, the presidential candidate, we all have to give our 100% support to that person,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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He advised members of the party to bury their differences and support anyone who is elected to lead the NDC in the next general elections.

“The problems challenging Ghana, the problems challenging the NDC, the problems challenging the Asawase constituency are not for the faint-hearted. We need bold, courageous leadership to be able to solve the problems. What we are doing now in trying to reorganize the party is a family matter. We want everybody onboard. We want everybody to show love and loyalty to the NDC.”

“Competition is the spirit of democracy and so wherever there is competition, it’s a show of how competent or how better you are than your opponent. It is not a time for war; it is not a time for insults. This is the time you have to show commitment to the vision. And so whatever is happening in NDC should not discourage any persons, it’s a family contest. And I’m assuring you that whoever is elected the parliamentary candidate, the presidential candidate, we all have to give our 100% support to that person,” he added.

Mr Bagbin made the call when he addressed a mini-rally at Asawasein the Ashanti Region on Saturday.

He also called for a united front and encouraged members to rally behind the vision of the NDC to enable them regain power from the governing New Patriotic Party in the next election.

Mr. Bagbin who also reiterated views held by many in the NDC that the NPP lied its way into power, advised politicians to stop what he described as “politics of deceit and lies.”

“We have one goal and that goal is that 2020 we must win the election. We are not just going to show Nana in 2020 we are going to win the election to develop mother Ghana. Politics is service to the people, if you deceive the people to win power it is like pregnancy, tomorrow it is the lies that will lead to your downfall. So I want to appeal to all of you in politics to let truth prevail. If you are leading people and the people don’t trust you, there is nowhere you can develop the people because leaders themselves don’t produce, it is the followers who work and produce,” he added.

Member of Parliament for the Sagnarigu Constituency, A. B. A Fuseini who also addressed the teeming NDC members, accused the governing party of continuously throwing dust into the eyes of the Ghanaian populace.

Dignitaries present included Member Parliament for Odododiodioo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Member Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, Member Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, Member Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak and other Members Parliament from the Minority side.

There are a number of people vying to lead the NDC into the 2020 general elections.

Aide Alban Bagbin, former President John Mahama has also hinted of a comeback for the NDC’s presidential slot.  The former boss of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi, former Trades and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, former Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon Nii Amasah Namoale, and Stephen Atubiga have all declared their intention to contest.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Namoale made the disclosure on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EGySvuJeaLiFBG2F1UN99YEeuDvGQxvL”]When asked why he wants to be President, Mr. Namoale said his aim is to “serve the people.”

“Why should a Ghanaian go to bed angry? Why shouldn’t a Ghanaian get a place to lay his or her head? Why shouldn’t a Ghanaian wear a cloth that he or she wants to wear? These are the main issues. From Accra to Bolgatanga, I don’t think we have to spend five hours. Why are we spending 13 to 15 hours? If you look at the western world, they think about the people, how to make life easier for them. So in governance you have to make life easier for your people.”

Mr. Namoale had been MP for the past 12 years but was defeated in the last election 2016 by the NPP’s Vincent Odotei Sowah.

Mr. Namoale, who blamed his defeat on some internal party wrangling in his constituency, said he is ready to help the NDC snatch power from the governing New Patriotic Party if given the nod.

“It was propaganda that toppled me, but the truth is always the truth,” he said.

NDC presidential race heats up

So far a number of high profile members of the NDC including Alban Bagbin, Prof. Joshua Alabi, former Rector of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), and former President John Mahama – have all given some hints of their interest in leading the NDC in the 2020 election.

Former Trade Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, has also shown indications of joining the race.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Mr. Bagbin, a former Minister of Health, insisted that he did no wrong by sanctioning the purchase of 200 amubulances, of which the 30 were included.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UH4Q0qXbO3yjx6MlT3J5owcIlgVVCFD5″]Speaking at an event organized in honour of his 60th birthday and 25 years in politics, Mr. Bagbin said reports churned out in the media are to just attempts to defame him.

Mr. Bagbin noted that, at the time, “the health ministry rejected the ambulances, and he insisted that “they must be replaced.”

Despite his perceived innocence in the matter, the MP said there are still people out to get him.

“I know today as I sit here, right from the day I was born, that I am being investigated up to the time I held this position as Second Deputy Speaker [of Parliament] because some people have heard that I will contest 2020.”

“So they will try to get anything that is called dirt to throw at me so that I will not be marketable. God is watching all of us,” Mr. Bagbin added.

At the same programme, Ghana’s longest serving MP affirmed that his presidential ambitions were “as clear as daylight.”

“It is very clear to everybody who is watching the political arena that honorable Bagbin has presidential ambitions. Together with the NDC, we will take the decision as to who will lead us in 2020.”

Purchase of sub-standard ambulances

The 30 ambulances procured by the Ministry of Health in 2016, did not meet specifications, compelling the ministry to suspend the purchase and distribution of the ambulances to government hospitals.

A technical report by Global Automobile Company noted that, 18 of the ambulances had defects making it unfit for its purpose.

But it emerged that money was still released for the purchase of the ambulances.

The Ministry of Health referred this undocumented purchase of the 30 ambulances to the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for investigations.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Bagbin explained that, all the advice he gave to the former president and the National Democratic Congress were ignored.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1VCDD6A5JAqvoYcS5lO70xD7ZKThqBNy”]”…I think the election defeat is a useful lesson that we have learned as a party and many of the elders and senior members of the party have come to me to say that if they had listened to my early signals about the way things were going, we might not have been in opposition.”

Mr. Bagbin, who publicly criticized Mr. Mahama said he has been vindicated because “they saw belatedly that what I did was for the benefit of all, not just me.”

The MP once again underscored his presidential ambitions, but was not straightforward with a response on whether or not he would contest the 2020 flagbearership of the NDC.

“As for presidential ambitions, that is as clear as daylight. It is very clear to everybody who is watching the political arena that honorable Bagbin has presidential ambitions. Together with the NDC, we will take the decision as to who will lead us in 2020.”

Mr. Bagbin said he stood tall amongst the names being linked to the NDC flagbearship in 2020 “and there is none of them, those who have come out so far, who doesn’t admire my leadership because I have led all of them in politics.”

“…If honorable John Dramani Mahama passed through my hands and he was a vice or he was President, how can he or any other person say the person who mentored and trained him is not qualified to be president?” the MP quizzed further.

Among the names making rounds as possible flagbearers are former Rector of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), Joshua Alabi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho and former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) CEO, Sylvester Mensah.

Mr. Bagbin himself announced his intentions to run for president on the NDC ticket in 2008, but he never stood for the primaries.

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By: Latif Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at the NDC’s silver jubilee lecture held on Thursday, the Nadowli Kaleo MP said the seeming divisions within the NPP if not resolved, will also hinder Ghana’s economic growth.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2BI7uxsLKJHWaAtsjHLs0WYP5qQYw5IR”]“…With what is happening…you [NPP] cannot develop Ghana and mark it, very soon they will start fighting among themselves.”

Mr. Bagbin called for an objective introspection into the NDC’s loss and effective measures that can guide the party back into power.

He said the party can return to power only after it reverts to its earlier values that made it a better choice for Ghanaians, years ago.

“It is for us to do an introspection and try and put a system in place to prevent a third world war… We need to go back for the earlier values. You cannot have democracy without creating the culture of integrity and that is the true genesis of our party but we are jettisoning all,” he said.

He further stated that, the party’s current predicaments demand that its members introspect and work to restore its earlier values of probity and accountability.

The NDC was defeated in the December 2016 polls when its candidate and incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama polled 4,713,277 votes (44.40%) against the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo’s 5,716,026 votes (53.85%).

Mr. Bagbin’s comments follow former President, Jerry John Rawlings’ assertion at the 38th June 4th revolution anniversary, that Ghanaians voted out the NDC because of sickening greed, selfishness and corruption which according to him, are contrary to the values upheld by the NDC.

“Nobody is saying don’t make money, make it good and clean; but not some of the ones I know; sickening, that kind of greed and selfishness, look at where it landed us. Or is it because this government is not behaving the way Kufuor did in his time, so we think we are okay? I know what’s going on. I know some of the things they are running into,” he said.

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He said the party’s current predicaments demand that its members introspect and work to restore its earlier values of probity and accountability.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AkLCd4JrmzHROq9ac56ogN0CI98tRFT5″]Speaking at the party’s silver jubilee lecture on Thursday, Alban Bagbin said the party can return to power only after it reverts to its earlier values that made it a better choice for Ghanaians, years ago.

“It is for us to do an introspection and try and put a system in place to prevent a third world war… We need to go back for the earlier values. You cannot have democracy without creating the culture of integrity and that is the true genesis of our party but we are jettisoning all,” he said.

The founder of the party, Jerry John Rawlings, during the 38th June 4th revolution anniversary, said Ghanaians voted out the NDC because of sickening greed, selfishness and corruption.

According to Mr. Rawlings, such practices were contrary to the values upheld by the NDC, describing them as a “betrayal of the values of June 4,” which are probity, transparency and accountability.

“Nobody is saying don’t make money, make it good and clean; but not some of the ones I know; sickening, that kind of greed and selfishness, look at where it landed us. Or is it because this government is not behaving the way Kufuor did in his time, so we think we are okay? I know what’s going on. I know some of the things they are running into,” he said.

Following the address, some members of the party have challenged the party’s founder saying the party’s defeat was not caused by the actions of the individuals in government.

But the Nadowli Kaleo Member of Parliament believes the founder’s statement is true.

He lamented that, the NDC despite being a formidable political party many years ago, have lost a lot of goodwill to the advantage of its major opponent and governing party, the New Patriotic Party.

The NDC suffered its worst electoral defeat in the December 2016 polls when its candidate and incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama polled 4,713,277 votes (44.40%) against the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo’s 5,716,026 votes (53.85%).

Mr. Bagbin was speaking at an event held at the party’s headquarters ahead of it’s 25th anniversary which officially falls on June 10.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This came as posters with Mr. Bagbin, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, announcing his readiness to contest for the flagbearer slot of the NDC made rounds on social media.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6OLsadlTL7h6rixOaGq0xFAtyHwXFMGC”]The posters, which are circulating on social media with a picture of Alban Bagbin have the caption: “Bagbin 2020” with a proposed motto “Tried, Tested & Committed” beneath it.

But it is unclear where the posters are emanating from.

Nonetheless, in a Citi News interview, the Communications Officer of the constituency, Isaac Badita, said the Constituency is fully behind the longest serving MP should he confirm a bid for the presidency

“He [Bagbin] talked about it at a function and we realized that it is a good move and looking at the position of the party at this time, we think that it will be good for him to be part of the race and we will see what will come out of it in 2020.”

“The last time we were in opposition in 2001 to 2008, the role he played as minority leader and the way he climbed the ladder to where he is with his contribution to the party and governance, I think that he is well prepared to handle the mantle of the flagbearership,” Mr. Badita noted further.

Alban Bagbin, born on 24 September 1957, hails from the Upper West Region of Ghana. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and English at the University of Ghana in 1980.

He proceeded to the Ghana School of Law at Makola in Accra after which he was called to the bar in 1982.

In 2008, Bagbin announced intentions to run for president on the NDC ticket, but he never stood for the primaries.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mensah Bonsu who is the leader of government business in Parliament was nominated for the Parliamentary affairs ministry on Thursday by the President.

The position which had existed in previous administrations was scrapped by the Mills and Mahama governments.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, Kyei Mensah Bonsu said the re-introduction of the ministry is key to bridging the gap between the executive and the legislature adding that it will further deepen Ghana’s democratic credentials.

“I thought that I would be afforded the opportunity to move on but the President comes in and talks to me that we need to stabilize my government as far as he and his members were concerned. Unfortunately for you, referring to me, I’m the only one left of the 1997 stock that came to Parliament. So he asked me to be in charge. I was loud on this that I wanted to move on. But then he comes in with this, he was quite persuasive so I decided to accept it and remain for the time being in Parliament to ensure that we are able to deepen our democratic governance.”

The minister nominee further noted that previous Majority Leaders took up the position in time past but Alban Bagbin rejected it saying “he didn’t like to be referred to as a minister…in order for him to be able to perform in Parliament.”

According to Mensah Bonsu, the move affected the then majority in Parliament because they struggled to lay government statements, bills among others on the Floor of the House since only a minister could do that, per Ghana’s laws.

“I remember that in the previous government, Bagbin, Cletus Avoka, even Dr. Kumbour could not even submit to Parliament simple statements on behalf of government because they were not ministers. And because they were not ministers if government intended to lay any paper you would have to go stamping for ministers who may not be very busy in the ministries, summon them to Parliament to come and lay those papers in Parliament because our rules provide that business be transacted on behalf of government should be introduced in the house by a minister. They were grossly intolerant and sometimes it was to their after embarrassment. This is why it is reasonable to have that status introduced,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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