The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to security personnel to vote for him to help create an equitable society for all.
Mr Mahama made the appeal to members of the security forces that participating in the special voting exercise Tuesday.
While urging them not to despair, he said: “I encourage you to hope and vote John Mahama, for a prosperous Ghana that shares opportunities for all.”
Living conditions
“As your former Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to respect and cherish your patriotic contributions to our dear nation,” he said in a video and a statement posted on his Facebook page and website Monday.
“You all know the current sad state of affairs in our beloved country. The living conditions of Ghanaians continue to worsen. Economic hardship is the order of the day. Yet, this government has turned out to be the most corrupt in the history of our 4th Republic.
“Ghana is now ruled by a small cabal of family and friends who have no respect for laid down procedures. As a result, the Akufo-Addo government has sacrificed time-tested conventions, rules and regulations in the security services and all sectors of our nation”, he said.
According to him, discipline has been compromised and morale weakened in the services.
He said promotions were no longer based on merit while a culture of silence now hanged over the security services due to the infiltration of partisan elements.
He said the impunity is such that the President’s private militia people were now able to assault officers and non-commissioned officers “and get away with it.”
Commitment
“I make a commitment to the security services that – come January 7, 2021 God willing – under my administration, we will not only ensure depoliticization of the security services but also restore both discipline and transparency to raise morale. This is my solemn pledge to create opportunities for you, not just a few”, said the NDC presidential candidate.
Manifesto pledges
He said the NDC’s manifesto for the 2020 elections, which was dubbed the ‘People’s Manifesto’ contained good policy proposals for “the men and women in uniform on whose toil and sweat our nation’s stability, safety, and security depends.”
He listed them to include fair treatment, rapid promotions, national unity, and a mutual sense of belonging within the security services.
He said the party also committed to ensure upward and equitable adjustments in the salaries and allowances of the security services and their civilian employees.
He said his administration would also “take steps to end the era of promotion and career progression based on politics, ethnicity and nepotism; and institute promotions based on merit and professional standards to boost the morale of our men and women in uniform.”
According to John Mahama, the party has further resolved to ensure that personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police, and the Bureau of National Investigations now National Intelligence Bureau continued to be under the CAP 30 Pension Scheme.
He said the scheme would be improved to provide them with an adequate retirement income and other benefits.
John Mahama said the party would also empower the Prisons Service, Fire Service and the Immigration Service with a Self-Accounting Status, “so that Parliament can allocate their budgets to them just like the Armed Forces and the Police.”
Source: graphic.com.gh
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