President John Mahama is asking for a second term in office because his stewardship over the years is nothing short of impressive.

He acknowledged that in spite of the numerous challenges that confronted his government since his assumption of office, he has been able to deliver a lot that Ghanaians ought to be proud of.

“Our record in office is impressive and all of us can be proud about it,” President Mahama told a charged crowd of National Democratic Supporters on Monday.

His remarks follows shortly after he submitted his forms at the party’s headquarters at Adabraka in Accra to contest the party’s upcoming presidential primary.

He is certain if the party gives him another mandate, he will secure a “one-touch victory” for them.

“I look forward to four more years in the flat staff house,” he prayed.

“My story in office has been one of the overcoming challenges but also stories of hope,” he underscored.

ELECTION PETITION

Then Vice President John Mahama was sworn into office as the President of Ghana in August 2014 after the death of Prof. Atta Mills. He was elected NDC’s flagbearer in about three months to a general election. He won the election but his legitimacy was unsuccessfully challenged by the opposition party which lasted for eight months.

Given the chronology of events, John Mahama said with particular reference to the election petition created uncertainty and only had two years to govern.

173 COMMUNITY SHS

That notwithstanding, he said his government has been able to roll out the community day senior high schools. He claimed 120 SHS are under construction as part of the progressively free education policy.

He had promised to construct 200 of such schools within four years but he conceded today that the promise is not achievable.

Rather, Ghanaians, he said, should envisage 173 schools by the end of 2016. Since independence the country can boast of only 608 senior high schools, he said to sort of justify his inability to make his mark.

With the new schools, many more children can continue to SHS without having their education truncated at the basic level, he pointed out.

Still on education, the president said another university would be established in the Eastern Region following the successes of the two in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.

He also mentioned what he termed a “significant expansion” in the area of healthcare. He cited the construction of a military hospital in Kumasi in the Ashanti region and dozens of polyclinics and hospitals across the country to be fitted with modern diagnostic equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs).

He said ongoing expansion of water projects would continue to ensure that about 85% coverage is attained nationwide by the end of next year.

MIDDLE INCOME STATUS

President Mahama made reference to the three-year bailout with the IMF. “With two successful reviews of the IMF extended credit facility following our home grown policy, it is very clear that our economy is turning around,” he asserted. He said this is being achieved because he took “quite tough decisions”.

He promised thousands of NDC supporters cheering him up that he will maintain fiscal discipline even during the election year.

“We will accelerate the economic growth of this country and consolidate the transition of Ghana into middle status within the next five years,” President Mahama assured Ghanaians.

ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTION PLAN

He maintained that his government would not give rooms to corrupt people to operate. He said persons who engaged in corruption under his administration are being dealt with according to the laws.

Also a committee would be set up to implement the National Anti-corruption Action Plan, he stated.

The President promised all and sundry that his government will continue to promote tolerance, freedom and justice in the country.

CHRIST IN OUR VESSEL

He called for fair play and decency in the party’s primaries. Meanwhile the only person who showed up to challenge his presidency has been ridiculed and automatically disqualified on technically grounds. Mr. George Boateng a constituency youth organiser was said to have bought a photocopy of the presidential nomination forms.

President John Mahama ended his address on a high hope: “With Christ in our vessel we shall smile at the storm…and by the grace of the almighty God I look forward to four more years in the Flagstaff House.”

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel