By Razak Kojo Opoku
H. E. John Mahama recently said, “Ghana in crisis, nothing to show for US$ 3.5billion borrowed”.
According to Mr. John Mahama, Ghana is running into debt and government had nothing to show for its wanton borrowing.
However, for the avoidance of any doubt, I would like to highlight a few of the things that Government has used the borrowed US$ 3.5 Billion for and these include:
- Payment of the Ex-Gratia and Salaries of Mr. John Mahama since January 2017 up to date.
- Payment of salaries for employees of Mr. John Mahama including Felix Ofosu Kwakye.
- Traveling and Medical expenses of John Mahama.
- Servicing the interest on loans (over 120 billion Cedis) contracted by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Almost 21 billion Cedis was spent to clean up the banking and financial sector mess caused by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used for the restoration of allowances for teachers and nursing trainees that were cancelled by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3.5 billion has been used to solved the Dumsor left behind by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3.5 billion has been used to work on the uncompleted Kumasi Airport and Tamale Airport left behind by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3. 5 billion has been used to implement Free SHS and Free TVET policies that Mahama told Ghanaians to wait for its implementation in 20 years time.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used to create jobs for the Youth of Ghana under NABCO, NEIP, GEA, NAELP, YEA, NYA etc. Some of these Programmes were non-existent under John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3.5 billion has been used for Tamale Interchange which Mahama failed to do for his people in the Northern Region.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used to complete the Pokuase Interchange which John Mahama failed to even start in the first place.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used for the Tema Interchange which John Mahama couldn’t do.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used to do National Identification Cards for Ghanaians which John Mahama is a direct beneficiary since he is a holder of the Ghana Card. Something that NDC failed to do within the 8-year rule of Mills/Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the 3.5billion has been used to complete and start quite a number of E-Blocks initiated by John Mahama’s Administration.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used to bring peace to the Dagbon Kingdom, an achievement John Mahama failed to do for the people of Northern Region.
- Part of the $3.5billion has been used to pay for the medical bills and medical tourism of the Speaker of Parliament, an astute NDC leading member.