It’s time for real change – Mahama declares

Mr. John Dramani Mahama, running mate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for election 2008, on Thursday declared to hundreds of enthusiastic voters in Accra that it was time for real change in governance for accelerated development.      He said: "Election 2008 offers Ghanaians real opportunity to once again change government through the ballot box,…this is the time to bring back the NDC to take over from the retarded ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)."      Speaking at separate mini-rallies at Kaneshie, Abossey Okai and other suburbs of the capital as part of a door-to-door campaign in the region, Mr Mahama said what was happening now clearly showed that NPP was tired, had lost focus and deserved to take the back seat for a considerable number of years.      Mr Mahama again challenged political opponents to tell the electorate the truth and "stop the wild propagandist promises."      "People would be disappointed should they make a mistake and vote based on these promises, if they have laudable ideas on how to mobilise billions of dollars within four-years, what stopped them from assisting their government with the magic-wand over the past eight years.      "The flowery ideas and promises cannot stand the test of time; it's merely campaign platform talks aimed at wooing votes, but the good news is that the Ghanaian electorate is now exposed to the deceptive politics of some politicians."      Speaking to a cross-section of drivers, Mr. Mahama, running mate of Professor John Evans Mills reminded members the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport associations of the previous NDC government's various financial schemes that, enabled them to operate fleets of vehicles.      He said the next NDC government would roll out other transportation policies that would help private transport operators, continue the re-development of the Central Business District (CBD) and construction of link roads in Accra.      Mr. Mahama expressed reservation about conditions at most markets and transport terminals across the country, stressing that, even though these centres served as source of income for many families, they lacked basic necessities for human habitation.      In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Mahama said as a social democratic party, the NDC believed in the impartiality and equal treatment of all persons irrespective of their political, economic, social, cultural and religious relations in a multi-party environment.      "The NDC is a coming together of groups and individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a common determination to build a stable, just and democratic society and who believe that the principles of development through the united participation of all Ghanaians remain the foundation of our democratic programme."      He said the next NDC government would remain progressive in the protection of the under-privileged and the up-liftment of the socially disadvantaged at all times.      "These notions will not be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience or undermined by political opportunism…Prof Mills and myself and the entire party machinery are committed to social democracy because it has its origins in grassroots participation and the involvement of ordinary citizens in decision-making at the local and national levels," Mr Mahama noted.      He said the NDC deemed that the orderly, stable and prosperous existence of society was a condition for the orderly and prosperous development of individuals within the society.      "The NDC has a vision of a society in which the welfare of one is the concern of all. It is a vision that seeks to give form to political representation as an effective and universal tool to open the door of economic opportunities to everyone and guarantees social justice for all," he said.      Mr Mahama said the next NDC government would operate a free market system based on the party's commitment to the cause of the socially disadvantaged and the principle of equity in the exploitation of our national resources.      He said the presidency of Prof. Atta Mills would pursue a programme of total economic opportunity for the citizens.      Excited supporters, workers, hawkers along the streets and sellers lined up the routes shouting "time for change, time for change," and danced to NDC campaign songs, whilst people in cars, vehicles and trotro raises their hands in solidarity with the party.      Others ran for the NDC T-shirts or tried to shake the hands of the running mate, with enthusiastic youth riding motor bikes and horses, and energetic musicians and dancers leading the convoy throughout the tour. GNA