Everybody Says Vote For Me . . . Why Can't Mahama Say The Same Thing? - Pratt Chides Critics

Kwesi Pratt has slammed critics of President John Dramani Mahama's tour of the country where he is using the opportunity to connect with the people explain policies, and elicit feedback without filters as a cover-up of his campaign for re-election in the November 7 General Elections. President John Mahama is on a tour of the country christened ‘Accounting to the People’. So far out of 10 regions, the president has been to the Western and Eastern Regions; with Volta being his latest stop. According to government, the president will use the period to launch the conversion of Polytechnics to Technical Universities initiative, commission projects and also inspect some ongoing projects. But some politicians and opposition parties have taken with a pinch of salt the ruling National Democratic Congress' (NDC) explanation that President John Mahama's tour to regions in the country is in line with his (President's) official duties. They held strongly that the President's tour is a campaign strategy by the ruling party to canvass for votes from the Ghanaian electorates. Whiles some accuse him of using state resources to campaign to win the presidential elections, others are indicting him of abusing his incumbency. Commenting on the issue on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Kwesi Pratt found the critics' logic very "strange" and asked if President John Mahama is the first Head of State to inspect projects undertaken by his government. According to Mr. Pratt, President John Mahama's tour is not a novelty since every President does the same thing in government. He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that the NPP Flagbearer Nana Addo will surely embark on a tour of the country in the lead up to a general poll if elected President of the Republic of Ghana. The Senior Journalist said, it is therefore intriguing that the opposition would criticize the president because he does not want to believe they expect him (President Mahama) to while away the time at the Flagstaff House. “As we sit here today, if we vote for Ivor Greenstreet – CPP Flagbearer – and he wins and does projects, he will embark on a tour to inspect the projects. As we sit here and talk, if we vote for Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and he implements projects, he will go round to commission projects and to inspect them. As we sit here and speak, if we make Kwesi Nduom the President, he will do the same. What is the problem?” "Everybody says we should vote for him. Why can’t he (Mahama) say the same thing?” he quizzed.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana