VP Amissah-Arthur cautions against spurious promises on housing and SHS

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Wednesday underscored the need for Ghanaians to be wary of promises of politicians and political parties to make Senior High School and housing free for people in low income groups. He said what the country needed was a balanced, practical and realistic approach to address the housing situation, and an overall improvement in the quality of life in the rural areas. The Vice President said the ruling government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) housing programme targets rural communities to stem rural-urban migration instead of putting up expensive houses that only politicians and elites and in society could afford in the cities. Vice President Amissah-Arthur threw the caution, when he interacted with journalists in Accra on his return from participating in the Institute of Economic Affairs debate for running mates of flagbearers of parties with representation in Parliament in Takoradi held on Tuesday evening. The statement was in reaction to the promise of largest Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP), to provide free housing for head porters and free Senior High School education. Vice President Amissah-Arhur, is also the running mate for President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the NDC in Ghana's December 2012 elections. On the issue of inflation, the Vice President wondered why people were allowed to go scot free, when they churned out figures that were not true and realistic. "What the NPP is saying is only in the textbooks. In reality a lower inflationary rate does not mean automatic lower interest rate," Vice President Amissah-Arthur said. On his general impression about the IEA debate in Takoradi, he said it went well and that his duty there was to be sincere and real and to tell Ghanaians what the NDC had been able to achieve so far, and the vision of the NDC, also based on real assessment, and to put up a strong case for the NDC so that Ghanaians renew its mandate for the next four years. Vice President Amissah-Arthur assured Ghanaians of the NDC Government to better the lives of all, adding that the Government had demonstrated commitment, transparency, dedication and selflessness in managing the affairs of the state. On education, the Vice President, said a free SHS needed a good foundation, which would provide quality education that starts from the basic level.  "So we need to do it slowly, but carefully; so that we can also compete almost the best in the world," he said Vice President Amissah-Arthur also asked Ghanaians to give the NDC a decisive mandate on December 7 to continue with the Better Ghana agenda.

GNA