National Communications Officer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has said that the COVID-19 relief packages announced by the Akufo-Addo-led administration are not enough since free electricity for all Ghanaians was not included in these support packages.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, there is no iota of doubt that Ghanaians would have been enjoying free electricity in addition to other packages if former President John Dramani Mahama was at the helm of affairs at such a trying time.
Speaking on GH One Television on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Sammy Gyamfi explained that the NDC understands that a significant number of Ghanaians remain at home currently and are unable to work to make money to feed themselves and their dependents hence the need for government interventions at such a difficult time.
In view of this, the NDC administration, headed by John Dramani Mahama would have offered what he describes as aâ€non-negotiable†free electricity tariffs to every Ghanaian since the source of income for many have ceased.
“Let me, first of all, reiterate the recommendation for free electricity to be provided for Ghanaians because that, for the NDC, especially HE John Dramani Mahama, is non-negotiable. I can tell you unequivocally that if President John Dramani Mahama was President of the Republic, Ghana would have been enjoying free electricity by now,†the vociferous communicator stressed.
He continued, “It should have been a given, there should not be any contestation about it. People are living in the house they are consuming more electricity yet they are not working so how do you expect them to pay for electricity? These are not normal times.â€
Meanwhile, after the announcement of several relief packages including the absorption of water bills, some Ghanaians have lauded President Akufo-Addo for his strategies to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ghanaians.
Others have also taken to social media to mock the former President expressing that he is not in the same league with President Akufo-Addo, insisting, the former President could not have handled the situation any better than President Akufo-Addo.