Former Central Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has revealed that he has advised Dr. Kwabena Duffuor to assist, the vice president, Dr. Bawumia‘s in his bid in becoming the next president of the country.
“It will be political wise for Duffuor to support Bawumia. This country is important than a political party. If you have the knowledge you have to help Bawumia. He (Duffuor) must look at the greater interest of the country….He can sit on the side lines and give supports to ensure the dynamics change”, he said.
In his view such a move would be considered “politically wise” because Ghana is important than any political party.
The former Central regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress(NDC) in an interview he stated that prior to the NDC’s primaries, Dr. Duffuor called him to come and help his campaign but declined the invitation because he (Allotey) has already pitched camp with vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
“Duffuor called me but I told him I have already declared my support for Bawumia so I can’t come and help him”, Mr. Bernard Allotey Jacobs said on reasons he didn’t partake in the NDC’s recent primaries.
The elected flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has urged the party members to concentrate on guiding Ghana out of its current crisis.
Mahama said this in hi victory speech delivered minutes after he had been declared winner of the presidential primares of May 13,2023.
Below is the full statement by Mr. John Mahama
Fellow Akatamansonians, and the good people of Ghana.
A while ago, the results of the 2024presidential primaries was officially declared.
I am humbled by the overwhelming vote of confidence reposed in me by the party.
I want to thank God for bringing the NDC this victory. Traversing the country for all these days, weeks and months without any fatalities can only be by God’s special grace.
My profound gratitude goes to the delegates of our party for their warm welcome, active engagement, and participation during my tour.
In your usual astute manner, you turned up in your numbers, across the country, to vote in our party’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
I also want to thank Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and Mr. Kojo Bonsu for their contest. My appreciation also goes to Mr. Ernest Kobea who pulled out to support me in this contest. Their taking part in this primary has cemented our party’s enviable record as the most democratic political tradition in the country.
Let us disagree to agree, but let us keep our collective sights firmly on the supreme objective of the NDC leading Ghana out of the current abyss the country is in.
I also ask for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and their respective aspirants and supporters in the constituencies. Our party is the winner because there are no individual winners and losers in this intra-party contest.
I want to thank my campaign and operational teams for keeping their focus and delivering a clean campaign.
I thank our donors and financiers for your support; the media for propagating our message and all our religious and traditional leaders who prayed on our behalf for the peace and success we have achieved today.
On Monday, at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, I will join a teeming number of the rank and file of the NDC and Ghanaians in general, to deliver my formal acceptance speech.
See you in Tamale.
May God bless us all, and I thank you for your kind attention.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor has dropped his legal challenge against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries.
The former Finance Minister had filed an interlocutory injunction application at the High Court to stop the party from holding its presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
He claimed that the party had given him an incomplete and inaccurate photo album register of delegates, which could compromise the integrity of the elections.
He also alleged that some eligible voters had been disenfranchised and that he had not received the register five weeks ahead of the elections as required by the party’s rules.
He named the party, its General Secretary, its Election Director, his co-aspirants John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu, and the Electoral Commission as defendants in his suit.
However, on Friday morning, his lawyers announced that they had discontinued the case and withdrawn the injunction application.
The High Court was expected to hear the case on Friday, but it was struck out following the withdrawal.
The NDC had rejected Dr Duffuor’s request for a postponement of the primaries and accused him of acting in bad faith.
The party said it had given him and other aspirants the photo album register on May 4 and that it was credible and reliable.
The party also said it had verified data from 220 out of 275 constituencies and that it had created an exceptional list of 74,799 voters who could not be verified due to scanty information.
The withdrawal of the case means that the NDC primaries will go ahead as planned on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Electoral Commission (EC), which had also earlier pulled out of supervising the elections due to Dr Duffour’s legal pursuit, will now be able to participate in the exercise as expected.
The aspiring flagbearer of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has denied receiving any sponsorship from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to destroy the NDC, which he contributed to building.
He disclosed this when addressing the party’s delegates in Adansi Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti region as part of his four-day campaign in the Ashanti region.
Dr. Duffuor, however, urged the party supporters, particularly the delegates, to disregard the destructive campaign his opponents are sharing with party members.
“I funded the NDC, so I’m NDC, and nothing can change my love for NDC. The NPP destroyed my banks and tried to collapse every business under my control. I want to tell you that the NPP has hurt me more than any other member of the party. The NPP can never use me to destroy the NDC. My main aid is to return NDC to power to make Ghana better,” Dr. Duffuor reiterated.
He pleaded with the party supporters to vote for him to lead the party into election 2024 on Saturday, 13th May 2023, in the presidential election by thumb-printing #3 on the ballot paper.
The National Democratic Congress’ aspiring flag bearer,Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that he endured hardships under the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
This comes on the back of a skewed campaign by his opponents that he has received some form of sponsorship for his bid to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana(BoG) has flatly denied the allegation.
According to him, he has not received any sponsorship from the NPP to destroy the NDC which he contributed to building.
He disclosed this when addressing the party’s delegates in Adansi Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti region as part of his four days campaign in the Ashanti region.
Dr. Duffuor however urged the party supporters particularly the delegates to disregard the destructive campaign his opponents are sharing to party members.
“I funded the NDC so I’m NDC and nothing can change my love for NDC. The NPP destroyed my banks and tried to collapse every business under my control. I want to tell you that the NPP has hurt me more than any other member of the party. The NPP can never use me to destroy the NDC. My main aim is to return NDC to power to make Ghana better,” Dr. Duffuor reiterated.
He pleaded with the party supporters to vote for him to lead the party into election 2024 on Saturday 13th May 2023 in the presidential election by thumb printing #3 on the ballot paper.
Aspirant flagbearer of the oppositionNational Democratic Congress(NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that the large reduction in Ghana’s cocoa production is concerning, given that the commodity represents the foundation of the economy.
Ghana achieved a historic feat of more than 1.14 million tons of cocoa production, about 45% increase in the 2020/2021 crop season.
However, dropped significantly in the 2021/2022 crop season though COCOBOD was yet to provide official figures.
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) recent report said cocoa production during 2021/2022 dropped in the two world leading cocoa countries – Cote D’Ivoire (-6%) and Ghana (-34%) owing to multiple factors including devastating effect of swollen shoot disease and climate change.
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has forecasting about 750,000 tons of cocoa production in the 2022/2023 crop season higher than the 2021/2022 production.
According to Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, his sources indicate Ghana may not meet this target for the season.
He said current happenings in the cocoa sector will ultimately affect the economy and cocoa farmers.
“Our leaders have failed us. What I am hearing is that Ghana may not be able to get 500,000 metric tons of cocoa this year. In 2010/2011, we had one million metric tons. We decided to sustain the gains and increase it so we become number one producer of cocoa in the world. We came up with a policy to distribute 20 million free cocoa seedlings to farmers annually. It was captured in the 2011 budget and we started implementing it. So hearing that we may not get 500,000 metric tons saddens me. It means cocoa farmers are going to suffer”.
Dr. Duffuor stated that “NDC is going to win the election at all cost and when we assume power, we will resume the distribution of 20 million free cocoa seedlings annually so we beat Ivory Coast to occupy the top spot as world largest producer of cocoa. We can’t let the cocoa industry collapse. It is the backbone of the economy”.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor said this when addressing delegates of the NDC in Akim Manso in Asene Manso Akroso constituency in the Eastern region as part of his 4-day campaign tour.
At Upper West Akyem Constituency, Dr. Duffuor assured Cocoa farmers in the area that the next NDC government will help bring to life an abandoned 48-million-dollar Jute Factory at Adeiso.
The factory established by an Indian group call Ganges in partnership with government in 2008 sits on a 12-acre size land at the Upper West Akyem District.
When completed would be the largest jute factory in Africa with a monthly capacity of 600,000 sacks. This would have reduced Ghana’s $215million annual spending on importation of jute sacks to about $70 million.
Again, the factory was expected to provide job opportunities for 2,000 people.
Successive governments after President Kuffuor made efforts to ensure the project is completed for operationalization of the factory, however, the Akufo-Addo led government has failed to pay attention to the final stage of completion leaving the fledging factory to rot in the bush.
Chiefs, cocoa farmers and youth in the area continue to demand state attention to the factory but to no avail.
A prospective flagbearer for National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has promised to revive the economy under his leadership, regardless of how much damage theAkufo-Addoadministration has done to it.
According to Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, he has proven track record of implementing policies that led to single digit inflation, sustainable economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction, therefore, when given the nod to lead the NDC to victory in 2024 he will transform the economy.
“We have done it before during late Atta Mills era we inherited terrible economy but by the grace of God and fact that NDC had competent people, the Economy was turned around so be patient. Regardless the state in which Akufo-Addowill leave the economy, we will turn it around. They have borrowed all over the world. They know how to secure loans but they don’t know how to pay, now they are begging. This is a shame, they are going round begging”.
Dr. Duffuor continued “We will fix the economy and create more jobs for the youth to get employment opportunities. Just be patient, don’t be thinking so much about the economic mess created to get blood pressure. In 2008/2009 we did it. Inflation came down to 8.5 for about 31 months, unemployment dropped to 2.2%. It will happen again so don’t be sad,” the former governor of the Central Bank recognized as one of the four best central governors in the world in 1999 assured.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor said this Monday May 1, 2023 when addressing delegates of the NDC party in New Juaben North constituency to kick start his 4-day campaign tour in the Eastern region.
He stated that the NDC must be financially sound, buy shares in multimillion companies just as major political parties in South Africa, Japan and some other countries have been doing in order to fund its political activities.
He said the “Ahotor Project” is a step in this direction. He assured to also institute monthly stipends for executives of the NDC from constituency to Regional levels, resource the branches and revive the hero fund of the party.
According to Dr. Duffuor the NDC has to be fully prepared and be resourceful to be able to defeat the ruling NPP which is bent on doing everything possible to retain power.
Dr. Duffuor and his campaign team had earlier met the regional executives of the party.
He was however not impressed with the poor state of the regional office therefore assured to build a befitting office for the regional Secretariat of the NDC as well as the Constituencies should he become leader after the presidential primaries.
“During the late Prof. Mills tenure I was the Finance Minister. I mobilized business people and friends to build the national headquarters of the party. We didn’t use state fund because that is not right. So we are going to do same to build Regional and constituency offices”.
The prospectiveNational Democratic Congress(NDC) flagbearer, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that only a serious-minded person with the required skills and credentials could handle the nation’s economic situation.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executives to vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executivesto vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
One of the candidates for the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) flagbearer race, John Dramani Mahama has taken the number spot on the ballot paper.
Former Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, and former Finance MinisterDr. Kwabena Duffuorpicked the second and third slots respectively.
Chairman of the NDC Vetting Committee, Edward Doe Adjaho speaking to the media said the balloting was done after the successful vetting of the threecandidates.
The fourth candidate Ernest Kwaku Kobeah withdrew from the contest before the balloting was done. Ernest Kwaku Kobeah
The NDC’s Presidential and Parliamentary primaries are slated for May 13, 2023.
A former mayor of Kumasi and a candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer position, Kojo Bonsu, claims that despite the fierce competition, he will continue to run for the NDC presidency.
In the race set for May 13, the flagbearer aspirant will face strong competition from former President John Mahama and former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.
Mr. Bonsu declared his intention to run in the party’s Presidential primaries in 2018, ahead of the 2020 general election, but then dropped out and threw his support to the winner of the primaries.
However, the aspirant running for the second time says he is ready to lead the NDC in the upcoming general polls.
“The last time, I didn’t go further like this coming all the way to pick up nomination forms and filing. I have paid GH¢500,000, do I have to drop for this money to go? No way, I am not that rich, but my chances are very bright. I know what I am doing. It’s all about how you are able to do your things and how you are organized.”
He did, also, criticize the party for the approved nomination fee of GH¢500,000.
“I don’t support the nomination fees because it’s a lot of money. So, if I didn’t have that money and I had the acumen and competence to run the leadership of the party, does it mean that I can’t do it? And we are a social democratic party. I am a branding expert, and everybody knows that, so I am going to rebuild and rebrand the party.”
Addressing journalists after the submission of his nomination form, Mr. Bonsu said, “I want to thank my team for having time to come and receive me today. I appreciate all that you have done. It’s one party in the NDC, we have to do things together, the common enemy we are all looking for is not any individual in the party.”
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer hopeful, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has hinted at filing his nomination on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the former Minister of Finance, Antonio Edem Asinyo, it said that Dr. Duffuor will file the forms at the NDC’s headquarters in Accra.
“Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will be submitting his nomination to contest the flagbearer election at the Party HQ on Thursday, 23rd day of March 2023 at 11:00am,” the statement said.
Also, the statement said that the initial date of Wednesday, March 22, was changed due to a request from the national executives of the party.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that on that initial date, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is set to present what the party has termed the True State of the Nation Address.
“The change in date from Wednesday to Thursday is in response to a request from the National Executive of the party to reschedule, due to the party’s True State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia today, Monday at the UPSA auditorium at 2pm,” he added.
The Duffuor camp has since urged members of the party to be present at the event, adding that their candidate will also be present.
On Wednesday, March 23, 2023, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a prospective presidential contender for the oppositionNational Democratic Congress (NDC), will submit his nomination form.
Contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the former Minister of Finance, Antonio Edem Asinyo, it said that Dr. Duffuor will file the forms at the NDC’s headquarters in Accra.
“Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will be submitting his nomination to contest the flagbearer election at the Party HQ on Thursday, 23rd day of March 2023 at 11:00am,” the statement said.
Also, the statement said that the initial date of Wednesday, March 22, was changed due to a request from the national executives of the party.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that on that initial date, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is set to present what the party has termed the True State of the Nation Address.
“The change in date from Wednesday to Thursday is in response to a request from the National Executive of the party to reschedule, due to the party’s True State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia today, Monday at the UPSA auditorium at 2pm,” he added.
The Duffuor camp has since urged members of the party to be present at the event, adding that their candidate will also be present.
An unidentified philanthropist has donated GH¢100,000 to the Greater Accra Regional Office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to help it offset its outstanding rent.
This was made known by the Regional Chairman, Nii Ashie Moore, when one of the flagbearer aspirants of the party, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, visited the regional office to seek their blessing on his intended tour of the region.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor had gone to meet the executives of the NDC in the Greater Accra Region ahead of his intention to lead the party as its flagbearer.
While addressing the Duffuor team, the Regional Chairman, Nii Ashie Moore, expressed his joy that the former Minister of Finance had decided to visit them that day, describing it as a special day.
He explained that before the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana showed up at their offices, a philanthropist in the party had come to donate GH¢100,000 to them.
“As we sit here today, you also coming here has brought luck. One of the philanthropists within the region has come to dash us GH¢100,000 a while ago, to aid us pay our rent arrears, that’s why today is a special day. As I’ve said, you’ve also come so since you’re also here, we know that the blessings will be double-double,” he said.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor is in the race to become the NDC flagbearer with three others: former president, John Dramani Mahama; former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu; and a businessman based in the United Kingdom, Ernest Kobeah.
The Greater Accra Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership have given their approval for NDC flag bearer candidate Dr. Kwabena Duffuor to start his national tour in the area.
This comes after he successfully picked up a flagbearership nomination form to contest the vacant position of the party.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former Minister of Finance, and a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has expressed optimism about his chances of winning the flagbearer race of party.
He has also indicated in several interactions that he is the best man to bring Ghana out of its current economic challenges, adding that he once stabilised the economy as minister.
In lieu of that, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor paid a working visit to the regional executives of the NDC in the Greater Accra Region to announce his intentions to run as flagbearer, and to also seek their blessings to tour the region.
“Last Thursday, I was so delighted, but at the same time, I was humbled when thousands of our members – grassroots, particularly women, picked up forms and delivered the forms to me, saying that ‘we want you to contest for the flagbearership of the NDC.’
“It was an honour, but I was humbled. I’ve accepted to contest, that’s why we are here today. Colleagues, ours is a great party; it’s a very big party, bigger than the other groups,” he said.
In his response, the regional chairman, Nii Ashie Moore, expressed hopes that whoever gets to lead their party will deliver victory for the NDC in 2024.
He was also excited that the candidate had decided to begin his tour in the Greater Accra Region, adding that a win in that region is a decisive one.
“You have distinguished yourself to the max. we are one family, this is an internal election. Our target is the NPP. Our target is to maximise the votes of Greater Accra, because we see Greater Accra Region as a decisive region when it comes to politics. When we win Greater Accra, we know we will form the next government.
“I pray to the Almighty God that all of you who have put up yourself there to lead our political party, to lead our country, at the end of the day, one of you will be made a flagbearer of our party,” he said.
While wishing Dr. Kwabena Duffuor well, he prayed that at the end of the contest, all the factions in the party will work towards unity.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor’s tour of the Greater Accra Region will be the first in a series across the country.
Former President John Dramani Mahama announced on February 28, 2023, through a social media post that he will launch his campaign for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer position on March 2, 2023, in Ho, Volta Region.
The event will take place at the Cedi Auditorium, located at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHIA), and the theme of the launch is “Creating the Ghana we want together.”
Mahama will be contesting against three other candidates for the NDC flagbearer position. They includeDr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former finance minister; Kojo Bonsu, a former mayor of Kumasi; and Ernest Kwaku Kobeah, a 43-year-old businessman based in the United Kingdom.
The NDC began accepting presidential candidate nominations on February 22, 2023, and closed it on February 24, 2023. According to the Party’s timetable, submission and filing of nomination forms for the flagbearer position will take place from March 20 to March 22, 2023.
The vetting of aspirants will be conducted from March 27 to March 29, 2023. Aspirants who have issues with the vetting process will have the opportunity to appeal from March 30 to April 6, 2023.
The NDC’s presidential primaries are expected to take place on May 6, 2023. Parliamentary aspirants will be required to pay a GH¢5,000 nomination fee, and the filing fee is set at GH¢40,000.
The NDC is Ghana’s largest opposition party and will elect a flagbearer to contest the 2024 presidential election.
A former governor of the Bank of Ghana and potential National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential nominee,Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has said that if elected president, Ghana’s faltering economy will experience a significant turnaround within two years.
He said this after receiving the nomination forms picked up on his behalf on Thursday.
The National Democratic Congress is set to elect its flagbearer on May 13, 2023.
Already, four persons have picked up their nomination forms. Apart from Dr. Duffuor, the rest are former President John Dramani Mahama, former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu and a businessman, Ernest Kwaku Kobeah.
Dr. Duffuor after receiving his nomination form, which was picked up by the NDC Women’s wing in the Ashanti Region, touted the NDC’s achievement and indicated that the Nana Addo-led government has worsened the economy.
He promised to revive the economy if he is given the nod.
“The place for the eagle is not the land but the sky. The eagle will soar again, Ghana will soar again. Our government, if voted for, will bring the economy back within two years. The first year will be a resurrection year and the second year, will be a complete recovery in 2025,” he said.
He further criticized the governing New Patriotic Party for its continuous borrowing and the worsening inflation.
“When we left office, the cedi was performing better. When we were leaving office the total public debt was GH¢35 billion. Now, it’s over GH¢600 billion. We can do better,” he added.
Dr. Duffuor was appointed the Governor of the Bank of Ghana in 1997.
In his era as Governor, Dr. Duffuor restructured Government accounts at the Bank of Ghana and led the implementation of both fiscal and monetary policies.
He was named one of the four best Central Bank Governors in the World at a World Bank meeting in 1999.
He contends that in order to ensure the program is sustainable and does not undermine advancements made in the financial sector, the government must reevaluate the plan and engage fully.
The former finance minister, who is running for flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, expressed worry about the participation of shareholders in the DDEP during an interview with Accra-based JoyNews.
“You cannot deal with my caretaker when I have not been consulted. At the end of the day, it will fall on me the shareholder, so there is the need for them to be part of the broad consultations to express their views.” “If you don’t manage the domestic debt exchange programme properly, the financial sector will be weakened in such a way that it won’t be able to perform the role that it is supposed to perform” he explained.
Dr Duffuor however charged Ghanaians to treat the matter with all seriousness and speak up to protect the country from the dire consequences the debt exchange programme will bring in the near future.
He explained that government’s decision to include insurance claims might cause problems for financial institutions since they would have to look elsewhere for monies to pay their clients.
He said the bond of GH¢1.7 billion was very huge for example and the premiums they collect are now in the government bonds.
Dr Duffuor further expressed concern about the already dwindling confidence in government instruments and cautioned that if the debt exchange programme in its current state was not reviewed, there will be no motivation to buy treasury bills in the near future.
