By Elorm Yao Aryee
A staunch member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Rev. Dr. Divine Ayivor has urged electorates to vote massively for the Party’s presidential Candidate as the country goes to the polls today, December 7, 2024.
He said this would break the cycle of economic mismanagement that the two dominant parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), have subjected the country to for the past 32 years.
Dr Ayivor who is the Special Advisor to the Presidential Candidate of the CPP, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, spoke to GBC News in an exclusive interview in Ho.
Dr Ayivor was the running mate of the People’s National Convention’s (PNC) Presidential Candidate, David Apasera, in the 2020 general elections.
He accused the NDC and NPP of failing the nation during their combined 32 years in power, stating that the primary legacy of their administrations is a crippling national debt worth billions of dollars.
“What have we gained? From their governance, we have amassed several billion dollars national debt. That’s the principal achievement of these two parties. But what have we lost? We’ve lost our independence, our resources, and the hopes of our youth,” Dr Ayivor said.
He bemoaned what he described as significant national losses under the NDC and NPP successive administrations.
Dr Ayivor also criticised the two political parties for running Ghana into economic crisis, pointing to the nation’s reliance on external institutions such as the IMF, the Paris Club, and the World Bank, which he argued have undermined the country’s sovereignty.
He also highlighted the transfer of vital national assets to foreign entities, calling for their repossession to restore national control.
He decried the closure of factories, the collapse of industries, and the failure of promised initiatives such as Agenda 111 to deliver the needed hospitals.
Dr. Ayivor described the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources, including its forests and water bodies, as a national tragedy fuelled by illegal mining activities.
He stated that the NDC and NPP have failed the country’s youth, many of whom face unemployment and a broken educational system that leaves them without opportunities or prospects for a better future.
Dr. Ayivor also pointed out stark inequities in Ghanaian society, where he said minor offenders are punished harshly, while those responsible for large-scale corruption evade justice.
“We lose billions to corruption, but if someone steals a goat, they’re taken to court,” he remarked, highlighting the widespread frustration over the lack of accountability for corruption at the highest levels.
Dr. Ayivor called on Ghanaians to reject the status quo and embrace the CPP as a solution to the nation’s challenges.
He pledged that a CPP government would adopt a merit-based approach to governance, free of tribalism and political favoritism, with competent individuals from all parties and backgrounds contributing to national development.
He promised a revival of the visionary policies introduced by Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, including free education, industrialisation, and employment creation, which he argued remain vital to the country’s progress.
He underscored the need for decisive action to combat corruption, such as severe punishment to serve as a deterrent.
Dr. Ayivor expressed confidence in CPP Presidential Candidate Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, calling her the right leader to guide Ghana into a new era of progress.
“The men have tried. Let’s give it to the woman,” he said urging Ghanaians to entrust the nation’s leadership to her capable hands.
Dr. Ayivor’s remarks reflect the CPP’s ambition to position itself as the party of reform and renewal, offering Ghanaians an alternative to decades of governance by the NPP and NDC.
