Former President John Dramani Mahama has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party government of biased allocation of development projects, accusing the party of allowing political considerations to drive how resources and infrastructure are distributed across the country.
The former President, speaking at a recent political rally in the Volta Region, accused the current administration of deliberately favoring regions and constituencies traditionally considered to be the strongholds of the ruling NPP, often at the expense of traditionally opposition National Democratic Congress areas. According to Mahama, such strategic bias is tantamount to undermining equitable development and leaving communities in NDC-leaning areas in a state of marginalization.
Speaking on the topic, Mahama said, "The NPP government has totally shown no regard for the principle of fairness in terms of the distribution of development projects. Funds and infrastructures are normally channeled to areas where it enjoys the highest political influence, while others are often left out or sidelined.
The former president made these comments amidst growing concerns over unequal distribution of resources, especially in areas involving roads, schools, hospitals, and water projects. Mahama said he believed the practice had resulted in infrastructural disparities between developed and undeveloped parts of the country, slowing development notably in rural and less-developed northern and Volta regions.
Former President Mahama criticized the implementation of key flagship policies by the government, such as the "Year of Roads," which, he alleged, has failed to live up to its promise of good road networks in deprived areas. He sought a more holistic approach towards development and called on the NPP to focus on unity for national development rather than political interests.
In return, government officials would rebuff Mahama's accusations, insisting that development projects are done on the basis of national needs and priorities, not on one's political affiliation. They also stated that a lot has been invested in the Volta Region and other traditionally NDC-supportive areas.
Development allocations are bound to be very contentious in Ghana, more than ever, as the country approaches the general election in 2024, with both the NPP and NDC posturing themselves as champions of all-inclusive national progress.
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