Founder of GUM, Osofo Kyiri Abosom, at his party’s manifesto launch
The flagbearer of Ghana Union Movement, Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrew, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom, on Sunday launched the party’s manifesto for the 2020 general elections.
The manifesto, dubbed “The New Ghana”, according to Osofo Kyiri Bosom, will ensure that the party re-adopts the policies of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.
Addressing about 1000 people who had gathered for the national launch of the manifesto in Accra, the flagbearer of GUM said the party’s campaign for the 2020 general election will hinge primarily on industrialisation and job creation.
He stressed that the party will take off from where Dr Nkrumah left.
“We are coming to continue the great dream of Dr Nkrumah that has been abandoned for many years. We have good plans and good policies for a better future and it is a plan to make Ghana prosper and be great again,” he stressed.
Duty-free port
With regards to policies, he mentioned that his government, if voted, will promote a duty-free port to facilitate trade for the local business community. He said the party will also ensure that there is free power for local businesses to thrive.
“I want to assure all Ghanaians that the high cost of doing business at the port will be a thing of the past because there will be free port under a GUM government. Also, electricity is essential to the growth of businesses so I will ensure that power is free for local businesses, while expatriates will pay the appropriate rates for the power they consume,” he said.
Skills acquisition
In terms of education, he gave the assurance that, if elected, the GUM party will review Ghana’s current educational system to make it more technical. This, he added, will help in the development of the country.
He said the current syllabi for basic, second-cycle as well as tertiary institutions have failed to prepare students to have the technical ability or critical thinking skills to address nagging development challenges.
“I want to stress here that the emphasis will be on skills acquisition, instead of merely passing examination. In fact, certificates will not be the basis for appointment under a GUM government,” he said.
Community service for prisoners
The GUM flagbearer also promised that his government will prudently manage Ghana’s resources to the advantage of all citizens, and accused the NPP government of not doing enough in the fight against illegal mining.
He said the GUM will take bold steps to streamline the activities in the small-scale mining sector and give opportunities to all people to mine sustainably.
He added that his party has a policy in place to provide monthly allowances for all persons who retire at age 60 to make life easier for them.
He also said a lifeline will be given to prisoners to be reunited with their families “when the GUM wins the election and forms a government.”
“People who are in prison, except those who committed murder, will be taken out and made to do community service for six months under supervision, after which they will be supported to start life afresh,” he said.
He added that the GUM would prioritise community service over custodial sentence for convicts.
