The Savannah Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kalamonia Sulemana Iddrisu, alias Professor, has criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for lacking policy direction in the area of social interventions and enactment of concrete policies for the Ghanaian society.

Professor Kalamonia in an interview with Joy News in Damongo in the Savannah Region, said although the NDC identifies itself as social democrats it lacks what it takes to cushion the Ghanaian society.

"It's not for anything that political parties identify with ideology A or B and so, if former President Mahama and his NDC say they are a Social Democratic party, then they should prove their record on any social policy for over 20 years that they have governed this country, "Prof Emeritus Sulemana said.

"Why; a social democrat with no track record of any social intervention; not even one?” he inquired.

In recounting some of the political activities from the main political parties since 1992, the NPP regional chairman said unlike the two former Presidents John Jerry Rawlings and Prof John Evans Atta-Mills, under the NDC, the NPP has a solid track record on social interventions.

He said the government of former President J. A. Kufuor introduced, “the NHIA, Free Maternal Health Care, the School Feeding Programme, the LEAP, and many more.

That's not all. We don't wait until we come to government and start thinking about what to do. Under the Nana Addo/Bawumia government, we have proven once again with the introduction of policies and programmes that are very significant social intervention policies. The NABCO to curb graduate unemployment, the Free SHS, creation of six (6) new regions, One District One Factory, One Village One Dam, agenda 111, and 1 constituency, 1 ambulance among others."

These are policies that a capitalist political Party like us (NPP) have initiated to help the masses and not those who can only come and think negatively about policies that they don't have an idea about", Professor insisted.

He said after the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme by the NPP, former Presidents Evans Atta-Mills and John Mahama failed to improve it until the NPP came back to power and made it digital and more efficient for the citizens to access the services.

"They said when they come back to power they would review some of our policies, like Free SHS, but these are policies they couldn't think about. So, if you didn't start something how then do you think you can review it? We will continue to sell our policies and our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to the electorates for endorsement because he has the message, ideas, and policies to execute when given the nod".

But in a sharp rebuttal, the Savannah Regional Communication Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), R.A. Jelil, rubbished the NPP Chairman's assertion saying he lacks understanding of issues or policies regarding social interventions.

According to him, the NDC under former Presidents John Jerry Rawlings and Prof John Evans Atta-Mills introduced interventions like GETFUND, universities, roads, provision of laptops, and school uniforms to students among others.

"I think the only difference between the NDC and NPP is that they are into slogans like ‘one this, and one that’ but we don't. If you say 1V1D, the NDC has built quality dams that can stand the test of time.

"I think you also heard loud and clear from him (former President and flagbearer of NDC, John Dramani Mahama) on the 24-hour economy. It's one of the policies we are coming to implement, and anytime we mention the 24-hour economy, it goes down the shivers of the NPP. This is a policy JM is coming to implement “R.A. Jelil noted.

He also explained that the policy when implemented, will take away "the backlog of unemployed graduates and youth because a factory will run a three-shift system where we have 8 hours, 8 hours, 8 hours shifts system. This means if we have 500 workers in a cement factory that is going to enroll in the 24-hour, all the 500 workers will be engaged. It's simple".

"So, we will need another number of people outside to be employed in addition and this will do away with the high level of unemployment in Ghana ", R.A. Jelil emphasised.