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NDC demands accountability from NPP
Accra, July 15, Ghanadot/GNA - The National Democratic
Congress (NDC) on Tuesday urged Ghanaians voters and media
practitioners to demand accountability from the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP) as it seeks a mandate for another
term.
The Government must give detailed account of the tax payers'
money spent on the recent controversial national awards, the
cost of the 515 insignia and medallions and why did they
ordered a three-year stock, Mr. Elvis Afrieyie Ankrah a
Deputy General Secretary of the party, stated at a news
conference in Accra.
The NDC therefore called on civil society and all
well-meaning Ghanaians
to rise up, find their voices and speak against this sheer
plundering and misapplication of national resources.
The news conference attended by high ranking NDC officials
was organized to catalogue some alleged governmental
"bizarre actions and expenditures" and appeal to the media
to lead the crusade to demand accountability from NPP.
The bizarre actions and expenditures include the use of GH˘
1.4 million on the national award medals and insignia and
refusal of President John Agyekum Kufuor to use an executive
jet bought by his predecessor when he assumed office yet has
decided to order two luxurious jets.
Others are the benefit derived from about 167 foreign trips
by the President since January 7, 2001, the use of large
presidential convoy at a time when the nation is grappling
with fuel crisis and economic hardship, and the procurement
of goods and services in the name of the incoming
government.
The NDC also challenged the NPP Government to account for
the 25 million dollars spent on the 50th anniversary
celebration and provide evidence of the hundreds of places
of convenience that were supposed to be built along major
highways during the golden jubilee celebration.
Other issues were the whereabouts of the 50 state-of-the-art
Mercedes Benz, Chrysler and BMW saloon cars that were
purported to have been acquired for the use of dignitaries
during the 50th anniversary.
The NDC also demanded from the government the current owners
of Ga lands acquired by the state at the La Wireless area
for the construction of villas for the visiting dignitaries
during the African Union summit and Ghana@50 celebrations.
"How much was paid to the La Traditional Council, owners of
the land and the Ga state in general?" the NDC asked.
On the sale of 70 per cent share of government in Ghana
Telecom, the NDC condemned it and assured the public that a
future NDC government would review the whole transaction.
The NDC said it would review the national award process so
as to ensure that the choice of the people to be honoured
was made more participatory and non-partisan to ensure that
the awards were not steeped in controversy to taint the
dignity and respectability of those honoured.
The NDC said its criteria for honours would seek to
recognise Ghanaian creativity and ingenuity as local
craftsmen would be engaged to design the national medal to
promote the Ghanaian jewellery industry.
GNA
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