NDC’s IEA boycott ‘political suicide’ – Gyampo

A Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Dr. Ransford Gyampo has described as unfortunate the National Democratic Congress' decision to boycott debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

According to him, the NDC’s reasons for the boycott lacks merit adding that “it appears the party is embarking on a political suicide mission by alienating” itself from such platform.

“It is unfortunate that the ruling National Democratic Congress has decided to boycott all IEA activities leading up to this year’s election….It is not exactly clear the basis of allegations of bias against the institute. This is because outside election periods, the NDC like all other parties with representation in parliament fully cooperate with the IEA under the auspices of Ghana Political Parties Programme. It is also worthy to note that, in opposition, the NDC attended every IEA workshop and event,” a piece by Dr. Gyampo added.

The NDC which has expressed disquiet about some of the events planned by the institute ahead of the November polls announced a total boycott of the debates.

This, the party said was because the IEA plans to hold separate debate for flag-bearers of the two leading political parties, NPP and NDC.

They also accused the IEA of not consulting them on the matter ahead of its debates.

General Secretary of the NDC in an exclusive interview with Citi News accused the IEA of trying to be a dictator hence their decision.

Governance survey
He also rebuked the IEA of releasing a Socio-Economic and Governance Survey which somewhat undermined the governing NDC.

But Dr. Gyampo questioned the rationale behind Mr. Nketiah's claims.

“The General Secretary of the NDC chairs the IEA’s Ghana Political Parties Programme. How can such an anti-government body tolerate this arrangement? Just because the findings of the IEA’s Socio-Economic and Governance Survey hit the government hard does not make the IEA anti-government.

“One wonders what would have happened if the Institute had released the 2015 report. IEA is holding on to the report because it feels the timing is inappropriate. This is a demonstration that the Institute bends over just to cater for the interest of the party because it does not want to be seen to be embarrassing its partners,” Dr. Gyampo added.

IEA gives NDC stipends
The Dr. Gyampo also revealed that the institute provides monthly stipends to some political parties including officials of the NDC hence staying away from such a credible platform was not the best.

“It appears that the party has so soon forgotten the huge financial investment and contributions the institute makes on them almost every month. Here, one can talk of the monthly stipends paid to party officials, funding of workshops and capacity building programmes, as well as donation of computers and other office equipment. It is a matter of fact that the NDC, as a political party, has every right to stay away from the IEA platform. However, there is no doubt that the IEA platform is credible,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin