IMANI's promises assessment criteria flawed- NPP

The New Patriotic Party is questioning the basis upon which IMANI Ghana described policies and promises of the party as empty.

Deputy Director of Communications of the party Anthony Karbo, said the think tank's campaign assessment program is fundamentally flawed because it did not have the full details of the campaign promises by the NPP.

IMANI Ghana has described many of the campaign promises of the political parties as empty and without substance.

This was after 218 promises of the political parties were subjected to an assessment criteria to find out if the policies were measurable and attainable.

"It is clear that the vast majority of the promises that the party presents are not assessable. They are almost empty promises. A lot of issues arise from this," Stephan Reppen, a researcher at IMANI said, Thursday.

The think tank said out of 29 NPP policies scrutinized only one was found to be realistic. Out of 20 promises made by the governing NDC, six were deemed to be realistic and attainable.

The think tank said the free SHS policy the NPP wants to execute, will cost 3.6 billion cedis which is half the budget allocation for education. IMANI also said the NPP's promise to revive the collapsed NHIS is vague.

But the NPP said the IMANI criteria is baseless.
"The NPP hasn't launched its manifesto; we haven't shown in detail a lot of the policy prescriptions that we talk about. So the point is, on what basis is IMANI making its analysis?

"The NDC and IMANI itself haven't seen the NPP's final document on the one factory one district policy so what is the basis upon which they are making this analysis?

"My understanding is that IMANI is a research think tank. What research was conducted in the first place?" he asked.

He said for IMANI to rely on pieces of information members of the party have put out during campaign to come out with this analysis is unacceptable to say the least.

Anthony Karbo dismissed claims that the one factory per district policy promised by the Nana Akufo- Addo cannot be done.

"Everything is possible in this world except for incapable men. About 60 years ago Nkrumah was able to, within six years establish over 300 cottage industries across this country. Today we have a political leader who is bold and ready to create jobs by having a one district one factory policy. It is commendable. People should rather embrace it," he said.

He added when the manifesto is launched the fine details of the policy will be put out and that policy will mark the beginning of industrialization in the country.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah