NPP is implementing deceptive policies - Haruna

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was making politics an unprincipled venture, by creating an atmosphere of mistrust with their deceptive policies.

He noted that the NPP was discouraging people from accepting that politicians, such as Prof John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, can be trusted, owing to the empty promises they made to Ghanaians to gain political power in 2000.

The National Youth Organiser said this, at the weekend, during a public forum by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC, in Cape Coast.

He said the NPP, in their quest to gain political power, told Ghanaians that they would run a small-sized government, at a time the NDC had about 82 ministers.

But they increased the number of ministers of state to about 89, just one year after ruling the country.

Haruna Iddrisu added that the purchase of a used 14-seater presidential jet, during the NDC era, was vehemently opposed by the NPP, led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, but his cabinet members now want to impose the purchase of a new 12-seater jet on Ghanaians.

He added that the country was now in a severe financial crisis, making government resort to internal borrowing, as the only alternative to pay debtors, such as contractors.

He said although the NPP has been preaching zero tolerance for corruption, it has become the most corrupt government in the country.

He explained that President Kufuor has not been able to take any measures against corruption, even with evidence from the various audit reports.

He challenged the government to set up committees, to conduct investigations into the management of the Metro Mass Transport (MMT), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Ghana International Airlines (GIA).

Haruna said the NPP was suffering from “I am the first syndrome,” where they always want to be the first to implement a policy, without considering the interest of the nation first.

He said the NPP was “misbehaving” with their majority in parliament, adding that the NDC will reduce their number, by snatching a minimum of 28 NPP parliamentary seats.

He added that the NDC would use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to monitor proceedings, and access results of this year's general elections.

He said the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, failed Ghanaians, when he did nothing about the killing of 44 Ghanaians in Gambia, when he was Foreign Minister, and urged Ghanaians to vote for Prof Mills.

He mentioned that the NDC would establish public universities in the Volta and Eastern regions, when it comes to power, and implement a National Youth Service, to tap the knowledge of fresh graduates for national development.

He called on the other members of the party, who were eyeing the vice presidential slot, to accept the choice of Prof Mills, and rally behind them to win the December polls.

He again called on the UCC authorities, to temper justice with mercy, and send the students of Casely Hayford back to their hall, to facilitate smooth academic learning.

The NDC parliamentary candidate for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Dr. Joseph Samuel Annan, observed that the country was in a horrible state, and that with what has happened in the past seven years since the NPP gained power, the country's dream of being a middle income one by 2015, will not be met.

He noted that the NPP had turned the country sour, and has told so much lies about issues, such as the school feeding programme, and that Ghanaians needed to know the truth.

He implored the students to be vigilant, and ensure that Prof Mills, and the NDC, beat the NPP on issues, facts, records and performance in this year's elections.  

The MP for Mfantseman East, Mr. George Kuntu-Blankson, called for effective management of the oil discovery, to turn the fortunes of the nation around.