Media Unfair to NDC - Asaga

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nabdam and Minority spokesman on Finance, Mr. Moses Asaga, has accused the media of shelving and marginalizing the views of the NDC.

"We organize press conferences outside parliament on several issues but we don't hear anything. I think the media is unfair to us," he said.

Mr. Asaga was speaking at a press conference in Bolgatanga on the Minority's views on the National Health Insurance Bill (NHIB), the extension of the state of emergency in Dagbon and the road map for achieving peace in the area.

He said the passage of the NHIB was rushed through parliament not out of any necessity but to enable the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to fulfil its campaign promise. He said the management of SSNIT, upon research based on the government's decision to deduct 2.5% of workers' contribution to fund the health insurance scheme, had indicated that the viability of the pension scheme would be adversely affected within 25 years.

Mr. Asaga described the government's action as ambiguous and non-transparent, saying that the deduction from the fund added up to 25% instead of the 17.5% made known to Parliament.

The leader of the NDC northern caucus in parliament and MP for Zebilla, Mr. Cletus Avoka, said NDC's boycott of the debate on NHIB was not capricious but it was because the reason for the recall of parliament contravened the constitution and the standing orders of the House.

Mr. Avoka called for an immediate installation of the regent of Dagbon, the reconstruction of the Gbewaa Palace and for the President to accept responsibility for the events in Dagbon and render an unqualified apology to the bereaved family and Ghana as a whole.

He added that, against the background of security lapses and the lackadaisical attitude of government functionaries in handling the crisis the president, who is the Commander-in-chief of the Armed forces and head of security, should declare in public and acknowledge the government's failure in handling the crisis.

He said the NDC, as a party was interested in fairness, justice, peace and reconciliation, adding that, it did not support any faction but rather it enjoyed support from both gates.