Kan-Dapaah cautions party supporters

The Minister of Communications and Technology, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has advised supporters of political parties not to turn themselves into charlatans by fomenting trouble during the run-up to the December elections.

“We should not allow party politics to divide us at the grassroots level for the simple reason that party politics has not divided those of us who are the active political players in Ghana,” he admonished.

“To me, the issue is that if we, the active politicians who are paid monthly for being politicians, who are given means of transport for being politicians, are not fighting, where lies the wisdom in you, supporters and sympathisers at the grassroots level, fighting among yourselves?” he asked.

Kan-Dapaah gave the admonition at the inauguration of the “Buzz” network of the Mobitel GSM cellular service in Ho last Monday.

He said as the nation prepared for national elections later in the year, the business-friendly environment would be put to test, adding that it was pertinent for party activists and supporters to display political tolerance and absolute respect for one another's views and love for the country.

“In Parliament, we are 200 brothers and sisters wearing different political jerseys. On the floor of the House we are partisan, but we are all motivated by a common desire to get the best for our country. Indeed, in 90 per cent of the issues, we sing the same song with the same tune,” he said.

Kan-Dapaah said where there was disagreement, there was argument on the various positions with passion, adding that “at times, we use abusive language, but after the floor fight, we all flock to the tea rooms still in our party jerseys but as the best of friends”.

He said party politics in a democratic set up was all about which party or which group of politicians could best advance the economic fortunes of the country, adding, “On our part as politicians, we will be judged on the basis of our accomplishments.”

He underscored the need for Ghanaians to preserve the prevailing enabling environment for attracting private capital for investment, saying that it was only a peaceful environment that could guarantee that.