NDC MP Praises Kufuor

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Abura- Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK), Hon. Harry Halifax Hayford, has observed that Ghanaians have now seen the difference between the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially as regards President J. A. Kufuor's encounter with the media, where he was frank and truthful in admitting that whilst his party was in opposition, they criticized the number of ministers the NDC had.

Speaking to Chronicle in an interview at the premises of the Cape Coast court complex last Wednesday, Hayford pointed out that he is happy that President Kufuor himself had admitted that now that he is in the seat of government, he has realized that it is not easy to maintain a list smaller than that of the NDC.

Touching on the recent results of the Kumawu parliamentary by-election, which the NDC lost to the NPP, the MP intimated that there was no way the NDC could win the seat in that constituency because the area is the stronghold of the ruling party, NPP.

On the 2000 general elections, he pointed out that even though the then NDC government in power had all the resources to entrench itself in power in certain circumstances, money was not the factor at that time.

He explained that it is the determination, resolve and the frustration of the people that can change the government and not money, which was openly seen being dished out during the last general elections.

Hon. Hayford stated that if the axiom of history is to repeat itself, then it would repeat itself in the next general elections in 2004.

He therefore called on all NDC supporters not to feel ashamed but to stand up against all odds, because to be in opposition is an unhealthy status and once "we are unhealthy there is the possibility of being cured to become healthy in no distant time."

He stated that "the therapy for our cure lies with the people and therefore we should close our ranks not to allow infiltrators in our camp."

Hon. Hayford pointed out that in a democracy no single party can rule forever, adding that, "for the NDC to become the opposition party today, can be described as one of the cocktails of good governance in democracy, for it gives us the power to crticise constructively."

On the struggle between Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Dr. Kwesi Botchwey for the NDC presidential candidacy, Mr. Hayford said he preferred Prof. Atta Mills because "he had been marketed already as a vice president and secondly as a presidential candidate in the 2000 elections."

He emphasized that if history is anything to repeat itself, he would say that President Kufuor lost in the 1996 elections and won in the 2000 general elections, so it is also possible for Atta Mills who lost in the 2000 elections to win the presidential slot in the next general elections in 2004.