PAF, ESRP Creating Problem for NPP?

... Women cry over lack of transparency

THE POVERTY Alleviation Fund (PAF) and the Emergency Social Relief Fund (ESRP) for women, initiated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government are gradually creating problems for the NPP.

Most party members and their executives in Brong Ahafo have urged the party to fulfil its promises, else it would be disastrous for the party come 2004 elections.

The members disclosed that the way the PAF is being disbursed is not transparent and, therefore, urged the managers of the fund to find a solution to it in order to ensure equitable disbursement.

This came to light when the national organiser of the NPP, Mr. Lord Commey, paid a four-day working visit to the Brong Ahafo Region.

In his entourage were Mr. Alex Quartey of the Greater Accra Regional Secretariat and Mr. Isaac Asiam, acting Tescom national co-ordinator.

According to NPP members at Bechem in the Tano South constituency, where the national organiser first met the members, the party's inability to cater for them immediately after the elections was a cause for concern.

The meeting was poorly attended at the Presbyterian Secondary School due mainly to anger on the part of members.

The total number of people and executives who attended the meeting was 50 including a handful of women.

One of the women, also the women's organiser at the constituency, told the delegation that her colleagues failed to attend the meeting because Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, lied to the region at Berekum recently.

According to the organiser, at Berekum, the minister promised the women that her government would release ?500 million for the women under the ESRF but this money, to date, is not forthcoming.

Some of the members directed their anger at the DCE, as most of them do not have time for the people who call on them for support.

It was also established that after the elections the leadership of NPP never organised even a single meeting in the Tano constituency to explain what is actually happening in government.

The party members emphasized that as at now they do not know who handles the affairs of the party.

They urged the government to run the affairs of the nation properly and interact with the party because it was the party that put the government where it is.

They reminded the NPP government that it was this kind of lies that brought the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government down.

The members cautioned the national executives and the government to stay clear of liars. Responding to the grievances, the national organiser appealed to the members to calm down and work for the growth of the party.

"I am on the tour because of these problems facing you and after my mission the national executives will seek a solution to them all," the national organiser assured.

On employment, Commey said the NPP is suffering because most NDC activists are still occupying top government positions.

He noted that creating jobs in a fragile economic environment is an uphill task.

The NPP government is, therefore, striving to lay a sound economic foundation to attract investors for the creation of more jobs.

The government is working tirelessly to turn around for the better the system damaged by NDC. These areas include security, job creation and sound economic basis.

On Mrs. Gladys Asmah's promise to the region, he assured the women that it is never a lie, saying very soon the fund would be released.

Commey advised party activists against allowing the NDC back to power.

"When these people are back to power, we are dead," he bemoaned.

The national organiser's meeting with the Tano South constituency members at Bechem was featured on Skyy FM phone-in-programme, Meet-With TESCOM.

Commey also met Sunyani Polytechnic branch of the NPP, Sunyani East and West members and constituency organizers, youth organizers women organizers, as well as with members of the party in the Asutifi North and Tano North constituencies.