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Politics of Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Source: The Chronicle

Napo weeps over infighting in NPP

The poor performance of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not guarantee automatic victory for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), if its supporters and leadership do not close their ranks and work in unity, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has reiterated.

The NPP MP observed that until there is cessation of cold hatred, petty squabbling and hostility amongst supporters and people at leadership positions within the party, victory 2016 will be a mirage.

Addressing constituents at Ash Town, as part of his “Meet Your MP” rally to interact with the people and address their concerns, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as ‘Dr. Napo’, observed that despite the widespread reality that President Mahama and the NDC have failed to live up to expectations, it would require extra work on the part of the NPP to win back power.

He noted that he was particularly disturbed about reports from constituencies of rifts between winners and defeated constituency and polling station executives, and this, according to him, does not augur well for the unity which is required to achieve victory.

”We are told that in some constituencies, those who won positions have prevented their opponents from having anything to do with the affairs of the party, and this is very unfortunate, considering the fact that in politics it is about numbers,” Dr. Napo observed.

According to him, there was the need for winners to bring on board their opponents and make them feel part and parcel of the party, in order to create an atmosphere of peace and unity within the party. ”There is no way we can consolidate our grassroots support base if we do not involve everyone in our scheme of things,” he charged.

Addressing concerns over lack of development and harsh economic conditions in the country, Dr. Prempeh stated that the President Mahama-led administration has no funds to undertake projects, because it had misappropriated various funds meant for improving the lives of the people.

”As we are talking right now, the government says it would pay Common Fund arrears in 2017; that is, if it would even be in power. The truth is that these people have misused all state funds, and now are left with nothing to spend,” he stated.

The MP, however, enumerated several development projects initiated under his reign in the areas of education, health and social development, pledging to continue to support the socio-economic development of his constituents.

On his part, the Ashanti Regional Head of Communication of the party, Mr. Akwasi Kyei, accused President Mahama of appointing ministers who are still upgrading their skills in classrooms, hence their inability to perform.