Gov't Denies Ordering The Use Of Party Colours

The government on Tuesday said that it has always stuck to its principled stand of using the national colours for all state functions.

It, therefore, regards criticisms by a section of the people for displaying the blue, white and red colours of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the celebration of Republic Day at Somanya in the Eastern Region as unfounded.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs, said in a statement in Accra that the commitment of the Kufuor administration to the use of the national colours as a symbol of nationhood and unity at all official functions remains unchanged.

"Government has taken note of concerns expressed by a section of the public, generated by reports in some media over the presence of supporters of the ruling NPP in party colours at the Republic Day durbar of chiefs and people...in honour of visiting Burkinabe President, Blaise Compaore.

"The use of the party colours at the durbar was not officially ordered or sanctioned...This was the case in Somanya. The only flags and colours distributed by the government officials and agencies were the colours and flags of Ghana and Burkina Faso," the statement said.

The statement noted that it is the constitutional right of individuals to join political parties of their choice and manifest their support at all times without inhibition.

"It was obviously in the exercise of this right that supporters of the NPP decided to parade themselves in their party's paraphernalia, a right equally open to all supporters of other political parties," it added.

The statement affirmed the government's commitment to the promotion of the culture of unity in diversity and the freedom of all persons to associate with groups and profess and manifest their beliefs as long as it is done within the confines of the law.