NDC Instigated VRA workers and Poly students -NPP

Akwatia (E/R), May 26, GNA- The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of instigating workers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to rise up against their Chief Executive Officer, Dr Wereko Brobby.

The party was also accused of instigating polytechnic students to demonstrate over their grievances to create crisis in the country.

The National Organiser of the NPP, Mr Lord Commey and the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Nana Adi Ankama, made the allegations at a political rally at Akwatia in the Kwaebibrem District in the Eastern Region on Sunday.

According to Mr Commey, some NDC top men were alleged to have gone to instigate students of the Cape Coast Polytechnic to go on demonstration over academic issues to embarrass the government.

He denied that the NPP had an agenda to break up the NDC, saying "it is rather the electorate who will do so by rejecting them through the polls, but we are out to ensure that democracy thrives in the country."

Mr Commey, who is on a weeklong tour of constituencies in the region, said the government welcomed constructive criticisms from its opponents that would help promote national development but would not countenance destructive tendencies.

He said since the NPP is in power "there is nothing wrong if its members enjoy the fruits of their labour", noting that "if we say we are out to promote private sector-led economy, we must necessarily rely on those who believe in that philosophy to advance it."

The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Owusu Agyapong, announced that the government would soon come out with a programme of extending telephone system to all Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) as part of its policy to make telecommunication accessible to all parts of the country.

He asked the people to take note of the many development projects going on since the NPP came into power and vote again for it in 2004 for more developments.

Alhaji Mariga, National President of the Nassara Club, a social club within the NPP, stated that "should the NDC collapse, it should not blame the NPP but be considered as a suicide due to their exposure over the lies they told Ghanaians about the NPP during the last electioneering campaign."

He said President J A Kufuor's administration did not discriminate against any section of the people based on religion or political affiliation, but was out to promote participatory democracy, freedom of speech and rule of law.

The Kwaebibrem District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Yiadom-Boakye, recounted a number of projects the District Assembly had undertaken within two years and said it had surpassed what the NDC did in eight years and assured that more projects were on-going in education, good drinking water, roads and electrification.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah and his Deputy, Mr Gustav Narh Dometey, addressed the rally.