NPP Can Pull Ghana Out of HIPC - TCP

THE PARTY about to be formed under the name Traditional Congress Party (TCP), which aspires to contest the next general elections once it is born, has expressed the optimism that the Kufuor-led NPP government's strong economic programme can pull Ghana out of HIPC.

Dr. Anthony Toku, the Akrokerri-born chairman and founder of the party, told the Chronicle on phone from his US base that the activities of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration had pushed Ghana into HIPC.

He said President Kufuor cannot be blamed for the present economic situation in the country.

"NDC's deliberate efforts to put an economic choke on the country through bribery and corruption forced Ghana into HIPC," he stated, adding that President Kufuor had no choice but swallow a bitter pill.

In spite of this the TCP believes in the fact that the NPP must make efforts to bring economic relief to Ghanaians.

Dr. Toku's observations are a fallout of a closed door socio-economic summit of the party in New York last month.

The forum, it is learnt, discussed issues bordering on education, health care, development of the private sector and decentralistion of political power.

To correct some ills and enhance sound economy, Toku said it behoves the Attorney-General to vigorously prosecute all loan defaulters and retrieve monies seemingly gone down the drain.

He suggested that all signatories to such loan documents must be interrogated, adding: "Bank managers, clerical and administrative officers found guilty of misappropriation and financial mismanagement must be punished to dissuade others from defrauding banks."

The TCP chairman, an advocate of free and compulsory education, suggested that a domestic capital be developed to fund free education in the country.

"It is the responsibility of a government to educate children and ensure that every child is educated," he concluded.

Chairman Toku also pushed for a meaningful university education because it is the responsibility of the government to produce top-notch scholars to manage the affairs of the country.

He said failure to improve the quality of university education is a sign of socio-economic and political retrogression.

"Successful university graduates are the eyes and brains of a country," Toku noted.