NDC dangerous propaganda must stop- J. H. Mensah.

Kwesimintsim (W/R) Feb.9 GNA- The propaganda being employed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to destroy the government and its leadership was assuming a dangerous dimension that must stop, the Senior Minister, Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah has said.

He said the publication of unfounded allegations of corruption, insinuations and innuendoes that were sometimes posted on the Internet with an aim of destroying the image of the government, would eventually hurt the NDC most.

Mr Mensah was addressing an NPP rally at Kwesimintsim, a suburb of Takoradi on Saturday to climax the weeklong celebrations of the 12th anniversary of the Effia-Kwesimintsim constituency of the NPP.

"We shall continue to adopt pragmatic measures to move the country forward, and these lies will not hurt the government but rather the NDC most".

He said government would not shield wrongdoing, and repeated the call on those who have cases of corruption or any misdeeds against ministers or government functionaries to come out boldly and substantiate them, adding, "Mere allegations won't do".

Mr. Mensah said the NDC has no better alternative way to run the affairs of the country and challenged the leading opposition party to come out with better policies instead of being mere critics.

He said the people are witnesses to what the NPP had achieved over the relatively short period of three years, and upon this, they could envisage what the government has in store for them.

He appealed to the electorate to give the government their mandate in the forthcoming elections, and added that, the NPP policy to give priority attention to infrastructure development, especially in the rural areas would continue.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy said the 2004 budget would further strengthen the economic foundation to enhance accelerated growth and described it as an "indication of good things to come". He said the all-inclusive policy of the government attested to its determination to employ all available human resource to improve the lot of Ghanaians.

Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister mentioned a number of roads in the region that were being reconstructed by the government and said this would open up the region for rapid development.

He appealed to the people to remain loyal to the NPP because it had proved to be the only party that had the welfare of the people at heart. Mr. Mac Manu, Western Regional Chairman of the NPP said the party in the region has no intention to impose parliamentary candidates on the people because that would be against its democratic principles.

Mr. Kwesi Biney, District Chief Executive for Ahanta West said the increase in the production of cocoa was the result of good policies including high producer prices and other incentives offered to farmers.

Mr. Oduro Mensah, Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Mr. Ato Arthur, District Chief Executive for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo, Mr Joe Baddoe-Ansah, Member of Parliament for Effia-Kwesimintsim and Mr Mustapha Hamaed, national NPP Youth Organiser were among those who spoke at the rally.