Government Replies NDC

Government has described criticisms by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as trivialities. The NDC has criticized government for using the Aveyime Rice mill despite its allegations that the project caused financial loss to the state and the subsequent prosecution of former government officials. The NDC has also called for changes in the National Security apparatus and the clarification of the role of Major General Sulemana of the National security outfit.

But the NPP government says it will not allow its focus on revamping the economy, maintaining peace and stability and enhancing the quality of the people to be distracted by the actions and demands of people who are only bent on scoring political points.

Government Spokesperson Kwabena Agyepong said the government, in sending the Quality Grain (Aveyime Project) matter to court did not intend to criminalise the NDC as a party but “to hold individuals in the former government connected with the project accountable for allegations of fraud and other forms of malfeasance leveled against them.

It also has to do with how due to the laxity on the part of officials of the former government, a foreigner, specifically, Mrs Cotton frittered away substantial amounts of money in dollars for her personal benefits and to the disadvantage of the ordinary Ghanaian taxpayer.” He said that the Aveyime Mill is the property of the people of Ghana and that government on behalf of the people has the right and indeed the duty to put it to good use in the service of the nation.

On the issue of national security, Mr. Agyepong expressed dismay at what he termed “the minority’s attempt to make national security issues a partisan political matter. We find it inadmissible that demands such as these are made, seeking to put important matters of national security which affect the security of the state in the open.”