Govt's development policy is fruitless -CPP Chairman

The National Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr. Abubakar Alhassan, at the weekend criticized the government's development policies saying, "It is fruitless and incapable of meeting the nation's aspirations, especially to the rural poor".

He mentioned mass privatisation, recognition for the private sector as the sole engine of growth and the government opting for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative "with its unfavourable conditionality" as some of the bad policies.

Dr. Abubakar said the CPP would continue to resist the mass privatisation of the country's assets, adding that policy was detrimental to the poor. The ultimate aim of private companies, he said, was to maximise profit margin, and not the welfare of the people, adding that it was the state's duty to guarantee the people's welfare.

Dr. Abubarkar reiterated the philosophy of the CPP, saying as a socialist party, it still held the view that notwithstanding one's background, every citizen should have equal access to basic social amenities such as health care, education and potable water.

He said government's plan to privatise water supply was uncalled for and not in the interest of majority of the people who live under the poverty line. "It is diabolical to put water supply of this country into private hands" he added.

Dr. Abubakar called on functionaries of the CPP to continue to advocate for a government that would encourage the mass of the people to be on their own and develop the nation all by themselves.

The General Secretary of the party, Dr. Nii Noi Dowuona explained the unity talks being pursued by the Nkrumaists parties and said there were positive signs of harmonising and uniting them.

He said the CPP national congress would come off either in November or December, to discuss the unity talks and plan strategies to win power in 2004.