NDC MPs expressed concern about neglect of roads

Sekondi, July 16, GNA- Members of the NDC Parliamentary Caucus in the Western Region has expresses grave concern about the continued neglect of roads by the NPP government, especially in cocoa growing areas of the region, which had aggravated poverty among the people.

They said as a matter of urgency, the government should reduce its expenditure and look for funding for the rehabilitation of the roads as a way to bring relief to cocoa farmers.

The NDC members of Parliament were addressing a press confidence at Sekondi on Monday to draw the government's attention to the deteriorating condition of roads in some parts of the region.

Those who spoke, included Mr. Kwakucer Ackah, MP for Aowin Suaman, Mr. Seidu Adamu, MP for Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai and Mr. Micheal Boapong, MP for Bia.

Mr Ackah said, taking cognisance of the economic importance of roads in the cocoa growing areas, the NDC government instituted periodic road maintenance programmes for some roads, but this was abandoned by the NPP government as soon as it came to power about three years ago.

According to him, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the 56-kilometre Asankragwa-Enchi portion of the main Bodei-Asankragwa Enchi road was awarded to MOTA, a foreign road construction firm to make it first class road in 1998.

The company moved its equipment to the site at Asankragwa in 2000 to begin work only for NPP to withdraw the contract.

Mr Ackah saaid since then, nothing has been done about the roads in the area and accused the government of in-action and display of gross insensitivity towards the people.

He also describe as sad and unfair the labelling of Aowin Suaman District by the government as a cocoa smuggling area and dismissed the notion that smuggling had become rampant in the district.

Mr Ackah said the stationing of the anti-cocoa smuggling taskforce in the area is un-called for and waste of tax payers money.

On his part Hon. Seidu Adamu said the issue of development should not be politicised, adding that, "The government has no reason to neglect roads in the region which produces the chunk of the nations wealth".

Mr Michael Boapong said more than 80 percent of roads in the Juabiso-bia District has not seen any rehabilitation since the past three years.

Other speakers were Mr Gyapong Mensah, MP, Juabiso constituency, Nana Alex Asamoah, NDC Regional Chairman and Dr. Frank Abu former MP for Amenfi Central. Forum suggests funding for civic organisations instead of political parties

Takoradi, July 16, GNA -Participants at a day's consultative forum on funding political of parties in Ghana in Takoradi on Wednesday suggested that, funds should be mobilised for the state institutions such as Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the National Commission for Civic Education and other civic organisations instead of political parties.

They said the present state of the economy, would not make state funding of political parties fruitful, since sectors such as education and health are in dire need funding.

The event marked the end of a series of forums organised by the Electoral Commission in collaboration with the KAB Governance Consult and the USAID on the issue.

Participants urged the various political parties, to re-organise themselves and raise funds internally and thus reduce the burden on the nation and the tax payer.

They again suggested that an independent committee, should be established by the parties to raise funds into a consolidated fund, which should later be shared proportionally for the purchase of vehicles, office equipment and other items for the parties.

In an address, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, chairman of the EC said if parties were not supported, the financially handicapped ones, would be compelled to borrow from "underground elements and individual financiers," who would later demand high economic and political rewards. He explained that previously , political parties were supported with vehicles and the present funding should include computers and other logistics if approved.

Dr Afari-Gyan expressed regret that most of the registered parties, were unable to maintain offices outside the regional capitals. He said many of the parties have adopted "road shows" in cities and big towns instead of campaigning, adding, "such shoddy campaigning simply cannot win elections".

Dr Afari-Gyan stressed that funding of political parties, would ensure a level playing field and introduce effective party competition and also contribute to the elimination of corruption and enhance the chances of aspiring presidential candidates.

He added that public funding of parties would not absorb the entire bill of the political parties, adding, "so a political party will have to raise additional funds on its own".

Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Westen Regional Minister said the activities of political parties could either strengthen the country's democracy or weaken it.

She therefore, appealed to all, to ensure that a well-established multi-party system is put in place to enhance democracy. Mr John R. Amihere, acting regional director of EC said expenditure of political parties are difficult to control, especially during electioneering campaign.

He suggested that all expenditure of political parties should be limited, to enable them to properly account for any assistance. Mr Justice S. E. Kanyoke, a supervising High Court Judge at Sekondi, who chaired the function, expressed regret that political maturity is not high in Ghana and said, "if care is not taken, parties would be funded all right, but people may refuse to listen to them".

He therefore, suggested that education on political tolerance should be intensified, to reverse the negative political attitudes.