Protest From NPP Washigton

The Ghana-Washington Group, a powerful and influential NPP appendage based in the United States of American has fired a protest letter to the Ghanaian media over what it describes yellow journalism being undertaken by a section of the press. The group for instance expressed disgust at the recent publication of a scathing but 'untrue story' about an alleged diversion of some relief items to a so-called " campaign warehouse" by Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali, MP for Gukpegu-Sabongida constituency.

According to them they believed that the allegation was leaked to the press by some disgruntled elements and malcontents within and outside the NPP who are determined to thwart the clock of progress initiated by the MP.

The Group however noted that one interesting characteristic of the NPP is that it appreciates eccentricities of its members but was quick to add that " it must not allow cheap shots from among its ranks. There should be no room for hate and misunderstanding."

The publication which sought to discredit the MP according to the letter was not consistent with the qualities of the Minister of Works and Housing adding that people who know Alhaji M.A. Idris as a morally upright citizen in both his public and private life, were quick to point out the inconsistencies in the initial report.

As the most powerful of all the realms of the state, according to the 18th Century English statesman Edmund Burke, the press the report continued must behave in a manner that ensures public trust.

Should the press fail in its duty to provide well-researched stories supported by facts, and not by knee-jerk sensationalism and yellow journalism, it would have failed in its duty as a true bulwark for the defence of the rule of law and democracy in the country, the reaction added.

In a latter development the group fired another letter to express its delight about the retraction of the " unfounded story" by which action, they stated 'the paper is owning up to the reality that irresponsible reporting and sensationalism by some of the country's journalists, have no place in a fledgling democracy.'

North America is a strong base of the NPP where a congress was held recently for the election of the party's executives. The Senior Minister, Mr. Dan Botwe, the General Secretary of the NPP and the Greater Accra Regional Minister were present.

The North America NPP branch contributed immensely towards the political activities of the party in the run-up to the last presidential and parliamentary elections and previous ones.

Their angst at what they deem actions likely to smear the reputation of the party and its important personalities is understandable.