This is a serious mistake - NDC

Tarkwa (W/R) July 27, GNA- The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the Press Conference organized by New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Tarkwa as a serious mistake because the issue at stake was not investigated before making it public.

This could only be explained as an attempt to destroy NDC as a party.

" Supporters of the NDC were surprised at the quick manner in which NPP organized the Press Conference without actually investigating the issue to know the truth of the matter."

These were contained in a Press Release signed by Mr Samuel Odei Tete, NDC chairman of Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency. It said NDC could not look unconcerned for the great party's name to be tarnished by NPP in coming out with unfounded allegations at this time that both parties are living together peacefully and harmoniously at Tarkwa.

The release said this was unfortunate, adding, "we must not be seen to be doing things that would jeopardize the relationship we have developed over the years."

It said on July 4 2005, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem NPP constituency Chairman, Mr. Ben Asabil organized a press conference where he accused the NDC, that with the assistance of Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) it was going round some communities, including Bonsa and Simpa in the Constituency and collecting voter ID cards, which he regarded as a serious offence and a constitutional violation.

Again, Mr. Theophilus Nyinaku, Bonsa NDC branch chairman, and an elder of Bonsa who doubles as a co-ordinator for GMC and Bonsa was accused of being the brain behind the syndicate, which was collecting the ID cards at Bonsa.

"Why should NDC collect voter ID cards 6 months after 2004 elections? Are NPP not aware that the next election would be in 2008? If NDC did not do it in election 2004, why now,?" the release questioned. "We want our brothers in NPP to know that NDC would not waste its time and resources on this fruitless venture. The allegation has no bases at all. This should not be used to confuse the people," it said.

The release explained that the gist of the matter from a thorough investigation was that; Mr. Jurgen Eigendal, Managing Director (MD) of GMC has been nominated with other personalities for Millennium Excellence Award under two categories namely, Grassroot and Rural Development Award and Foreign Personality Award.

And in other to help the MD to win the award some workers from GMC volunteered to canvass for votes within the 16 communities in GMC's catchment area of operation for the MD to win area.

As a condition to vote for a nominee, one must be a registered voter, hence the collection of voter ID cards by the volunteers, NOT NDC, to fill the forms in support of the MD after which the ID cards were given back to their owners.

In the case of Bonsa one of the people who assisted them in the exercise happened to be NDC branch chairman, who is also an elder of the town and he only acted in his capacity as an elder of the town, without any political motive.

The chief of Bonsa, Nana Mensah Attakorah II has come out to defend Mr. Nyinaku, that as an elder in the town, he can instruct the gong-gong to be beaten and said the message has nothing to do with politics. Mr Rexford Agyeman, administrative manager of GMC, said his company had no political intentions and it was just a goodwill move to promote and help their MD to win the award.

He was therefore surprised at the turn of events, and wanted people to know that GMC is a business entity and not a political party, and must not be drawn into politics.

"From the forgone explanation, where is the link between NDC and GMC in this issue? The release questioned. "It is high time we stop politicising any single issue for the betterment of our country - Ghana.

"Finally, we appealed and advise our friends in the NPP, that members of the two parties are not enemies but we should work together to improve the living conditions in the constituency." the release added.