Ask Prez. Mahama about numerous campaign promises – Opoku Prempeh

Hon. Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Dr. Napo, said journalists in Ghana must not allow the President and functionaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians through lies and propaganda, but instead take them to task over their unfulfilled promises.

The NPP MP further charged media practitioners to join the crusade in demanding the whereabouts of dubious judgment debts paid to NDC cronies and the wanton dissipation of state funds under the guise of impending intervention programmes.

Speaking at a soirée organized in Kumasi for media practitioners by the Ashanti NPP MP Caucus, Dr. Napo said media practitioners must go beyond reporting the news as they happen and actively demand accountability through advocacy, from the government in the midst of widespread corruption and the collapse of the strong economic foundation it inherited from the NPP under ex-President Kufuor.

Dr. Napo additionally called on journalists in the Garden City to hold the tail of the KMA boss, Mr. Kojo Bonsu and his administration, for the avalanche of promises he made to the people of Kumasi when he assumed office.

He noted that civil society groups, of which the media is an integral part, should not sit down unconcerned and allow things to escalate beyond repair under the current administration, stressing “we must not allow a repetition of the 2000 episode during which the Rawlings-led

administration destroyed everything and had to take the ingenuity of President Kufuor to resuscitate the nation’s economy.”

The NPP MP, therefore, contended the assertion by their opponents in the NDC that MPs from the Ashanti Region were not performing their duties, stressing that the opposition MPs have performed excellently well in their respective constituencies.

“If you ask me what I have done for my constituency, I will not answer but I will tell you to go to the field and see things for yourself. As for the NDC, they will see nothing good about us because of their own incompetence,” he emphasized.

On the propaganda slogan by the NDC to secure one million votes in the Ashanti Region in December 2016, Dr. Napo said it was the duty of all NPP to be vigilant and work hard so that the NDC will not pull a fast one on everybody. “If we allow the NDC to carry out their tricks again and succeed in securing the one million votes, then we must consider ourselves in opposition forever,” he warned.

On his part, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu, popularly known as “Joe Wise” said the government of the NDC was discriminating against the region, arguing that it has abandoned major projects that would have enhanced the livelihood and improved the socio-economic development of residents in the region.

He mentioned the Sofoline Interchange and also the reluctance by government to complete the Kumasi-Accra main road, which according to him, have the potential to improve businesses and enhance socio-economic progress of the people.

A leading member of the party, Mr. George Ayisi-Boateng, who spoke on behalf of the flagbearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, said Nana Addo and for that matter the NPP were very much appreciative of the collaboration between the party and the media, stressing that it was the hope of the NPP that such relationship will continue in the supreme interest of the country’s democracy.

He noted that Nana Akufo-Addo being a crusader of media freedom and promotion of freedom of journalists in Ghana would continue to regard and protect all media practitioners to ensure that they execute their professional duties without fear or favour.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Listowell Yesu Bukarson, commended the NPP and its MPs for recognising the media in the Ashanti Region, adding that he was hopeful the initiative described as a novelty will go a long way to enhance the relationship between the two parties.