General News of Sunday, 18 February 2007

Source: GNA

Go back to Parliament - Abodakpi tells NDC MPs

Ho, Feb. 18, GNA - Mr Dan Abodakpi, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Keta, has appealed to NDC MPs to rescind their decision to boycott Parliament.

Mr Doe Adjaho, MP for Ave-Avenor, made this known at a forum organized by the NDC Regional Secretariat at Ho to explain issues on Mr Abodakpi's imprisonment and Ghana @ 50 to constituency executives. It was also to react to Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minster's allegations about the Party's involvement in problems during the National De-worming exercise.

According to Mr Adjaho, Mr Abodakpi was happy and satisfied with the solidarity shown by his colleagues but urged them to go back to Parliament to work for the advancement of the nation. Mr Adjaho maintained that Mr Abodakpi was innocent and that he was just a victim of the New Patriotic Party's agenda of destroying the biggest minority party in the country.

He alleged that the judgment was politically orchestrated, adding that some people in the NPP had earlier called their counterparts in the NDC to inform them that Mr Abodakpi was going to be imprisoned for 10 years.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, Regional Chairman of the NDC, described the allegation that the party masterminded the spreading of rumours about the death of children after taking the de-worming drugs, as "childish". He said according to reports, there were reactions in other regions apart from the Volta Region and wondered why the Regional Minister would blame the NDC.

Mr. Ahiable stressed the importance of children as the future leaders and stated that during the PNDC and NDC times the government organised many immunisation exercises for children and would not do anything to hinder the welfare of children.

Mr. Kofi Humado, MP for Anlo, observed that the Volta Regional Minister's utterances were only to win cheap public sympathy for a failed exercise since publicity was not enough.

He called on members of the NDC to be prepared for similar situations before and during the 2008 elections.

The MP noted that the imprisonment of Mr Abodakpi and the Minister's allegations had united the Party more than ever and promised to "play and overlapping role" for Mr Abodakpi's Constituency until the Regional Executives decided otherwise.

Captain Rtd George Nfordjo, MP for Ho Central, alleged that the government was not involving minority parties in the preparations towards Ghana @ 50 celebrations because of the money involved. He urged members not to be disturbed and to mark the day in their own small ways as patriotic citizens of Ghana.