General News of Wednesday, 8 December 2004

Source: GNA

Huudu Yahaya: Poor performance of small parties threat to democracy

Accra, Nov. 8, GNA - Mr Huudu Yahaya, First National Chairman of National Democratic Congress (NDC), on the night of counting of election results on Wednesday said the poor performance of minority parties could jeopardise the nation's infant democracy.

"If such political parties could perform so well in the last elections but are seen performing poorly this time, then it means that some factors are excluding them," he told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

He said the small parties were very important for democracy to thrive and function.

Mr Yahaya said the "flamboyant media promotions" by the NPP and some activities denied the NDC and other opposition parties of fair media coverage during the campaign.

"If a whole state media, that we all pay tax to run, could refused to air our tape we sent to them when we are ready to pay for it, then it should tell you where we are heading to as a nation," Mr Yahaya said. Early results give President John Agyekum Kufuor and the ruling New Patriotic Party a strong lead in both elections.