General News of Monday, 19 January 2004

Source: GNA

MP pleads with public to stop harassing them for money

Petransa (Ash), Jan. 18, GNA - Mr Adu Gyamfi Poku, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, has asked the public to desist from chasing MPs for money when they visit constituencies. He said people were under the erroneous impression that, the MPs share of the common fund was given to them in physical cash.

Mr Adu Gyamfi explained that the MPs do not handle their share of the fund in cash but that it was kept at the assemblies where an MP instructs the assembly to assist a community with a specific amount for a project after satisfying himself of the genuiness of the project and even that, the community is not given cash butt materials to the tune of the money.

Speaking at the end of year dinner-dance and fund raising of the Bosomtwe constituency of the NPP for the construction of the party's constituency office at Petrensa on Sunday, the MP asked the members not to be complacent with the achievements so far chalked by the party but register massively when the voters registration exercise starts in March this year. He made a personal donation of one million cedis towards the construction of the constituency office.

Mr Bright Addai Mununkum, the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Chief Executive told the members that even though the NPP will win this year's elections, it was not going to be easy. He pointed out that having lost the 2000 elections, the NDC was going to plug all the loopholes that led to their defeat and give the NPP a run for their money. Mr Addai Mununkum therefore, called on the party members, supporters and activists to stop fighting for positions and desist from backbiting and rather close their ranks and plan towards retaining power.

The DCE said looking at the spate of development, the state of the economy, the peace in the country and the provision of other facilities provided by the government within this short period of time, it would be very difficult for any political party to defeat the NPP, except supporters, members and the activists made it possible through their own activities. Mr Atta Kwasi Jr, the Bosomtwe constituency chairman of the NPP, urged polling assistants, polling agents and registration officers to be vigilant during the exercise so as not to allow minors to register as well as those who will attempt to register twice and report them to the security agencies.

Two contractors, Mr Asare Bediako Antwi and Mr. Kofi Adu, donated one million cedis towards the construction of the party office and pledged to provide 50 bags of cement and 10 trips of sand and stone for the project.