General News of Thursday, 6 March 2008

Source: GNA

NDC pleads for forgiveness from the media

Ningo, (E/R) March 06, GNA -- The Executive Body of the Ningo/Prampram wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has apologized to the media on behalf of the party for any offences they might have committed against journalists during their term of office.

Mr Jacob Lartey Ayin, NDC Ningo/Prampram Constituency Vice Chairman who pleaded on behalf of the party during a press conference on Wednesday at Ningo said; "We are pleading for forgiveness from the press if we have offended them when we were in power".

The press conference which was attended by the constituency executives and some members of the NDC was organized in reaction to allegations levelled against Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, MP for the constituency by two members who were alleged to have left the party.

Mr Ayin stated that, "Even though we at Ningo/Prampram have not offended any of you, we are pleading on behalf of any NDC member who may have offended any journalist during the performance of their duty when we were ruling the country".

According to him it seemed the media were not giving the NDC the needed attention due to undisclosed offences the party had committed against them.

Mr Siaw Akugbey Djangmah, an Executive Member who chaired the press conference noted that, Mr Emmanuel Nortey and Mr Nartey Adjer alias Palas, the defectors were not the constituency's General Secretary and Campaign Strategist respectively as they claimed. He explained that Mr. Nortey once acted as the constituency's general secretary upon the death of the then secretary until a substantive one was elected, adding that Mr Nortey did not even contest for the position as he did not file his nomination.

Mr Djangmah stressed that Mr Adjer had never held any executive position in the party but however said he was a card holding member. Rebuffing the defectors claim of lack of market, well equipped hospital and laboratory in the constituency, he said there were two well equipped clinics at Ningo and Prampram.

Commenting on the allegation by the defectors that E.T. Mensah has shift the provision of developmental projects to the District Assembly, the Executive Member emphasized that while it was the MP's role to lobby for developmental projects, it was the responsibility of the District Assembly to provide social amenities to the people.

Mr Djangmah reiterated the party's resolve not to relinquish the parliamentary seat to any party as the constituency belonged to the NDC. Meanwhile Mr Christopher Zutah a teacher is contesting Mr E.T. Mensah in the primaries for the NDC seat in the constituency.