The Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Alex Asamoah, has said attempts by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to cripple him financially and involve him in the alleged pre-mix fuel transaction will not succeed.

He alleged that the only role he played in the transaction was to provide 14 top NPP functionaries, Ministers of State, special assistants, presidential aides and one NDC member with financial assistance to transact business involving pre-mix fuel.

Nana Asamoah, who declined to mention the names of the top NPP and government functionaries, said this at a forum organised by the Takoradi Polytechnic branch of the Tertiary Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the weekend.

He said although he does not work with the Pre-Mix Committee or the Tema Oil Refinery, he has been portrayed as having personally facilitated the said pre-mix fuel transaction.

Nana Asamoah pointed out that he is a genuine businessman with a genuine and transparent record and will not dabble in acts that will tarnish his hard-won reputation.

He said attempts by some top NPP and government functionaries to kill the pre-mix fuel transaction case shows the extent of their involvement.

According to Nana Asamoah, attempts by the NPP to cripple him financially will not affect his unshakeable commitment to the NDC.

He said the increase in the price of pre-mix fuel and the subsequent unreliable supply have seriously affected the fishing industry.

He expressed concern about the nepotism and appointment of NPP members and sympathisers to serve on pre-mix committees in the country and cited the pre-mix fuel committee in the Western Region which is headed by Nana Owusu-Ankomah, the younger brother of the MP for Sekondi and Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Papa Owusu-Ankomah.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Dr Josiah Aryeh, said the NPP promised to operate the rule of law but it has rather ruled with lies and deceit.

He said corruption is rife now because of nepotism and “nepocracy”, a system of placing close relatives of people in high places and sensitive positions.

“How can government appointees criticise the government when our President has appointed his brother as Chairman of the KNUST Board and Minister of Defence? he asked.

Dr Aryeh pointed out that although the NDC believes in the principle of reconciliation, the kind of reconciliation going on leaves much to be desired.

He wondered why the NPP is silent on the serial killing of women and challenged the government to provide the $55,000 needed to solve the issue.

Dr Aryeh stressed that “come 2004, the NDC shall make sure it faces the NPP squarely at the registration, polling stations and the elections till we win the elections”.