General News of Thursday, 5 November 2015

Source: kasapafmonline.com

NPP cannot be trusted in political coalition – Ephson

Pollster Ben Ephson Pollster Ben Ephson

Pollster Ben Ephson has cast doubt on any good relationship that may emerge following a possible alliance between Paa Kwesi Nduom’s Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the lead up to election 2016.

“There is a question of whether the NPP will be faithful in this collaboration,” Ephson told host Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM on Thursday.

Ephson contends in a likely event of a coalition ahead of the polls, the NPP will have a greater responsibility of ensuring it does not stab the PPP in the back as it did years back to the CPP, in a similar case.

He feels the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition cannot be trusted in such circumstances.

“The NPP has a bad record of stabbing people in the back. In 1996 when the CPP took their candidate, late Mr. Arkaah and made him the running mate to President Kufuor with a concession of allowing the CPP 15 seats in the election, the NPP eventually betrayed the CPP. A case in point is Ayawaso Central, when I.C Quaye should have stepped down for Kwasi Pratt to contest, but went contesting him.”

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has hinted of a possible alliance with other political parties in the 2016 elections.

Speaking to journalists in Accra, Dr Nduom said, “I have said it, but many people don’t seem to have noticed that I will be ready to support our party going into a coalition arrangement with other political parties.”

Dr Nduom explained that, “if well-meaning people, political parties, individuals say let’s get together, increase our numbers, strengthen ourselves so that we can be a formidable force to see to the end of this NDC misrule, we will do it.”