General News of Tuesday, 27 April 2004

Source: GNA

NPP to address its unpopularity in Volta Region

Ho, April 27, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) should work at identifying and correcting the causes of its unpopularity in the Volta Region, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information said in Ho on Monday.

He said some form of a dialogue might be needed to solve the puzzle of the Party not winning a single seat in past elections in the region. The Deputy Minister made the observation in a chat with Heads of Departments and some Assembly Members of the Ho District as part of his duty tour of the region.

"That is what I told the chiefs when I visited them earlier on in the day and I am repeating - the NPP must dialogue with the Volta Region", he reiterated.

Mr Boateng predicted that the December elections would be "hectic", but cautioned that differences of opinion must not degenerate into quarrels among supporters of the various parties.

He said the tempo of arguing out different views must go down and that the tendency of one party or politician trying to shout down the other must be avoided.

Mr Boateng said people want to hear the substance of issues, adding, "if you are shouting, people listen to the noise you make and not what you are saying".

He said political parties must work in the interest of the people, bearing in mind that they would not be in power all the time. Mr Boateng said governments could be complacent, but they must be put on their toes by pressures, reminders and promptings by the people.