The Obuasi NDC has read with utter surprise and dismay a news story carried in the Daily Graphic of Tuesday, January 21, 2003 claiming that the constituency branch of the NDC jubilated in a demonstration regarding the recent petroleum price increases.

We wish to state that this story is a deliberate, calculated attempt to twist facts to bring the party to disrepute thereby creating the avenue for the authorities in the district to clamp down on the revived activities of the party in the constituency.

It is on record that the constituency branch of the NDC has been buoyant since the new executives were elected into office. The party office therefore has been receiving increasing number of enthusiastic supporters who attend meetings on every Thursdays. Some who are unable to get seats in the fully occupied office cloud in front of the building.

As a sequel to the new life in the party, the members decided to do Keep-Fit exercises every Saturday and Sunday mornings as an added strategy to rejuvenate the spirit of the party in the constituency.

No one can deny the fact that this peaceful exercise started a week earlier when no one had expected the quantum of increase in petroleum prices that has caused ordinary people mourning all over the country.

Whilst we cannot deny the possibility of individual members expressing their views about the issue, we see the attempt by our friend journalist, Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, to paint our image black as reckless, dishonest and insincere. We are really disappointed by his stooping so low to do what will for a long time cast doubt on his sense of responsibility towards the good people of Ghana regarding his reportage. Why did he not consult the party executives to know the reason for the exercise before going to press, if he pretended he did not know?

Moreover, it is absurd and preposterous to assume that whilst our cost of living is continually rising and we are all reeling in the throes of the NPP government’s insensitive economic policies, we would pretend to be happy.

It is important to restate the party’s stance that we are mourning together with the poor and the grassroot where we belong. The NPP should therefore concentrate its energy on how to solve the myriad of problems facing Ghanaians instead of diverting its attention to harmless citizens who must be free to enjoy their democratic right of freedom of association.

We are for peace, for we have no other place to go if this country is divided. As such, we have seen through the ploy by the NPP, through their hirelings, to lure Ghanaians into a major protest in this country, which will give them the excuse of having been prevented to end their term of office. We are resolved to resist all temptations, giving the NPP the chance to prove to Ghanaian the kind of solutions to our problems they have until God to speak again.

Signed: Alhaji Abubakar Ocquaye
Constituency Chairman, NDC – Obuasi.