General News of Wednesday, 8 January 2003

Source: NewsInGhana

Opposition political parties boycott People's Assembly

Representatives of Minority Political Parties boycotted the People's Assembly held in Accra on Tuesday to give opportunity to the citizenry to question the executive on its governorship.

President John Agyekum Kufuor addressed the forum attended by a largely partisan crowd and answered questions from the audience on the economy, the political situation and government programmes.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs and Co-ordinator of the Assembly, Ferdinand Ayim, told newsmen that the boycott by the Opposition political parties, was a mark of dishonesty and acts of deception.

He said invitation cards were sent to all the Parties including the United Ghana Movement (UGM), which is on leave and members of Parliament including the Speaker on December 20, last year.

Mr. Ayim said invitation cards to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former President Jerry John Rawlings, former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills and four other senior members of the Party were sent to the Party's headquarters on December 24, last year and were received by one Jacob Bonney who duly signed on behalf of the party.

Also conspicuously missing from the crowd is the leader of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama and GCPP leader Dan Lartey who hardly fails to attend such state programmes.