Politics of Tuesday, 30 November 2004

Source: GYE NYAME CONCORD

PNC Will Vote For NDC?

As cross sections of Ghanaians continue to predict a second round in the December elections, the Deputy General Secretary of the EGLE party, Mr. John Alagba, has expressed greater possibility of the Grand Coalition forming an alliance with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), should there be a second in next week?s presidential election.

He further hinted that the NDC was fully aware of this possible future alliance, adding that prior to the national voters registration exercise, the parties forming the Coalition were first to resist vigorously the government?s decision to set up a procurement committee to oversee purchasing of electoral materials for the Electoral Commission (EC), before the main opposition NDC joined them.

Mr. Alagba, who is also a Special Assistant to the running mate of the Grand Coalition, Mr Danny Ofori Atta, disclosed this in an interview with the Gye Nyame Concord at the EGLE party?s office in Accra last week.

He said there has been adequate consultation within the party?s hierarchy which indicates that the NDC would be favoured for an alliance provided it will sign a firm Memorandum of Understanding with the Coalition.

Alagba added that the Grand Coalition, comprising the People?s National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) party, would facilitate the alliance quickly only if the NDC will pursue long term programmes which can eradicate poverty in the country.

The focus of these programmes should be on provision of free compulsory basic education for all Ghanaian children, development of sound transportation systems and ensurance of proper welfare of teachers in the country. ?We will not go with any party that do not these things?? he emphasized

Alabga noted that the presidential candidate of the Grand Coalition, Mr. Edward Mahama and his running mate, Danny Ofori Atta, being constant critics of government policies, would not allow the Coalition to join NPP since they are pursuing economic policies which have brought untold hardship on masses.

Giving the background of the Coalition, he said Mr. Ofori-Atta, who had a vision from God to unite all the smaller Nkrumaist parties, was thrown out of the progressive alliance after the 2000 elections. According to him, Ofori-Atta, who is a devoted Christian and intimate friend of former President Rawlings, pursued his vision seriously to get the coalition formed.

Alagba recalled that when the NPP left the political scene during the 1996 general elections, the EGLE party was the only opposition party to field candidates along the NDC to contest the election. He therefore said the current democratic atmosphere enjoying by Ghanaians should be credited to their party.