General News of Saturday, 29 November 2003

Source: GNA

Second chance for NPP would mean doom for the country - MP

Cape Coast, Nov. 29, GNA- The deputy minority chief whip and member of parliament for Talensi constituency, Mr. John Tiah on Saturday urged members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to work hard to oust the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government from power in the 2004 elections, because "another chance for the NPP means doom for the country".

He said the NPP used lies, false promises, demonstrations, parliamentary walk- outs and its 'clarion call for positive change' to convince and 'hypnotise' the Ghanaian electorate to vote it into power and after securing it, the NPP government has become "insensitive to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian".

At a forum on the "national health insurance scheme" organised by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC, Mr. Tiah charged the members to go out to the field and work in order to wrest power from the NPP.

He said NPP government has nothing new to offer Ghanaians but was rather mismanaging the economy and also called on the Conventions People's Party and the People's National Convention to join the NDC party because they are all Nkrumahists.

The deputy minority chief whip observed that the NPP government exhibits double standards and that its declaration for "zero tolerance for corruption", was rather a farce because 'the fish is already rotten right from the head'.

Mr. Ludwig Hlodze, Deputy National Youth organiser, said the country had come far and that Ghanaians should not allow selfish politicians to destroy its gains.

He said the party's defeat in 2000 was a blessing in disguise since it would allow the electorate to compare the performance of the two parties, and make the right choice in the 2004 general elections.

Mr. Hlodze said the NDC had chosen the path of social democracy, which, seeks the welfare of the individual and urged members of the party to work hard to ensure victory for the party to move the country forward.

The Deputy Youth Organiser, took the opportunity to advice graduates against seeking greener pastures outside the country after school, and said they should be patriotic enough to stay and make the country a better place for all Ghanaians.

The president of TEIN UCC, Mr. Peter Abomah, said the NPP government is a shattered dream and urged members to eschew apathy and join forces to win their opponents and sympathisers into their fold.