Politics of Saturday, 29 November 2008

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

NDC major swallowed in Tepa

A lethal blow has hit the leading opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Ahafo-Ano North constituency, as Mr. Kyei Sarpong, Constituency Secretary, has dissociated himself from the party. The vociferous former constituency secretary, at a press conference organised at Tepa, said he rather believed in the fact that Ghanaians had to move the country forward in peace under a New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

Mr. Kyei Sarpong noted that the country had chalked a lot of successes, and seen tremendous improvement in all sectors of the economy, under the President Kufuor-led NPP government, which needed a selfless person like Nana Akufo-Addo to continue.

He indicated that the School Feeding Program and Capitation Grant introduced by the current government, was a big achievement, which the PNDC/NDC could not achieve in their 20 years in power.

"Enrolment in basic schools has increased extremely, and I believe this will be replicated in the Senior High schools under Nana Akufo-Addo's government," the former constituency secretary stressed.

He continued that more people now had access to healthcare, whilst pregnant women are treated free of charge in hospitals, which had reduced infant mortality in the country.

Mr. Kyei Sarpong advised that a vote for NDC would be a disaster for the economic enhancement of the country, saying, "I have been with them for over 20 years, served as the secretary for 6 years, so I know what I'm saying." He used the occasion to advise NPP supporters, who always complained of gaining nothing under the NPP government, to put a stop to that, and appreciate the peace being enjoyed in the country, and work hard to retain the party in power.

"The rule of law and good governance practices we are enjoying under the NPP, is far better than the autocratic and dictatorship leaders of the NDC," he stressed.

According to Mr. Kyei Sarpong, Ghanaians could now air their views openly and freely without any assault by the military, and now the Youth Employment Program introduced by the Kufour government, had solved a greater part of the unemployment situation in the country.

He commended the NPP Constituency Chairman, Mr. Kwabena Poku, for performing creditably, through uniting the party after its parliamentary primaries.

According to Mr. Kyei Sarpong, even in opposition, the NPP Constituency Chairman helped to maintain peace in the constituency, despite inhuman treatment by the then NDC government.

"The NPP is lucky to have such a courageous, intelligent and a visionary leader in the person of Mr. Poku," the former NDC secretary said.

Mr. Kyei Sarpong entreated Ghanaians to vehemently vote for the NPP, to move Ghana with the realistic and achievable campaign promises of Nana Addo.

"Ghanaians should not make a mistake to change the government, and send the country back to its bad times," he added. According to him, a change in government would see the country moving backwards, and the citizens would suffer from bad policies, as they suffered under the NDC regime.