General News of 2013-02-08

NDC will not allow any state asset to ‘rot’ – Asiedu-Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu-Nketia says government’s decision to relocate to the Flagstaff House is in the interest of the state.
According to him, the Mahama-led administration owes it a duty to Ghanaians to make judicious use of any state asset in the country.
Asiedu Nketia was reacting to the criticisms mainly from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) about President John Mahama's decision to move the seat of government from the Osu Castle to the Flagstaff House.
The presidential palace which housed Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was reconstructed under the erstwhile Kufuor government and was financed by the Indian government.
The edifice is expected to serve as both offices and official residence of the president and vice president.
But President Kufuor came under intense criticism mainly from then opposition NDC- who among other things accused the NPP of being insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians by channeling Ghana's scarce resources into the building of a presidential palace when it could have invested in other projects which could directly benefit the people.
The late president John Mills refused to relocate into the palace, with dears the palace will be left to rot.
President John Mahama on Thursday fulfilled his campaign promise by moving the seat of government to the Flagstaff house, a move some NPP officials have described as hypocritical.
However, in a rebuttal, John Asiedu Nketia on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, called the bluff of the NPP.
He indicated that the NDC, unlike NPP, will not allow any state asset to rot for political expediency at the expense of the tax payer.
General Mosquito, as he is popularly known, added that, the NDC as a social democratic party will always ensure public assets are protected and put into good use.
He cited how the erstwhile Kufuor administration allowed the Presidential Jet used by ex-president Jerry Rawlings to rot away because of partisan politics.
The NDC scribe said their opposition to the construction of the presidential palace was legitimate since according to him, the NPP was not transparent with the cost of the edifice.
General Mosquito called on government to, as a matter of urgency, force Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff in the Kufuor government to provide the actual amount the NPP spent on the edifice.
In a reaction, a Deputy Communication Director of NPP, John Boadu said the party has been vindicated about the NDC’s lies and indecision.
He questioned the motive behind the u-turn when in fact the NDC had portrayed the building of a presidential palace as unnecessary and profligate spending.
John Boadu observed that the ruling party must bow down their heads in shame and offer an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the deceit.