Arthur K exposes Nduom

Kobina Arthur Kennedy of the Akufo-Addo campaign team, has accused the leader of the Convention People's Party of flip-flopping hypocrisy.

Reacting to Paa Kwesi Nduom's press statement against the $900 million Vodafone purchase of 70% of Ghana Telecom, Dr Arthur Kennedy said Ghanaians should not forget that Dr Nduom was the Management Consultant for State-Owned Enterprise at the time that the National Democratic Congress was busily selling over 300 parastatals.

Also, a source close to Cabinet has hinted to The Statesman that the CPP flagbearer, as Minister of Energy under the NPP, was one of those who proactively spoke in favour of the Anglogold merger with Ashanti Goldfields, which was described by critics as a virtual takeover.

As Minister for Economic Development and Planning, Dr Nduom advised the Kufuor administration on divestiture, leading to a decision by President Kufuor in December 2002, to authorise the divestiture of 264 SOEs, the source claimed.

Critics have also accused Dr Nduom of staging a one-man walk-out when Parliament had been recalled to debate the Vodafone deal. Contributors to radio programmes yesterday found it ironic and little more than a publicity stunt, the CPP leader’s decision to substitute a press conference for parliamentary debate.

He has warned Vodafone that the deal may be revoked if CPP wins. But, this threat may be of very little value, considering the CPP won 1 percent of the 2004 presidential race.

But, Dr Nduom is confident of forcing a run-off with his party being one of the two. Showing why he believes the CPP can win in 2008, he cites 10 out of the 230 constituencies where CPP parliamentary candidates are doing very well, to buttress his point.

For example, he cites his candidate in Nana Akufo-Addo’s hometown as one such constituency: "Akropong constituency, Eastern Region, where a young man, Mr Augustus Akonnor has done a fantastic job to energise the CPP there,” boasted Dr Nduom, adding, “Lawra-Nandom in the Upper West where a young man called Wilson is preparing himself to uproot a big tree from Parliament.”

Dr Nduom went on to criticise Nana Akufo-Addo, saying, “You cannot say you believe in Ghana, then turn around and sell it and in the process treat the Representatives of the People with contempt! I want to strengthen Parliament…” he added accusing Parliament of being too weak.

Dr Nduom was among seven MPs from the CPP and PNC who voluntarily opted to join the Majority side of the House and add to the NPP’s 128 seats. This means whenever the whip is drawn, they have very little option but to vote with the NPP.

“He did not see anything wrong with that at the time,” an NDC MP swiped yesterday.