The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday said election promises by political parties and politicians were expressions of hope and intentions.
Very often the realisation of such promises was seriously influenced by events either beyond the control of the party or not even contemplated by anyone, Mr Harona Esseku, National Chairman of NPP, stated at press conference in Accra.
"At the time the NPP made its promises, it had no means of knowing how the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had dissipated the finances of the country and the huge debt it had left behind," he said. The press conference was under the theme: "The Facts And Realities Of Two Years Of Positive Change."
The NPP criticised what it described as orchestrated attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Convention People's Party (CPP); People's National Convention (PNC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) to ridicule the NPP Administration.
Mr Esseku said the NPP government was elected for a four-year term and was only halfway through its mandate.
"It (NPP) still has another half to go. To be trumpeting about unfulfilled and broken promises, at this stage is clearly unfair."
He, therefore, challenged leaders of the opposition parties, particularly Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Alhassan Abubakar, CPP National Chairman, Dr Edward Mahama, Presidential Candidates of PNC in the 2000 elections and Mr Dan Lartey, Leader of the GCPP, to tour the country extensively so that they could see for themselves what the government had done in two years in the face of difficulties.
"I am not throwing this challenge as a piece of rhetoric and showmanship; I mean it. If those to whom I have thrown this challenge run away from it then I can only say they have been motivated by malice and envy rather than by any concern for the truth or well-being of the good people of this country."
Mr Esseku said the NPP welcomed healthy, informed, and constructive criticisms, as it believed that open expression of opinion, if even harsh, was the essence of a democratic order.
"But we demand that comments and criticisms should be based on realistic assessment of the true facts and realities. Unfortunately comments emanating from the opposition parties create the impression that these leaders have resolved to shut their eyes to concrete facts."
The NPP Chairman, who was flanked by the First and Second National Vice Chairpersons, Mr Stephen Ntim and Madam Agnes Okudzeto, respectively, urged the opposition parties and critics to prove allegations of corruption against any Minister of State and other government functionaries.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday said election promises by political parties and politicians were expressions of hope and intentions.
Very often the realisation of such promises was seriously influenced by events either beyond the control of the party or not even contemplated by anyone, Mr Harona Esseku, National Chairman of NPP, stated at press conference in Accra.
"At the time the NPP made its promises, it had no means of knowing how the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had dissipated the finances of the country and the huge debt it had left behind," he said. The press conference was under the theme: "The Facts And Realities Of Two Years Of Positive Change."
The NPP criticised what it described as orchestrated attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Convention People's Party (CPP); People's National Convention (PNC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) to ridicule the NPP Administration.
Mr Esseku said the NPP government was elected for a four-year term and was only halfway through its mandate.
"It (NPP) still has another half to go. To be trumpeting about unfulfilled and broken promises, at this stage is clearly unfair."
He, therefore, challenged leaders of the opposition parties, particularly Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Alhassan Abubakar, CPP National Chairman, Dr Edward Mahama, Presidential Candidates of PNC in the 2000 elections and Mr Dan Lartey, Leader of the GCPP, to tour the country extensively so that they could see for themselves what the government had done in two years in the face of difficulties.
"I am not throwing this challenge as a piece of rhetoric and showmanship; I mean it. If those to whom I have thrown this challenge run away from it then I can only say they have been motivated by malice and envy rather than by any concern for the truth or well-being of the good people of this country."
Mr Esseku said the NPP welcomed healthy, informed, and constructive criticisms, as it believed that open expression of opinion, if even harsh, was the essence of a democratic order.
"But we demand that comments and criticisms should be based on realistic assessment of the true facts and realities. Unfortunately comments emanating from the opposition parties create the impression that these leaders have resolved to shut their eyes to concrete facts."
The NPP Chairman, who was flanked by the First and Second National Vice Chairpersons, Mr Stephen Ntim and Madam Agnes Okudzeto, respectively, urged the opposition parties and critics to prove allegations of corruption against any Minister of State and other government functionaries.
