Kufuor & Co do not have the skills - Pratt

A critic of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has slammed President Kufuor and his cabinet, saying,? they do not posses the necessary skills to make life better for Ghanaians.?

?Even they do not know simple calculations in accounting,? he said, pointing out that government could not calculate the cost involved in oil refinery whilst it continues to peddle lies and deception on the imposition of taxes on petroleum products, which is making life unbearable for most people in the country.

The Insight Newspaper Editor launched the attack on President Kufuor and his cabinet last week when he addressed a forum of Committee for Joint Action (CJA) at the weekend.

CJA is a group comprising minority parties who are agitating for a downward review of taxes on petroleum products as well as accountability of the government to fulfill its campaign promises to Ghanaians.

Mr Pratt recounted that when the NPP was in opposition, they claimed they had men who were capable of turning the fortunes of the country round but this turned out be a false claim, judging from the sinking economy.

?They said they have the men and things are going in negative way. What about if they had said that they have children? Things would have gone beyond repairs,? he said, drawing a large applause from the audience.

Lambasting the government still, Pratt said when it comes to mobilizing funds to buy cars for parliamentarians and the Hotel Kufuor, there are no problems, but when it comes to salary increment of workers, then government cries foul.

He described as funny, government claims that the activities of the CJA had cost the nation a whopping sum of ?2.5 billion, calling on civil servants and all the Cape Coasters to join the march to demand accountability from government.

Mr Pratt did not indicate when the march would take place but said it would be held on Sunday to enable all and sundry attend.

The former MP for Gomoa West and a leading member of the CJA, Ama Benyiwa Doe, asserted that if demonstrations were illegal, why did President Kufuor, then in opposition, join the Alliance for Change which demonstrated against the NDC.

Ms Emelia Arthur of the Reform Party and a leading member of the group described the debt cancellation of $4.1 billion, which the NPP government is glorifying in as a farce.

She said it was not due to the good governance of President Kufuor but the result of international organizations, which had put pressure on rich countries to cancel the debts of poor countries, as it had become a burden on them.