Kufuor must stop 'politics of lies' - Konadu

Awutu-Chochoo (C/R), May 16, GNA - The First Lady and President of the 31 st. December Women's Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on Monday asked the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, to stop his 'politics of lies and insults' because they will not solve the country's problems.

"Mr Kufuor should also refrain from campaigning with the purchase of the presidential jet because the plane was bought with good intentions." Nana Konadu was addressing two separate rallies at Awutu-Chochoo and Agona-Swedru to mark the 18th anniversary of the DWM and begin a four-day tour of the Central Region.

She said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would maintain its promise to the nation not to resort to politics of insults and lies since it was still pursuing good policies that would enhance the socio-economic progress of the nation.

"The NDC will always strive to make available to the people the bare facts of issues concerning the nation's development and not hide anything from them." Nana Konadu said if Mr Kufuor has the capabilities to organise and manage the affairs of people, he should first reactivate the brick and tile factory the government granted him huge loans to establish at Nkawie in the Ashanti Region.

She said since the NPP flagbearer was unable to make good this golden opportunity, she did not think that he was capable of managing the affairs of the nation and should, therefore, abandon the dream of becoming the leader of the nation.

Nana Konadu said the NDC was not prepared to hand over power to people who could not manage their own affairs, adding that the nation required leaders who were highly imbued with the spirit of truth and were prepared to live by it. She said the peace, stability and development the nation had enjoyed over the years were the outcome of the excellent planning and good governance by the NDC.

On the presidential jet, Nana Konadu said payment had been spread over 23 years and the nation would pay one million dollars every year to cover the 23 million-dollar cost of the plane.

The plane was bought at a time the condition of the old jet was in a very bad shape and needed to be replaced immediately to guarantee the safety of officials who might travel with it.

Nana Konadu advised Ghanaians to be mindful of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, saying a survey conducted recently in one of the country's universities revealed that about 80 per cent of students in one of the halls were infected with the disease.