NDC Parliamentary Caucus accuses gov't of betrayal

The Eastern Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Caucus on Wednesday accused President John Agyekum Kufuor's government of betraying the people's confidence by reneging on their own policies.

Making the accusation at a news conference at Koforidua, the Caucus among other things cited the inability of the Minister of Finance to fulfil his promise to submit a mid-year review budget to Parliament.

They also mentioned the Minister of Energy's refusal to implement the new petroleum pricing formula, which could have brought the prices of petroleum products down.

The Chairman and Spokesman of the Caucus, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah said the Caucus, "strongly reject this kind of deception of the people's confidence so soon, as our rounds in the country indicate."

He criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of compounding the country's external debt and said it had taken 800 million dollars (5.6 trillion cedis) as loans within nine months.

"This works up to over 80 million dollars per month as compared to 20 million dollars per month over the 19 years under Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings", Mr Sallas-Mensah also MP for Upper West Akim, said.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, MP for Fanteakwa, criticised the "sidelining of MPs" on the disbursement of the Emergency Social Relief Fund (ESRF) and said, even though, they were the representative of the people: "We do not even know the criteria being used for disbursement."

The Caucus called for an immediate full-scale enquiry into the 25,000 dollars corruption scandal involving the Deputy Minister of Sports, Mr Joe Aggrey and the Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Ben Koufie in Nigeria after the Black Stars and Green Eagles World Cup qualifying soccer match.

"This is very necessary in order to redeem the hard-won international image of the country which has nose-dived by the scandal", it said.

They condemned the delay in the payment of the end of service benefits of former District Chief Executives and their three months salaries in-lieu of the revocation of their appointment.

They described the non-payment as 'political victimisation' especially of those who were exonerated after the special audit exercise. "If they are being punished just because they served their nation under the previous government, then it is a very bad precedent being set by the NPP administration for our young democratic dispensation."

The MPs present included Mr Kwame Dwamena Bekoe, MP for Asuogyaman, Mr ike

Nyaunu, MP for Lower Manya, Mr Dan Tekpertey, MP for Yilo and Mr Stephen Amoanor Kawo, MP for Upper Manya.