NDC Protests Against NPP's Advert

Palaver -- THE National Democratic Congress (NDC), has written to the National Media Commission (NMC), drawing its attention to two false advertisements by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), being played on Ghana Television(GTV) and TV3.

In one of the advertisements, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Agyepong, creates a wrong impression about the contract sum of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange Project, initiated and awarded on contract by the NDC.

In the other advertisement, Mr Kennedy Agyepong also make a false comparison between the daily minimum wage and price of milk, during the NDC era and those under the present regime.

The letter dated November 3, 2004 and signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Bede Ziedeng, said that the information in the two advertisements are false and a misrepresentation of facts.

The party then called on the NMC to take the necessary action in upholding truth and honesty.

We publish below a full text of the NDC's letter to the NMC, copied to the chairman of the Electoral Commission:

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) wishes to draw your attention to two (2) NPP adverts being played on GTV and TV3. The advert, which feature Kennedy Agyepong MP for Assin North, makes false representation about the contract sum of the Tetteh Quarshie interchange signed during the previous NDC administration. it also makes a dubious and totally false comparison between the daily minimum wage and the price of a tin of milk under the NDC and NPP governments.

The truth is that the Tetteh Quarshie interchange was a component of a whole package. It is an African Development Bank (ADB) facility negotiated for by the NDC. The ADB Board approved this project on December 11, 2000 in the amount of $25 million.

Out of this loan amount, $10 million was to be spent on the Tetteh Quarshie interchange whilst the 50 kilometre Tetteh Quarshie Circle-Pantang-Mamfe road, which is to have a double bituminous surface is to cost $15 million. The two components give us the total contract sum of $25 million. This is the fact and is verifiable from the ADB and the Minister of Finance of the NPP government, Honourable Osafo Maafo himself... Indeed, President Kufuor has done two separate sod-cuttings on the Pantang-Mamfe section of the road.

As regards the daily minimum wage/tin of milk comparative analysis, the following are the facts. As at December 2000, the daily minimum wage was 4,200. The price of a tin of milk was 1,200. So a minimum wage at the time could buy three tins of milk with change. Currently, the daily minimum wage is 11,200. A tin of milk now costs 4,000. So under the Kufuor regime the daily minimum wage buys only two tins of milk with change.

The information in the two adverts is therefore palpably false and the NMC may consider what action to take to uphold the virtues of truth and honesty.

Meanwhile, the NDC is taking steps to respond appropriately.