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NDC to Organise Demo ... If Water is Privatised

Sat, 10 Nov 2001 Source: Chronicle

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN of the Western Regional re-organisation committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Alex Asamoah, has declared his intention to organise a massive demonstration similar to the Kumeprekos, Hyemeprekos which were organised by the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) should the government decide to privatise the water sector of the economy which individuals and institutions have protested against.

According to him, water is a basic necessity, therefore, if it is privatised or its activities commercialised and the tariff is astronomically increased, it would make life unbearable in the country and NDC, as an opposition party, would not sit down unconcerned for such a thing to happen, hence his determination to organise the demonstration across the length and breadth of the country to halt the idea of privatising the water sector as NPP did to NDC to suspend the VAT at the initial stage of its implementation.

People are now looking up to the NDC to save this country from the harsh policies of the NPP government so we shall not sit down unconcerned for water, which is a basic necessity and must be enjoyed by everybody, to be privatised. We shall surely fight against that, he said.

Speaking at the Bibiani-Ahweaso-Bekwai constituency congress of the NDC at Bibiani last Sunday, Asamoah, a former Jomoro constituency chairman of the party said the NPP government must also come out and explain to Ghanaians the projects they have put in place from the proceeds of the ?8 trillion external loan they have so far contracted from donor agencies.

Asamoah further said though the ?41 trillion debt that NPP accused NDC of having left behind was an accumulated one which spread from the days of Dr.

Kwame Nkrumah to Rawlings' era, the NDC government was able to put in place a number of fiscal infrastructures across the country to testify that the debt was not a bad one as NPP is trying to tell the public.

He mentioned the construction of the Aboadze Thermal plant, various first class roads in the country, schools and hospitals as some of the projects which were implemented by the NDC government that is there for everybody to see.

The former Jomoro chairman challenged the NPP government to also show Ghanaians fiscal infrastructures they have put in place out of the ?8 trillion external loan they have so far contracted for and on behalf of this country.

According to him, Ghana's external debt has now jumped from ?41trillion to ?47 trillion within 10 months that the new government has been in power with domestic debt also jumping from ?9 trillion when NDC handed over power to ?12 trillion as at now, a difference of ?3 trillion within the last 10 months, he added.

Asamoah further said what has even worsened the situation is the way and manner that President Kufuor has been travelling outside the country at the expense of the Ghanaian taxpayer.

According to him, within 10 months that the President assumed duty as chief executive of the country, he has travelled outside the country 24 times when he has not been able to even visit all the regions of the country.

The member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. S. P. Adamu, on his part, urged NDC supporters not to leave the criticism of the government in the hands of the Minority Leader, Hon. Alban Bagbin alone but they must also play their part to complement what is being done at the national level to fully keep the government on its toes.

In the election itself supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr.

Ankomah Sampong was elected as chairman, K. Nyanor as vice and Adansi Bonnah as secretary.

The post of organiser went to Mr. S. K. T. Donkor. Present was Mr. P. Y. Mensah, the former DCE for Atwima in Ashanti Region.

Source: Chronicle