NPP sure of victory in December elections

Sunyani Feb 18, GNA- Mr Ken Wuud, Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has predicted success for the party in the December elections.

" we have trained our members and officials and we are poised for action as we have resolved all internal misunderstandings and wrangling".

He told Ghana News Agency in an interview on the chances of the party in the next elections.

Mr Wuud was in Sunyani to attend the party's fifth strategic review seminar, aimed at preparing regional executives for the subsequent training of about 100,000 foot soldiers of the party throughout the country to help the party to win the elections. He said it was clear that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was on the retreat and gave the assurance that there would be "surprises" in the south of the region, which was considered a strong force of the NDC.

The Regional Chairman noted that the NPP had recorded the highest number of members, among the other political parties in the region, with some defections from the NDC.

He explained that the good performance of the government in respect of development projects in the region was one of the factors that would help the NPP to win the elections.

"All major roads in the region are under construction as well as the continuation of projects started by the NDC, contrary to the view held by the people that an NPP government would abandon such projects. "The Volta region has enjoyed a balanced development programme under the NPP government just like other regions and looking at our strength on the ground, the NDC is yet to establish itself in the region as its stronghold", Mr Wuud said.

Mr Wuud said the party was determined to win about nine of the 19 seats in the region.

Mr Peter Mac Manu, Western Regional Chairman, also made predicted similar predictions for the NPP's chances in the next elections. "Internally we have put our house in order with our MPs and we did not win that on a silver platter but through hard work, dedication and proper planning".

"Even with the intimidation, bullying and other negative tactics that characterized those elections we were able to achieve those feats", Mr Manu said.

The Regional Chairman noted present politics demanded a persuasive mission to give the people the right message, to practice politics based on issues, saying those determined to adopt "dirty tactics" in the political game "must be day-dreaming".

Asked about the NPP's chances against the CPP in the region, being the stronghold of the Nkrumaist tradition, the Regional Chairman urged the CPP to put its house in order to edge out the NDC as the dominant opposition party.

Delegates from the Upper West to the seminar indicated that the NPP "now enjoys tremendous goodwill among the people in the region as a result of the numerous development projects undertaken by the government".

They said the fear that gripped the region is now a thing of the past as a result of the freedom of expression.

Journalists urged to work harder

Sunyani, Feb 18, GNA- Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged journalists to play their role effectively to ensure that democracy grows in the country. Journalists, as communicators, must be informed so they can give the right interpretation of issues to the people. They are not obliged to comment on any issue they are not adequately informed about, he said. Speaking to Ghana News Agency in an interview during the fifth strategic review seminar of the NPP in Sunyani, Mr Botwe advised journalists against taking entrenched positions but to be open-minded and help to educate the people.

The nation expects that journalists perform their duties as professionals and not to let their sense of duty to be influenced by any partisanship, he said.

Mr Botwe deplored the vile propaganda characterized by lies and half-truths by some political parties against the government and cautioned journalists to be wary of some politicians to use them to achieve their selfish interests.

Interacting with journalists and media practitioners at a reception on Tuesday night, Mr Botwe reiterated the government's openness to constructive criticisms and urged them not to hesitate to seek clarification on issues and to avoid speculative reporting. In this era of freedom of expression let us not attempt to abuse the privilege but rather to seek the truth to feed the people since governance is not the sole responsibility of the government, he said. The General Secretary appealed to journalists to exercise great restraint in pursuing news items and to be circumspect in their reportage to avoid infringing the ethics of the profession. Mr Mustapha Hamid, National Youth Organiser and Nana Ohene Ntow, government spokesman on finance urged journalists to seek information about issues from the right sources.

No one government functionary can answer questions on every issue and it will always be proper to contact the right source for details or clarification that you may need, Nana Ntow said.

Mr Charles Koomson, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency expressed the hope that the due respect and recognition would always be given to journalists to enable them to perform creditably. He expressed regret that lack of resources including means of transport had sometimes disabled journalists, especially those in the regions, to give of their best.