Nana Akomea – 3news-Stage

Stop the wanton dissipation of public funds, Nana Akomea tells NDC gov’t

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea has described as “gross and wanton” government’s expenditure of public funds.

The former Okaikwei South Constituency Member of Parliament said the incumbent government is “dissipating” state money at the expense of basic needs of the ordinary Ghanaian.

A statement issued on Thursday by the former Minister of Information under the Kufuor administration itemized needs neglected by the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led government and called on Ghanaians “to stand up in the fight” to stop the “overspending”.

“The list of neglected basic needs is shocking: National Health Funds are not transferred until hospitals withdraw healthcare; basic allowances to teachers are not paid until they deny our children their education; other public sector staff including doctors, pharmacists, lecturers, civil servants all threatening to withdraw their services due to unpaid expectations; workers’ pensions, district assemblies common fund, GETFund, which are all meant to impact on welfare of Ghanaians, are all unpaid or in huge arrears.”

Nana Akomea also stressed that “government is also indebted to state enterprises including TOR, ECG and GWCL, thus limiting their ability to deliver essential service to Ghanaians”.

He added: “In the light of these deprivations, the government in 2012 alone, overspent the national budget to the tune of GH¢8.7 billion. The overspending included GH¢60 million by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology; GH¢200 million at the NYEP/GYEEDA; GH¢350 million by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and GH¢650 million by the Office of Government Machinery/Office of the President, and many more. Spending on so called capacity building alone jumped from GH¢750,000 in 2011 to GH¢112 million (¢7.55 billion to ¢1.1 trillion)”.

He stated that the current problems in the country are “not due to the lack of money” but rather as a result of “lack of judicious use of available resources”.

Source: 3news.com|Ghana

NPP not a family stool to be inherited – Nana Akomea tells Kwame Pianim

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea has stated that no branding of the party has given an impression that it is “a family stool to be inherited.”

In a statement released on Wednesday to react to Kwame Pianim’s comments in the African Watch Magazine, Nana Akomea pointed out that the NPP “is ready to accept results of any election no matter how bitter”.

“In 2008 for example, even though the party was the incumbent government and lost by the narrowest of margins, the party accepted the results,” it noted.

Nana Akomea stated that by resorting to court apropos results of the 2012 Elections, the party is ensuring that it is rebuilt – a call made by Mr Pianim in the Magazine.

“Mr. Pianim calls for a rebuilding of the party. It is our humble view that the court challenge is a major part of rebuilding the party. Indeed the court case seeks to restore the greatest integrity in our electoral system. Hence it goes to the heart of Ghanaian democracy itself,” the statement pointed out.

It said the perception that positions in the NPP is to be inherited informed the conduct of Mr Pianim in 1996, when he decided to contest a decision to disallow him contest the party’s flagbearership.

“Mr. Pianim sought to hold the party to ransom by attempting to subject the party’s congress to his fortunes in the court case. It is that kind of behaviour that suggests that one views positions in the party as inheritances,” the statement indicated.

It also observed that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s presidential candidate for the 2012 Elections, has not held himself out as leader of the party since December 9, 2012.

“Every official meeting of the party at the national level has been chaired by the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey,” it stated.

The statement maintained that the rules governing election petitions require that individual citizens should be the petitioners. That is why three members of the NPP are contesting the results.

“These three individuals are therefore acting in the name of the party. It should be trite knowledge that the vast numbers of the rank and file of the party fully support this action. Indeed it will amount to gross negligence and betrayal if NPP leadership took no action in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the Illegalities and malpractices that attended the conduct of the 2012 general elections.”

Nana Akomea stated that Mr Pianim would have known how solid the party’s court case is if he had availed himself to details of evidence.

He further revealed that the decision of the NPP to boycott President Mahama’s inauguration was taken by the National Council, the second highest decision making body of NPP.

“The National Council is composed of the entire membership of the National Executive Committee, Council of Elders, Founding Members, ex-presidents, ex-vice presidents, ex-national chairmen, ex-general secretaries, flagbearers, parliamentary leadership, 20 Members of Parliament, all regional chairmen, heads of the various directorates etc.”

The statement also disclosed that “the party’s protest against the election results is not limited to the Supreme Court.

“The protest extends to other non-violent, peaceful activities such as specific parliamentary boycotts,” it added.

It asked Mr Pianim and other elders to throw their support behind the party in strengthening democracy not only within the party but in Ghana.

“We ask elders like Mr. Pianim be part of the spirit of the party at this time by supporting the tremendous effort the party is making in court not only for itself but for democracy in Ghana”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana