NDC accuses government of extravagance

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday July 16, 2008
The National Democratic Congress yesterday accused President J.A. Kufuor and his NPP administration of “becoming intoxicated with power” and “exhibiting extravagant lifestyle.”

“About seven and half years ago, when President Kufuor assume office, we had reason to believe that he would adopt modesty, that had become the personal trait of all our political leaders but to the dismay of every objective Ghanaian, our president has shown that in terms of egoism he over shadows all our past leaders.”

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, deputy General of the NDC said this at a news conference in Accra yesterday to respond “to events that have taken place in this country under the Kufuor Administration.

He claimed “on July 3, at the National awards day, the President exhibited the most repentant part of his personal trait by creating “the order of the star and eagles” award as the highest national award and shamelessly awarded himself."

Flanked by to party executives of the NDC including National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, said the invoice on the medals from the manufacturers showed that Ghana ordered 515 insignia and medals in various categories at the cost of 740,000 pounds sterling.

“What President Kufuor be-decked himself alone is now known to ¢600 million and ordering about twice the medals needed for other categories of awards to be kept for the next President and other award winners in the future is pure ex-post facto rationalization.”

Mr Ankrah alleged that the procurement of goods and services in the name of the president’s successors had become “one significant hallmark of the Kufuor Presidency,” adding “why on earth does the President enter into contracts and procure goods that would be delivered when he has ceased to be in office?”

He also said the government had failed to submit to parliament the full account of the 25 million dollars earmarked for the celebration of Ghana’s 50th anniversary celebration .

Mr Ankrah further said a future NDC government reserves the right to review the sale of the country’s 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom saying “the whole transaction has been shrouded in secrecy.’

He promised a review of the National award scheme to ensure that “the choice of people to be honoured in more participatory and non-partisan,” and commended those in the NDC who declined to take the awards.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei for his part urged the media to continue the fight against what he termed “corruption and property owning democracy.”

Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, former General Secretary and a leading member of the NDC said the party’s MPs were doing their best in the house but were not given the needed attention to correct some of these defects in governance.