CJA attacks NPP over fuel price hike

From L-R: Barlon Courage, Kwasi Adu and Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday January 14, 2011
The Kwesi Pratt-led Committee for Joint Action (CJA) which virtually held the nation hostage with countless demonstrations anytime prices of petroleum products increased under the Kufuor administration has shown its true colours by insisting they will not embark on any demonstration despite the astronomical fuel price increment by the Mills administration.

On January 4, 2011, Ghanaians were greeted with increment in petroleum products between 25 and 30 percent by the President John Evans Atta Mills NDC government, exacerbating the already harsh economic conditions and living standard of the people but Kwasi Adu, convener of the CJA says “we are not moving an inch on this matter”.

A news conference the CJA organized in Accra yesterday under the guise of protesting the recent increases in the prices of petroleum products was rather used to castigate the members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for daring to question the NDC government over the increment.

The CJA does not understand why the NPP should hold a news conference to call on them to organize demonstration against the Mills government as it did to the Kufuor administration and went on to describe them as ‘self-appointed windbags’ and ‘hypocrites’ among other uncomplimentary language.

Addressing the media, Kwasi Adu said “judging by the effusions of the NPP, one would be forgiven for thinking that it is the CJA rather than the NDC that has increased prices of petroleum products. Their behaviour suggests that it would please them greatly if the CJA were to embark on countrywide demonstrations on this matter.”

“If ever the word ‘Honour’ came to walk by will the NPP recognize it? These self appointed windbags see no good in anybody else but themselves alone. The hypocrisy of the NPP is monumental. Going on demonstration just to please the NPP will only be an endorsement of inconsistency and NPP hypocrisy.”

“We have not removed the legs of the NPP leaders from underneath them, which would prevent them from going on demonstrations if they feel morally justified to do so. In any case what this increase signifies is that the NDC government is in the same boat with the NPP in the area of insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Ghanaians.”

During questions and answers Kwesi Pratt who has virtually become the unofficial spokesperson of the NDC government said no government can claim to be subsidizing petroleum products since the reality on the ground do not support the claims adding “it was not true when the Kufuor administration claimed it was subsidizing fuel and it is also not true when the Mills government says it is subsidizing fuel.”

Asked how he felt about most members of the CJA taking appointments in the current government, Mr. Pratt insisted that they are still active members of the group, participate in the group’s activities and still uphold its principles.

When media personnel sought to know whether NDC personalities such as Ato Ahwoi, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Dr Omane Boamah, all Ministers and a host of others members shared the CJA’s position that the Mills government was insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians on the petroleum issue, Mr. Pratt said “I am not their spokesman but what we all met in advance to decide what to tell the people through the media.”