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| PRESIDENT IS ANGRY |
1/8/2007 |
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By James Addy & Samuel Amoako, Koforidua
Monday, 08 January 2007
PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor on Saturday opened the delegates conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with a stern warning to the party’s presidential aspirants who hold ministerial portfolios that he will not hesitate to deal with them if they neglect their duties as ministers of state.
He said he had on many occasions warned them not to "peak" before time but in a benign manner he had overlooked their activities while keeping a close watch on their respective ministries to ensure that they perform their duties as expected.
"Government has not been derelict in its duties. I shall watch and act," he warned.
The three-day conference under the theme, "Moving Forward in Unity," ended yesterday. It aimed at evaluating the performance of the party and charting a new course for the future.
President Kufuor noted that "parties" do not choose presidents; it is the nation at large that does," and he therefore urged the delegates to choose a person who will be acceptable to a sizeable portion of the majority of the citizenry.
He said the delegates are expected to select a leader who will appreciate the party’s time-tested traditions and values, adding that the leader should be a person who can hold all sections of the party together and one who is humble enough to hold himself accountable to the party and the nation.
Since it assumed power the NPP has done a lot for the nation but it is unfortunate that it has not been able to tell its success story to the electorate of Ghana, he stated.
The Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative, he said resulted in 4 billion dollars of debts from the country’s bilateral donors while this year’s inflows from multi lateral donors will be over 317 million dollars.
For the very first time in decades, he said the national reserves have exceeded 2 billion dollars.
President Kufuor said despite all these positive ratings, opponents of the government are deliberately taking undue advantage of the fact that full economic recovery cannot occur overnight. They continue to sing "no money in our pockets," to distract the focus and added that support to should be given the electorate for the quality service being rendered.
He said it is sad that some of the rank and file of the party have joined in the chorus, even though most Ghanaians believe in the success story of the party and the government.
"So let none of us give comfort to our opponents with their negative propaganda," he said.
The chairman of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, asked members of the party to be guided by the spirit of unity and close their ranks in order to concentrate on its development.
He admitted that there are minor conflicts in the party but said members should not use any extra judicial means to resolve them but should go by the laid-down procedures.
Mr. Mac Manu called on them to resist the individualism, selfish tendencies that are gradually creeping into the party.
"We must remember that this party has grown from strength to strength due to our collective unity, patience, tolerance and understanding for each other.
"As we enter the year, 2007," he said, "the party is resolved to work closely with the media to ensure effective internal and external communications."
It will also work to consolidate its support base and win new friends into the fold, he added.
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