A renowned economist and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Pianim says the party’s decision to boycott the National Economic Forum was a wrong move.
He disclosed that he was out of the country when the NPP made the decision but “if they had sought my opinion, I would have said don’t do this. This is the third time we are doing it [boycotting a national event] and it is not good.”
The NPP on Monday announced its decision to boycott the National Economic Forum being organized by government to find solutions to Ghana’s current economic crisis.
They described the Forum as a PR gimmick and propaganda tool being used by government to delude the populace of the true state of the Ghanaian economy.
Nonetheless, stakeholders who were invited to the Forum honoured the invitation with the exception of the NPP.
The Forum started on Tuesday and was opened by the President John Mahama who in his open remarks condemned the posturing of the NPP.
In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Pianim who is the only NPP member at the Forum said it is time for Ghanaians to “put our political colours aside and act as Ghanaians.”
“When you go and watch Kotoko and Hearts, do you ask whether your party people are coming? No. I think it is sad and I think maybe it was a mistake”
He complained that politics in Ghana is too focused on the next election but “we need to get to a stage where once we elect a party into power, at least for three years, there should be no politics.”
He added that nine months to the next general elections, “we can do politics.”
The NPP stalwart maintained that his suggestion is feasible because the concentration on political issues to the detriment of national issues is hurting the economic fortunes of the country.
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/citifmonline.com/Ghana