First Vice-Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, says it is not true that the NPP is ”sleeping” in its mandate as an opposition party in keeping the government in check.
”The party is not sleeping, it is very awake, very responsible and doing what a responsible party in opposition should do; we are a party that is very much involved in what is happeing in this coutry,” he said.
The Former first Deputy Speaker of Parliament was responding to comments by Prof Kwame Karikari that the NPP as a the biggest opposition party in the country has failed to demand accountability from the current government.
“In our country now, the opposition parties are asleep,” Professor Karikari had said.
But Speaing on Eyewitness News on Monday, Mr. Blay expressed surprised and amazement at the criticism by the professor.
”… our voice can be heard everywhere, the minority in parliament have been criticing this government for all the bad things that are happening to this country; from the economy to corruption,” he noted.
Mr. Blay also said contrary to claims by Prof Karikari that the NPP is occupying its time “by eating each other up rather than targeting all the exposé the media houses are doing” ; he said the NPP has its eye on the ball, as well as scrutinizing and criticing the government on the management of the economy.
”Our former vice presidential candidate, Dr. Bawumia has given two lectures; he criticised the government, he proposed solutions…,” he added.
He said the NPP has always ppoined out what is wrong but the government is ”intransigent”.
Mr. Blay disputed the allegations tht the NPP is unconcerned about pertinent national issues. He opined that the NPP has always provided alternative and ideas in addressing national issues but the ruling government would not listen.
”At every opportunity we will tell Ghanaians what is wrong; we’ve told Ghanainas that the worst thing that is facing this country is corruption. This government is [entangled] with seriuos corruption,” he said.
He concluded that the NPP has brought to bare all the difficulties the government [NDC government] is facing but they would not heed to good council.
The NPP has been criticized for their constant boycott of national programmes. The latest was their decision to boycott the National Economic Forum which was organized by government for all stakeholders to deliberate and find effective ways through which the country’s economy could be revived and stabilized.
The former Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Prof. Karikari added that the NPP’s posturing seems to suggest that they are not interestd in the development and running of the country.
By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana