Dr. Opuni, who was recently directed by the Presidency to handover to the president’s representative at the Ministry of Agriculture, has bee accused of not connecting with members of the NDC thus contributing to voter apathy.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Nukpenu insisted that “his [Opuni’s] role has also caused our defeat. I have friends, workers of the COCOBOD who told me in the face that; we are not going to vote for you people in 2016 because you created a monster between us and our CEO therefore we will not vote for NPP, but we will not vote NDC either.”

“How did we suffer our defeat; because apathy set in. people refused to go to the polls,” the NDC executive pointed out as he indicated that there were senior members of the NDC who were bitter over Dr. Opuni’s attitude.

“I know senior members of government and party who are bitter about Opuni and will not come out to talk. They are even more dangerous than me talking,” Mr. Nukpenu stated.

Opuni shunned us

Mr. Nukpenu also accused the former COCOBOD CEO of ignoring people who were not within his circles, making it difficult to engage him on matters pertaining to policy with some NDC members or stakeholders.

“People come across him in public settings or private settings and it is like he has a class of people he should deal with. If you don’t fall in that class, talking to him is a challenge.”

“For example, I would not go to his office to seek for financial favours or contract favours. I may encounter a challenge in his field of work because I interact with downstream cocoa sector workers. If there is a challenge, I need to meet the CEO and lay it there. And if we find it difficult in meeting him then what are we doing as a government or as a party,” Mr. Nukpenu lamented.

Blame Rawlings for NDC’s ‘humiliating defeat’ – Nukpenu 

Mr. Nukpenu has been blaming various individuals for the party’s defeat, including blaming former President Rawlings, the party’s Founder for their loss.

This is regardless of the fact that the party has set up a committee to investigate its bad performance at the polls.

Impunity and corruption caused NDC’s defeat – Rawlings 

Meanwhile ex-President John Rawlings has accused former government officials of causing the defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just ended general elections.

He believes though there were clear signs ahead of the general polls that the NDC would lose the elections, it ignored the signs on the wall and failed to act.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni contributed to NDC’s defeat – Nukpenu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at a national colloquium on electoral violence, Dr. Ibn Chambas advised the politicians to instead focus on the relevant issues of development.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IlNyRTSEEFeH7kCjvYMVYlXMaxx8K5Br”]He explained that the country was in the second phase of the electoral cycle that generally begun with the start of the campaign period adding that “the political parties are expected to publicly and constantly reaffirm their commitment to a fair and peaceful process.”

Thus, Dr. Ibn Chambas urged politicians “to desist from attacks on personalities and focus on relevant issues pertaining to the lives of Ghanaians.”

“The election campaign should be an opportunity to debate issues and perspectives instead of trading insults, invectives, use of hate speech,” he added.

Back and forth between leading parties

The flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, recently chided President John Dramani Mahama and the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP,) Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo over what he described as the ‘children politics’ being engaged in by the two.

The campaign trail has seen them take a number of jabs at each other with the National Democratic Congress’ President Mahama notably describing the NPP flagbearer as a divisive leader and a dictator who could not run the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo himself, on the campaign trail, has described President Mahama as incompetent and an impediment to the State.

Death wish for Mahama

The past week also saw government condemn as hate speech the 1st Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), F.F. Anto’s suggestion President Mahama deserved a death sentence for seeking a second term at the presidency.

Speaking on Accra-based Abusua FM, F.F. Anto said President Mahama ought to be hanged or killed by firing squad following his bid for another four years in power on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NPP Vice Chairman is also quoted by news reports as making reference to the death sentence handed out to a former President, General I. K. Acheampong, who was killed by a firing squad in 1979, indicating that President Mahama deserved a similar fate.

A statement from the Communications Ministry asserted that “hate speech, plotting violence and calls for murder must not have a place in our politics” and condemned what it described as the opposition NPP’s “constant resort to hate speech.”

Follow the hashtag #GhElections on social media for more elected related stories

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Campaign on issues not insults – Dr. Ibn Chambas to parties appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.