DO GHANAIANS HAVE A CHOICE? As Elizabeth Ohene Insists the NPP is the only Alternative

Elisabeth Ohene

Former Minister of Education in the Kufuor era, Elizabeth Ohene says that in spite of the chaos in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the people of Ghana have no choice but to vote for her party.

She said as sad as the NPP's internal wranglings are, it is still the party Ghanaians want to see in government after the 2016 general elections.

According to her, the pressure is on the ruling NDC government to justify why it should be re-elected in 2016 and not the NPP to defend itself as the credible alternative.

As far as electing the NPP as the next government is concerned, Ghanaians “have no choice than to see us as the alternative.” the former Information Minister was cocksure.

“It is obvious that there is the need for an alternative” Elizabeth Ohene maintained, dismissing the current government is a "non-performing" regime.

Her comments follow developments in the party that have left its National Chairman indefinitely suspended and the NPP dragged to court over that decision.

The suspension is a culmination of over 18 months of consistent party in-fighting that has dented the image of the party.

Analysts believe the party’s chances in 2016 will suffer at the hands of the ruling party that appears united.

NPP Flagbearer Nana Akufo Addo

But Elizabeth Ohene is optimistic that the party will resolve its internal troubles.

“We will work it out, we are working it out and I have no doubt in my mind that we will work it out,” she said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday.

For many Ghanaians, the economy and not NPP bickering is the center of attention ahead of the 2016 general elections, she said.

In her view, the economic prescriptions of the party as well as its predictions and warnings about the management of the economy have been frighteningly right.

NPP 2016 Vice-Presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been the leading voice in the party on economic issues. He has held two lectures on the economy at the Central University College has provoked national debate.

“Everything we have said has come to pass,” she said, adding the accuracy of the NPP’s economic analysis can be really frightening.

“These days I am afraid of what our economic team will come out and say”.

Armed with her belief that the NPP has a superior economic team, Elizabeth Ohene said once the party puts its act together and formulates its message, it will win the 2016 general elections.

Hajia Fati Questioned By Police

Hajia Fati

By James Akorli

Hajia Fati, a zealot of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) has been extensively questioned by the police over her alleged involvement in the stoning of the car of Mr Kwabena  Agyapong, General Secretary of the Party.

Police sources said she was questioned for several hours but would not confirm her culpability.

Hajia Fati has earned the reputation of an uncompromising opponent of both Mr Agyapong and Mr Paul Afoko , the National Chairman of the party.

The NPP has already publicly condemned the attack on the General Secretary and the stoning of his car and promised to bear the full cost of repairs.

The party has promised to investigate the incident.

Mr Agyapong had gone to the party headquarters to inform its leaders that he could not participate in a Steering Committee meeting because he had been served with a writ of summons.

The writ was allegedly filed by three pro-Afoko supporter challenges his suspension by the National Executive Committee.

 Mr Afoko insists that he is still the National Chairman of the NPP.

Editorial

Let there be peace!

The heat in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the suspension of Mr Paul Afoko as National Chairman is completely unnecessary.

What harm, would the NPP have come to if Mr Afoko was left in his position?

Indeed, nothing prevented Nana Akufo Addo and his supporters from waging a vigorous campaign even as Afoko remained in office.

As things stand now, it appears that the real problem in the NPP is that the egos of some of its leaders have grown too big for the good of the party.

The point is that many Ghanaians are getting worried over what is happening in the party because it will make the National Democratic Congress (NDC) too comfortable.

In the absence of a strong and credible opposition any government would just simply take the people for a ride.

The Insight pleads with the NPP and its leaders to avoid the unhelpful war and provide a credible opposition to the NDC.