The Greater Accra Regional Chairman Of the governing NDC, Joseph Ade Coker has opined that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) no longer have the ‘locus’ to critique issues bordering on the economy as far the Mahama-led administration is concerned.
According to him, “the NPP are not living up to their name; ‘Patriotic’. The Patriotic aspect of the NPP seems to be vanishing because they no longer think of the country. From day one, boycotts seemed to be their mantra”.
Chairman Ade Coker was commenting on the NPP’s boycott of the just ended National Economic Forum organized by government to find solutions to the economic crisis facing the country.
Speaking to Kwami Sefa-Kayi during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”, Ade Coker said since the NPP did not go to the event to offer their suggestions as far as the economy was concerned, “they don’t have the moral authority” to criticize any policy that will emanate from the forum or government.
“When any issue comes, they should think of being Ghanaians first. Even if the notice was given a day before, you should put Ghana first before any other thing. Currently they don’t have the moral authority to talk on Ghana’s economy. Here is a forum; they have asked you to come and make your views known and you refused to go and so what else will you say after the forum? Are you going to stand at the outskirts and start throwing stones at any blueprint that will come up? What will be your locus?” he queried.
Meanwhile, Ade Coker has also asked government to make the public the budget and expenditure for the forum to avoid speculations. According to him, even though critics are not aware of how much have been spent in organizing the programme; the controversies have already started; and so ‘making that (budget) public will put matters to rest’.
“Organizers must tell us how much was spent in the programme within 24 hours ends after the programme to avoid further speculations and accusation,” he added.