NPP has decided; no member would attend Economic Forum! – Perry Okudzeto

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it does not expect any member of the party to attend the four-day National Economic Forum to begin in Akosombo on Tuesday.

The forum, which is to discuss major issues affecting the country’s economy, has generated lots of controversies with the NPP announcing a boycott just a day before the forum.

Acting Director of Communication, Perry Okudzeto, told Joy News the leadership has taken a decision to boycott the forum and therefore expects all members to comply.

Former Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, who had been invited for the forum, expressed shock at the party’s decision.

He wondered why he was not consulted before such a decision was taken. He said he was going to meet the leadership of the party before he could make a firm decision whether or not to attend the forum.

On the contrary, his colleague, Anthony Akoto Osei, who is a former minister of state at the Finance Ministry, agreed with the party’s decision of not attending the forum.

He said there is no sense in taking part in a forum, especially, when the government had prepared and submitted to IMF, a report on economic reforms spanning 2014-2017.

Explaining the boycott, Perry Okudzeto said the government did not act in good faith. They failed to inform the party as early as possible and also did not provide any base document, which would enhance the discourse.

He chronicled how NPP officials had been lampooned for expressing their opinions on major economic issues and wondered why the same government officials, who were vocal in these invectives would now turn around to seek advice from the same people they had insulted.

He said the NPP is a party of rules and bent on enforcing the directives that no member of the party should attend the forum.

Asked if the NPP would allow the former Finance Minister to attend, Perry Okudzeto said the party leadership is in talks with him but hinted, Osafo Maafo is a leading member of the NPP and that no member is expected to attend the forum.