{"id":598835,"date":"2019-03-13T20:36:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T20:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"

NPP leaders Freddie Blay, John Boadu and NDC leaders Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Asiedu Nketia<\/p>

\n\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has proposed a preliminary meeting with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)\u00a0over the disbandment of party militias as pushed by President Akufo-Addo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NPP General Secretary John Boadu said the party can convene \u201cjust a maiden meeting to agree on the terms of reference\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

His proposal on Joy FM\u2019s Top Story did little to dissuade NDC General Secretary, Asiedu Nketia that the NPP is pussyfooting over the menace of militias aligned to the rival parties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Nketia said he is at a loss to understand why the NPP is yet to follow up the President\u2019s call with an official invitation to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have not been invited to any meeting at all,\u201d\u00a0he told Emefa Apawu Wednesday indicating his party\u2019s enthusiasm for the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has been 20 days and counting but with little <\/span>sign<\/span><\/span> that President\u2019s Nana Akufo-Addo\u2019s call for the two parties over the menace of political thugs will come off.<\/span><\/p>\n

The praises for President\u2019s proposed bipartisan meeting made during his State of the Nation\u2019s Address has turned to criticism after he rejected NDC\u2019s call to include mediators in the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NDC which has welcomed the president\u2019s call have argued adding that mediators such as civil society groups will help address deep-seated mistrust between the parties.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody in this country knows that there is bad faith between the two parties,\u201d Mr Nketia\u00a0explained the need for mediators.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NDC\u2019s position is supported by at least 12 civil society organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are they afraid that other people come to participate? What is the problem?\u201d the NDC General Secretary asked his NPP compatriot over the phone during the Joy News interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But the NPP General Secretary has explained a preliminary meeting can discuss on the need for a mediator although he maintained, the calls inclusion for <\/span>a mediator\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is \u201cfar too fetched\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

But still, \u201cwe can look at it,\u201d\u00a0John Boadu said. He was, however, unsure of the date to fix this \u201cmaiden meeting\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that by the end of the week if we are certain of our schedules or by early next week we will be able to find some time,\u201d\u00a0John Boadu said.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He explained that the delay for the meeting is as a result of the NDC National Chairman\u2019s brush with the law.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NDC National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo is being investigated for comments believed to threaten national security which was contained in a leaked tape.<\/span><\/p>\n