NPP Members Are Ignorant �Solomon Nkansah Goes Bonkers

NEWLY ELECTED national communications officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Yaw Nkansah has fired his first salvo describing members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as behaving like �ignorant people� and should not be taken serious. Mr. Nkansah said the NPP is trying everything possible to undermine the achievements of the John Mahama administration by describing every project under the president as corrupt. The national communications officer, in an interview with the DAILY HERITAGE said these in reaction to the minority caucus� press conference held yesterday in Accra on the 2015 budget statement and economic policy of government. The minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu at the press conference indicated that they will probe the cost of renovation of the Kumasi Airport recently commissioned by President Mahama. Mr. Mensah-Bonsu said the cost of the renovation raises serious issues about corruption and inflation of figures; hence, they will seek answers from the government. The minority leader further questioned �how much was spent on resurfacing the 1800m stretch of the runway, GH�2 million? And the procurement of the runway (aeronautic) lighting system? How much was spent on the improvement of the parking area? Parliament shall have to inquire into what the GH�29 million has been spent on.� According to him, during President Jerry John Rawlings� era, �the average cost of double-layered asphalted road construction was $600,000 per kilometer; in President Kufuor�s time the average cost was $480,000. Today, under President John Mahama the average cost has escalated to $1.4 - $1.5 million.� He further noted that �the cost of constructing a 6-unit classroom block plus a 2-unit KG block was GH�85,000 under President Kufuor, under President Mahama the 2-unit KG has been taken out, the 6-unit block is priced at GH�300,000.� But, Mr. Nkansah said the minority leader ought to have allowed their ranking member on roads and highways to address the issue on cost of the renovation to give it some level of credibility due to his background in the sector. According to him, the NDC government would not be tied to the dictates of the NPP but would rather focus on Ghanaians and developments that benefit the masses. He added that the issues raised by the minority lacked innovation and technical competence because the budget has outlined measures that would transform the economy and boost local industry. Mr. Nkansah further explained that the NPP was worried because the achievements of the Mahama government would neutralize their arguments in 2016 hence the attempts to undermine the projects and programmes of the government.