The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), Kofi Adams has stated that there is absolutely nothing wrong with President John Dramani Mahama’s effigies being embossed on Outboard Motors being distributed to fisher folks by the government.
According to him, suggestions that the distribution of Outboard motors with the effigies of the president to fishermen is tantamount to vote buying is untenable.
Speaking on Morning Starr on Monday, Mr. Adams who is also NDC’s 2016 campaign coordinator explained that the sharing of the said equipment are part of government’s policy and programmes that have been captured in the budget.
He said he doesn’t see that as vote buying, explaining that he saw it as “right policies to positively impact” the lives of Ghanaians.
“However,” he told host Nii Arday Clegg, that “such policies when it’s positive, people will vote the government that has introduced that policy.”
“Will a cocoa farmer decide to vote against the NDC that has introduced a free fertilizer project for them, free seedlings project for them, increased sales price for their cocoa produce for them?” he quizzed rhetorically.
“I don’t think so,” said Mr. Adams stating that the NPP is just being frightened by the government’s achievements “therefore, they will describe it as voting buying” but he sees it more as a policy.
The acting General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu speaking on the same programme said in principle there is nothing wrong with the government aiding the activities of fishermen by providing them Outboard motors as part of its policies.
“I think that it is normal, [and] everybody will understand” he told Arday Clegg “especially if it is budgeted for.”
But, argued Mr. Boadu there is everything wrong with the president distributing those resources (Outboard motors) embossed with his pictures and NDC Colours while on his official campaign.
He thus called for the institution of a legislation that will prevent political parties and government from using state resources during political outreach.
Source: GhanaWeb
