The Ashanti Regional NDC have responded to the Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh that the NPP’s unpopular policies is dipping their popularity in the Ashanti Region not an inducement from anyone.
Napo, as the MP is popularly known, had said journalists in Kumasi have taken money to make the NPP unpopular in the Ashanti region.
But in a release signed by the Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the NDC, Abass Nurudeen, the media have not taken money from anyone but rather, the crass incompetence and the poor economic management of the Bawumia-led Economic Management Team.
The NDC expresses sadness that Napo could make such utterances under the approval of president Akufo-Addo who touts himself as a champion of press freedom.
Re:
PRESS RELEASE
BY ASHANTI-NDC
Tuesday,18th October 2020
RE: Journalists in Kumasi have taken money to make NPP unpopular – NAPO
We have sighted a news item published by various online portals in which the Minister of Energy and Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South Constituency, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is alleged to have accused Journalists in Kumasi of taking money to make NPP unpopular.
It is very unfortunate that a senior member of the Akufo-Addo government will make such baseless allegations against the media fraternity in Kumasi without backing his claim with anything of evidential value.We believe such unguarded commentary is unbifitting of a person of his calibre.
Sadly, this blistering attack on the press was made in the presence, and with the express approval of President Akufo-Addo, a man who touts himself as a defender of Press Freedom and protector of free speech.
Need Napo be reminded that the dipping popularity of the New Partriotic Party in the Ashanti Region – which they tout as their political stronghold, is not a creature of the media but as a result of the unpopular economic policies of the Bawumia-led Economic Management Team and the crass incompetence of the Akufo-Addo government.
Journalists, just like Ghanaians in general, go to the market to buy foodstuffs.They go to the petrol station to buy fuel. So they are living witnesses of the harsh living conditions that the people of Kumasi have had to endure as a result of the misrule of the Akufo-Addo government. Their critique of the Akufo-Addo government therefore reflects the general feeling of the people of Kumasi.
We understand the frustration of Mr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a wannabe running mate on the Presidential ticket of the New Patriotic Party. Watching the Ashanti Region which he is using as a bargaining chip to get onto the 2024 Presidential ticket of the NPP slip away through his fingers can be very depressing. But that does not warrant his throwing of puerile and unsubstantiated allegations against the media, who are discharging their duties as the fourth estate of the realm.
Mr. Opoku Prempeh must blame his lameduck government for the cold reception President Akufo-Addo has received on his 4-day working visit to the Ashanti Region and not the media fraternity who are only playing their gatekeeping role.
Signed;
Abass Nurudeen
ARCO
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
