It appears the opposition New Patriotic Party has bitten more than it can chew following their recent claim that the governing NDC is buying time to steal ideas from their 2016 manifesto.
Campaign Manager of the largest opposition party, Peter Mac Manu re-echoed their position that the NDC stole policy ideas from their manifesto in the lead up to the 2012 elections. The NPP backed it's argument with references to the old document suggesting its theme at the back cover ‘Better Ghana’ and the other ‘Transforming lives’ had similarities.
But in a sharp rebuttal, the General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia teased that NPP's claim is baseless and unpatriotic.
In his view, the NPP must be excited and content that the development of the nation is being modeled around their ideas and plans, if indeed the NDC has been copying their ideas.
“If indeed there was any truth in their claim, then they should be happy. Because that means that the nation is being developed around their ideas and that should excite them. If their plan was come and implement those ideas and someone has taken them and executing them, that should serve their objective and purpose; so there shouldn’t be any issue at all. But the truth is, that claim is baseless. We in the NDC have great ideas and we don’t mind if anybody stole them. We will still launch ours and everyone will see them” he said.
The two parties NDC and NPP are caught in a manifesto standoff following statements by the President John Mahama that the NDC will go ahead and launch its manifesto and other parties “ are free to copy”.
The NPP cited the free secondary school education as an example of an idea that has been stolen by the ruling party.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia who was speaking to Kasapa FM Monday, said the NDC’s 2016 manifesto is ready awaiting the assent of President John Mahama before it can be outdoored in July.
The party has hinted its manifesto will focus on investment in the Agriculture sector in order to create more jobs.
He described the current manifesto being used by the government as “work in progress.”
The party said its new manifesto will look at what it has achieved in the past, the unfinished projects as well as emerging trends and new policy initiatives.
No political party has outdoored its policies and programmes although the general election is barely 20 weeks away. This is in spite of concerns raised by civil society groups which are equally waiting to help scrutinize them to guide decision making by electorates.
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