Veep�s Allegations Of National Security Economic Crisis Alert�

Although critics say the 8th National Delegates� Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been very peaceful, in spite of fears of a possible repeat of the incessant ethnic conflicts recorded in the Northern Region and its environs, comments made by the Vice President John Dramani Mahama of the party might rather create some degree of strain on the relative cordial relationship between the NDC and its main political rival, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Vice President, who suggested that perhaps the NDC was not telling its story well, told delegates at the congress about how the National Security had forewarned the former Kufuor administration about a looming economic crisis, which according to National Security would contribute to some difficult economic crisis in the country. He also disclosed that National Security as well cautioned the erstwhile NPP government on the rate at which inflation was accelerating, adding that �the caution was prophetic but was not heeded�the Eurobond money was taken, which meant that money was taken from the private sector investment capital�. When contacted, Frank Agyekum, former President Kufuor�s spokesperson said, �It is preposterous for the Vice President to make these unfounded allegations�. He said that �President Kufuor did not receive any such notice from the National Security. Besides, what business has National Security got to do with giving economic advice to the president when he had a team of economic experts?� National Security, he said, was constituted to give advice on security issues and therefore found it interesting for the Vice President to say that the National Security issued such alert in 2008 which according to him (Vice President) accounted for the over bearing economic crisis suffered last year as well as government�s inability to pay salaries. �if this is what the Vice President is saying, then I suggest he advises his finance minister to withdraw the letter sent to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that said the economy although having gone through a very difficult crisis, had done very well. The former deputy minister of information also responded to the issue of paying public salaries from the Eurobond. �Which government brought on board the Eurobond?�, he queried adding, �We contracted the Eurobond for specific matters so what is the mistake if we use money from that account to better the lives of Ghanaian workers?�