NPP Is Fighting Heroes Fund Out Of Envy � Kobby Fiagbe

The Editor of the Ghanaian Lens newspaper, Kobby Fiagbe has said the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is envious of the National Democratic Congress� (NDC) Heroes Fund which is why they are opposing that initiative. Kobby Fiagbe says the NPP is being mischievous in its criticism of the Fund because the party also has a similar initiative through which it rewards party faithful so he does not see why they should kick against what the NDC is doing. Last weekend, the National Chairman of the NDC announced the setting up of the Heroes Fund to assist supporters and loyalists who have encountered misfortunes, incapacitation or other forms of deprivations in the course of their service to the party. It would also cater for the needs of dependants of persons who have lost their lives while working in the interest of the NDC as well as non-members of the party in similar situations. The NPP has expressed its disapproval for the initiative saying it will encourage hooliganism but speaking on Adom FM on Thursday, Kobby Fiagbe, who is a staunch member of the NDC, discounted that claim. �It cannot be the case, the name of the Fund should tell you what it is meant for; it is meant to encourage people who will act in the interest of the party,� he said. He said only hard working members who are victimized will benefit from the Fund and not people who break the laws. He chided the NPP for also doing something similar; where testimonials are given out to hardworking members alleging that the members sometimes used those certificates to seek employment and secure contracts. Mr. Fiagbe said that the opposition has always sought to paint the NDC black to Ghanaians even when the issues are plain for all to see and their opposing of the Heroes Fund is just one of their ploys. In a rebuttal, NPP MP for Okere in the Eastern Region, Dan Botwe, rubbished Kobby Fiagbe�s assertion that they are envious. According to him, considering the bloody history of the PNDC/NDC, setting up a Heroes Fund will empower the NDC supporters to engage in all sorts of electoral malpractices, which will create chaos in the country. He disclosed that since similar schemes already exist in political parties, a Welfare Fund is much better than the Heroes Fund. He therefore called on the Clergy and other pressure groups to oppose the setting up of the Fund since it will plunge the country into lawlessness suggesting that the name be changed if the Fund will be maintained. The Heroes' Fund, which is registered as a non-governmental organization would be administered by a seven-member board of trustees chaired by Ambassador Victor Gbeho. Others are Mr. Kamal Noshie, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Mr. Kwesi Attah, Mr. Yaw Boamah, Ms Doris Aidoo and Mr. Simon Mawusor.