Mahama Should Be Prepared To Listen To Opposition � Jake

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said for the Mahama led-government to ensure inclusiveness and an end to winner takes all syndrome, it must show that is it prepared to �really listen to what opposition and civil society have to say.� Outlining some critical policy actions to be taken by the NDC government before the December general elections, President John Dramani Mahama at a breakfast meeting in Accra on Tuesday mentioned that he will meet with the leaders of opposition at least twice a year to discuss matters of national concern. This according to him is to encourage inclusiveness and foster unity within the country as well as reforming the winner takes all syndrome. Reacting to the statement, the National Chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said on Citi FM�s Eyewitness News: �To change the protocol list so that we can be invited to cocktail parties or whatever, is not what I call inclusiveness and it is not an end to winner takes all.� According to him, �if we want to have an inclusive government and an end to winner takes all, then we have to show that we are ready to really listen to what an opposition has to say. That we are really ready to listen to what civil society has to say.� Citing the creation of 45 new constituencies that has been characterized by controversies, Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey stated that �the stance taken by the ruling NDC in the face of an abuse of common sense does not show any government that is really ready to listen to the opposition or civil society. So to go and sit with him and just have pleasantries - he is a very pleasant fellow - but that will not actually deal with the problems that comes from winner takes all.� On judgment debt, he mentioned that the NPP is looking forward to seeing the declaration of the President on the issue implemented. President Mahama pledged to ensure the retrieval of money which has been wrongfully paid to individuals and institutions under the guise of judgment debts. The NPP National chairman said: �We look forward to seeing whether there is anything behind the words or if once again we have just been peddled with words.� He also challenged the President to boldly and openly declare that he is campaigning because according to him, �what we heard today is a continuation of what he has been doing recently, which is going around and campaigning at the tax payers� expense. Thank you tours which turn into rallies or his campaign but it doesn�t matter; he can campaign but he should come out and be bold and say I am campaigning and then everybody will know that we have a breadth of fresh air in the presidency.�