Osafo Maafo: Stop Politicizing Every Issue�Concentrate On the Message Not The Messenger

A former Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, a Finance and Education, Youth and Sports Minister under President Kufuor�s regime, Yaw Osafo-Maafo has advised the ruling NDC and various Political leaders not to rubbish its opponents suggestions and philosophies if that can be considered and help improve the country. Ghana for some time now is facing utility challenges and the former NPP MP is calling on Ghanaians and most especially politicians not to politicize the crisis Ghana is facing but rather be united and solve the challenges as a nation. �We don�t have to politicize these issues; there is no NPP and NDC in this. Whatever you will say, some people will politicize it. They would want to know which party you belong before your ideas and suggestions will be accepted. Who said this? Because it�s Osafo Maafo, it will be rejected. If we take such path as a nation, we will never develop. �They (the NDC) should be realistic and accept suggestions which are more valuable to help the nation from the opposition. Now in Ghana, if you say something, they don�t weigh the value of your message but rather the party you belongs to. The messenger not the message is what is going on now, it�s not right. It�s very important to assess the message,� he said. Yaw Osafo Maafo on an Accra-based Asempa FM called on the Finance Minister Seth Terkper to consult him or other experienced economists to salvage the country�s economy. According him, any criticisms concerning the government that will help improve on matters should be accepted. He further said; �When I was the minister of education, I went to KB Asante, Harry Sawyer and all the educationists to seek their views on education. If I tell you the number of professional footballers I spoke with in and out of Ghana when i was the sports minister u will marvel, just to see the betterment of Ghana Football. This helped our qualification to the 2006 world cup�. He expressed surprise why the Mahama led administration has not capitalize on his rich experience on the economy, education and sports sectors but rather other countries are calling for his services. �It sometimes surprises me and saddens my heart when my own country cannot call on me for an advice. Soon, I will be leaving the country to help a country draft its budget. But my own countrymen will think I am an NPP person so my ideas are not needed. �I will be extremely happy if the erratic power supplies, the shortage of gas and rationing of water ends. If the nation is going through all this, I feel the impact because I am in Ghana,� He spoke in an interview on Tuesday with Accra-based Asempa FM.