[ 2012-09-18 ]

Felix Kwakye-Ofosu

All we ask is fairness, consistency- Kwakye Ofosu tells religious groups
A member of government’s communications team is
demanding fairness and consistency from religious
and civil society groups on controversial issues
that affect the country.

Felix Kwakye-Ofosu is convinced the religious
groups are most often heavy handed in criticizing
issues involving the National Democratic Congress
but only scratch the surface when it involves the
New Patriotic Party.

He was commenting on the heated exchanges between
members of the ruling party on one hand and
members of the clergy on another over the
controversial creation of 45 new constituencies.

The Clergy had cautioned the Electoral Commission
to proceed cautiously with the creation of the new
constituencies fearing it might lead to chaos in
December.

They are proposing that the 45 constituencies be
suspended from taking part in the December polls
until 2016.

But the NDC is unhappy with the intervention by
the religious group.

The General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu
Nketia and the Central Regional Director of
Communications of the NDC Allotey Jacobs have been
vehement in their criticisms of the religious
groups.

They claim the clergy only find their voices when
the NDC is in power but become quiet when the NPP
is in power.

The Presbyterian Church which was directly
criticized by the two NDC gurus had its Public
Relations Officer also responding, accusing the
two men of speaking out of ignorance.

Emmanuel Osei Frimpong accused the NDC scribe of
speaking as though he was under the influence of
alcohol, a comment he has apologised for.

President John Mahama last week also apologized to
the Presby Church Moderator for some of the
comments made against the church by some members
of the NDC.

But there were renewed exchanges triggered by the
deputy Majority leader in Parliament Rashid Pelpuo
who stated on Newsfile, Saturday that the Clergy
had no business interfering in the controversial
matter.

The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, on Monday described
the comments by Rashid Pelpuo as unfortunate.

Speaking to Joy News’ Evans Mensah a member of the
government’s communications team said the NDC
position has been misunderstood.

He said “the NDC has not attacked anybody for
airing his or her opinions” stating it was rather
the General Secretary of the NDC who came under
attack from a member of the Clergy.

Kwakye-Ofosu regretted the situation in which the
Clergy and other Civil society groups descended
heavily on NDC on controversial issues but remain
quiet on similar issues when the NPP is in power.

He cited the creation of the 30 constituencies in
2004 under the Kufuor administration but which did
not generate any such uproar as is happening now.

He said the 45 new constituencies is generating
tension only because the NPP is unduly attacking
the Electoral Commission and thought that the
Clergy and other civil society groups will back
the EC on this. But that does not appear to be the
case.

He said all the NDC is asking for is fairness and
nothing more.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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