Chairman of the Minerals Income Investment Fund has accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of working against the success of the country in transactions and policies that would inure to the benefit of the people.
Mr. George Mireku Duker who is the NPP Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency stated that the NDC has over the years campaigned and acted against the success of the country in agreements and policies which are in the country’s best interest.
The MP recounted that the NDC members of parliament had protested against the passage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which was initiated by the NPP government to provide basic health care for all Ghanaians.
He again recalled that the NDC through its minority in Parliament in 2018 petitioned the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to stop the government of Ghana from entering into a US$2 billion barter agreement between Ghana and Sino hydro of China aimed at helping the government to undertake robust infrastructural development in the country.
All these actions of the party and its members, the MP asserted, are indications of the NDC and its member’s opposition against policies that promote socio-economic development of the country.
Mr. Mireku Duker was responding to the threats by the minority that they would write to notify the London Stock Exchange and Financial Conduct Authority about the “the corrupt acts” that the Agyapa Mineral Royalties Agreement is tainted with.
He opined that the argument by the opposition party against the deal is out of their long-standing opposition against developmental policies and agreements and not because they have any genuine concern about the agreement. He argued that the party would continue to campaign against the agreement even if government clarify all the issues they are raising.
“NDC will continue ranting this way and NDC wouldn’t want Ghana to succeed in any transaction. They wrote letters in the Sino hydro deal. They walked out of parliament during the NHIS (bill passage). As for the NDC and their ranting, they will continue doing it. Even if you explain to the brim, they will still do it,” he stated on JoyNews TV.
The Vice-Chairman of Mines and Energy Committee of parliament insisted that the Agyapa deal is in the best interest of Ghana. He disclosed that government has scheduled to meet Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in order to address their concerns about the deal.
He again indicated that government has plans of engaging traditional authorities in the various mining communities to explain to them the rational behind the deal.
His comments follow the NDC’s weekly press briefing which was held on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who addressed the press briefing alleged among others that the deal was unconstitutional and unconscionable threatening to notify the London Stock Exchange and Financial Conduct Authority against the deal.
