“It’s sad governance has been reduced to people of such ilk”- Opoku Prempeh sobs

Mathew Prempeh         Member of Parliament for Manhyia says he is downhearted at the level of mediocrity being exhibited by some people within the ruling National Democratic Congress. “It’s sad. I feel really sad this evening. The matter speaks for itself. I will just caution people in government that when something comes out they shouldn’t rush to insult. They shouldn’t rush to rubbish it. “…It’s sad that governance will be reduced to people of such ilk,” he told Joy News’ Dzifah Bampoh. Mathew Opoku Prempeh was commenting on a controversial letter written by the Vice-President John Mahama but which was first denied by his aide, John Jinapor and later made a u-turn. The letter, dated 11 February, 2010 was courting a Chinese Firm, Pierson Capital Group, to assist Ghana with a loan for developmental projects for which Ghana’s oil revenue or cocoa will be used as collateral. Mathew Prempeh said the insistence by the vice-president to have the oil revenue bill amended in Parliament was only in fulfillment of the promises he made to the company as captured in the said letter. But John Jinapor aide to the Vice-president on Wednesday denied the existence of such a letter. According to him he had spoken with the Vice-president and has confirmed no such letter existed. He described the letter as “fraudulent” and threatened to take the matter up with the Criminal Investigations Department. No sooner however did he beat a retreat. He said upon further checks he can now authenticate the existence of the letter. This Mathew Opoku Prempeh said is unacceptable. He was even more disappointed with what he said is the “hypocrisy” by the vice-president. According to him the vice-president at cabinet level had all the time and opportunity to change the controversial non-collateralisation clause in the oil revenue bill before bringing it to Parliament for debate and approval. If he did not, he wondered why John Mahama at a meeting in Winneba would describe as foolish people who were in favour of the non-collateralisation of the oil revenue as was in the bill. “If the Vice President felt so strongly then in February, 2010 and still feel strongly now and this bill that is in front of Parliament went through cabinet to come Parliament and he couldn’t argue his case in [cabinet] then why insult opposition MPs in Winneba,” he stated. Communications Minister Haruna Iddrissu who also commented on the matter said the Minority may have an issue if they feel insulted by the Vice-President but said that was not his intention. According to him, John Mahama was forcefully making the argument for the collateralization of the oil revenue and did not see why the oil revenue would be kept in the name of a Heritage Fund for the future when it could be used for infrastructural development now. The February 11, 2010 letter was just consistent to the position held by the vice-president, he said. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana