Minister Debunks NDC’s Claim on Oil find

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Stephen Asamoah Boateng says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not claimed that it was during the regime of the Busia administration that oil was discovered.

He explained that what the NPP has been saying about the oil finds has to do with the fact that during the previous regime, the country could not boast of the oil find since it was not on commercial quantity, but maintained that his party can now say that it is through this government that the oil was found in commercial quantity.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng revealed that the NDC as far as the 2008 campaign is concerned has lost all ideas to weaken the NPP to attain the seat of government, adding that it would have better for them to relax and reflect on their campaign strategy as Ghanaians have lost interest in the NDC party.

The minister disclosed that the NDC can no longer stand the heat in this year’s campaign that is why they are trying to do anything possible to ensure that they win votes, adding that the NPP government has everything under control to make sure that they get to the presidential palace.

He discredited the statement made in the NDC camp that the NPP government has no managerial plan to facilitate a better management of the new oil find, and said the president has elected a committee to see to the day-to-day activities of the project.

According to the minister, the committee chaired by Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hese, the Chief Advisor to the President, is now in progress and working to come out with way to ensure that the oil find is managed properly, adding that after they have completed with their research, the Parliament will look at it.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng added that even though the NDC is aware that there is a stakeholder approach to make sure that the new oil find is managed appropriately, he does not understand why the NDC is handling situations out of context.

He warned the NDC to look for another means if they want Tshikata out of prison, since giving publicity will not help them. He stated that Ghanaians are wise to know that the NDC will not take the nation anywhere.

On the issue that the NPP government have not been able to tell all District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) to resign if they want to contest, the minister said they are looking into it and promised that they will soon set the records straight.

He called on party members and Ghanaians at large not to listen to the empty utterances from executives of the NDC and rally round Nana and NPP to make Ghana a more developed country.