Statement: CPP protests sale of government bungalows

A GNA report of 5 June 2009 from Ho indicates that Government has put up for sale 105 low cost Government houses at Mawuli estates in Ho.
The CPP finds this policy direction irresponsible and a breach of faith. The CPP is also disappointed because as opposition political parties, we both criticised the NPP for similar acts in Accra. Is the NDC government implying that the sale of Govt property in Accra is wrong but is okay when sold in Ho? This conduct is hypocritical and tends to reduce the confidence of our people in politicians and the democratic process in general.

The policy of selling Government property to private individuals was first initiated by the Busia government and reintroduced by the P/NDC and actively pursued by the NPP. The question that begs answering is; what is the real difference between the NDC and NPP in terms of policy direction. As per reports from Divestiture Implementation Committee – DIC, the NDC and NPP have between them sold over 300 state institutions to private individuals with very little to show for it. When the NDC started talking about change many

Ghanaians believed that the NDC was really offering a policy change and not just a personality change.
We of the CPP wish to call upon the government to reverse this policy of selling these 105 government houses as it is not in the interest of the state. This policy like many NDC and NPP policies have tendered to weaken government and its ability to carry out proper infrastructure and human development projects for the benefit of the people.

The contradictory nature of Government’s conduct in such matters is worrying because in the same report, government is indicating its intention to construct more houses in the future for public servants. Why then, does the same government turn round to sell these houses?
Why would the Government rather not pull down some of these houses and replace them with high risers in order to improve land utilization, as land is a limited resource that must be used judiciously.

It is our sincere hope that the NDC will live by the principles it espoused while in opposition in order to maintain the trust of our people in the democratic process that we, as a nation, have embarked upon since 1992.

Yours faithfully,
Kossi Dedey
(CPP Publicity Secretary)