The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has uncovered a shocking document written by its rival, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), detailing a sinister plot to disrupt government business through underhanded tactics, using its minority Members of Parliament (MPs).
The Communications Director of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, told journalists at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday that the NPP had verified the document, which consists of eleven chapters.
He stated that the document, which appears to be an election blueprint for the NDC, outlines various “disruptive, unfair, and outright crude tactics” the opposition party plans to implement in order to secure victory in the 2024 elections.
Among the plots is a plan to frustrate the government through foul means to win power on December 7, without regard for political ethics and patriotism.
According to him, while the NDC’s goal of gaining political power is not inherently problematic—since it’s a common aspiration for many parties—their methods, which prioritise crude and undemocratic tactics over legitimate and country-benefiting strategies, are of serious concern.
He said pages 7-8 of the document, under the subheading Maximising Control of the Legislature, outlined how the party intends to use its minority MPs to disrupt government business and create chaos in Parliament.
The NPP Communications Director further revealed that the NDC has been operating with this document since January 2021, indicating that the current impasse in Parliament is part of the scheme.
He noted that page 8 of the secret document mentions Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin as a member of the NDC, who would help the party achieve its goals by exercising his discretion in favour of the NDC.
Mr. Ahiagbah expressed surprise that the Speaker is actively participating in this plan. He said this explains why the Speaker is supporting the NDC minority in their illegitimate claim to a majority status in Parliament. According to him, this is a “new low point for any Speaker of Parliament thus far.”
He also described Speaker Bagbin as “beyond redemption” as a statesman who ought to help unify Parliament to ensure the smooth running of government business.
The NPP Communications Director said that the NDC’s sinister plot, in place since January 2021, is meant to ensure the economy fails.
He stated that Ghanaians should not be surprised that the NDC has failed to propose alternative policies to alleviate the challenges facing the country.
Mr. Ahiagbah highlighted several instances of the opposition’s alleged plot to obstruct government revenue, including the deliberate blocking of key measures such as the 2022 Budget’s revenue proposals, the MDA Fees and Charges Bill, the Tax Exemption Bill, and the E-Levy Bill, which were ultimately passed to support government programmes.
He added that the NDC effectively thwarted the E-Levy’s potential to generate projected revenue, despite the government’s failure to meet the December 31st deadline for passing the bill.
“This plot is undoubtedly beyond the realm of the regular and expected opposition maneuvers to win voters’ confidence,” he asserted.
“In 2021 and 2022, when the debate over the E-Levy Bill raged, Ghanaians did not know that the NDC minority in Parliament was involved in an unprecedented political scam—hiding behind the cloak of public interest to disrupt government business to enhance its political goals as well as contracting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. The NDC tricked Ghanaians into believing its opposition to the E-Levy was principled,” he added.
He indicated that the disruption of the passage of the E-Levy Bill, which was planned to cover expenditure gaps resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, fundamentally affected the economy. This disruption, according to him, contributed to the economic slump the country experienced in 2022 and undermined investor confidence. This, coupled with the problems emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, worsened the situation.
Mr. Ahiagbah, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to disregard the NDC and vote for the NPP, highlighting how the NDC’s deliberate actions and inactions have significantly contributed to the prolonged economic difficulties Ghanaians have endured in recent times. He emphasised that the NDC’s execution of the secret document aimed to frustrate government business, primarily to constrain policies and efforts to generate revenue.
