By Ashiadey Dotse
Ketu North MP, Eric Edem Agbana has criticized members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for not attending the National Economic Dialogue, which started on Monday, March 3.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Tuesday, March 4, Mr. Agbana called the NPP members “unpatriotic” for skipping an important event aimed at finding solutions to Ghana’s economic crisis.
He said there was no justifiable reason for the NPP’s absence, as the dialogue brought together key stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, business leaders, and traders, to discuss the country’s economic challenges.
“It doesn’t speak well for them because there is no reason to boycott this particular dialogue. This is a national dialogue. All stakeholders, people from academia, industry players, politicians, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and traders from all over the country have gathered to look at Ghana’s economy,” he said.
“For the NPP to boycott an important economic forum like this, where we are all looking for solutions to our economic challenges, shows them as a group of unpatriotic people,” he added.
Mr. Agbana also noted that this is not the first time the NPP has refused to participate in key national events. He recalled that the party stayed away from the drafting of the 1992 Constitution and also boycotted the Senchi Consensus forum in 2014, which was organized under former President Mahama to find solutions to Ghana’s economic issues.
“I am not surprised because the NPP has a history of boycotting very important national events of this nature,” he said.
“So, is it the case that when they are not in charge, nothing should move forward in this country? They boycotted even the drafting of the 1992 Constitution. Again, when the NDC under President Mahama had the Senchi Consensus to find homegrown solutions to our economic challenges, they also decided to boycott it,” he added.
Despite the NPP’s absence, Mr. Agbana remains optimistic about the National Economic Dialogue. He believes that the presence of economists, industry experts, and key stakeholders will ensure a productive discussion that will lead to meaningful solutions for Ghana’s economy.
