Asiedu Nketiah
THE LARGEST opposition political party in the country, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was conspicuously missing during the much-publicized New Patriotic Party (NPP) annual National Delegates Conference.
Virtually, all the recognized political parties in the country, with the exception of the NDC, attended the event held at Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital on Saturday.
When the NDC was invited to give their solidarity message, nobody appeared on the podium, causing the NPP delegates present to allude various reasons to NDC’s absence.
For instance, a section of the about 6,000 NPP delegates and party members at the function claimed that the NDC intentionally snubbed the NPP, even though an invitation was extended to them.
The organizers of the programme believed nothing would influence the NDC not to honour NPP’s invitation during such an important party event and so they waited for about 10 minutes, thinking that their representatives would pop up.
But after several minutes of waiting and calls for the NDC representatives to mount the dais and deliver their fraternal message, it became clear that the largest opposition political party had indeed not turned up.
The Master of Ceremony (MC) for the event, Lord Commey said he suspected the NDC had decided to stay out of the programme since they are still mourning the death of the ex- Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur.
At that juncture, he entreated the thousands of NPP members that attended the programme to stand on their feet and observe a minute’s silence in the memory of the late vice president.
Later on, President Akufo-Addo, whist addressing the NPP delegates, openly lamented about the unexpected death of the late Ghanaian leader, pointing out that Amissah-Arthur’s death had come as a big blow to the country.
He announced that five days of mourning had been declared by government, adding that Ghana flags had been flying at half mast, and a state burial and funeral would be held for the late vice president on July 27, this year.
The President said a book of condolence had been opened in all Ghanaian embassies across the globe to make it possible for Ghanaians domiciling abroad to get the chance to pay their last respects to the late vice president.
He said he had called the bereaved family, the NDC as a political party and former President John Dramani Mahama, to commiserate with them over the painful and shocking loss and also urged them to take heart.
President Akufo-Addo said Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur faithfully served the country when he was the vice president, thus that it is appropriate that he is given all the respect and recognition by the country as the last respect to his memory.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr, Daniel Bampoe & Nii Adjei Mensahfio, Koforidua