Ashanti Regional chairman hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, says the party’s return to opposition has brought significant economic hardship to its grassroots supporters, describing the situation as difficult and emotionally taxing.
Speaking on Kumasi base Abusua FM’s current affairs programme hosted by Ebenezer Yaw Jona, popularly known as Osempakani, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah said the realities of opposition have become evident since the NPP lost power in the 2024 general elections.
“Since the NPP went into opposition, the reality has set in,” he said. “Party people keep calling me to help pay their children’s school fees and to support them with basic needs.”
He noted that political activism becomes more burdensome outside government, referencing a past comment by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“President Kufuor once said it is better to be even a security officer under a ruling party because of the benefits that come with being in power,” he added.
Mr. Appiah expressed confidence that the NPP would recover from its electoral defeat and reorganise ahead of the 2028 elections, blaming the party’s loss on the failure of the previous administration to heed internal advice.
“We are in opposition because the government at the time did not listen to advice,” he said. “But I am confident we will put our house in order and return stronger in 2028.”
He also criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing it of reversing key policies that supported the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
According to him, during the tenure of former Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, students were not burdened with Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies or examination fees.
“Now, the NDC government has reintroduced education levies that were abolished under the NPP, increasing hardship on parents,” he alleged.
Mr. Appiah assured party supporters that following the NPP’s internal elections, the party would intensify its role as a watchdog by holding the government accountable.
“The honeymoon is over for President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government,” he said. “They promised a 24-hour economy, a Women’s Bank, among others, and we will continue to ask questions to ensure those promises are fulfilled.”
Source: www.kumasimail.com
