People With No Prior Work Experience Joined NDC And Amassed Fortunes – Freddie Blay

Freddie Blay, the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused several members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of acquiring fortune while in power.

Blay was responding to the recent controversy surrounding the late New Patriotic Party General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John’s Final Will and Testament.

He emphasized that, while an inquiry by government institutions was necessary, it was worth remembering that the former NPP writer had made a profession as a lawyer before entering politics.
He made a dig at anonymous NDC members, alleging that they had gotten wealthy overnight as a result of politics.

“If you want to talk about the NDC… there are people who have never worked in their lives who joined the party, and before you know it, they have various mansions, flats, and several of them, they have never worked in their lives,” the former Ellembelle MP added.

“Fortunately, [Sir John’s issue] has surfaced; it is part of our ongoing effort to combat corruption; if he obtained them illegally, why not let the axe fall?” However, do not make it appear that this is an NPP corruption slogan,” he urged journalists in the Western Region over the weekend.

On the issue of government lands and how they are acquired by politicians, he submitted: “When you want to talk about sharing government lands from Nkrumah’s days to now, there have been estates, there have been bungalows, lands of which some people have taken in one way or the other, we need to make a law against that, that you go into government you should never buy government lands, and, let us do that now.

“Don’t make it look as if because Sir John has bought lands and so, therefore, all NPP people are crooks and that they have acquired illegally.

“I have a car, does it mean that I went to steal to buy a car, I have a building, maybe even buildings, does it mean that because of that it means I have been a thief as the Party’s chairman and serving on the Board of GNPC?” he asked.

Sir John’s Will dominates media reportage

Sir John’s Last Will and Testament has dominated media discussions since its contents were released weeks back. The document showed that he had bequeathed lands located in the Achimota Forest enclave to some beneficiaries.

The outrage also stems from the fact that the disclosures come barely a week after the government issued Executive Instrument 144, declassifying portions of the Forest Reserve.

Government said it was releasing portions of the peripherals of the forest to its custodial owners, the Owoo family of Accra.

Sir John, who also served as a one-time CEO of the Forestry Commission, died two years ago of Coronavirus.

His one-time aide, Charles Owusu has lamented how the deceased is being dragged even in death. According to him, the truth will come out after the Ministry completes its investigations into the matter.