The Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano North, Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu has lashed out at the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing them of inciting the chiefs and people of Western region against the NPP. Balado Manu bemoaned that, as a responsibly opposition and minority in Parliament, all they sought to do was to ensure Transparency, probity and accountability in the $3bn China Development Bank loan facility agreement. His comment was in reaction to the press conference organized by NDC Members of Parliament from the Western region on Wednesday August 24, 2011 to urge their colleagues NPP MP’s from the region to support the $3 billion Chinese loan agreement. The Western region NDC MP’s argued that, since a large chunk of the loan facility would be used in the development of the region; it would be prudent for their colleagues from the NPP to back down on their position if they have development of the region at heart. But the government on Thursday redrew the controversial Chinese loan agreement from parliament for amendments. According to the Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, government had taken into consideration the concerns and objections raised by the minority and civil society groups hence the need to draft a new agreement in the interest of the country. However, on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Stephen Balado Manu said it regrettable attempts by some NDC propagandists to paint the NPP anti Western region. He added that the press conference by the majority members of parliament from the Western region was just part of the government’s propaganda to discredit NPP parliamentarians from the region. Questioning the motive behind the press conference, Balado Manu asked why NDC MP’s from the Volta region did not also organize a press conference since they would also benefit from the $3 billion loan facility when approved. The Ahafo-Ano North MP stressed the need for the minority to be given ample time to study the details in the$3 billion loan agreement to ensure that the country does not incur any debts in future. He said the NPP must be commended for objecting to the ‘killer deal’ the Mills-led administration was intending to impose on Ghanaians rather than the needless attacks being hurled at the minority in parliament. The NPP MP observed the need for government to tidy up the $3bn Chinese facility to save Ghana from slipping into Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). Stephen Balado Manu allayed the fears of Ghanaians who may have fallen to the impression created by the NDC’s that NPP is against the loan agreement. On the contrary, the vice chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament, Alfred Abayateye described the stance taken by the minority in parliament as a “pull him down attitude”. But NDC MP for Sege stated the minority in parliament are out for mischief since the master agreement presented to them gives detailed information on the agreement for them to approve. Alfred Abayateye advised the NPP to consider the infrastructural benefits to country stand to gain from the Chinese loan than playing politics with it.