The Central Regional Communications Director of the ruling NDC, Bernard Allotey Jacobs says he is surprised at the opposition MPs from the Western region who refrained from the approval of the controversial $3 billion China Development Bank loan facility agreement. The Minority in Parliament Friday abstained from the approval of the Master Facility Agreement after their claims that their concerns were not adequately addressed by Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour on the floor of the house. The NPP MP’s argued that the loan agreement was full of inconsistencies hence the need for due diligence before approval. After a bitter debate, the majority in Parliament, per voice vote, approved the facility. Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, Allotey Jacobs could not fathom why NPP MP’s from the Western region would be against such a loan facility geared largely towards the development of the region. He said the Western region NPP MP’s should have rose beyond partisanship and seek the interest of the region which is one of the poverty endemic areas in the country. According to him, all the MPs sought to do was to look for a political advantage for their political party ahead of the 2012 general elections to the neglect of the region's development. “They are looking at the political advantage; we are not looking at the political advantage (but) the welfare of the people,” he said. Allotey Jacobs recalled how the Western region used to be the centre of attraction in the country especially the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi some time past. “Sekodi-Takoradi used to be the most vibrant twin city in this country. It used to be a place for entertainment and relaxation because the railway system was so variant, the harbour was vibrant and there was a lot of industries, sawmills and chocolate factories,” he added. The NDC member who stressed that the loan which will be of immense benefit to the Western region, rubbished suggestions by the NPP that they (NDC) have incited the chiefs and people of Western region against the NPP. Allotey Jacobs commended the majority in Parliament for defying all odds to approve the loan.