Politics of Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Source: Adomonline
The Member of Parliament for Effutu in the Central Region, Alexander Afenyo Markin has expressed concern that ordinary Ghanaians appear to have lost faith and respect in Ghana’s political class through the actions and inactions of the ruling class.
Some of these actions include those designed to score political points rather than as part of a broader national development agenda, he claims.
Citing President Mahama’s public filing of his tax returns on Tuesday to symbolically encourage ordinary Ghanaians to pay their tax, the Effutu MP said while the gesture “may be applauded by the public, it’s not going to help.” Rather, the President and his government must invest in areas that would ensure overall national development.
Singling out the National Identification Authority NIA, charged with compiling a database of all persons resident in Ghana but has been starved of funds for a number of years, Mr Markin said government had once again ignored the needs of the NIA, giving the Authority just Ghc2.4 million of the Ghc36 million it needs for the year 2013 to register people in the 3 northern regions and some other areas.
Yet government has not displayed similar lethargy in providing funds for things that may not be of pressing importance, he charged on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show of Wednesday April 3, 2013.
“If there was urgency in raising Ghc200 million two months to election to invest in afforestation, tractors and guinea fowl then there is the urgency to invest in the National Identification Authority for them to complete their job which will help the entire country.
“Let us be sincere with ourselves as political leaders or as politicians so that Ghanaians will take us serious because today, before God and man, Ghanaians don’t respect politicians. Whether NPP, PPP, CPP, NDC.”
Describing himself as one of the “new generational leaders in Ghana”, mainly in their 30’s, the Effutu MP said there are fundamental issues and mindsets that must change for Ghana to develop, and the new leaders were prepared to help effect such change.