The Majority and Minority in Parliament traded contrasting views as they reacted to President John Dramani Mahama’s message on the state of the nation, popularly referred to as the State of the Nation Address (SONA), in Parliament yesterday.
While the Majority commended the President for “a sterling leadership” that had steered the country from a gloomy outlook to global acclaim in one year, the Minority said what mattered most was the reflection of the economic statistics in the living conditions of people.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, described the President’s message in the SONA as a sheer slogan that did not contain concrete measures to address the basic daily needs of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He said what President Mahama failed to tell Ghanaians was that after one year in government, he was still acting with slogans without any action.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said electricity tariffs, for instance, had skyrocketed, and many Ghanaians could not pay electricity bills, while thousands of Ghanaian youth were allegedly dismissed from public workplaces through a letter from the Chief of Staff when the current administration assumed office.
Looming scandal
Reacting to the President’s SONA, Mr Afenyo-Markin mentioned a supposedly looming scandal involving a senior female minister of state in security services recruitment.
“Mr Speaker, as we speak, there is a scandal looming.
Security services recruitment Trade Net, and we know who brought that company to the ministry.
“We, the Minority will pursue the person and make sure there is full disclosure,” he said.
The MP for Effutu also took a swipe at the government for reducing the producer price for cocoa.
“They do not care about cocoa farmers, and they are here telling us inflation and macroeconomics. Is it macroeconomics that we will eat?” he asked.
Galamsey hardship
The Minority Leader said Ghanaians continued to suffer the menace of galamsey, referring to the famous christening of illegal mining, insisting that the
Minority expected the government to take concrete action to stop the environmental crime.
President Mahama alluded to impressive economic data to emphasise progress of the economy in one year under his watch; however, Mr Afenyo-Markin said what the President failed to tell Ghanaians was that the Gold for Reserve policy designed to accumulate gold reserves as a backup for the local currency was spearheaded by the New Patriotic Party flag bearer, whom he described as a regular target of attack by the governing NDC.
“Mr Speaker, the Bawumia that they attacked is the brainchild of this policy, and I would want to urge the government to give to Bawumia what belongs to Bawumia,” he said.
Inside the Chamber of Parliament, pictures of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, a man being pursued by authorities for prosecution over alleged financial crimes, were displayed.
But Mr Afenyo-Markin said trying to embarrass the former minister would soon catch up with their opponents.
“Very soon, let me assure you that somebody, a senior appointee who is in charge of this Trade Net, is going to jail.
“We will soon bring the picture of the one who introduced the agency to the ministry and who is chopping money, and then we will see the one in charge of the agency duping innocent unemployed youth,” he said.
Sterling leadership
Responding, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, thanked the President for demonstrating sterling leadership in one year in office.
He said it was obvious that the Ghana that the NDC administration inherited and the present Ghana were like “day and night”.
“The Ghana you inherited was as dark as the dark dresses that they are wearing at the other side, and the Ghana you speak of today is clearly as white as the white dresses that we are wearing on this side,” he said on the floor of Parliament.
Stressing that everything the President said was true, he said the Minority Leader could attest to such truth as his constituency, Winneba, was benefiting from major government projects, namely the Big Push road construction enterprise and premix fuel supply to fisherfolk.
Better cocoa prices
On cocoa prices, Mr Ayariga cited a current Reuters news report revealing that cocoa farmers in Ghana were enjoying better cocoa prices than their Ivorian counterparts.
He said Cote d’Ivoire would pay cocoa farmers 800 CFA francs and 1,000 CFA francs per kilogramme, starting tomorrow (Sunday), with the main crop price being 2,800 CFA francs per kilogramme.
“When converted to Ghanaian cedis, this is about GH¢980 to GH¢1,225 per 64 kilogrammes.
“In Ghana, farmers are paid GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag, which is more than twice the price in Cote d’Ivoire.
This is confirmed this morning by Reuters,” he told Parliament.
The MP for Bawku Central assured the President of the prayers of all Muslims in Ghana for Allah’s blessings during Ramadan for his sterling leadership that has been recognised in the whole of Africa.
“Ghanaians are proud of you. This Ramadan, many of our people could afford sugar and rice because prices have come down,” he said.
