Minority Leader Mr. Haruna Iddrisu at the commencement of the second meeting of the second session of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 said Parliament should make it a point to ensure no government borrows beyond 70 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to him there should be collective effort to improve the lives of Ghanaians as Ghanaians are currently suffering and hence lawmakers even had to run out of their constituency earlier than the House resumes.
“There is increasing high cost of living and doing business, the House must look at some matters of public importance; Parliament must set the rules on borrowing. We are a country nearing bankruptcy; we should take a decision as a House to cut down on how government should borrow”.
Mr. Iddrisu further cautioned that the current leader President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government should not collateralize state resources, whether it is Ghana Education Trust Fund, as prospect of the future government should be endangered.
He asserts that the future government being the Minority Party National Democratic Congress (NDC) government should have access to resources to govern properly whiles they assume office come early January 2025.
Touching on the Monday evening rains leading to flooding in Accra, he recounted that the former Minister of works and housing, Samuel Atta Akyea suffered a faith of non-performing because he did not get adequate resources because it was not made available to him to deal with the eminent threat of flooding.
“Leader of government business, remind the President that for the first time he should show the will to reshuffle his cabinet to allow the government to move”, he said on the floor of the House to welcome his colleagues back from recess.
He assured the House that the Minority would support the Speaker to deepen accountability and transparency, despite the fact that they are struggling with financial resources; “I hear parliament is suffering from 50 percent cut release”.
Again, he emphasised that Ghana’s democracy would have to survive the threat of monetization, with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) conducting their internal election his party would follow soon.
“I have evidence that I was under paid but I am told I have been over paid, we would bring this matter to a closure, I understand that it was an administrative error which was situated in 1993, the Auditor General has commented on this issue, my integrity has been touched, I would have a final clarification on this matter”, he stated.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
He first visited Anfoeta Tsebi D.A. Junior High School where the MP is refurbishing their facilities to meet the needs for the increasing number of students. Since 2018 when Master Prince Awutey, an old student from the school and product of Ho West Basic Schools’ Annual Quiz Competition was recognised as the best BECE candidate from Volta Region, there has been a continues influx of students from nearby communities.
Other projects he inspected include a store under construction for the District Health Directorate at Dzolokpuita and maternity ward at Dodome Teleafenu Health Centre which he may commission by end of this month.
According to him, his only concern and reservation is that Committees are clustered together so you do not see specific Committee’s function; “I have not seen anything about our Committee”.
The joint committees of Public Account/Administration, Finance and Budget/Macroeconomic Policies and Economic Research/Trade, Customs and Free Movement ended its delocalised meeting yesterday on the theme, “The modalities for the practical implementation of Article 9and 11 of the Supplementary Act of the Parliament in respect of the consideration of the Community Audit Report”.
The conference was on the theme, “Africa and Europe in the Age of a new geopolitical rivalry and how to improve the bilateral cooperation”.
He said the 249 being handed over was the first batch of furniture that had been dispatched to ease the problem of inadequate school furniture syndrome within the district, and the second batch was soon to follow.
Quality and good education enhance the overall development of a child and the nation as a whole, he added.
Mr. Akandor stated that contrary to claims by President Nana Akufo-Addo whilst in opposition as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party that the National Health Insurance Scheme was dead and that he was coming to revive it, the actions of government towardsd the scheme has been abysmal, stating that his annual payments towards the National Health Insurance Scheme tell a different story.
As part of the actualization of his vision for his constituency, he said a number of classroom blocks and dormitories will be added to the facility.
He further lamented over the inability of cocoa produce buying companies to pay cocoa farmers when they usually tell farmers, “go and come there is no money” after they have gone through all the processes to get their beans ready, stating that these are the challenges farmers are facing.