News:
September 6, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa in the Central Region, Paul Collins Appiah-Ofori says John Evans Atta Mills is a weak president and has failed to sack his ministers who make mistakes in the course of their duties.
P.C Appiah-Ofori therefore wants President Atta Mills to sit up and discipline ministers who err in their duties, to serve as a deterrent to others.
He was commenting on wikileaks cables claims that the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hannah Tetteh had told a US Embassy official in Accra that the NDC government intentionally appointed Joyce Bamford Addo as Speaker of Parliament in order to manipulate her.
He told Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem Wednesday that if indeed the Trade Minister made the claim, then President Atta Mills should sack her.
PC Appiah-Ofori said Hannah Tetteh should be dismissed because her comment is an embarrassment to parliament and the country at large.
Touching on whether he believes the Speaker of Parliament was intentionally placed to be manipulated by the government, PC Appiah-Ofori said he had found no faults with Madam Bamford Addo ever since she assumed office.
He however observed that the First Deputy Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho always sat in for the Speaker whenever there was a serious debate in the House.
The NPP MP cited for instance when Doe Adjaho sat in for the Speaker during the debate and approval of the $3 billion Chinese loan facility that was recently approved by parliament.
PC Appiah-Ofori claimed that he stood up on the floor of parliament to object to the approval of the loan, but Doe Adjaho failed to catch his eye.
He admitted that parliamentarians are all responsible for the mess Ghanaians have found themselves in.
Meanwhile Mr. Appiah-Ofori has described Ghanians who made unguarded statements to foreign diplomats about their fellow countrymen and the country at large, as unpatriotic citizens. He added that they should have considered the interest of the country first before making any comments to the Americans.
In a related development, Appiah-Ofori has called on the legal team of NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo to sue publishers of the “Daily Post” newspaper and ask them to pay huge damages as compensation for defaming allegedly Nana Akufo-Addo.
He was reacting a story captured on the front page of the 7th September 2011 edition of the paper which suggested Nana Addo deserves help in a rehabilitation centre rather than seeking the presidency.
Appiah-Ofori believes such a step will serve as a deterrent to other journalists who want to tow the same line of maligning politicians.
PC Appiah-Ofori also said the publication should be condemned because it would taint the image of the presidential candidate should he win election.