Page 13, March 20, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions have expressed concern about the conflict between the Techimahene and the Tuobodomhene and urged the media to bring the matter to a close in order to ensure a lasting peace in both traditional areas.
At a press conference organised by the MPs from the two regions in Parliament yesterday, the MPs said they acknowledged efforts being made by the government to ensure that calm returned to Techiman and Tuobodom.
"Additionally, we wish to respectfully appeal to nananom to continue to restrain their followers from any conduct that has the potential to raise passions and thereby endanger any positive efforts by the state to find a lasting solution to the problem".
A statement read by the MP for Asutifi North, Mr Paul Oko also commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Techimanhene for calling on their subjects to exercise restraint.
It was the view of the MPs that the media exhibited high standards of professionalism in their reportage adding that as far as practicable "the media should refrain from reporting on matters that could inflame passions or be offensive to the sensibilities of the interested parties".
The statement added that in order that the feuding parties should continue to have confidence in the conflict resolution process, the security agencies should also conduct themselves in an impartial manner and urged the government to deal sternly with any public official who is found to have compromised his or her office in the process.
It noted that the people of Brong Ahafo and the Ashanti regions were one people and the same people and nothing should be done to disturb the peace, unity and oneness prevailing.
"We should all understand that the efforts by MPs, district assemblies and the central government to bring development to our respective communities will be seriously undermined in the absence to peace," the statement said and called on Ghanaians to support nananom to observe the peace".
Monday, March 22, 2010
AFAG wants ex gratia paid
Page 15, March 19,2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Alliance for Accountable Governance, a political pressure group has threatened to go to the Supreme Court to seek redress over what it viewed as the continued delay in the payment of ex gratia to ex-President Kufuor and ministers who served in his government.
The group gave the hint in a petition it presented to Parliament to impress on the House to exercise its constitutional powers to make the government to pay the ex gratia due former President Kufuor, his vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and other members of his executive based on the recommendations of the Chinnery-Hesse Committee.
“We wish to implore this august House to exercise the constitutional right reposed in it by the electorate by insisting on the executive to do what is right and respect the decision this honourable House has already taken”.
The statement, which was presented to the Speaker through the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, AFAG stated that should the government failed to heed to its plea, it would have no option than proceed to the Supreme Court to seek redress and strict adherence to the dictates of the Constitution.
It noted that it was unfortunate that notwithstanding the adoption of the recommendation of the Chinnery-Hesse Committee’s recommendations by the previous Parliament, President Mills set up the Ishmael Yamson’s Committee to vary the decision.
“Not only does this act constitute a fragrant disregard of the Constitution, it also seriously amounts to President Mills arrogating to himself powers which the sovereign people of Ghana have not ceded to him”, the statement said.
It added that it considered that action an attack on the powers of Parliament and an abuse of the separation of powers that should be accorded to the three arms of government.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Alliance for Accountable Governance, a political pressure group has threatened to go to the Supreme Court to seek redress over what it viewed as the continued delay in the payment of ex gratia to ex-President Kufuor and ministers who served in his government.
The group gave the hint in a petition it presented to Parliament to impress on the House to exercise its constitutional powers to make the government to pay the ex gratia due former President Kufuor, his vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and other members of his executive based on the recommendations of the Chinnery-Hesse Committee.
“We wish to implore this august House to exercise the constitutional right reposed in it by the electorate by insisting on the executive to do what is right and respect the decision this honourable House has already taken”.
The statement, which was presented to the Speaker through the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, AFAG stated that should the government failed to heed to its plea, it would have no option than proceed to the Supreme Court to seek redress and strict adherence to the dictates of the Constitution.
It noted that it was unfortunate that notwithstanding the adoption of the recommendation of the Chinnery-Hesse Committee’s recommendations by the previous Parliament, President Mills set up the Ishmael Yamson’s Committee to vary the decision.
“Not only does this act constitute a fragrant disregard of the Constitution, it also seriously amounts to President Mills arrogating to himself powers which the sovereign people of Ghana have not ceded to him”, the statement said.
It added that it considered that action an attack on the powers of Parliament and an abuse of the separation of powers that should be accorded to the three arms of government.
B/A Presby to invest in hostel facilities
Page 21, March 17, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) is to invest in hostel accommodation facilities to generate alternative source of income to finance its activities.
The Chairperson of the presbytery, Reverend R.R. Brobbey, who announced this noted that the presbytery could no longer depend solely on assessments and levies from the districts and congregations as its sources of income.
He said it had, therefore, become necessary for the presbytery to venture into the business world to get enough money to finance its evangelism and other activities.
Rev Brobbey was speaking at a meeting in Sunyani to generate funds to complete a hostel facility, which is nearing completion.
The said beside evangelism, the presbytery was also providing social services to a number of communities and, therefore, needed to raise funds to meet such demands.
Rev. Brobbey, therefore, appealed to members of presbytery, who were had been blessed by God financially to assist the presbytery to complete the hostel facility.
Speaking on the need for the church to embark on income generating ventures, a Chartered Accountant, Mr Kwame Agyei-Henneh said the traditional method of raising funds for the church was gradually loosing its appeal.
“We can no longer rely on this old method,” he said, adding “We need to tap on the rich human resource base within the church and enter into income-generating ventures to make money for the church.”
Mr Agyei-Henneh cited the example of the Methodist Church, which had established the Donewell Insurance Company as a source of income for the church.
He urged the Presbyterian Church to come out with a product that would be patronised by its members and the society at large to generate more income instead of continuing to depend on its traditional sources of income.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) is to invest in hostel accommodation facilities to generate alternative source of income to finance its activities.
The Chairperson of the presbytery, Reverend R.R. Brobbey, who announced this noted that the presbytery could no longer depend solely on assessments and levies from the districts and congregations as its sources of income.
He said it had, therefore, become necessary for the presbytery to venture into the business world to get enough money to finance its evangelism and other activities.
Rev Brobbey was speaking at a meeting in Sunyani to generate funds to complete a hostel facility, which is nearing completion.
The said beside evangelism, the presbytery was also providing social services to a number of communities and, therefore, needed to raise funds to meet such demands.
Rev. Brobbey, therefore, appealed to members of presbytery, who were had been blessed by God financially to assist the presbytery to complete the hostel facility.
Speaking on the need for the church to embark on income generating ventures, a Chartered Accountant, Mr Kwame Agyei-Henneh said the traditional method of raising funds for the church was gradually loosing its appeal.
“We can no longer rely on this old method,” he said, adding “We need to tap on the rich human resource base within the church and enter into income-generating ventures to make money for the church.”
Mr Agyei-Henneh cited the example of the Methodist Church, which had established the Donewell Insurance Company as a source of income for the church.
He urged the Presbyterian Church to come out with a product that would be patronised by its members and the society at large to generate more income instead of continuing to depend on its traditional sources of income.
Kunbuor assures Ghanaians
Page 15, March 16, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor has assured Ghanaians that the ministry has taken enough measures to manage the CSM epidemic and deaths in the three northern regions.
He told Parliament last week that selective preventive vaccination with A & C vaccines was being administered even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not recommend preventive vaccination.
He explained that each year the Ministry of Health (MOH) procures reasonable quantities of A&C vaccines for the communities at high risk in the belt, adding that this year alone the ministry supplied 380,000 doses of the vaccine to the three northern regions.
Dr Kunbuor who was answering an urgent question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh stated that the MOH had also mounted surveillance for the early detection of the cases.
Again, he said health workers were trained each year while drugs were procured for use in the three northern regions.
On public education, Dr Kunbuor said that before and during the season, that is from October to April, intensive public education was mounted through the mass media, community durbars and one-on-one messages to educate the public on the disease.
He advised people with signs and symptoms of the disease such as fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, among others to report to the nearest health facilities while overcrowding should be avoided since the disease spreads very fast under such conditions.
The health minister also called on Ghanaians to sleep in well-ventilated rooms in addition to drinking enough water.
Mr Kunbuor explained that this year, the disease started in only one district in the Upper West Region adding that another district in the Upper East Region was currently reporting cases of the epidemic.
He indicated that mass vaccination was currently ongoing while the effect of the disease was stabilising.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor has assured Ghanaians that the ministry has taken enough measures to manage the CSM epidemic and deaths in the three northern regions.
He told Parliament last week that selective preventive vaccination with A & C vaccines was being administered even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not recommend preventive vaccination.
He explained that each year the Ministry of Health (MOH) procures reasonable quantities of A&C vaccines for the communities at high risk in the belt, adding that this year alone the ministry supplied 380,000 doses of the vaccine to the three northern regions.
Dr Kunbuor who was answering an urgent question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh stated that the MOH had also mounted surveillance for the early detection of the cases.
Again, he said health workers were trained each year while drugs were procured for use in the three northern regions.
On public education, Dr Kunbuor said that before and during the season, that is from October to April, intensive public education was mounted through the mass media, community durbars and one-on-one messages to educate the public on the disease.
He advised people with signs and symptoms of the disease such as fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, among others to report to the nearest health facilities while overcrowding should be avoided since the disease spreads very fast under such conditions.
The health minister also called on Ghanaians to sleep in well-ventilated rooms in addition to drinking enough water.
Mr Kunbuor explained that this year, the disease started in only one district in the Upper West Region adding that another district in the Upper East Region was currently reporting cases of the epidemic.
He indicated that mass vaccination was currently ongoing while the effect of the disease was stabilising.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Ayariga finally gets the nod
Page 3, March 13, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has finally given approval to the nomination of the former Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, as the Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The House endorsed the nomination of Mr Ayariga following the approval of the report of the Appointments Committee, which stated that the nominee had met the requirements of the Constitution and therefore recommended him by consensus to the House for approval.
The vetting of Mr Ayariga by the Appointments Committee of Parliament generated intense public interest as a result of five tractors he purchased from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
Before facing the committee, Mr Ayariga had appeared before the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to answer queries about the tractor saga and when he came face to face with the Appointments Committee, the issue featured prominently in the vetting.
When the committee delayed in presenting its report to the House for approval or otherwise, a lot of meanings were adduced, with some people saying that the committee wanted to review the CHRAJ verdict on the tractor matter.
However, some members of the committee supporting the motion moved by the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, said that it was unfortunate that people gave all sorts of meanings to the deliberations of the committee.
The report of the committee explained that it never at any material moment concerned itself with a review of the findings of the CHRAJ in the matter relating to the nominee.
It explained that copies of the reports which were made available to the members of the committee were distributed to them just before the public hearing of the nominee began, adding that no member was able to read the contents either before or during the public hearing.
“The Committee is mindful of Articles 218 and 225 of the 1992 Constitution and also the enabling law, Act 456 of 1993, ensuing from Article 219, which defines the powers of the Commission and will not do anything to undermine the authority and integrity of the Commission”.
It said regarding the ruling of CHRAJ tendered in by the nominee, the committee wrote to CHRAJ to request a certified true copy of the ruling to ensure that what the nominee presented to the committee was not different.
The report added that CHRAJ gracefully supplied the committee with a certified copy of its0 decision on the matter.
According to the report, the committee had reservations about some of the answers by Mr Ayariga when he appeared before it, especially with regard to the brand, cost of specific make, and the application for the tractors supplied him by the MoFA.
“The committee wishes to admonish the nominee to be more candid and forthright in all his dealings in future,” the report stated.
After some members had contributed to the ensuing debate, the House approved the report when the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, put the question which attracted no dissenting voice.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has finally given approval to the nomination of the former Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, as the Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The House endorsed the nomination of Mr Ayariga following the approval of the report of the Appointments Committee, which stated that the nominee had met the requirements of the Constitution and therefore recommended him by consensus to the House for approval.
The vetting of Mr Ayariga by the Appointments Committee of Parliament generated intense public interest as a result of five tractors he purchased from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
Before facing the committee, Mr Ayariga had appeared before the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to answer queries about the tractor saga and when he came face to face with the Appointments Committee, the issue featured prominently in the vetting.
When the committee delayed in presenting its report to the House for approval or otherwise, a lot of meanings were adduced, with some people saying that the committee wanted to review the CHRAJ verdict on the tractor matter.
However, some members of the committee supporting the motion moved by the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, said that it was unfortunate that people gave all sorts of meanings to the deliberations of the committee.
The report of the committee explained that it never at any material moment concerned itself with a review of the findings of the CHRAJ in the matter relating to the nominee.
It explained that copies of the reports which were made available to the members of the committee were distributed to them just before the public hearing of the nominee began, adding that no member was able to read the contents either before or during the public hearing.
“The Committee is mindful of Articles 218 and 225 of the 1992 Constitution and also the enabling law, Act 456 of 1993, ensuing from Article 219, which defines the powers of the Commission and will not do anything to undermine the authority and integrity of the Commission”.
It said regarding the ruling of CHRAJ tendered in by the nominee, the committee wrote to CHRAJ to request a certified true copy of the ruling to ensure that what the nominee presented to the committee was not different.
The report added that CHRAJ gracefully supplied the committee with a certified copy of its0 decision on the matter.
According to the report, the committee had reservations about some of the answers by Mr Ayariga when he appeared before it, especially with regard to the brand, cost of specific make, and the application for the tractors supplied him by the MoFA.
“The committee wishes to admonish the nominee to be more candid and forthright in all his dealings in future,” the report stated.
After some members had contributed to the ensuing debate, the House approved the report when the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, put the question which attracted no dissenting voice.
House passes Boundary Commission Bill
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday sat deep into the night to pass the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2010 under a certificate of urgency.
The bill, was, however passed behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of issues involved in boundary demarcations.
The bill was presented to the House and read for the first time before it was referred to the Committee on Lands and Forestry for consideration and report.
When the bill was brought before the House yesterday to be read for the second time, the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, reminded the House about the decision taken by the House to consider the bill in camera.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who had already moved a motion for the bill to be read for the second time, therefore had no option but to stop to enable the House to deal with the bill behind closed doors.
Historically, several ad hoc boundary committees were set up under the NLCD 235 to negotiate Ghana's land boundaries with her neighbours.
However, no commission had ever been set up to delimit the country's maritime boundaries with its neighbours.
The bill is, therefore, to establish the Ghana Boundary Commission with the mandate to undertake negotiations to determine and demarcate Ghana's land boundaries and delimit its maritime boundaries.
It will ensure the proper development and consistent application of Ghana's policies regarding maritime boundary delimitation.
Under the bill, a team of experts would be developed to engage and provide continuity in
negotiation processes concerning land boundary and maritime boundary delimitation.
There is a particular urgency with regard to the delimitation of Ghana's maritime boundaries, since it involves fundamental issues of national and regional security.
A report of the committee noted that undelimited maritime boundaries placed Ghana's offshore natural resources at risk of aggressive claims from neighbouring countries.
In addition, there was the need to create a stable environment for the operation of oil investors in boundary areas in view of the huge cost and risk involved in the industry.
Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday vetted two people nominated by the President for deputy ministerial positions.
They are Alhaji Dr Major Mustapha Ahmed (retd) for Water Resources, Works and Housing and Mr San Nasamu Asabigi Deputy for the Northern Region.
They both gave an assurance to support their substantive ministers to implement policies that would go to assist in the achievement of objectives set under the "Better Ghana Agenda".
PARLIAMENT yesterday sat deep into the night to pass the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2010 under a certificate of urgency.
The bill, was, however passed behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of issues involved in boundary demarcations.
The bill was presented to the House and read for the first time before it was referred to the Committee on Lands and Forestry for consideration and report.
When the bill was brought before the House yesterday to be read for the second time, the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, reminded the House about the decision taken by the House to consider the bill in camera.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who had already moved a motion for the bill to be read for the second time, therefore had no option but to stop to enable the House to deal with the bill behind closed doors.
Historically, several ad hoc boundary committees were set up under the NLCD 235 to negotiate Ghana's land boundaries with her neighbours.
However, no commission had ever been set up to delimit the country's maritime boundaries with its neighbours.
The bill is, therefore, to establish the Ghana Boundary Commission with the mandate to undertake negotiations to determine and demarcate Ghana's land boundaries and delimit its maritime boundaries.
It will ensure the proper development and consistent application of Ghana's policies regarding maritime boundary delimitation.
Under the bill, a team of experts would be developed to engage and provide continuity in
negotiation processes concerning land boundary and maritime boundary delimitation.
There is a particular urgency with regard to the delimitation of Ghana's maritime boundaries, since it involves fundamental issues of national and regional security.
A report of the committee noted that undelimited maritime boundaries placed Ghana's offshore natural resources at risk of aggressive claims from neighbouring countries.
In addition, there was the need to create a stable environment for the operation of oil investors in boundary areas in view of the huge cost and risk involved in the industry.
Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday vetted two people nominated by the President for deputy ministerial positions.
They are Alhaji Dr Major Mustapha Ahmed (retd) for Water Resources, Works and Housing and Mr San Nasamu Asabigi Deputy for the Northern Region.
They both gave an assurance to support their substantive ministers to implement policies that would go to assist in the achievement of objectives set under the "Better Ghana Agenda".
Parliament concludes debate on state of nation address
Page 15, March 12, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE DEBATE on the President’s State of the Nation Address, which began last week, has ended with Members of Parliament from the two sides of the House advancing their arguments on whether the address met the expectations of Ghanaians or failed to touch on issues bordering on the living conditions of the people.
As if both sides of the House saved their best for the last day of the debate, the House was set agog when three MPs from each side made their submissions before the MP for Garu-Tempani, Mr Dominic Azumah rounded up the debate, which lasted for seven sitting days.
In his contribution, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka stated that the address was not an opportunity to compare the records of past governments with the current government.
He noted that even though it might be necessary to occasionally compare figures or make casual comparisons, one should not spend the whole time comparing two governments.
“In my view, the State of the Nation Address is to afford the President the opportunity to inform us about the state of affairs of the country. So in this respect, the President touches on various policies and programmes, the challenges and how he intends to fix them”.
The Majority Leader noted that the President’s call on Ghanaians to believe in themselves and the nation was a clarion call for Ghanaians to adopt the can do it concept.
He stated that it was important for Ghanaians to have confidence, trust and faith in themselves that they could manage their own affairs.
Mr Avoka added that even though the country’s economy was challenged and depressed by the beginning of January, 2009 with the declining of the cedi, Ghanaians were able to manage the economy successfully.
On food and food security, the Majority Leader said it was welcome news that a Buffer Stock Management Agency would be set up to purchase food for storage during harvesting in order to sell during the lean season.
He said that the policy would reduce post harvest losses and motivate farmers to produce more as a result of guaranteed prices for their produce.
On security, the Majority Leader noted that efforts had been made by the government to reduce the incidence of armed robbery and the use of the country’s territory as transit points for the export of cocaine and other hard drugs.
His assertion that an international report referred to Ghana in 2008 as a cocaine coast instead of gold coast was challenged by the Minority and called for the report to be laid before the House for study by the MPs .
The debate could have degenerated into chaos but for the tact of the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo after the said report had been laid, it was later withdrawn.
When he took his turn at the debate, the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu questioned the President’s assertion in his address that the state of the nation was good.
He noted that in a situation where most Ghanaians could not afford two square meals and Ghanaians were queuing for gas, petrol and kerosene, the state of the nation could not be described as good.
Mr Agyeman-Manu alleged that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was in a mess as the government had failed to release funds for the payment of the services of the health providers while beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) had not been paid for some time now.
He stated that the escalating prices of goods did not paint a picture of a good nation and called on the President to sit back and do a re-assessment of his conviction that the state of the nation was good.
For his part, the NDC MP for Mfantseman West, Mr Aquinas Tawia Quansah said that even though the government had done well to improve the local production of rice, more efforts should be made to encourage farmers to further improve on their yield of the crop.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea impressed on the President to ensure that ex-President Kufuor was paid his ex-gratia and allocated with an office and cars as stipulated by the Chinnery-Hesse Committee to ensure fairness.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah who is also the MP for Suhum and Mr J.S Annan, Deputy Minister of Education and MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA).
In her remarks, the Speaker noted that the debate was lively and thanked the MPs for their display of maturity.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE DEBATE on the President’s State of the Nation Address, which began last week, has ended with Members of Parliament from the two sides of the House advancing their arguments on whether the address met the expectations of Ghanaians or failed to touch on issues bordering on the living conditions of the people.
As if both sides of the House saved their best for the last day of the debate, the House was set agog when three MPs from each side made their submissions before the MP for Garu-Tempani, Mr Dominic Azumah rounded up the debate, which lasted for seven sitting days.
In his contribution, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka stated that the address was not an opportunity to compare the records of past governments with the current government.
He noted that even though it might be necessary to occasionally compare figures or make casual comparisons, one should not spend the whole time comparing two governments.
“In my view, the State of the Nation Address is to afford the President the opportunity to inform us about the state of affairs of the country. So in this respect, the President touches on various policies and programmes, the challenges and how he intends to fix them”.
The Majority Leader noted that the President’s call on Ghanaians to believe in themselves and the nation was a clarion call for Ghanaians to adopt the can do it concept.
He stated that it was important for Ghanaians to have confidence, trust and faith in themselves that they could manage their own affairs.
Mr Avoka added that even though the country’s economy was challenged and depressed by the beginning of January, 2009 with the declining of the cedi, Ghanaians were able to manage the economy successfully.
On food and food security, the Majority Leader said it was welcome news that a Buffer Stock Management Agency would be set up to purchase food for storage during harvesting in order to sell during the lean season.
He said that the policy would reduce post harvest losses and motivate farmers to produce more as a result of guaranteed prices for their produce.
On security, the Majority Leader noted that efforts had been made by the government to reduce the incidence of armed robbery and the use of the country’s territory as transit points for the export of cocaine and other hard drugs.
His assertion that an international report referred to Ghana in 2008 as a cocaine coast instead of gold coast was challenged by the Minority and called for the report to be laid before the House for study by the MPs .
The debate could have degenerated into chaos but for the tact of the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo after the said report had been laid, it was later withdrawn.
When he took his turn at the debate, the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu questioned the President’s assertion in his address that the state of the nation was good.
He noted that in a situation where most Ghanaians could not afford two square meals and Ghanaians were queuing for gas, petrol and kerosene, the state of the nation could not be described as good.
Mr Agyeman-Manu alleged that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was in a mess as the government had failed to release funds for the payment of the services of the health providers while beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) had not been paid for some time now.
He stated that the escalating prices of goods did not paint a picture of a good nation and called on the President to sit back and do a re-assessment of his conviction that the state of the nation was good.
For his part, the NDC MP for Mfantseman West, Mr Aquinas Tawia Quansah said that even though the government had done well to improve the local production of rice, more efforts should be made to encourage farmers to further improve on their yield of the crop.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea impressed on the President to ensure that ex-President Kufuor was paid his ex-gratia and allocated with an office and cars as stipulated by the Chinnery-Hesse Committee to ensure fairness.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah who is also the MP for Suhum and Mr J.S Annan, Deputy Minister of Education and MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA).
In her remarks, the Speaker noted that the debate was lively and thanked the MPs for their display of maturity.
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