The Minority in Parliament yesterday went haywire over the statement the Finance Minister, |Ken Ofori-Atta made to the House about the just concluded Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
Following the Finance Minister’s submission, six key members of the minority, took turns to throw verbal punches at the minister, whom they had called to resign for what they described as the poor management of the economy.
Isaac Adongo
The Bolgatanga Central Member of Parliament (MP), Isaac Adongo, set the ball rolling when he claimed he was sad because Ghana, once known as a proud nation, was now begging from those it borrowed money from but could not pay.
According to him, if governance was all about collecting people’s money and loans, and not being able to refund, but using it to create economic stability, then the country must be outsourced to an artificial intelligence to manage.
“As a country, we are not angry enough. This cannot happen to anybody. You are here reading this boring and underwhelming statement to us and yet you are taking our money,” he said.
He continued to question the minister, “This is not a joke, and you are even quoting the Bible. Which of the Bibles are you quoting? Quoting the Bible and taking our money? You are denying the poor pensioner his/her money and you are still quoting the Bible?”
The lawmaker subsequently asked the Speaker to refer the presentation to the finance committee for proper oversight.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, opening his comments, said yesterday “was a sad day for the country.” He claimed that all the goodwill Ghana enjoyed have eroded; opining that Ghana was at the precipice because of a “finance minster who has betrayed the trust of the Ghanaian people.”
Vociferous Ablakwa was shocked to the marrow that the Finance Minister opened his statement by quoting the bible to say that Ghanaians should rejoice in the Lord.
He countered that the Minister forgets that in Proverbs 29:2 the bible says that when the wicked rules the people mourn…”
He further cited that it was strange that the government continues to blame the Russia and Ukraine war, as well as COVID-19 pandemic, asking whether Ghana was the only African country that was affected by them.
He, however, referred to a literature on debt exchange programme and said the Jamaican module has been presented as a masterstroke, but said the Minister for Finance has sideline that module.
Eric Opoku
In what appeared as litany of quotations from the bible, started by the Finance Minister, Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South, in his submission also copiously referred to the bible.
Though Ablakwa quoted Proverbs, Eric Opoku used 1 Kings 12:6, stating that Solomon once sought the expertise of old men who helped him to make important decisions about the Kingdom of Israel.
“But Mr. Speaker he did not touch the livelihood of these old men. He sought their expertise…”
He did not think the measures the government have put in place are achievable, but went ahead to suggest to the government to reduce its size.
He cited the One Constituency, One Million Dollars promise by the government. He claimed the funds were never released but an authority has been created and drawing funds to service the office.
Abu Jinapor
Abu Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu, stated that the problems of Ghana are not only Ken Ofori Atta but Mahamudu Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo.
According to Abu Jinapor, this is a national issue and that it is important for all members of parliament to put away their political differences and face the finance minister saying “you will not trash the pensioners today, you will not trash them tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who wrapped up the submission for his side, opined that Ghanaians should not be surprised of another “banking sector cleanup,” after the debt exchange programme.
