The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says President Akufo-Addo made an honest assessment of the country when he delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on March 8, 2023.
According to him, the President acknowledged the hardship and that was why he asked for everybody’s support to address the situation.
“Mr Speaker, in yesterday’s statement before us in this hallowed chamber, the President made an honest assessment of our country’s situation and sought for the support of all in addressing it with hope and confidence, “Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He made the comment whilst contributing to the debate on the SONA which commenced last Thursday after the Speaker had fulfilled the requirements of Order 58 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which enjoins him to convey the gratitude of the House to the President for delivering the SONA.
His comments are a direct response to that of the Minority caucus, who are of the opinion that the President did not present the true state of the nation on that fateful Wednesday, when he appeared before members of Parliament.
The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, who made this known in the presence of the President, said that the true state of the nation is that the economy is in tatters.
According to the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam law maker, Ghanaians are in distress as a result of high inflation, interest rates, the execution of the Domestic Debt Exchange Program and other policies which are not inuring to their benefits.
But taking his turn to comment on the SONA, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the President made an honest assessment of the country’s situation and was honest in outlining the concerns of the ordinary Ghanaian.
According to him, prior to the coming of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, the Ghanaian economy was not in a good state.
“However, policies such as Free SHS, payment of nurses and teachers allowance, reduction in utility tariffs, reduction in taxes and waiver in levies have all contributed to the growth of the economy,” the Effutu legislator said.
On Free SHS, Mr Afenyo-Markin said “…There is no doubt on our minds as a people that the Free SHS has helped the many who otherwise would not have benefitted from secondary education.”
But he sharply pointed out that Covid-19 as well as the Russia and Ukraine war affected the gains the government made and indicated that the President has admitted this in many of his speeches and addresses that he had delivered.
“But, Mr Speaker, here we are, Covid-19 struck, followed by Ukraine-Russia war, which we never expected, which is affecting global economic trade and is hitting us as a country …The president admitted that the country is in crisis and has made efforts to keep the lights on and to sustain the Free Senior High School policy…”, Mr Markin said.
This notwithstanding, the Deputy Leader pointed out that he still thinks the NPP administration is doing well because the National Democratic Congress ( NDC) administration had eight years free of Covid-19 and war to transform lives, but could not do so and that puts the NPP in a good position.
“The NPP, under Nana Addo, is clear on which destination it is taking this country. The NPP is firm in its belief of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ghanaian and that is why steps have been taken to put lights on so people can do business.”
He dared the NDC to challenge the NPP with regards to which party has laboured more for the country.
