In a charged session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson delivered a scathing critique of the agenda items presented at an emergency meeting called by the Speaker of Parliament.
Mr Forson, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), questioned the urgency and relevance of the issues slated for discussion, deeming them routine and lacking in immediate necessity.
Mr Forson began by expressing his usual enthusiasm for parliamentary business but noted that today’s agenda did not warrant such excitement.
He highlighted three primary items on the agenda: the swearing-in of the Member of Parliament elect for the Ejisu Constituency, the approval of the President’s nominees for ministerial positions, and the approval of a $150 million loan agreement for the Ghana Accountability and Resource Integrated Development (GARID) project.
Mr Forson questioned the urgency of these items, particularly the approval of ministerial nominees, given the already substantial size of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
He also challenged the necessity of approving a new $150 million loan when the government has not accounted for the $200 million approved for phase one of the GARID project.
Additionally, Mr Forson pointed out the contradiction in prioritizing this loan approval while the government grants questionable $450 million tax waivers.
The Minority Leader stressed that the real urgent issue facing Ghanaians is the rapid depreciation of the Cedi, which has led to soaring prices of goods and services, adversely affecting businesses, traders, and households.
Mr Forson detailed the hardships faced by traders in markets such as Abossey Okai, Okaishie, Makola, Mallam Atta, Keta, and Kejetia, whose capital is being eroded by the devaluation of the currency.
Mr Forson expressed empathy for those servicing dollar-denominated mortgages with Cedi earnings and for traders who have lost their working capital.
He criticized the government for not considering these economic hardships as urgent, noting that the rising food prices and fuel costs have made daily survival increasingly difficult for many Ghanaians.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Mr Forson pointed out that food inflation stands at about 48%, making Ghana the fifth country in the world with the highest food inflation rate.
He warned that over one million Ghanaians could face food insecurity between June and August due to these rising costs.
The escalating fuel prices have also forced many to park their cars, exacerbating the struggle to afford transportation for daily needs.
Mr Forson condemned the persistent power outages, known locally as “dumsor,” and criticized the government’s failure to address this pressing issue.
He concluded by asserting that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration has misaligned priorities, focusing on non-urgent parliamentary approvals instead of addressing the critical economic and social challenges facing the nation.
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