The Timely intervention of the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, prevented what could have turned into an arena of verbal assault between the minority and majority sides of Parliament during the concluding part of the debate on the 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government.
Mr. Adjaho had to call the Members of Parliament (MPs) to order and further entreated them to ensure the highest level of decorum in their reactions on the floor of the House to protect the dignity and integrity of Parliament.
The Speaker's intervention was as a result of shouting and verbal exchanges from both sides when the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin in his address told the House that through good governance under the ruling National Democratic Congress government, MPs from the minority side are enjoying benefits which the then minority under the erstwhile Kufuor administration did not enjoy.
Mr. Bagbin said members of the minority have numerous benefits such as travelling among others, which the then minority under the Kufuor-administration did not enjoy.
He stated that in 2001 when the New Patriotic Party came into office, most MPs were thrown out of their homes forcing him to use his personal home despite being a member of the leadership of the House.
But this did not go down well with the minority side who reacted angrily with shouts forcing the Speaker to intervene.
Mr. Bagbin further stated that under the Mahama-administration, Ghanaians no longer carry “Kufuor gallons” in search of water due to borrowing by government to invest in the provision of potable water.
He said government borrowed to work on the Mampong water project, Nsawam water project, solve the water crisis at Madina and Adentan, both in Accra, among others.
The Majority Leader further stated that government is committed to building a sustainable and prosperous society adding that government has made progress in “debt management, and enhanced quality of lives of Ghanaians” among other things.
He said for the first time, government has been able to negotiate the minimum wage with public sector workers and factored it into the 2016 budget statement and economic policy.
Mr. Bagbin noted that the budget is good for Ghanaians because it would take the country forward to achieve a just and free society stressing that there is “a natural music flowing through the air and those who listen carefully will hear it.”
But the Minority Leader in his submission said seven years under the Mahama-administration, the Ghana cedi has depreciated by 200 per cent.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu stated that in spite of all the resources at government's disposal, there are arrears of GETFund, contractors, national service personnel, and workers.
According to him, businesses are collapsing; power crisis is affecting people and noted that government is insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians and “it is in this regard that we describe it as dead goat budget.”
The minority leader further urged government not to be proud of distributing five birds each to 320 female farmers and some animals because that cannot help reduce the meat deficit in the country.
He also urged Ghanaians not to be deceived by “fancy talkers” because most of the problems in the country are self inflicted adding that Ghanaians are not happy with the abysmal performance of the President.
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