<<Print>>

The Eastern Regional Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party, David Prah, has charged the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, to account for the tractors that came to his Ministry when he was serving as the deputy minister for Food and Agriculture during late President JEA Mills administration.

Mr Prah explained that the tractors that were yet to be accounted for were tractors brought into the country by former President Kufuor to be distributed to farmers to enhance their service delivery.

He, however, alleged that Mr Ayariga deliberately took twenty of the tractors meant for the farmers and gave them to members of his family and NDC party foot soldiers.

Mr Prah made these disclosures in a statement in reaction to threats made by the Bawku Central MP to go to court over President Akufo-Addo’s appointment of Mr Osafo- Maafo as the Senior Minister.

He noted that Mr Ayariga had the opportunity to also serve as the Deputy Minister for Education in the previous Mahama government but could only purchase atlas with the country's money which could not be used in Ghanaian schools, thereby causing financial loss to the state.

"Mr Ayariga should return those tractors for the government to distribute among farmers to support their efforts and stop disturbing Ghanaians on the Senior Minister appointment," he said.

David Prah said he was surprised as to why Mr Ayariga was not talking about the numerous scandals like the GYEEDA corruption, Embraer Jet, Subah, SADA, the Bus Branding, among others, but would rather take on a matter like a ministerial appointment which was in the interest of the country.

He entreated the legislator to talk about the collapse of social intervention programmes like the NHIS, School Feeding, Capitation Grants and Free Maternal Care by a government he served under.

Mr Prah explained that the ministerial appointments that had been announced by the President were excellent and the nominees have what it takes to deliver, bring hope to Ghanaians, fix the economy and create employment to the teeming unemployed youth.

He noted that President Akufo-Addo’s vision to make the economy prosperous would be achieved through the implementation of policies like “the One-District-One-Factory’ policy; One-Village-One-Dam’ policy; the diversification of the country’s agriculture; the Free SHS policy; and an Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication among others which require people who share in this vision including the Senior Minister portfolio.

"Mr Ayariga must have credibility before commenting on issues concerning the state,” he said, adding that he must speak on issues only when he has produced the tractors.
He appealed to President Akufo-Addo to use all means to retrieve the tractors from Mr Ayariga.