Ato Forson, Minority leader
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the emergency parliamentary session convened by the Majority caucus on Friday, May 17.
He argued that there was no genuine emergency warranting the recall of Parliament to approve a $150 million loan from the World Bank.
In his address at the start of the parliamentary sitting, Dr. Forson, who previously served as Deputy Finance Minister, stated that the approval of the loan was unnecessary.
He highlighted that the government had already misused funds from the first phase of the loan that had been approved earlier.
"How is the approval of a US$150 million loan an urgent issue when a US$200 million loan for phase one, approved by this House, has been misapplied and not accounted for?
"How is it an urgent matter for Parliament to be summoned from recess to approve a US$150 million loan agreement at a time when this government is granting a questionable US$450 million tax waiver?
"Therefore, we want to make it clear that there is no urgent matter before the House to warrant this recall."
Dr. Forson emphasized that the primary concern for the Akufo-Addo administration should be the alarming depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi.
The Minority Leader pointed out that the rapid decline in the value of the local currency is causing severe economic challenges, including the collapse of businesses and rising unemployment.
He urged the government to focus on stabilizing the Cedi rather than seeking additional loans for what he termed as consumption.
Dr. Forson stressed the need for the administration to prioritize economic stability and the well-being of its citizens.
The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam lawmaker reiterated that addressing the free fall of the Cedi should be the government's most urgent task.
In conclusion, Dr. Forson called on the government to reassess its priorities and take decisive action to stabilize the economy, rather than accumulating more debt.
"Rt. Hon. Speaker, the urgent matter facing the people of Ghana, particularly businesses, traders, and households, is the free fall of the Cedi. This is a matter that concerns everyone. The depreciation of the Cedi should be an urgent issue for all of us," he said.
AE
