Ghanaians cannot afford two square meals -MP

Accra, March 10, GNA - Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Member for Dormaa West, has called on President John Evans Atta Mills to make a very good assessment of the state of the nation and address the numerous problems affecting the lives of the people.

He said most Ghanaians cannot afford two square meals a day as prices of goods and services were escalating.

Mr. Manu who was contributing to the debate on the State of the Nation Address said: "even a bottle of Akpeteshie as at now cost 28 Ghana cedis. Now we are using Atta Mills gallon for kerosene and gas not only water, Kufuor's gallon was only for water." He disagreed with President Mills for asserting that the state of the nation was good, saying "he even refused to talk about National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

"The state of the NHIS is at a point that all the contributions are going into individual pockets," he said. He alleged that companies were folding up due to the precarious state of the nation citing Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL)as one of those companies falling apart.

Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak on a point of order referred Mr Manu to Page five of the address where the National Health Insurance Scheme was clearly mentioned and asked Manu to stop making sweeping statements. Mr. Manu, quickly replied, "All I am saying is that the President had not done a good assessment of the nation." Nana Akomea, Member for Okaikwe South, said over a year now former President Kufuor has no office, no official car, and has not received any ex-gratia.

He argued that President Mills spoke about an all inclusive government but "what do we see, the President has instructed his Ministers to serve NDC party faithfuls who hold party cards".

Nana Akomea was asked to withdraw the statement by Mr Collins Daoda, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who disagreed with Nana's allegation saying that the President had never instructed any Minister to serve only party card holder.

Upon the ruling of the Speaker, Mrs. Joyce Bamford Addo, Nana withdrew the statement but insisted that it was Mr. Ayariga, the former spokesman of the President, who said it. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Member for Tamale South, noted that " Mr. Kufuor is aware that government had identified a location at Airport area to be used as his office apartment.

He said government was taking steps to rehabilitate all former Presidents especially former President Kufuor. Dr. Joseph Annan, Member for Komenda Edina/Eguafo/ Abrem, said there had been excessive spending on the GETFund and that a forensic audit would be carried out to find out.

Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader, said any short fall in the GETFund was between expenditure and releases. It is the house that approves the allocation but if the amount allocated did not match the releases,a problem will arise. He said in 2009 the short fall amounted to only 20 per cent as he asked what would be the result of the forensic audit if the Deputy Minister already believed that there was excessive spending and called Dr. Annan to withdraw the word "excessive".

This warmed the house into a debate that is likely to attract words and gestures for which apologies would sought and made. 10 March 10.