Kenkey And Plantain in Parliament

Members of Parliament were stunned last Tuesday when a member in his contribution to the debate on the escalating food crises openly displayed a ball of kenkey and a finger of plantain in the House.

The member, Hon. I.K.N. Ofori, MP for Sefwi Wiawso on catching the eye of the speaker brought out the two food items to support the position by the minority that the food situation is getting worse.

In his contribution he held up the kenkey and said that a ball of kenkey sold at ?200 cedis in January this year but now incredibly cost ?500 On the plantain he said, that size cost ?300 at the beginning of the year but now goes for ?1000.

He said members of the minority are talking about practical realities of the prevailing food situation in the country and that they were not interested in politicizing it.

The Sefwi Wiawso MP noted that the minority only wants to draw attention to the food situation so that government would move swiftly to solve it.

Hon. Akua Dansua, MP for North Dayi, for her part attributed the prevailing high cost of food to most intra-family quarrels with its consequent breaking of marriages.

Whilst saying that women are the most affected by the food situation, she explained that the constraint of having to spend more on food causes stress on families and eventually lead to quarrels between wives and husbands.

The MP for Odododiodio, Hon, Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte noted that the NPP government had been in power for only five months and wondered if anybody in that position could perform wonders within such a short period.

He said the motion was brought to the House out of mischief adding that, if the nation can move forward it is important that members adopt a bi-partisan approach to matters on agriculture. Hon. Norbert Garko Awulley, MP for Builsa South said in his contribution that the motion is to draw attention to the general food situation and described the amendment motion as being brought in the spirit of partisanship.

In his contribution, Hon. K. Sarfo, MP for Offinso South said the answer to the food crises is the revamping of irrigation saying Ghana has developed only 4% of its total land area meant for irrigation. The Afram Plains, he said, abound in agriculture and called on the government to establish an Afram plains Development Authority to handle agricultural matters there.

He explained that with cutlasses and hoes there cannot be high food security and called on the House not to blame the NPP government since the food crises has been with Ghanaians for so many years. On his part, Hon. Mohammed Seidu Issah Abah, MP for Chereponi noted that the government could have sought assistance from friendly nations as it did for fuel.

The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa MP said the movers of the nation failed to identify the factors that led to the rising cost of goods and services, blaming the situation on the NDC for a poor foundation.

Hon. S. P. Adamu, MP for Bibiani noted in his contributions that economic activities have slowed down which have brought down the rate of productivity adding that workers are being paid for no work done.

The Minister for Energy and MP for Afigya-Sekyere West, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah stated that rising cost of food during this time of the year is not surprising and added that the problem could be solved either by swallowing the bitter pill or adopting a populist approach.

The Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli North, Hon. Alban Bagbin said in his contribution that the irresponsible increase in the fuel prices cannot be stomached by Ghanaians saying, the situation is such that workers cannot afford one good meal a day.

He said from the arguments of the Majority and the amendment motion one could deduce that the Majority is insensitive to the cry of Ghanaians.