MP calls President's austerity measures into question

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - Nana Akomea, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei South, on Tuesday said the with the nomination of more deputy ministers, President Mills' commitment to cut down on public expenditure could run into problems.

He said the latest additions to the lists of nominees bring the number of ministers to well over 60.

He said the President's austerity measures in governance could run into problems since he may not be able to live up to expectation.

The MP was seconding a motion in Parliament to thank the President for the message on the State of the Nation delivered last Thursday. Nana Akomea said the President's message was conciliatory and was aimed at national cohesion, a step in the right direction because this was a continuation of the previous messages by former President John Kufuor.

He said however said the transitional process had been characterised by harassment and seizures of vehicles, which undermined national cohesion.

On corruption, the MP said the separation of the Attorney-General's department and the Ministry of Justice, the empowerment of the Serious Fraud Office, and the lessening of the cumbersome processes in the judiciary could add up to deal with corruption.

Mr Fritz Baffour, NDC MP for Ablekuma South, in his contributions, touched on the proposal by President Mills to institute a Founder's Day in commemoration of Ghana's first President, and urged his colleagues to support any piece of legislation to make the proposal a reality. He also commended President Mills for showing concern to revive the arts and drama in schools for national development.

Mr Isaac Osei, NPP MP for Subin, on his part, said the President's address lacked vision and was lacking in new ideas and only sought to build on what the previous government had started.

Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, NDC MP for Wa Central, said a change in governance which would go down well with many was in the offing, with the proposal to expedite action on the passage of a national broadcasting law, the adoption of a code of conduct in government and the agenda to pass the Freedom of Information law.

Earlier, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker, referred a list of new ministerial appointments to the Appointments Committee for vetting. The lists include Mr Seth Tekpeh, Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr Kwesi Akyem Apea-Kubi, Deputy Minister for Interior, Mr John Gyetuah, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways.