Parliament defers motion on high food prices

Parliament for two consecutive sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday deferred the debate on a motion on escalating prices of foodstuffs and calling on the government to take immediate steps to address it.

A private member's motion on the issue that was scheduled for debate on Tuesday, June 12 was first deferred to (June 13) today for the House to reach a consensus on it because there was an amendment motion from the Majority side.

The original motion stood in the names of NDC members, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, (Avenor), Mr John Akologo Tia, (Talensi) and Dr Alfred Tia (Nalerigu) calling on the House "to view with serious concern the current escalating prices of foodstuffs and urge the government to take immediate steps to arrest the situation".

The next day the Majority proposed an amendment to the motion, which reads "the House, conscious of the strenuous efforts currently being made by the government to improve the economy, urges the government to remain steadfast in this pursuit in order to revamp the agricultural sector and stabilise food prices".

According to the House Order Paper (Programme), four members of the Majority are co-sponsoring the amendment. They are Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, (Tema West), Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, (Old Tafo-Suame), Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh,(Nsuta-Kwamang) and Mr Samuel Balado Manu.

At Tuesday's sitting, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Deputy Majority Leader informed the House that the leadership of both sides were seeking a consensus on the two motions. Mr Doe Adjaho supported the Majority's stand.

The motion was again deferred to Thursday after the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey had called the topic for debate only for Papa Owusu-Ankomah to request that the matter be deferred.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the day was far advanced and the motion needed a full-scale debate for more members to contribute to it. Also by Thursday the leadership could have reached a consensus.

Mr Adjaho again supported this.