From Samuel Agbewode, Ho.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, has appealed to Ghanaians to give the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, at least, a year, before passing judgement on its performance.
He argued that after one year, Ghanaians would be able to effectively assess the government, as to whether it was able to improve upon the living standards of the people, or was able to create jobs.
The Minister for Transport in the Mahama-government also noted: “Change of government should be regarded as a normal practice.”
The Ketu South MP and the first Propaganda Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2007, said these at an educational outreach programme organised by NDC MPs in the Volta Region.
The programme, popularly known as the ‘Volta Caucus in Parliament’, was held in Ho, and addressing the audience, mostly students of the EP University College, Mr Kwetey explained that the loss of power to the NPP should be seen as normal and be compared to a relay race, where the baton is handed over to another athlete.
He explained that a change of government is aimed at helping to improve upon the living standards of the people.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey admitted that the deficit of the country, between 2012 and 2016, was very high, saying that it was one of the previous government’s challenges.
He explained: “Debt itself is never a problem, but the quality of such debts was very important. Former President John Dramani Mahama’s government created a sound economic environment for the NPP to inherit, and so success in the first six months of the NPP administration should have been credited to the NDC government, which laid the foundation for such achievements.”
Taking her turn to address the audience, Helen Adwoa Ntoso, MP for Krachi West, bemoaned mob attacks state security personnel suffer at the hands of civilians.
The former Volta Regional Minister observed that the recent indiscreet action by civilians on state security personnel was threatening national security.
Helen Adwoa Ntoso admonished Ghanaians to peacefully co-exist, and appealed to the government to institute measures that would protect the people, “because there was the need for all to live in peace and go about their legitimate duties.”
The audience, during question time, wanted to know why their MPs always neglect the constituents after they had been voted into office.
The concern of neglect touched on the poor state of roads and inaccessibility to potable water in the NDC’s electoral ‘World Bank’.
In his response, the Chairman of the Volta Caucus in Parliament, Emmanuel Bedzrah, defended that MPs are legitimately not responsible for the construction of roads and provision of potable water to communities, as many electorates have been made to understand.
“MPs are constitutionally mandated to make laws,” he educated.
Mr Bedzrah’s defence did not go down well with the audience, who commented: “If MPs are not responsible for the construction of roads and the provision of potable water among others, then they should stop throwing dust into the eyes of the electorate by promising them all the things that they are not mandated to do, just to get the necessary votes.”
Another concern the audience raised was how the MPs abandoned the electorate and constituencies after they win elections, and only rush to the people when they need their votes as elections approach.
However, Alorwu Tay, MP for Afadzato South, stated: “When I was the District Chief Executive for Afadzato South, I used to criticise our MP for not visiting the area frequently. But, I now understand that it is not easy as an MP to attend committee meetings. A lot of things would not allow the MP to visit the constituency frequently.”
Alorwu Tay, however, assured the audience that MPs had acknowledged their concerns in the region, promising that there would be a change.
From Samuel Agbewode, Ho. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, has appealed to Ghanaians to give the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, at least, a year, before passing judgement on its performance. He argued that after one year, Ghanaians would be able to effectively assess the government, as to whether it […] Read Full Story
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