MPs Express Opposing Views On Prez Address

MPs and some ministers have expressed their views on President J.E.A Mills’ State of the Nation Address to Parliament today. The reactions can best be described as mixed feelings. The Majority side MPs of Parliament lauded President Mills’ statement especially his announcement of Housing Projects, Reconciliation of the Nation, Plans to manage Revenue from Oil find judiciously to the benefit of the masses, Agricultural policies to boost Agric and the move to ensure Good Governance among others. On the other hand, the Minority side said the President did not come out clear with the State of the Nation but rather rained a litany of promises. Our correspondent Bernard Quanson interviewed the MPs from both sides of Parliament. The First to speak to our reporter was the NDC MP for Awutu-Senya constituency, who noted that the President’s state of nation address is good due to the President’s intention to complete Housing Projects started by the previous governments but could not be completed. He said the directive by Prez for District Assemblies to build low cost rental Apartments for Ghanaians is also welcoming. The MP for Ayawaso East, Hon. Mustapha Ahmed, on his part, said the President’s intention to come out with an integrated aluminium industry based on bauxite and a petro-chemical industry based on salt and Natural gas, a fertilizer industry to give impetus to agro development and allied consumer products and exports based on oil and gas among others is a positive development. The next to speak on this subject was Hon. Kobena Mensah Woyome, MP for south Tongu Constituency. He said it had not been easy for the government last year due to global economic crisis so it was difficult for the government to achieve much. He said now that things are stabilizing this year will be better. On his part, the NPP MP for Subin, Hon. Isaac Osei said the President did not present the real state of the nation but rather he chronicled a number of promises. He however, said that he hopes government will fulfil promises it made on oil and gas management. NPP MP for Ablekuma North, Hon. Joe Appiah also noted that President Mills did not say much about Health but he should fulfil his promise to build offices for MPs.

Source: Bernard Quanson/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana