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04.03.2009 Politics

Parliament Winds Up Debate on State of the Nation Address.

04.03.2009 LISTEN
By ISD (Gilbert Ankrah, Richard Osei

Parliament yesterday concluded the one week debate on the President's Sate of the Nation Address delivered to the House on the 19th of February 2009.

The debate touched on various aspects of the address including energy, the judiciary, armed forces, governance, economy, agriculture, health, education among others.

In a contribution the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere West and former energy minister, Hon Albert Kan-Dapaah, called
on the president to do his best to increase the country current energy production level and was optimistic that there will be good news on Thursday when the budget is presented to Parliament.

He pointed out that fuel prices have dropped considerably and urged the NDC government to live up to expectation to cut down on prices by dealing with the tax element involved.

He commended President Mills for pledging to fix a regulatory framework for managing oil revenues and a local content policy where Ghanaians will be able to participate in oilfield support services, and urged the government to ensure that Ghanaians are not short changed in reaping from the benefits of the oil discovery adding that the oil revenue should lead to the reduction of poverty and fast track national development.

In his contribution the MP for South Tongu, Hon, Kobla Mensah Woyome, also urged the House of take into consideration the call of the President on Parliament to
build consensus in deliberations on executive and other businesses to being about national unity and development.

MP for Shama, Gabriel Essilfie, during his submission criticised the NPP government for over spending over the past eight years and lamented on the state of the economy and urged the Mills administration to pay attention to the fishing industry.

NPP MP for Akropong, Mr Willam Ofori Boafo, also touched on the armed forces and need for government to extend the automation programme of the judiciary to the district courts to fast track trials.

 

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