President's Address: Comments

The NDC MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Ben Kunbuor, said the President was not forthcoming on issues of corruption involving members of his government, adding “The President has to make corruption one of his special initiatives”. The leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Mr Dan Lartey, however, said the President did not say anything new. He said President Kufuor failed to outline a comprehensive programme of action to combat hunger and to eradicate poverty. The President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Prince Kofi Kludjeson, described the address as good, positive and impressive. He expressed the hope that this time round, programmes outlined by the President would be implemented. The outgoing MP for Gomoa West, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, said she expected more than what the President delivered, stressing, “I am somehow disappointed.” She criticised the address on the grounds that it failed to make public the performance of the Accountability Office since its establishment. Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines,said the address touched on all areas Ghanaians wanted. She said the address showed maturity and was devoid of any political connotation.The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Adjoa Yeboa-Afari, described the speech as wonderful and historic, and added that it would be a reference point for research work. The Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Ken Dzirasah, said the President failed to acknowledge the contributions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the development of the country which the NPP government was claiming credit for. The Associate Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development, Dr Baffour Agyemang-Dua, said the President sounded reconciliatory. He said the President's comment on the Dagbon crisis, review and highlight of the government's performance over the past four years were necessary.

He described the portion of the address that centred on the Tsunami and its effects on Asia and parts of East Africa as encouraging,saying that “it is of global nature”. The UN Co-ordinator in Ghana, Mr Alfred Saliah Fawundu, said the address was comprehensive. He hailed the aspect which urged Ghanaians to join the world to support the Tsunami victims.The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Dan Botwe, called on Ghanaians to imbibe the address in order to contribute effectively to development. He stressed the need for unity, togetherness and oneness in an effort to achieve a speedy development.