Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Feb. 2001
Thirty-eight days after his assumption of office, President John Agyekum Kufuor's much expected address to the nation came on Thursday.
The 62-year-old lawyer, who became the first in Ghana's history to succeed a democratically elected government through popular vote, was the parliamentary guest this morning.
Many had gathered in and outside the confines of Parliament to catch a glimpse of the new man of the new era who had come to unmask the realities of the nation and unveiled his vision for it.
The chamber was bursting at its seams with specially invited guests, leaving the rest scrambling for seats and places near the big screens mounted at vantage points.
The national colours - red green and yellow - adorned the walls and scaffolding feeding the gleaming wood panelling of the chamber, adding to its splendour.
Members of the Judiciary donned their red, yellow, green and white ceremonial wigs and cloaks, which matched perfectly with the interior decorations of the chamber.
A smartly dressed contingent of the Ghana Navy strolled just outside the main chamber awaiting their commander in chief.
Half-naked dancers twisted and wriggled their bodies at the entrance of the hall as they waited to welcome President Kufuor. But two hours passed before the first siren signalling his arrival sounded in the distance.
A well-rehearsed mounted constabulary of the Ghana Police Service sandwiched his car, apparently for security reasons.
When the President took his first step to inspect the guard of honour, the waiting navy band did him a great favour.
The Twi gospel song "Meda wase", to wit, I will thank you, guided his feet through the slow march. His radiating smile brought back memories of his victory speeches in which he said "our victory is the work of God".
President Kufuor took his confidence and charm with him to the chamber and was received with the slogan "asee ho", a popular catch phrase urging the electorate to vote for the NPP, whose symbol appeared at the bottom of the ballot paper during the December general election.
As he flipped the pages of his address, which touched on almost all aspects of national life, he beamed with smiles, occasionally stealing glances at his wife, Theresa.
The President's speech was occasionally interrupted by slogans, murmurs and laughter from the floor of the house, sometimes directed at certain personalities. For example, Presidential Affairs Minister Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey had his "Insha Allahu" sang several times for him.
"We will grow what we eat and eat what..." attracted shouts of "domestication!" domestication!", compelling its proponent - Mr Dan Lartey, flagbearer of the GCPP - to smile.
As President Kufuor continued "We will start fixing the houses in the Military Barracks", the minority murmured: "We started it! we started it!"
He promised the media and women at the end of his speech, saying: "we will repeal criminal libel; we shall bring to book those who murdered our women". This sent the public clapping and cheering.
At the end of it all, President Kufuor was whisked away by aggressive bodyguards into his waiting car and escorted by the constabulary.
The reactivated fountain in front of the chamber spewed water in a background of an expansive lawn fighting the invading late harmattan winds. This has been the President's first day in Parliament.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Feb. 2001
The following are highlights of President John Agyekum Kufuor's maiden state of the nation address:
- Establishment of a National Reconciliation Committee, promulgation of a code of conduct for government officials, promotion of the rule of law and pursuit of golden age of business
- Called for joint efforts to mend the ailing economy, reinforce democracy for justice and reduce crime in the society.
- Government will support the continued modernisation of the process of administration of justice, enabling the judiciary to function efficiently.
- Hard decisions will have to be taken to put the economy back in track.
- Provisional figures indicate that the growth of real gross domestic product for year 2000 was 3.7 per cent, far lower than the projected five per cent in last year's budget.
- The country's total debt stock stood at 41.1 trillion cedis at the end of December 2000. Out of this amount, 31.7 trillion or 5.8 billion dollars was external and 9.4 trillion cedis or 1.7 billion dollars was domestic.
- Government will improve the capabilities of the security services.
- Police service will be strengthened and equipped.
- Government is seeking foreign assistance to end the serial killings of women.
- President will visit Nigeria, Cote d"Ivoire and Burkina Faso
-Government to change cash and carry system
- Government to fully eradicate guinea worm by the middle of next year
- NIV/AIDS is the biggest challenge facing the health sector
- Retention of health personnel would be a major priority.
- Government to move towards full cost recovery in fuel sector
- Government to restore the urban bus and mass transportation systems
- Huge budget deficit to be tackled
- Small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs would be encouraged
- Coverage of the Investment Promotion Act to be broadened
- Import of food to be reversed
- Criminal Libel Laws to be repealed
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Feb 2001
The Minority in Parliament Thursday called for an immediate debate on President John Agyekum Kufuor's sessional address delivered in Parliament.
"The debate must start now, now!" they shouted before the House adjourned to Friday.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader, made the call while seconding a motion by Mr J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader, that the House adjourn just after the president had taken leave of the House.
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, asked the Majority Leader what their position was, based on the demand of the Minority.
Mr Mensah answered: "When President Rawlings gave his address, we of the Minority had always asked for an immediate debate. But in this case, we know the contents. They don't. We shall make copies for them to study before the debate starts".
This drew prolonged laughter as the House adjourned to Friday. Mr Bagbin, in an interview with the GNA, said the address did not touch on specific targets that must be achieved within a given time frame towards which the country must work.
He said previous addresses touched on specific targets and even if they were not achieved, efforts were directed towards their achievement.
Mr Bagbin said that the address, instead of strengthening existing structures that will make democracy work, rather talked about setting up a reconciliation committee, which gives "the indication of one stop measure".
Mr Kosi Kedem (NDC Hohoe South) described the address as sketchy, adding: "vital issues like roads, water and other development projects were conspicuously missing.
"I can forgive him. He is new and I believe that with time he will improve."
Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Deputy Minority Leader, said he was surprised that the address failed to capture projects like the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration and the Keta Sea Defence Projects.
He said even now that Accra is experiencing water shortage, the address was mute on Water Projects.
"Even more there was no mention of Housing Projects as if Ghanaians don't have accommodation problems."
GRi./
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