Establish a ministry of culture - Kofi Attoh
Establish a ministry of culture - Kofi
Attoh
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
Mr. Kofi Attoh, NDC Member of Parliament for Ho Central on Thursday called on the government to establish a Ministry of Culture to promote the arts.
Contributing to the debate on the President's Sessional Address, Mr Attoh said the youth must be encouraged to appreciate and identify themselves with the country's culture.
He said an enhanced cultural policy would boost tourism, attract foreign exchange and create job opportunities.
Mr. Attoh said, "a positive change must be rooted in our culture, our arts and indeed our way of life".
He said if the NPP government is committed to effecting a positive change in the lives of the people then a full-fledged ministry of culture must be established to tackle cultural issues.
Mr. Attoh said the President failed to outline a definite youth policy in his speech even though the NPP had promised the youth 1,000 jobs as soon as it assumed office.
"We are waiting for the jobs even though we were not told how these jobs would be created", he said.
On the President's pledge to replace the cash-and-carry system in the health sector with a health insurance policy, Mr Attoh said the NDC government had started the ground work to introduce such a policy and it is not fair for the President not to acknowledge that.
He said during the preliminary work, the former government discovered that the scheme as it operates in Zambia, covers only about ten per cent of the population because it involves only workers.
Mr. Attoh appealed to the government to effect a health insurance policy that would embrace all Ghanaians.
In his contribution Mr Eugene Atta Agyepong, NPP Abetifi said he was impressed with the President's speech because it pledged to provide Ghanaians with good governance, which had been missing for a very long time.
He said the essence of democracy is for the people to live under a government that is responsive to their needs and guarantees them freedom, the rule of law and respect for the individual's rights.
Mr. Agyepong said good governance would make the people happy to work to the best of their abilities to raise productivity and improve the country.
He said the President dwelt extensively on the national debt because "money must bring in resources to repay the loans. The quality and quantity of work must be commensurate with the loans obtained".
Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, NDC Kumbungu said the President should not have given his official residence top priority during his address under the prevailing circumstances, when the economy is not sound.
He praised the President's avowal to strengthen the judicial service but cautioned that it must be done with the approval of the judicial council under the supervision of the Chief Justice.
Alhaji Mumuni said any attempt to muzzle the judiciary to tow the line of a particular section would be fiercely resisted, adding, "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
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