Economy is not generating wealth-Kan-Dapaah

Accra ( Greater Accra), 12^th November 99

Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy stated in Parliament on Thursday that the economy is not generating wealth.

Contributing to the debate on a motion filed by Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minority Spokesman on Finance, Mr. Kan-Dapaah said this has thrown the country into serious economic mess.

The debate on the motion which reads: "That this House recognising the serious economic crisis that has resulted from the incompetence and mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy by the Minister of Finance, hereby calls on the Minister of Finance to resign", began on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the bad policies and programmes of the ruling government are "out of tune with the realities of the times."

For example, he said, the low level of workers' wages and salaries has made it impossible for the ordinary Ghanaian to afford the high cost of living.

The Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy said the country has all the resources and that what is needed is "Affordable Capital" to enable local entrepreneurs to set up viable economic ventures.

While urging the government to guard against increasing taxes, Mr. Kan-Dapaah advised financial institutions to reduce their lending rates.

He called on the government not to rush into "any panic solutions" to the current economic problems, but to adopt sound and pragmatic policies to deal with the situation.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah warned the government against its "Winner Takes All" system of government and urged it to "go, go, go and go away" because of its inability to salvage the economy.

Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minority Spokesman on Health underscored the need for more consultation and consensus so that support and co-operation could be readily obtained from the people to help tackle the economic problems currently confronting the country.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said due to the current serious economic mess that the NDC government has put the nation in, what Ghana needs now is a "new vision, greater competence and a government with the energy and enterprise to retrieve the country from the doldrums."

Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minority Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, warned that the economy would not see the light of day if the government does not do away with its "ad hoc" policies and programmes.

Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Deputy Minority Leader warned the government to cut down on its huge expenditure.

She said in the view of the Minority, the Minister of Finance has not lived up to expectation and has to bow out.

Contributing to an Amendment Motion tabled by Mr. Doe Adjaho, Majority Chief Whip, Mr. Akuamoah Ofosu-Boateng, Minister of State, urged the Minority to come out with useful alternatives to help address the problems.

The Amendment Motion states: "That this House recognising the current economic difficulties facing the nation, due largely to unfavourable external economic factors such as the falling cocoa and rising crude oil prices, hereby calls on the Minister of Finance, to introduce, as a matter of urgency, measures to alleviate the said difficulties."

Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, stressed the need for Ghanaians to put their hands on the deck so that collectively, lasting solutions could be found to the nation's economic problems.

Commodore Steve Obimpeh (rtd), NDC-North Dayi, warned the Minority not to exploit the economic difficulties facing the nation to score cheap political points.

Major Samuel Amponsah (rtd), NDC Mpohor-Wassa East said that by coming to the House with such a Motion, the Minority were only "singing an old song with a new tune" and called on the House to reject it.

Mr. Sylvester Mensah, NDC-Dadekotopon, described the Motion as "unmeritorious, mischievous, unwarranted, ill-conceived and politically-motivated" and said such a "reactionary Motion ought to be "crucified".

Defending the Amendment Motion, Mr. Mensah said the government's economic programme is on course.

During the debate, the Speaker found it tough to call the House to order because there were so many interruptions from both sides.

GRi