NDC MP Cheered For Taking On 'Own Government'

MP for Ashiaman Alfred Agbeshie has criticized President John Mills for reneging on some of his campaign promises. Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, the NDC MP cited the dilapidated Job 600 (State House) structure which he said should have received prompt attention by the government.

The president during his maiden state of the nation address to parliament pledged to renovate the building to serve as office accommodation for the parliamentarians. Eleven months into the administration and with a second budget read, there is no sign the project will start any time soon. This Alfred Abgeshie said is not good enough.

Constructed in the 1960s by Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah to house heads of African states during Ghana’s hosting of the AU Conference in Accra, the Job 600 has since been allowed to ‘rot’ by successive governments.

Commenting on the 2010 Budget, The MP expressed fears that government by reneging on its promise may well join the chorus of past governments which failed to honour its numerous promises to renovate the dilapidated structure.

He also cited failure by the government to provide constituency offices for the parliamentarians as stipulated in the party’s 2008 manifesto. His criticisms were greeted with cheers of admiration from the minority side of the house, whilst the majority side were on the defensive.

Joy FM reports that the Minister of Works and Housing and MP for Bongo, Albert Abongo on two occasions stepped in with a point of order, in both instances assuring that the constituency offices and the renovation of the Job 600 was well in government’s radar.

The Ashaiman MP however acknowledged government’s efforts in increasing access to education and the improvement in traditional medicines. After proceedings in parliament, Mr Alfred Agbeshie told Sammy Darko in an interview that he was not being unnecessarily critical of government, but only reminding it (government) of the promises made.

Source: myjoyonline.com/Ghana