The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, has responded strongly to allegations made by the Minority Leader.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Dafeamekpor stated that 12 months ago, the then Majority Leader launched programmes that had long been initiated, using significant public funds. He noted that before major initiatives such as Planting for Food and Jobs, One Village, One Dam, and One District, One Factory, the previous government had already begun spending public resources on similar projects.
He therefore found it surprising that the Minority was now criticizing the Big Push initiative for spending on projects that commenced earlier this year. According to him, the claim that expenditure could only occur after September is illogical.
Dafeamekpor further argued that the Minority should rather commend the NDC government for continuing road projects the previous administration could not complete, while also introducing massive new road projects in areas such as Winneba and Awutu. Instead of appreciating government’s efforts such as the ongoing dual carriageway construction from the Winneba Roundabout towards Swedru the Minority, he said, is choosing to focus on figures they themselves should understand.
He emphasized that the figures being questioned originated from a committee report made up of both Majority and Minority members. It is therefore inaccurate, he insisted, for anyone to claim that the budget and the committee report were not properly scrutinized. All relevant agencies appeared before the committee, and the debate in Parliament is simply an opportunity to set the facts right.
Dafeamekpor urged the Minority to encourage ministries to ensure that funds allocated for ongoing works are effectively used by contractors, rather than casting doubt on the integrity of the process.
