Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker, I would want to make it emphatically clear that Ken Ofori-Atta has not run away. I would like to advise this august House that our actions and omissions, over the years, have actually defined us, and we have given the public and the external stakeholders to always see us in different lenses. It is time we put an end to what we are doing to each other.
Mr Speaker, some of the description they have given—Some even went to the extent of saying that the economy that he left—In fact, I cannot repeat those evil words they used.
Mr Speaker, in 2016, the economy Ken Ofori-Atta inherited was growing at 3.4 per cent. The inflationary rate was 15.4; lending rate was about 40 per cent. But for COVID-19, by 2019, we were growing 7 per cent, and inflation was 7 per cent. Under Ofori-Atta, we have been able to implement one of the most enviable pro-poor policies on the continent of Africa.
How could they describe such a man, because of global crisis, your own former Minister for Finance—Do they know the description they are giving to this country? Do they know how they are placing Ghana on the globe because of politics? Do they know what they are doing to the country? Very soon, their Ministers would be leaving Ghana for places for international assignments, and this is what they would read from their own lips.
Mr Speaker, we should not allow this outmoded, colloquial, and primitive politics to continue to destroy our country—Mr Speaker, we are one people with one destiny as a nation; I am only advising the House—
Mr Speaker, I think I have to make myself clearer here. I am not even speaking against one Side; I am talking about actions and inactions, omissions and behaviours that are dwindling the very reputation of this House. We have been doing this to ourselves for far too long. Now, every Tom, Dick and Harry out there, even if you are driving a Land Cruiser out there, they think you are a politician, whether NDC or NPP, and they do not respect us. This why I am bringing to our attention that we should not allow the propaganda or actions or omissions of yesterday to keep on destroying the very image and reputation of this august House. Is that what we want to do? This is the question I am asking.
Mr Speaker, are we teaching the younger generation what we are doing today? What does the Constitution say?
Article 18 (2). With your permission, I read; “No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property…” Has that happened or not?
The very Constitution and laws that we made, are we undermining the same.
laws because of politics? We should not sit here and because of politics, forget the fact that the same Ken Ofori-Atta made their family members enjoy free school; their nephews, children, aunties, friends, mosque members, church members among others.
But for Ken Ofori-Atta, they would have been home. Let us stop these things against either National Democratic Congress (NDC) or New Patriotic Party (NPP). Let us maintain our reputation as a House. Let us believe in the fact that we are one people with a common destiny as a country. We must stop all these things.
That is what I mean. We should forget yesterday’s politics because we are destroying each other and we call ourselves Hon Members. We all deserve that, but please, Mr Speaker, what I am trying to tell the House is that sometimes, because of politics, we say these things as jokes but those out there believe in what we say, and disrespect all of us. Let us protect each other; let us keep the dignity of this House intact and portray to the people out there that yes, we have changed.
Mr Speaker, I am ending by telling each and every one especially my Hon Brothers and Sisters from the other Side to repent. These behaviours must be stopped. We do not do that to ourselves. Look at Hon Agbodza, very respectable; our Leader is also respectable and we are all respectable. But because of politics, should I call you a thief or other names, and when we go out there, we want people to respect us? Mr Speaker, this should be the last time for all of us. Let us show love and have constructive discussions. Constructive conflicts; conflict C type and not A type.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to re-emphasise the point that until Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, he cannot be described and defined as somebody who is criminal. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.