The Minority in Parliament has pledged to pressure the government to mobilize money to pay members of the National Food Suppliers Association picketing on the premises of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The Minority acknowledged the challenging economic circumstances faced by the country but stressed the importance of preserving social protection and defending vulnerable groups.
The Caucus emphasized that these food suppliers, who have invested their limited resources in providing vital services to the state, deserve proper care and support.
In a commendable display of unity and concern for the welfare of their fellow citizens, the Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson along with his deputy Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the MPs for Juaboso and North Tongu, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa respectively on Friday, July 7 paid a visit to the suppliers who are facing a dire situation.
Recognizing the gravity of their plight, the Minority MPs took it upon themselves to gather firsthand information and seek solutions from the government. Their actions exemplify the collaborative effort required to address pressing issues affecting the Ghanaian people.
The Minority leader said, “Governance is not the responsibility of the government in power alone; the opposition also has a role to play in ensuring we support the government in doing what is right for the Ghanaian people.”
“Our visit here today demonstrates our dedication to finding practical solutions and advocating for the government’s prompt attention to this matter,” he added.
The visit by the Minority members to the crisis-stricken suppliers serves as a reminder that governance requires collaboration and bipartisan efforts.
The visit, however, turned chaotic when the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, chanced upon the group engaged in discussions with the Deputy CEO of NAFCO Kofi Amankwa and expressed his displeasure.
The Minister took offence that the Minority came along with the media and accused the side of staging a political circus to make the government look bad.
Tempers flared as Ato Forson and his colleagues defended themselves and insisted their presence at NAFCO was part of their oversight responsibilities as Members of Parliament representing their various constituencies.
Calm was restored eventually, and the Minister and the visiting Minority group came out to address the media together.
Meanwhile, the Ministers of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong and Education, Yaw Adutwum have been summoned to brief Parliament on the matter and what the government is doing to pay their suppliers.
