The Minority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says despite the widespread criticism against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) for boycotting the National Economic Forum, the party will still stand by its decision.
He maintained that the reasons which informed their decision to boycott the Forum are valid.
The National Economic Forum is currently ongoing in Akosombo where stakeholders have gathered to deliberate on the state of the economy and proffer solutions to solve the economic challenges.
Government ahead of the forum clarified that the programme is non-partisan and should therefore be considered as such.
But the NPP’s boycott has raised questions about the level of polarization in Ghana’s politics which is hurting the development and hindering national cohesion.
The Suame Legislator however maintained that the party was disrespected with the late delivery of the invitation to the forum.
According to him, not much input could have been made by the NPP if the party honoured the invite, considering the limited time it was given to prepare.
Mr. Mensah Bonsu on Eyewitness News indicated that “this is a serious national dialogue and you would expect that at least, some prior information will be given to the personalities involved. Some respect should be shown to them so they will be able to prepare early enough.”
He faulted government for failing to include the programme content into the invitation “so what is it that we were even to go and dialogue on? As of yesterday morning, nobody even knew.”
The Minority leaders confessed he would have loved to be part of the forum “if the invitation came earlier to me with the requisite information, I certainly would have to avail myself.”
Asked what the Minority would do if policies agreed on at the Forum are brought to Parliament for debate and subsequent approval, Mr. Mensah Bonsu stated categorically that “the policy is determined by the ruling administration…it’s not for Parliament to agree or not to agree with a policy. We may critique it.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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