Minority in Parliament urged to rescind decision

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has urged the Minority in Parliament to rescind its decision to boycott events connected with President John Dramani Mahama.

He said the adoption of such an entrenched position on the issue of the declaration of results of the 2012 presidential election in favour of President Mahama was not in the best interest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the country as a whole.

Commenting on State of the Nation Address presented to Parliament Thursday, Alhaji Dauda said by such an action, it would be very difficult for members from the Minority side of the House to file questions to invite sector ministers to the floor for answers.

"It will be extremely difficult for the them because if they did not recognise our nominations and refused to take part in our vetting, how can they turn around to invite us to answer their questions," he said.

Touching on what the President said on the water sector during his address, Alhaji Dauda said that problems of water shortage was not a new phenomenon.

He said successive governments had tried to ameliorate the problem over the years.

Alhaji Dauda explained that over the last four years, the government had put in place plans to solve the perennial water problems confronting the country and mentioned the Kpone Water Project that would add 40 million gallons a day to the existing production capacity.

While new projects were being constructed, existing ones were also being expanded to enable the country meet it's water demands.

He explained that the government intended to construct 20,000 boreholes across the country and added that 1,000 of such boreholes were constructed last year.

"We will systematically and progressively solve the water problem in the country," he added.

A Deputy Majority Chief Whip and MP for Bodi, Mr Sampson Ahi, urged Ghanaians to have faith in the government since it would not renege on its electoral promises.

He said by four years, Ghanaians would testify about the achievement of the NDC and return it to power to enable it to continue with its good works.

He added that Ghanaians had tasted both the work of the NDC and the NPP and realised that it was the NDC which could best address their problems.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to discard the NPP's attempt to discredit the results of the 2012 presidential election and rather rally behind the government to enable it to deliver on its electoral promises.

Story by Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah