Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has expressed disappointment in the President’s state of the nation address held on Tuesday.
Mr Iddrisu who spoke to the media after the national event at Parliament said several issues including the country’s debt stock, the activities of the LGBTQI community and Daniel Domelevo’s forced retirement were not addressed by President Akufo-Addo as expected.
He said the President was conspicuously silent on the national debt stock which is about GH₵297 billion, constituting 78 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The absence of these figures according to him makes it difficult for the average Ghanaian to appreciate the fiscal deficit value presented by the President, a value said to reflect the state of the economy.
He added that it is disappointing that the President missed a great opportunity to officially and publicly make his stand on same-sex marriage.
According to the Tamale South MP, Parliament is the best forum to make such a declaration since the legislative body of government makes the laws.
“He [Akufo-Addo] should have been bold and courageous to share that with us,” he added.
His comments come after an announcement by President Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will not be legal under his administration.
Regarding Mr. Domelevo’s retirement, the Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee noted that the Akufo-Addo led administration is setting a bad precedent.
“Now he is talking about corruption, he is talking about transparency. Where is Domelevo? Where is the Auditor General? Why has he [Akufo-Addo] sacked somebody who was shinning light on malfeasance, misappropriation, embezzlement, and corruption? Why is he in a haste?” he added.
He intimated that some governments to come would follow the steps of the present government and order state officials to go on retirement.
It will be recalled that the Office of the President directed Mr Daniel Yao Domelevo to take leave of the Office of the Auditor General after an audit by the Audit Service Board indicated that Mr. Domelevo was due for retirement.
Some institutions and organisations following the President’s directive have asked President Akufo-Addo to make further investigations on the matter.
