The Adanso Asokwa Member of Parliament (MP), at his appearance before the appointments committee reiterated a report by a cabinet committee that revealed Ghana spends over 160 million dollars importing internal organs of cows and other ruminants.
He assured of efforts to work towards addressing the challenge if given the nod.
“Why is it that everything you can think about is being imported into the country? These importations have terrible effects on our foreign exchange reserves. I think it’s about time we took a serious look at this particular issue. I’m told a committee was put up by cabinet to deal specifically with this matter. When I looked at some of the issues that have been raised, I was scandalised.
“I’m told it’s being decided at that level [cabinet], that we should be looking at about 50 specific areas. I’m scandalised at what appears to be in paragraph 4; is that what we are importing to Ghana? We are importing guts, bladders, stomachs of animals to Ghana to complement our foods. And that alone totaled about one hundred and sixty-four million, five hundred and seventy-five thousand plus some hundreds of dollars [the year under review]. I thought this is a little bit of a scandal. It’s not only this but this is what I find scandalising”.
KT Hammond
The Adansi Asokwa MP will replace Alan Kyrematen if he sails through the vetting.
Answer My Questions And Stop The Jokes
Meanwhile, KT’s attempt to be at his jovial best however, did not sit down well with some minority members of the committee like Mahama Ayariga and Governs Kwame Agbodza who insisted he takes the committee seriously.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza had cause to call fellow MP for Asokwa, KT Hammond, to order, accusing the latter of trivializing serious issues.
KT Hammond, a Trade and Industry Minister-nominee on appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, an exchange ensued between the nominee and the Minority Leader.
Agbodza, who doubles as Minority Chief Whip had asked about two achievements of KT Hammond during his two previous stints as Deputy Minister between 2001 – 2007. KT Hammond after being asked, replied, “I have been looking for the opportunity to put my achievements (on record), this is not a big one, he is giving me just too much”.
“The big one, the big one, Mr. Chairman, that is why I said my brother and friend Kofi Buah will go to hell; that is why I said that the other day. Mr Chairman, it is through the instrumentality of John Agyekum Kufuor” KT Hammond continued.
“Chairman, I am not sure, I don’t know you have philosophical or religious vent. Initially I sought to say that on a good day he is very jovial but when you look at the country, what is happening in the country right now, the public expects this engagement to be very serious. So, I will plead with you once again to answer my questions. I’m not here to joke. We can joke when we get to the other side of Parliament; answer the questions and stop the jokes.”
Kwame Governs Agbodza
Committee Chairman and first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, subsequently stepped in to ask the nominee to focus on the question.
However, KT Hammond defended his reference to Kofi Buah (the deputy Minority Leader) whiles answering the question before proceeding to give his response.
