The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Adu Gyamfi, has lambasted the Finance Minister’s request to tap into the Contingency Fund for GH₵500 million to cover food import expenses, expressing strong disapproval of the move.
Gyamfi launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of gross mismanagement and holding it squarely responsible for the unprecedented hardships and suffering endured by Ghanaians.
“After prioritizing corruption, waste, and empty sloganeering over prudent management of the economy and the agriculture sector, this is how low the failed NPP government has sunk our dear country”.
“Our dear nation has been rendered bankrupt such that today, the government cannot even afford GHS500 million to address the imminent food crises the nation is faced with”.
Sammy Adu Gyamfi
The NDC Communicator further criticized the government, pointing out the irony that it squandered a staggering $58 million (GH₵ 928 million) on the construction of the National Cathedral, a project he sarcastically described as merely creating “the biggest pit in the world“.
He condemned the government’s frivolous expenditure on luxury private jet rentals, despite wise warnings, merely to pamper the President with extravagant air travel, sarcastically describing it as “bathing in the skies“.
Gyamfi further alleged that the government has been recklessly dissipating millions of taxpayers’ funds on various frivolous and unnecessary expenses at the Presidency.
This, he noted, the government did with a sense of impunity and disregard for fiscal responsibility, as if there were no financial constraints or accountability.
“Today the chickens have come to roost”. – Sammy Adu Gyamfi
Gyamfi bemoaned the fact that Ghana has sunk to such depths, despite the government’s lofty promises and enticing rhetoric, such as the “One Village, One Dam” initiative.
He implied that this initiative has failed to materialize, leaving the country in a state of disappointment and disillusionment and with no food despite looming food shortage due to the drought in the North.
Adu Gyamfi Laments Food Security Failures
Furthermore, Sammy Adu Gyamfi lamented that it is a shame and a disgrace that despite investing heavily in initiatives aimed at ensuring food security, the country still struggles to access food, especially during droughts.
He emphasized that this crisis could have been prevented if the government had taken the necessary steps to fulfill its responsibilities.
“This is how low we have sunk after the NPP government spent a colossal GHS3 billion on their much-touted ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ program”.
Sammy Adu Gyamfi
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance stated that the fund, if approved, will be used to alleviate the food security crisis affecting 900,000 farmers in 5 Northern Regions and 3 Transitional Zones, and also help counter the threat of extremism in these vulnerable areas.
“Mr. Chairman, considering that we are eight (8) months into the implementation of the 2024 Budget and the proposed interventions are unplanned expenditures occasioned by a “force majeure”, the Government can not fund the request of GH¢8.36 billion solely from a reallocation of existing budget lines in the 2024 Budget”.
Ministry of Finance
The Ministry further noted that the funds will help alleviate the food security crisis in 5 Northern Regions and 3 Transitional Zones, benefiting 900,000 farmers and simultaneously helping to prevent the spread of extremism in these vulnerable areas.
The Ministry observed that, given the current stage of the 2024 Budget implementation (eight months in), the proposed interventions constitute unplanned expenditures due to unforeseen circumstances (“force majeure”).
Consequently, the Government cannot solely rely on the reallocation of existing budget lines to fund the requested GH¢8.36 billion, necessitating alternative funding arrangements.
The Ministry of Finance’s request comes in response to a prior request from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, seeking financial support to mitigate the potential impacts of the drought.
