Parliamentarians Debate Increases In Food Prices

There were heated exchanges in Ghana’s parliament today over a motion tabled by the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) group expressing concern about the escalating prices of foodstuffs in the country. The NDC members blamed the increasing prices of foodstuffs on the recent petroleum price hikes and some of the campaign strategies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The NPP side, in calling for amendments to the original motion, argued that food prices have increased as a result of the poor economic policies of the previous NDC government, claiming that the current government is making strenuous efforts to improve the economy and revamp the agricultural sector.

The NDC member for Biakoye, Dr Kwabena Adjei said if the increasing food prices are not brought under control, they Ghanaians would become restive.

This restiveness, he said, could have adverse impact on productivity and national security. Dr. Adjei accused the NPP of influencing traders to increase food prices as a means of making the NDC government unpopular during their December electioneering period.

Dr Adjei, who is a former Agricultural Minster, said this strategy has backfired because the people are now suffering under the NPP government. He urged the NPP to reverse the situation by calling on the traders to stop the arbitrary increases.