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The opposition New Patriotic Party has described as “untrue but very insulting and demeaning” comments made by Hon Fifi Kwetey, Minister for Agriculture.

Fifi Kwetey speaking to Accra-based Citi FM said Ghanaians are constantly behaving like “kindergarten kids that somebody must hold a cane before we do what is right. It must change…This habit of crossing our arm and expecting a miracle to happen from above is not going to take this country anywhere!” Click to read full story

However, responding to this comments, Nana Akomea in a statement said for such comment to come out of a minister, “it is unfortunate and cruel”.

“Fiifi Kwetey is just the latest example of government officials blaming ordinary Ghanaians for the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of government” he added.

Full statement below


FIIFI KWETEY INSULTS GHANAIANS FOR NOTHING

Minister for Agric, Hon. Fiifi Kwetey, is reported to have stated (myjoyonline 6th May 2015) that government cannot be blamed entirely for the high interest rate and the existing high pricing regime, ie, rising cost of living, in Ghana.

Fiifi Kwetey rather blamed Ghanaians in general and the Banks as being responsible for the high interest rate and high rising cost of living.

Fiifi Kwetey lampooned the long suffering Ghanaian as behaving like “kindergarten kids that somebody must hold a cane before we do what is right.” He went on; “We must change this habit of crossing our arms and expecting a miracle to happen from above is not going to take this country anywhere.”

The NPP deems Fiifi Kwetey’s comment as not only untrue but very insulting and demeaning to Ghanaians.

The NDC had campaigned on the promise of delivering macro-economic stability and a better Ghana for Ghanaians.
Seven years into office, the NDC government has lost control of the macro-economy and has gone back to the IMF for a bailout. It is trite knowledge that the suffocating high interest rates today, is due primarily to government own excessive borrowing, which has seen Treasury Bill rates of about 25%. It is trite knowledge that the unbearable and ever rising price levels and cost of living today is caused primarily by the rapid fall in the value of the cedi since 2011.
The high prices/ cost of living and high interest rates are therefore clear cases of government policy failure.

To blame and insult the ordinary Ghanaian over this is false, unfortunate and cruel.

Fiifi Kwetey is just the latest example of government officials blaming ordinary Ghanaians for the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of government.

President Mahama himself sought to blame Ghanaian workers as the cause of the reckless spending and record deficit since 2012 that have sent the country begging at the IMF. He has also sought to blame workers layoffs on the “non-smart” decisions of those companies, instead of the record three (3) year ‘dumsor’ under his watch.

Fiifi Kwetey today advises Ghanaians not to blame government for the many problems in the country. He says when Ghanaians blame government, they are “seeking justifications in order to excuse our cultural decadence.” This is really a new style in setting the records straight.

Agriculture’s share of GDP is declining, from 31% in 2009, to 20% in 2014. The food crop sector is also declining from 5.9% in 2013 to 3.6% in 2014.

This is where Fii Kwetey should be setting the records.


…signed…
Nana Akomea
(Director of Communications)