Omission of Volta region roads from 2020 Budget bias, slap in the face – North Dayi MP

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Dayi, Joycelyn Tetteh, is in a state of shock over the omission of road projects from the 2020 budget statement.

Describing it as “a slap in the face” of Voltarians, the lawmaker said the act is condemnable despite government admitting it erred.

Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo said it was a genuine mistake.

“It was obviously a mistake,” Mr. Osafo-Maafo said to Citi FM on Thursday, noting that he was also taken aback by the omission.

A Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu Boahen, yesterday also said he was

surprised about the omission of the Volta Region in the distribution of the road projects in the 2020 budget.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo said he has since conferred with the sector minister who confirmed that there was indeed a list of Volta Region roads.

“When I also saw it, I asked myself, how could it be because there were 15 regions instead of 16 and I asked him [the sector minister] and he said we have a whole list for the Volta Region.”

However, the North Dayi legislator believes it was borne out of the hatred and bias the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has towards the people of the Volta region.

“This is indeed a slap in the face, an unacceptable bias towards the Volta Region and must be condemned by all,” she said in a statement.

Below is the full statement:

HON JOYCELYN TETTEH BEMOANS GOVERNMENT’S DECISION NOT TO UNDERTAKE A SINGLE ROAD PROJECT IN VOLTA REGION

NEVER, in the history of our dear beloved nation Ghana has it ever occurred that a government (especially one that calls itself most COMPETENT) enjoined by our 1992 Republican constitution to ensure it undertakes an even and balanced development of all (16) regions decides to aberrate that constitutional provision which is aimed at ensuring equity at all times.

To even think that this is coming just days after the president His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo completed his two-day tour of the Volta Region where the people of the region warmly welcomed him and graced his programme (though we later noticed people were bused from the Oti Region), it is indeed very unfortunate and disheartening even to the membership of the governing NPP who feel totally neglected.

This is indeed a slap in the face, an unacceptable bias towards the Volta Region and must be condemned by all.

I respectfully call on government to right the wrong in the 2020 budget immediately

~ Joycelyn Tetteh (Hon)

MP, North Dayi

Source: Daily Mail GH