North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has criticised Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong over his clash with Minority MPs at the premises of the National Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).

This comes after the Minister questioned the motives some Members of Parliament on the Minority side at the premises of NAFCO who said they had gone there to better understand circumstances leading the picketing of NAFCO over unpaid food they had supplied.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Friday, Mr Ablakwa said the Minister's conduct was unacceptable and that there was the need to raise the issue in Parliament.

He explained that “there has to be a clear understanding of the role of Members of Parliament. We are not just to sit in the Chamber and be arm-chair legislators. The pursuit of our constitutional mandate of oversight necessarily mandates that we must do field visits, get to the ground, ascertain facts for ourselves, hear persons who are affected by policy implementation.”

“So for the Agric Minister to initially take issue with what we were doing there and accusing us [Minority] in engaging in mischief is conduct which we will not tolerate at all and indeed we are going to raise this matter before the Speaker,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

This, according to him is to serve a clear notice to Ministers of State that they cannot disrespect MPs and impede the work of legislators.

Mr Ablakwa also refuted claims of the Minority reorganising the food suppliers to picket the NAFCO offices.

According to him, efforts should be directed toward resolving the food suppliers' protest and refraining from illogical conspiracy theories.

“Let’s treat Members of Parliament with respect, I take strong exception. We are very busy people … do we know these suppliers? Where will we find them? They were telling us there are from Bawku, others from Kete Krachi, so that means we went to Bawku to tell him to come back?” he asked.

https://myjoyonline.com/food-suppliers-to-receive-payment-from-july-17-agric-minister-assures/

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong has assured food suppliers that payments will begin on July 17, prompting the food suppliers to end their picketing at NAFCO.

Background

The members comprised Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, his deputy Armah Kofi Buah, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Juaboso MP Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Felix Ofosu Kwakye, politician and former Deputy Information Minister under the NDC in the John Dramani Mahama Administration, among others.

While the caucus sought answers from a representative of NAFCO in the company of the Parliamentary press corps, Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong walked in.

Mr Acheampong asked Cassiel Ato Forson; “You are a former Deputy Finance Minister. What do you know about these payments?”

• Buffer Stock has become a hub for corruption, must be investigated – Nortsu-Kotoe backs protesting food suppliers

He further accused the Minority of fueling what he described as inorganic picketing.

“This inorganic picketing, should not be accepted and encouraged,” he told the team.

But the NDC legislators would have none of that. This culminated in heated exchanges between Mr Acheampong and the rest of the MPs.

An unenthused Mintah Akandoh retorted; “Are you angry because we are finding solutions to the challenges? If you could have solved it [challenges] we wouldn’t have been here.”

“You should be the last person to get angry,” Akandoh added.