Omanhene of Esikado, Nana Kobina Nketsia V says the public must know the full voting records of their MPs, especially on the approval of loan agreements.

According to the Omanhene, Parliament cannot continue to approve all loan agreements put before it and refuse to accept part of the responsibility for the country’s current debt crisis.

This follows reports last month that Parliament had approved about 7 loans totaling $710m at an emergency sitting.

The facilities approved during the May 2, sitting included $60.6 million for the Ghana Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project, $150 million for the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme and €EU170 million to establish the Development Bank of Ghana (DBG).

There was also $30 million to finance the Medical Equipment Provision Project in response to Covid-19, $150 million to finance the Primary Healthcare Investment Project and $150 million to finance the Public Financial Management for Service Delivery Programme.

The House also saw through another $200 million loan agreement with the World Bank geared towards financing the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project.

But speaking at a public forum as part of events to mark the 30 years of Parliamentary democracy in Takoradi, the traditional ruler insists the disclosure will allow the MPs explain the reasons behind their decisions.

“Sometimes I even ask myself, should they sit in Parliament based on party and we would like to even see their voting records. We are in debt, how many of those loans did they vote for and why did they vote for it.

“We are in serious debt, yet every time they bring the loan, Parliament votes and they accept the debt. It is as if we are ‘mad’,” Nana Kobina Nketsia V stressed.

Background

Parliament held an emergency sitting in which seven loan agreements were approved.

The facilities approved during the May 2, sitting included $60.6 million for the Ghana Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project, $150 million for the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme and €EU170 million to establish the Development Bank of Ghana (DBG).

There was also $30 million to finance the Medical Equipment Provision Project in response to Covid-19, $150 million to finance the Primary Healthcare Investment Project and $150 million to finance the Public Financial Management for Service Delivery Programme.

The House also saw through another $200 million loan agreement with the World Bank geared towards financing the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project.

Also read: Parliament approves $200m loan facility from World Bank

The project is to help government increase access to broadband, enhance the efficiency and quality of selected digital public services, and strengthen the digital innovation ecosystem in Ghana to help create better jobs and economic opportunities.

The approved Ghana Digital Acceleration Project will support a regulatory shift to create an enabling environment for digital inclusion and innovation; streamline governance and delivery of public services; and facilitate smallholder engagement in data-driven digital agriculture.

In all, the loan agreements approved amounted to $710 million.

Meanwhile, Ghana is still at the door of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) making frantic efforts to secure a $3 billion bailout as the country’s economy faces an unprecedented crisis.

Earlier this week, President Akufo-Addo asked Japan to help Ghana secure a deal with the IMF.

He said this at a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida.

Read more: IMF bailout: We’re counting on your support – Akufo-Addo to Japan

The Asian country is the latest of the tall list of countries Ghana is calling on for needed assistance.

President Akufo-Addo said the bailout will boost the recovery of Ghana’s economy. 

“Ghana is also counting on the support of Japan in reaching a favourable agreement with the International Monetary Fund which will pave the way for the robust recovery of Ghana’s economy,” President Akufo-Addo told Fumio Kishida.