Akufo-Addo holds up Governance due to delay in constituting Boards of agencies – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has stated that governance of the country is currently at a standstill due to the delay by President Akufo-Addo to constitute Boards of the various government agencies.

According to Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, the National Health Insurance Authority, the Road Fund Secretariat and other agencies are unable to get approvals to disburse funds due to the absence of their Boards.

He stated that many ministries operate with these agencies which have the mandate to implement decisions or policies made by them. However, six months into the second term of President Akufo-Addo, the Boards of these institutions have not been appointed, thus grinding their operations to a halt.

“The catalyst for government business is decisions that are taken at board levels. But, nothing is happening. I mean you go to various institutions and agencies and people just come to work, warm the table, sleep and in some cases escape to do some private business because nothing is happening,” Mr Suhuyini told JoyNews’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo.

He stated that in some cases, people are owed a lot of money but these institutions are unable to pay their creditors until the boards have been set up.

“At the Road Fund Secretariat, many road contractors are burdened by loans that they took from banks and are burdened by the monthly interests that accrue on those loans.”

“Yet they have finished their works, submitted their certificates and the government is unable to function because there is no board in place. It is the reason why the system is not functioning as we speak,” the Tamale North MP said.

Mr Suhuyini said that delay in constituting boards can be tolerated when there has been a change in power.

However, “in this case you have the same President, Vice Vresident, you largely have the same Ministers who have been vetted and approved. So you wonder why it is taking so long for these boards to be constituted?” he quizzed.

Mr Suhuyini urged the President to constitute the boards, urge the boards to fast track their work so that people and businesses who are owed can be paid.