MP for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie has criticised the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh over his comments on the provision of funds to address the recent Keta tidal waves describing it as bigoted and tribalistic.

In an interview on Asempa FM last week, the Manhyia South MP, popularly known as ‘Napo’ who also doubles as the Energy Minister, indicated there’s no need for government to make allocations for victims of the Keta tidal waves in the 2022 Budget.

According to him, his constituents have experienced similar ordeals, where no intervention was rolled out for them, and therefore he sees no reason why the Finance Minister should cater for the Keta tidal waves in his budget.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh further intimated that he doesn’t understand why the opposition NDC would be advocating for government to include their stronghold into government’s budget estimates.

“How can you the opposition tell me that I should include funding for construction of Keta sea defence in the budget? Was there budgetary allocation for Kumasi flooding? If Finance Minister includes it, I’ll also lead the Kumasi residents to demonstrate”, Dr. Opoku Prempeh fumed.

But reacting to these comments on News Night on Monday, the Member of Parliament for the Ketu South constituency, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, criticised her colleague MP for making such ‘unparliamentary’ remarks.

According to her, the comments by Napo were unbefitting of a Member of Parliament, who serves at the behest of ordinary citizens.

“First of all, I think that is the most unfortunate, ‘un-ministerial’, non-parliamentary comment I’ve ever heard in my life. It smacks of bigotry, it smacks of tribalism, it is totally despicable”, Dzifa Gomashie said.

The Ketu South MP also quizzed that ‘What was he (Napo) drinking or eating before he went into that studio?’ Adding that, ” You know, we all have a certain side of life that can be confrontational or aggressive or uncivilized. I don’t know why he had to show that to me and my people?”, the MP said.

Having expressed her disgust and revulsion at the Energy Minsiter’s remarks, she also criticised the government for the poor handling of the Keta tidal waves.

Meanwhile, addressing a presser on Monday, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced a ₵10million allocation to begin a feasibility study, to address the Keta tidal waves which displaced thousands of local residents some weeks ago.

The announcement by the Finance Minister, was part of concessions by government in the 2022 Budget, following some demands by the Minority Caucus and sentiments from the general public regarding the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.