Past NPP gov’t contributed over GHC138m into Sinking Fund – Annoh-Dompreh defends
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has argued that the previous NPP administration is not given enough credit for some of its “historical” achievements during its eight-year tenure.
According to him, the past Akufo-Addo-led administration made recorded several achievements including significant contributions to the Sinking Fund during its time in office.
Speaking during the presentation of next week’s Business Statement in Parliament on Thursday, Annoh-Dompreh kicked against arguments from the Majority Caucus suggesting that the former administration had failed to take meaningful steps to resource the Sinking Fund, and revealed that it added over GH¢138 million into the Fund.
“Mr. Speaker, permit me to clear this, the claim that the GH¢138 million deposited into the Sinking Fund by the NPP ‘didn’t do anything’ is not acceptable because it does not paint the full picture of our debt management efforts at the time, over the past 8 years despite the unfavorable economic conditions at the time, we were able to contribute this much to the Fund, at least give us some credit for that,” he said.
The Minority Whip further argued that such contributions formed part of a broader strategy to meet Ghana’s debt servicing obligations, emphasizing that it was important for “the House and the public to be guided by facts when assessing the performance of past administrations.”
“We should not speculate on matters like this, it is imperative…that this House and the general public be guided by facts in matters like these because it in the interest of every Ghanaian,” he added. “Just so you know, discrediting us might mislead the public and that will be a very great disservice to the same people whose interest you swore to fight for.”
He accused the current administration of not contributing “even 1 cedi” to the Fund and insisted that Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson must provide an update on the status of the Fund and the steps being taken to ensure sustained contributions in line with earlier promises.
“During his vetting he courageously said that one of the government’s policies would be to help put funds into the Sinking Fund. You had said that the previous government that put GH¢138 million into the Fund didn’t do anything and you were going to do more,” he stated. “But Mr. Speaker, as we speak, not even a cedi has been put into the Sinking Fund. Nothing.”
“The Minister must come back to the House and address the matters of the Sinking Fund and speak to the concerns raised,” he added.
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