Laurette Korkor Asante, the Member of Parliament for Atiwa West and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), delivered a scathing critique of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration’s economic policies during the parliamentary debate on the mid-year budget review. She accused the John Mahama-led government of perpetrating a “betrayal” of the public’s trust, masking their detrimental economic actions under the guise of sound policy. Asante argued that the NDC’s actions contradicted their pre-election promises of tax reductions and economic relief, painting a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality. Her central argument revolved around the unfulfilled promise of establishing a Women’s Development Bank, a key pledge made by the NDC to support Ghanaian women.
Asante highlighted the stark disparity between the NDC’s initial commitment and the eventual allocation of a mere GH¢51 million as seed money for the bank. This amount, she stressed, was woefully inadequate for such a significant undertaking, falling far short of the minimum GH¢400 million required to establish a bank in Ghana. She underscored the lack of progress on the project, noting the absence of any concrete developments six months after the initial announcement. Asante pointed out that the mid-year budget review made no mention of the Women’s Development Bank, raising concerns about the government’s actual commitment to its establishment. She criticized the lack of a clear implementation plan, legal framework, and overall tangible progress toward realizing this promised institution.
Asante’s criticism underscored the broader issue of the NDC’s approach to economic policy, alleging a disconnect between promises and action. Her focus on the Women’s Development Bank served as a specific example of this larger trend, highlighting the government’s alleged failure to deliver on a key initiative designed to empower Ghanaian women economically. By juxtaposing the NDC’s campaign pledges against the current reality, Asante aimed to expose what she perceived as a pattern of misleading the public and failing to follow through on critical commitments.
The MP’s remarks during the budget review debate served as a platform to voice the concerns of many who felt the NDC government had not delivered on its economic promises. Asante’s critique, anchored in the specific example of the Women’s Development Bank, articulated a broader sentiment of disillusionment with the government’s economic direction. Her emphasis on the insufficient funding and lack of tangible progress on the bank’s establishment served to illustrate what she viewed as the NDC’s inadequate commitment to supporting women’s economic empowerment.
Furthermore, Asante’s accusations of “economic betrayal” resonate with the anxieties of those who feel let down by the government’s economic performance. Her words amplified the concerns of those who believed the NDC had not fulfilled its mandate to alleviate economic burdens and instead implemented policies that contradicted their pre-election promises. Asante’s pointed critique during the parliamentary debate was aimed at holding the government accountable for its actions and ensuring that the public was aware of the perceived discrepancies between promises and actual policy implementation.
In essence, Asante’s parliamentary address served as a public call for transparency and accountability from the NDC government. Her critique of the unfulfilled promise of the Women’s Development Bank acted as a microcosm of the broader concerns regarding the government’s economic policies. By highlighting the lack of progress and inadequate funding for the bank, she sought to draw attention to what she perceived as a pattern of broken promises and a betrayal of the public’s trust. Asante’s forceful remarks aimed to ensure that the government would be held responsible for its actions and that the voices of those who felt marginalized and misled by the NDC’s economic policies would be heard.
