The Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Stephen Amoah, also known as ‘Stika’ brought a moment of levity to Parliament on Friday afternoon when he used the word “Floccinaucinihilipilification” during a session, eliciting laughter from Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Speaker of Parliament.
Dr. Amoah was contributing to a report presented to Parliament concerning the Songor Salt Mining project undertaken by Electrochem Ghana Limited. In his remarks, he urged MPs not to politicize the report or incite the youth against the state.
“All these exercises are being conducted in ‘Floccinaucinihilipilification’ (meaning a worthless exercise), and it is not going to yield any expected results that will benefit the country, as all natural resources belong to the state,” he stated.
The unusual word choice caused MPs to burst into laughter, prompting the Speaker of Parliament to ask Dr. Amoah to explain its meaning. Amoah obliged, clarifying the term for his amused colleagues.
Despite the light-hearted moment, Amoah expressed empathy for the people of Ada, advising against inciting them against the government. He emphasized the need for any company licensed to mine in the area to integrate the welfare of the local community by providing job opportunities for its residents.
Dr. Stephen Amoah’s speech highlighted the importance of considering local interests in national projects, ensuring that development benefits all stakeholders involved.
This is not the first time Stika is caught wowing his colleague in Parliament with uncommon words. It would be recalled that some time ago he threw the entire House into big laughter when he used the word “higgidy piggidy” to emphasize a point during a debate .
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh