Budget Debate: MPs play Kenkey and Fish Politics in Parliament

The debate on the 2023 Budget on the Floor of Parliament of Ghana took an interesting turn on Monday, December 5, 2022, when the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Sagnarigu Constituency and Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, stormed the House with a ball of kenkey and fish to illustrate a point of economic hopelessness under the current administration.

Displaying the ball of Kenkey – a staple corn meal and fish eaten across Ghana, the MP demonstrated the economic deterioration within the period when he indicated that the size of the food enjoyed in the capital city and other major towns, has drastically shrunk in size despite the fact that the price has doubled.

According to him, the real issues of the management of the economy vis a vis the impact it has on the lives of the people is clear by the relative change in the cost of food.

Making his contribution on the Floor while lifting the kenkey, Alhaji Fuseini, noted among others that,

“Mr. Speaker, this ball of kenkey, even though it has suffered some Kwashiorkor, that was 2 Ghana Cedis. Mr. Speaker, today it is 4 Ghana Cedis.”

Repeating the same procedure, he lifted the fish and said, “Mr. Speaker, this fish which I brought, the same size last year, was 6 Ghana Cedis. Mr. Speaker, this one is 12 Ghana Cedis. This kenkey and this fish alone.

“Mr. Speaker, it is abundantly clear that through the crust incompetence of this Government, especially the Economic Management Team and the Minister for Finance, this country has been run into a ditch.”

He further urged the Majority Members of Parliament who had called for the dismissal of the Finance Minister at the beginning of the meeting, to ensure that he is shown the door by supporting the Minority with their numbers to execute the Vote of Censure motion currently before the House.

Source: Clement Akoloh || parliamentnews360.com