A Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament Dr. Clement Apaak has asked President to tell Ghanaians when he would be implementing the free chocolate drink or cocoa products he promised Ghanaian school children.
The lawmaker and former lecturer say Ghanaians are anxiously waiting to hear from the President on this pledge he made in 2017.
He said as the world marks Valentine’s day, and Ghana is also marking chocolate day, he is reminding the President to deliver on his promise so he would be seen as deceptive.
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 promised to initiate a programme that will ensure every student receives free chocolate or cocoa products every day.
The President at the time noted that the decision was tied with the government’s plans of boosting the local consumption of cocoa products from the world’s second largest producer of the cash crop.
“Our target is to provide every Ghanaian student with a bar of chocolate or cocoa beverage each day whilst in school … [Government agencies] are to ensure the sustained provision of cocoa beverages and chocolates to school children from primary school to secondary level,” he was quoted by local media.
He announced the decision at an event celebrating World Cocoa Day and the 70th anniversary of the country’s cocoa pricing company, Ghana Cocoa Board.
Several years after the promise, the government was yet to implement the project.
It is for this reason the lawmaker is asking the President to tell Ghanaians when the policy would be implemented.
He said the President appears to have forgotten that he made this pledge. I want to remind him that we need the chocolate and cocoa products for out children.
You can not make a promise and fail to deliver on it. As politicians, we need to account for what we say. We have a responsibility to be responsible, truthful, and deliver to the people what we promised to,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
