The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Dr Isaac Yaw Opoku, has assigned President John Dramani Mahama an overall score of 50 percent for the first year of his second term.
Assessing the administration’s challenges and successes, the lawmaker noted that while there have been some gains, there is significant room for improvement.
He described the year as a “50 percent failure and 50 percent success,” suggesting that a single year is insufficient for a definitive verdict.
He emphasised the need to allow the President another year before a truly comprehensive assessment of his performance can be conducted.
The lawmaker was particularly critical of the agricultural sector, arguing that the gains the current government claims are actually the result of measures initiated by the previous administration.
He contended that the current Minister of Food and Agriculture has produced few tangible results beyond launching new initiatives.
Furthermore, he claimed that the fertilizers, insecticides, and other essential farm inputs distributed to farmers were stocks purchased under the previous government.
“I would score this government at 50 percent success and 50 percent failure. We should wait for another year to conduct a comprehensive assessment. Evaluating this government within just one year does not provide a holistic or proper value of their performance. This is because much of the success they have achieved, especially in the agriculture sector, is based on the foundation laid by former President Akufo-Addo.”
On the Agriculture Minister’s performance he said
“Ask Eric Opoku what he actually achieved for the sector in the year under review. Apart from launching initiatives, what exactly did he do to ensure the sector thrived? They claim we have food in abundance, yet food imports alone exceeded GH₵3 billion. By the end of the last quarter, only 15 percent of the Ministry’s approved budget had been allocated. What could Eric Opoku have accomplished with that amount? They did not purchase new fertilizers or insecticides; they depended on what Akufo-Addo bought and distributed to the farmers.”
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM with host Kwabena Agyapong, he added: “There is nothing concrete they have done in this first year, but we can score them 50 percent because, as we speak, inflation has reduced and the cedi has appreciated. Let’s wait another year, and then we will judge them comprehensively.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
