General News of Tuesday, 22 February 2005

Source: GNA

Lambushie pupils are not used to tables and chairs

Accra, Feb 22, GNA - Due to the absence of tables and chair in schools in the Lambushie Constituency, pupils have grown to love writing while sitting on the bare floor, Mrs Alice Teni Boon, Member for Lambushie, told Parliament on Tuesday.

"They are not used to tables and chairs." She said amidst heckling and name-calling.

The Member was speaking to the motion to thank the President for the State of the Nation Address to Parliament on February 3. Members questioned her moral authority to scold the Government for the Lambushie pupils' predicament since her sister succeeded her husband as the District Chief Executive and she was also representing the Constituency for the third time.

Speaking to the same motion, Mr Raymond Tawiah, Member for Yilo Krobo, called for the redefinition of development. He said in the 1960s some third world countries recorded high growth rates of GDP but did not reflect in the lifestyle of their citizens.

The member said Government's happiness over the "much talked about' growth makes a good economic literature but did not reflect in the pockets of Ghanaians.

"What has happened to poverty? What has happened to unemployment?" he questioned.

Mr Ernest Debrah, Minister of Agriculture, said the growth pattern over the last four years was quite significant in the life of Ghanaians. He said the Government had laid a solid foundation for the economic transformation of the country.