Accra, Jan 22, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government is not a poacher and that it would always give credit to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government where due.
President John Agyekum Kufuor made this statement in response to constant interruptions by the Members of the Minority, while delivering his Third State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday. On two other occasions the President was drawn into interrupting his prepared speech to respond to jeers from Members of the Minority. At one point he stopped and laughed when the Minority Members shouted "Cote D'Ivoire" in response to his claim that revenue from cocoa had improved largely due to effective Government policies.
The Minority had sought, by their shouts, to create the impression that the country's recent good fortune in the cocoa sector was due to the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire, currently the world's leading cocoa producer. The President's State of the Nation Address attracted a full House both on the floor of the House and in the galleries.
Those present included the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC Flag Bearer, Mr Dan Lartey, Chairman of the Great Consolidated People's Party; Members of the Council of State, the Diplomatic Corps and Service Commanders. Traditional Authorities were also represented. The Navy Band was in attendance.
The atmosphere during the President's address was one of bantering and exchanges between the Majority and Minority sides interjected with shouts of: "Scent no!" - A chorus of a hit hip-life song.
While the Minority gave "Scent no!" a negative slant, to depict what they perceived to be corrupt practices of Government functionaries, the Majority gave it a positive one of the fragrance of the good works of the President.
The President rose to the occasion several times and at one time interrupted his speech to respond to jeers from the Minority side as a result of his statement: "Ghana is the centre of the world. "Do I have a challenge from the House that Ghana is the centre of the world?" He asked, and explained that Ghana was near the point where the Prime Meridian crossed the Equator.
The Majority Leader Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong and Minority Leader Alban Bagbin were seen busily taking notes in apparent preparation to move and second the motion for the adjournment at the end of the President's Address.