Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - Mr. Moses Asaga, (NDC-Nabdam) on Thursday praised President J.A Kufuor for sounding reconciliatory in his State of the Nation address but fell short of giving any marks to his government on issues bordering on the improvement of the economy and the lives of the people.

He said the eight years of the NPP had seen little progress in creating jobs for the people and tackling corruption. Mr Asaga was reacting to the address delivered by President Kufuor in Parliament, which saw a colourful ceremony attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including chiefs, political party representatives and ordinary Ghanaians.

Mr Asaga was critical of government' inability to deal with corruption, which, he said, was manifested in the opulent display of wealth at the recent NPP congress, signifying that NPP had amassed wealth during its term in office.

He also attacked government for the high increases in electricity bills and said people were now paying about 300 per cent of bills. Mr J.H. Mensah, (NPP Sunyani-East) said the NPP government had laid a solid foundation for the future because of infrastructural development and the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, (NDC-Tamale South) said the presentation of the budget, which preceded the State of the Nation address made the Presidents presentation just an abstract and unexciting. Mr. Felix Owusu-Agyapong, (NPP-Akim Swedru) said the address had shown where the NPP government took over and the results they had achieved.

He said all the social and economic indices, including the upward trend of the country's gross domestic product showed a lot had been achieved. Mr Moses Dani Baah, (PNC-Sissala) however called on the President to use his remaining days in power to do a lot more at uniting the nation. " Ghanaians must see themselves as one people just as it was during the CAN 2008."

Pastor Joe Hagan Director of Communications of the Valley View University observed that the President looked more relaxed, with humour laced in his presentation.

"He looked more matured as the father of the nation," he said. Nana S.K.B Asante, a constitutional expert, said the address was a comprehensive appraisal of the President's stewardship. He said one of the striking aspects of the address was the focus on the culture of on Science and Technology as a key for rapid industrial development.

Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Leader of the Ahmadiya Mission in Ghana, described the address as impressive, which touched on the development dynamics of health, education, industrialization and rehabilitation of national assets.

He said the President's assurance to step down from power when his term would end was assuring because attempts to overstep constitutional periods of ruling had created conflicts in a number of countries.