Boycotting SoNA because of common fund “juvenile” – Dep. Chief Whip tells minority

The Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Moses Anim, has condemned the Minority in Parliament for threatening to boycott the next State of the Nation Address (SoNA) slated for February 20, 2020.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Trobu constituency expressed disappointment in the opposition legislators for taking such a stance, due to arrears in the payment of District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF).

The disbursement of the funds has stalled for the past five months.

Mr Anim said the SoNA is, important in assessing the government’s achievements and not the time for the minority to embark on such actions.

He told the press in Parliament on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, that: “I’m so shocked there is serious opposition from the NDC… I’m trying to restrain myself not to say that it is very juvenile”.

He insisted that a walkout is not what is needed at a time government was keen on outlining economic and developmental plans to address the needs and improve the lives of Ghanaians.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that the NPP legislators boycotted a SoNA by the then President John Dramani Mahama in 2013, Mr Anim justified their action.

He said at the time, they didn’t want to legitimise Mr Mahama’s Presidency due to the Supreme Court petition challenging the 2020 elections, which ushered in Mahama’s administration.

He said  the NPP’s action was “principled” and until the Supreme Court finished the case, they decided not to hear Mr Mahama because the election result was under contention.