Brave Sunyani West MP Calls Out Suame Lawmaker
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sunyani West Member of Parliament (MP) Millicent Yeboah Amankwah, has publicly criticized her colleague from the Suame constituency for daring to question the government’s approach to illegal mining.
The clash occurred on Wednesday March 5 during a heated debate on President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) delivered just last week.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP expressed concerns about the government’s decision to seize illegal mining equipment, including excavators and changfans, and set them on fire.
However, Amankwah was quick to point out the Suame MP’s audacity in raising the issue. Amankwah, a first-time MP, not only confronted her Suame counterpart but also took on the MP for Ofoase Ayerebi Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and others during the debate.
In a scathing remark, Amankwah exclaimed, “Mr Speaker, the Suame MP had the effrontery to talk about mining. I am shocked by his audacity!” Her statement sparked uproar from the minority side, prompting calls for a retraction and apology.
The 2nd deputy speaker Andrew Amoalo Asiamah intervened, urging Amankwah to withdraw her statement, which she promptly did before continuing her speech.
Amankwah also highlighted the NPP’s handling of illegal mining during their time in power, criticizing their approach of seizing excavators without using them to benefit mining communities.
The MP slammed the NPP for collapsing indigenous banks and leaving many unemployed, questioning their credibility in criticizing President Mahama. She emphasized the importance of approaching discussions with clean hands.
In response to criticism from the MP for Ofoase Ayerebi regarding job creation initiatives, Amankwah outlined President Mahama’s efforts to provide employment opportunities for the youth, including the Adwumawura programme, national apprenticeship programme, and other job creation schemes.
Amankwah’s impassioned defense of the government’s policies and her call for fairness and transparency in political discourse resonated throughout the parliamentary session, challenging her colleagues to uphold integrity in their criticisms and contributions.