President Mahama has incurred the wrath of some Members of Parliament from the Western region who sought judicial review of the law that restricts further expansion of oil and gas free port at Atuabo in Takoradi by British firm, Lonrho Port.
The president while inaugurating that Atuabo Gas Processing Plant blamed the five MPs: Kwaku Kwarteng for Obuasi West, Kwabena Okyere Darko for Takoradi, Mavis Hawa Koomson for Ewutu Senya, Efia MP, Joseph Cudjoe and Kofi Brako for Tema Central for delaying the project by the “needless” suit.
He called on the judges sitting on the case not to entertain lawsuits that seek to delay national projects.
But MP for Efia constituency, Joseph Cudjoe, who is part of those seeking the review, expressed shock at the comment of the president.
He said the president in reacting to the issue sounded like a “serial caller who spoke without the facts.
The Efia MP explained that their intention for the judicial review is to ensure there is value for money and to ensure their constituencies also benefit from the project.
Hon. Cudjoe stressed that the project has stalled because of government and Lonrho Port’s inability to raise funds to complete the project.
“We support government’s effort at giving Western region two ports, but we don’t support killing one port to establish another,” he added.
Hon. Joseph Cudjoe urged the Mahama-led government to be candid with the people in the Western region about the cause of the delay and not blame them for their inefficiencies.
Meanwhile, the MP for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko also described President Mahama’s comments as mere propaganda.
He said the president’s intention is to incite their constituents against them for political expediency but has failed.
Hon. Okyere Darko called on the president to render an unqualified apology to them for the unfortunate comment.
Source: adomonline
