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Public reaction on President's state of the nation's address 2023

A survey conducted by the Information Services Department Staff of Koforidua, New Juaben South Municipal Assembly indicates the mixed reactions over the just ended President’s State of the Nation’s Address (SONA).

Date Created : 4/12/2023 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Collins Aikins Akuffo/Ghanadistricts.com

Whilst some are praising His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for setting the records straight on the state of the Nations, others are vehemently opposing the accession saying the President did not touch on the real state of the economy due to recent economic hardship.

The 1992 constitution for the Republic of Ghana permits the sitting President to read to the Parliament the true state of the Nation of which the President on Wednesday, 8th March 2023; fulfilled that mandate. Having read the “SONA”, parliament shall then discuss the address sector by sector for parliamentary approval.

It is against these backdrops that the staff of the department within the NJSMA stepped out to sort the views of the citizens on the President’s State of the Nation’s Address.

In an interview with Mr. Ishmael Oduro, a social media commentator at the side of the ruling party commended the New Patriotic Party for their good initiatives for storing peace and stability in the country. He claimed the address presented to the parliament by the President of the State was on point.

Particularly, when you look at areas like education, health and transportation, one could realize that the President has done a lot of work in these areas. This according to him is putting cash into the pockets of parents and guidance whose wards are in SHS.

On a phone conversation with Mr. Hackim; an NDC commentator who also expressed disheartened about the President’s inability to state the real state of the Nation’s Address.

He said with inflation above percent, monetary policy rate at 28 percent, and the local currency depreciation by 20 percent in January and February 2023 alone, high unemployment and lending rate is at 40 percent, Ghanaians may be subjected to harsh economic climate in the future. “The President swerved from all these facts” he claimed.

Mr. Asare Agbeko, polling station chairman on the side of CPP, added his voice on the economic meltdown, saying the President has refused to take heed to reduce the government to correspond to the economic climate. “The CPP which will form the next government will ensure to operate on lean government to rake in more revenue for the economy” he said.

“We expect the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who is a listening governor to quickly listen to the voice of the masses and find an amicable remedy to the size of his government, since the voice of the masses is the voice of God” he claimed.

Mr. Benjamin Okoh, a citizen of the Republic of Ghana also exclaimed that the government needs to put in place proper food policy to be able to help the country provides food for itself so as to stop us from depending on other countries like Ukraine for food.

He explained that countries like China and other developed countries use most of their inmates for farming and they are able to rake in more food and revenue for the state, why can’t we do the same. “There are state lands, labour, etc., Am sure we can do it, let’s give it a try” he was optimistic.

Samuel Appiah also expressed his concern by saying that the government cannot blame everything on COVID 19 and the Ukraine War. The President should look into his ministers and reshuffle all those who are not doing their job well to help strengthen the economy.

Mrs. Bernice Annan said; the system is very hard, especially foods are expensive nowadays. The government should do something about it for us.

Mr. George Boateng also a social media commentator on the side of NPP who applauded the President for setting the records straight with regards to the true state of the Nation, said “We must admit that there is hardship in the economy but that is not to say everything is smooth, everything is not smooth, hence the ordinary citizen is facing the consequences.

In spite of all these, Ghana as it stands today is one of the best performing countries in Africa if not the world. Looking at the effort put in place by the NPP government on education, health and security” he mentioned.

In an interview with a civil servant, Mr. Charles Obeng, indicated that this government has performed better than the previous regime because of the measures put in place, to mention just a few like planting for food and job policy and Free SHS.

As we speak there is a bumper harvest as people claim there is food insecurity in the country. Thus according to him it is a palpable lie. There is no truth in that. Ghana currently has recorded more food to feed its citizens.