Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, Kofi Benteh Afful, sparked heated reactions in Parliament on Wednesday after mocking the economic record of the former NPP administration and taunting the Minority with what he described as their “poor performance” in the 2024 elections.
The MP said the NPP’s handling of the economy showed a lack of basic understanding of key economic principles.
“Our friends in one corner are trying to tell us that they have forgotten the basic economics of the distinction between economic growth and economic development. If this is what you did, then I’m not surprised that you went into the examination in December 2024, and your best score was 87 out of 276.”
Mr Afful also ridiculed what he described as an unusual seating arrangement in the House, claiming it symbolised the NPP’s reduced political strength.
“Mr Speaker, before I became a parliamentarian, I heard that this House had two sides, your left-hand side and your right-hand side. But ever since I came here, I have seen a median. However, what I have seen are corners, four of them, one of which is occupied by the NPP, which was in the previous government.”
He said that the Majority would show stronger discipline in managing the economy than the former administration.
“We would not want to be like you. We are treading cautiously. The Minister for Finance is not only a finance expert, he is also an accountant and has taught us how to prudently manage an economy,” he said.
He contrasted the current Finance Minister’s conduct with that of the former one, whom he accused of avoiding accountability.
“That is why he is not running his mouth. He doesn’t want to run away. He doesn’t want to be a fugitive of justice. He wants to be able to come back home and attend funerals of relatives.”
Mr Afful warned the Minority that the successful rollout of government programmes could render them politically irrelevant.
“Their only fear is that by the time the programmes in this budget have been executed, they will become extinct.”