Some Ghanaians have expressed mixed-reactions to the State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) delivered by President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addoon Wednesday.
While some applauded the government for its good initiatives, particularly for containing COVID-19, others said the SONA did not reflect the suffering of Ghanaians.
They said this in separate interviews with the Ghanaian Times, Wednesday, after the address in Parliament, in Accra.
Christian Asante Mireku, a trader at Odawna, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, said he was taken aback by the content of the SONA because it was full of “skeletal promises”, which were not going to see the light of day.
He said most of the items captured in the economy did not reveal the true state of the economy as Ghanaians were having a hard time due to the present cost of living in the country.
A grocery dealer, who gave her name as Obenewaa, said the government had not done enough to mitigate global pressures, particularly with the prices of petroleum products, which had subsequently affected the prices of commodities.
Ms Obenewaa stated that the approval of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) Bill, was going to worsen the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian, but the government was poised on going ahead with it.
A commercial transport driver, KwasiOppong, urged the government not to roll out any new projects or initiatives, but focus on reviving the economy and completing projects underway.
A food vendor, AdepaAgyei, who applauded the government, said she was excited about the SONA because the government had indeed served as an example to other nations in combatting COVID-19.
He said the government was capable of accomplishing its initiatives like it did with its flagship programme, the Free Senior High School.
“Let’s all just relax, I am of the utmost belief that despite the difficulties of the ime the government would grow the economy and bring prosperity,” Agyei said.
Kofi Essel, a commuter, who said he was excited about the digitalisation of hospital records, encouraged the government to put in place measures and as it has stated ensure coverage of every health facility in the country.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
