Dr. Rasheed Draman, the Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), has warned the National Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly its Members of Parliament (MPs), to be cautious about the decisions they make while in opposition.
According to Dr. Draman, a party like the NDC, which has the potential to constitute the next government, would need to be moderate in their statements and actions.
His comments are premised on the minority’s choice to abstain from House proceedings at the times James Gyakye Quayson, a member of parliament from Assin North, will appear in court for his criminal prosecution.
The minority caucus has decided to stand by James Gyakye Quayson until the matter is addressed, as stated by Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson. He said this on Tuesday, July 4, right after Mr. Gyakye Quayson took his oath of office as an MP.
Following the swearing-in, which was well-attended by Mr. Gyakye Quayson’s friends and family, Dr. Ato Forson gave a speech in which he gave notice that the Minority would not participate in House business on days when the Assin North representative would be in court for his daily trial.
On Tuesday, July 4, the case was summoned in the High Court, but it was postponed until Thursday, July 6. The Minority insists that given the ongoing trial, it will be challenging to secure cooperation in the House.
Dr. Draman however revealed that, “In some countries, we have some parties that are permanently in opposition, they don’t have any chance of forming a government.”
“Those can act in a way that might be construed as irresponsible but a party that has the chance of forming the next government, has to be careful in terms of the actions that it takes.”
Dr. Rasheed Draman
Dormaahene Should Become NDCs Propaganda Secretary
Recent public comments made by the Dormaahene, according to Kingsley Amoakwa-Boadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), reveal that he is biased in favor of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
As stated by Amoakwa-Boadu, although chiefs are partners in development, they should exercise caution when making public statements on certain delicate national problems.
He said this in reference to requests for the Attorney General to postpone the criminal trial of Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson made by the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region and the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Oseadeoyo Agyeman Badu II.
Osagyefo Agyemang Badu, a High Court judge and speaker at John Evans Atta Mills’ 10th anniversary speech in Sunyani, said, “As a matter of urgency, I am appealing to the president of the republic that if he has any role to play in that trial should be aborted. The Attorney General should as a matter of urgency file a nolle prosequi to end that particular decision.”
However, Amoakwa-Boadu responded saying, “For a person who is a member of the court, sometimes he seems to forget that he is not just a chief.”
“I understand that as a chief he is a partner in development, he is a partner in the progress of this country and so he is entitled to share his opinion. But there are sensitive matters that are not for the position of a chief because if you as a chief come out to make certain statements as the Dormaahene is making today, you will open yourself up for people to express their opinion.
“And if you don’t take care, you will bring your office into disrepute. This is not the first time the Dormaahene has waded into sensitive public matters. In recent times, he was the same person who said that anybody who is seeking to come into office must come and declare their stance on LGBTQ.”
Kingsley Amoakwa-Boadu
Additionally, Kingsley Amoakwa-Boadu remarked that while personally he does not support any LGBTQ-related issues, he does believe that these delicate public issues are important enough to be brought before Parliament. He claimed that it is obvious that the Dormaahene is adhering to NDC discourse at all times.
“Time and again his comment has shown that he is biased towards the NDC and that is why I say that the NDC should do him the honesty of making him the propaganda secretary of the NDC.”
Kingsley Amoakwa-Boadu
READ ALSO: Gyakye Quayson’s Case: Trial Unfair- Marietta Brew
