Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Foyo Gbande, has disclosed that the government is colluding with the Electoral Commission to engage in acts of illegalities against the constitution of the country.
According to him, particularly with the proposed C.I by the Electoral Commission to ensure Ghanaians engage in the voter’s register exercise with the Ghana Card as the sole source document for registration, it has become imperative for the NDC legislators to take a stand on the matter.
In light of this, Mr Gbande revealed that the directive by the party which demands all NDC MPs to suspend campaigns in their constituencies and attend to the crucial matter on the C.I in parliament is in the right direction. He indicated that the directive is a call to duty and to protect the democracy of Ghana.
Additionally, he stated that it is also a call to defend against the abuse of the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians and hold government accountable.
“It is so clear that the Nana Addo-led government is in the business of taking the rights of Ghanaians for granted, colluding with the Electoral Commission to try to perpetrate heinous illegalities against the constitution of Ghana. As political parties, we have a role to play in terms of defending and protecting the democracy of Ghana.
“So, these are the reasons why we must put party interest below national interest. So, we are calling on members of parliament to stage a role as gatekeepers to ensure that the government does not smuggle C.I’s and other issues that are offensive to the rights and the welfare of this country.”
Mustapha Foyo Gbande
Commenting on whether the directive by the party interferes in the NDC legislators’ duties to represent constituencies appropriately, Mr Gbande noted that it is well within the duties of the MPs to answer to the party’s call as well. He explained that one of the major pillars of the country’s democracy has to do with the role of political parties, and for NDC as a political party, its business is to protect the interest of Ghanaians.
“What we are talking about is not just about the NDC, we are talking about the President, government and the Electoral Commission breaching articles of the constitution, that is a fundamental document that protects and guides this country and that is what we are talking about. Should we allow a government to seemingly apply some portions of the constitution when it is convenient and disregard some when it is also convenient for their political expedience?
“I think that we will be running a country that is not rooted in the fundamental principles of rule of law. We are talking about an Electoral Commission that is seeking to alienate or disenfranchise Ghanaians from participating in their fundamental or civic duties to this country…”
Mustapha Foyo Gbande
NDC MPs urged to abide by party’s directive
Meanwhile, deputy Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Agbodza, has welcomed the directive given by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling for all campaign activities within the constituencies of NDC sitting members of parliament to stop. He warned that the party will deal with any person who flouts the directive.
“The majority of us are being contested. So, this directive does help in a way that the party is bigger than all of us, the party says no campaign activities until that time. So, if you decide to flout the party’s directive and you are caught, the party will deal with you. This directive is for the constituencies that have NDC sitting MPs.”
Kwame Agbodza
It will be recalled that at its meeting held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the NDC stated that in solidarity with the Minority Caucus’ fight against the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that the Electoral Commission (EC) is seeking to lay before Parliament, it has resolved that the period from the evening of 7th March, 2023 up to the 31st March, 2023 has been declared as ‘Operation Save Our Democracy’.
Accordingly, FEC noted that all campaign activities in all constituencies with sitting NDC MPs are suspended and sitting NDC MPs, shall be required to attend all Parliamentary sittings.
Furthermore, it noted that no NDC MP shall undertake any travel that will affect his or her attendance in Parliament.
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