The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Justine Kodua Frimpong, has stated that the Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, who doubles as the Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Hon Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, is only doing political talks with regards to his actions and comments on the voting out of the Finance Minister, Hon Ken Ofori Atta.
He noted that both side of Parliament, to wit, the Minority and Majority caucus, can not be in the same position with regards to the vote of censure against the Finance Minister which will be moved Today, November 10, 2022.
Speaking in an Interview, the legal practitioner disclosed that his party will do what will benefit the country and not what will favor the opposition National Democratic Congress. According to him, the focus of the government and the party is to come up with solutions to the curb the on going economic crisis.
“What my brother Muntaka is saying is just one of his political talks. You have your position that you are defending, same as we the Majority, how can we be in the same position. In any case, in order to pass the vote censure, you need not less than 183 Members to pass it, the Minority can not tell us what to do.”
“In the midst of all these, it is the wellbeing of the Ghana we are looking for. That is what the government and the party is looking forward to.”
Kodua Frimpong
Lawyer Kodua noted that, any decision the Majority Caucus and the party at large will take henceforth will have an impact on the 2024 election, hence their unwillingness to join the NDC in their decision to move the vote of censure against Ken.
According to him, the party (NPP) is doing a research and an assessment on some of government’s appointees by listening to what the citizens are saying about them, their performance in their various fileds amongst others.
“There is an ongoing assessment on some of the Ministers, MMDCEs, MCEs, CEOs amongst others, where we go round to ask Ghanaians and some party members their thoughts on the performance of some of these appointees.”
Justine Kodua
He further indicated that, going forward, should any appointee misbehave or fail to perform very well in his or her sector, the party would not hesitate to tell the President to dismiss that appointee.
Rebel Elements Within Majority Caucus Will Face Serious Heat Should Vote of Censure Fail
Meanwhile, Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has warned that members of the Majority Caucus who had rebelled against the Finance Minister may face dire consequences should the vote of censure fail.
According to him, should the vote of censure fails, the 80 Majority Caucus members would be at the mercy of their party officials and this will not bode well for them.
The Asawase MP was speaking in reference to the seeming U-turn members of the group of 80 are taking on their stance in support of ousting the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Muntaka, however, stated that should the vote of censure succeed the 80 members particularly the leaders and outspoken members within that group would be considered forces to be reckoned with within the party and that would protect them from any reproach from their party leadership.
“I can assure you that if this thing fails, believe me, all the rebels are not going to find it easy. But if it succeeds then now they become a force to reckon with that everything that’s going to be done they say ‘hey hey becareful of this rebel because they can succeed.’ But if it fails they’ll surely come after them.”
Muntaka Mubarak
Muntaka Mubarak said now the only insurance the 80 have to protect themselves from any dire consequences within their party is to ensure that the censure succeeds.
His comments come after the spokesperson for the group, MP for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi in an interaction with Joy FM stated that while he had indeed supported the resignation of the Finance Minister, he is not convinced the vote of censure is the way to go.
Reacting to the statement, Muntaka Mubarak said the MP like the others who had been outspoken about their conviction might be facing some heat from party officials thus their recent public utterances.
He, however, believes they may still pull through and join the Minority side to oust the Finance Minister.
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