New Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team Member Ibrahim Ali has questioned the conduct of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament, arguing that the opposition must do more than criticise the government if it wants to effectively hold it accountable.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on The Verdict on Starr FM, Mr Ali said the primary responsibility of the opposition, particularly as the largest opposition party in Parliament, is to put the government on its toes through constructive criticism.
He said the Minority must complement its criticism of government with alternative solutions to the challenges facing the country.
“What is the responsibility of opposition? As opposition leader, most importantly, being the largest opposition party in government, your duty is to put government on its toes. Not by merely criticising, but by criticising constructively,” he said.
Mr Ali explained that constructive criticism should involve identifying shortcomings in government’s approach while proposing alternative ways of addressing those challenges.
“When I say criticising constructively, what do I mean? Finding alternative solutions,” he added.
He questioned the level of control within the NPP Minority, arguing that its conduct in Parliament raises concerns about whether it is adequately focused on the responsibilities for which its members were elected.
“But when you look at the NPP Minority in Parliament, it appears there’s no control in the activities,” he said.
According to him, the conduct of the Minority should be assessed against the broader responsibility of an opposition party to scrutinise government while contributing to efforts to address national problems.
Mr Ali also suggested that the approach adopted by the opposition could have implications for its political fortunes ahead of the 2028 elections.
He said the NDC had on several occasions advised the NPP to focus on rebuilding and improving its approach if it wanted to make significant gains in the next election.
He further criticised what he described as attempts by the opposition to focus on political point-scoring rather than offering alternative solutions to the challenges confronting the country.
According to him, while the opposition has a duty to criticise government policies and actions, such criticism should be aimed at improving governance and addressing problems rather than simply creating political advantages.
Mr Ali therefore urged the media to continue drawing the attention of the NPP to what he considers its responsibilities as the largest opposition party in Parliament.
He maintained that the focus should be on constructive engagement, accountability and finding solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
