A governance expert, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah says it is wrong for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to direct the Majority Caucus in Parliament to abstain from the vote of censure against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Ataa.
The NPP in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Justine Kodua Frimpong directed the MPs on the Majority side of Parliament to stay away from a vote of censure moved by the Minority in Parliament against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to NPP, the finance minister is leading the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hence removing him may adversely impact the progress made thus far.
The party also rejected the move by the NDC caucus in Parliament describing it as “ill-motivated” and “mischievous”.
But speaking to Starr News Prof. Agyemang-Duah said the directive smacks of intrusion by the leadership of the party.
“I understand and I have read the paper myself, the letter from the NPP apparently or seemingly directing the majority caucus not to support the NDC. I think that is too much of an intrusion in the work of the legislature.
“I think we should respect the line between political parties and their parliamentary caucus just as we want to respect the line between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. These lines are important at least theoretically in terms of respecting the balance of power. The checks and balances that should exist between the three arms of government,” Mr. Agyeman-Duah stated.
He said the issue should have remained an internal party matter without hitting the public domain.
“Once the party wins power the executive and the legislature should be seated away from the party not that they don’t continue to deal, they have to but it should be private. It shouldn’t be public and I think for the public to know that the NPP is directing the caucus I think that is an infringement on the right of the legislature, an independent institution to do his work.
“So, this particular letter I think should have been done privately. The discussions should have been held privately between the Majority in the party headquarters. That would have been the preferred option for me.”
Prof. Agyeman-Duah further reiterated that the leaders managing the affairs of this country must demonstrate some kind of maturity in the way they handle such matters.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
