Why Akufo-Addo Must ‘Extend’ The Whip

All too soon, the political season is here, and political parties in the country are preparing feverishly to start campaigns towards the 2020 parliamentary elections.

In fact, major political parties, like the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP), have already given the green light for the nomination of parliamentary aspirants across the country.

Having noticed the ugly friction that characterizes such contests in the various constituencies, largely between Metropolitan, Municipal, and Districts Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and members of parliament in ruling parties, the current NPP administration has resolved to keep its ambitious appointees at the grassroots level in check.

As a result, in November 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo asked all MMDCEs, who are nursing parliamentary ambitions, to resign voluntarily.

According to him, the era when MMDCEs neglected their core mandates and campaigned for votes ahead of Parliamentary primaries had become a thing of the past.

He told a gathering of MMDCEs and MPs at a workshop in Tamale that the objective of the directive was to foster healthy rapport between the Legislators and MMDCES, many of who often disagree over the disbursement of the MPs’ share of the Common Fund and the allocation of projects.

He was quoted: “As you do know, the effect of conflict is to stall development, dissipate resources that are sent to the constituencies and districts. So we want to find common ground and the way forward on what it is that must be done and then bring them together, harmonize relationships and let people get to know they have defined roles.”

But even before the president came out with this directive, the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, in November 2017 said the same thing, stressing that the decision was a pre-emptive measure to avoid a repetition of what happened in 2008 under former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

While one may say the directive seems to be working, tongues are wagging in the party as to why only constituency executives and MMDCEs are being ‘targeted’.

Several party people think it is not a fair directive since evidence abound that many CEOs and other political appointees of the president are also vying for ‘safe seats’ and are frustrating sitting MPs.

The issue took the front burner after media reports last week named two Deputy Chiefs-Of-Staff at the Presidency, Samuel Abu Jinapor and Francis Asenso Boakye as among those lacing their boots to contest parliamentary primaries.

Grapevine reports also mentioned Michael Okyere Baafi, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Free Zones Board as eyeing the New Juaben South Constituency seat, while Eric Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Digital Center is said to be eyeing the Asante Akyem Central constituency.

Already there are fears of unnecessary tension and rancor in certain some of the constituencies, and THE NEW PUBLISHER thinks the concerns of ‘selective justice’ being raised are legitimate.

As neutral observers, we can only hope that the presidential whip is extended in the spirit of fairness.

What is bad for the goose is bad for the gander.