The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) says the decision of some members of Parliament not to follow dictates of their party leadership is good for the country’s democracy.
He maintained that the failure of some MPs to maintain solidarity with their leadership will go a long way to positively impact Ghana’s political dispensation.
The recent vetting, and subsequent approval of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees led to some NDC MPs and officers baring their teeth against the Minority leadership for not living up to expectations.
The dust had not settled when North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa resigned from the Appointment’s Committee of Parliament on grounds of “principle” and “personal” reasons.
Commenting on this development on Radio Univers’ news analysis program, Behind the Headlines, Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman said the situation will spur on the country’s democracy.
“Not only in this country but many countries, the are concerns that political parties are becoming too strong and they are influencing Legislators to the extent that when the Legislative Dilemma is analyzed, the pendilum usually swings towards the interest of the party…rather than the interest of the country, towards the interest of the people that they represent.
“So what we are seeing play out. Unless maybe there are some underhand dealings that are influencing some Members of Parliament; if the are not, I think Members breaking with their ranks is good for our democracy,” he opined.
Dr. Rasheed Draman observed that the practice whereby political parties come out clearly to dictate how they want their MPs to vote on issues before them in the House was “quite disturbing.”
He called for MPs to be given the freedom to discharge their duties effectively without party interferences.
“Be it NDC or NPP, we should leave our Members of Parliament [and] give them some independence to operate,” he stated.
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Story by: Daniel Sackitey | universnewsroom.com
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