A former Speaker of Parliament and a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Council of Elders, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, has urged the party’s leadership to deal with all individuals who are causing controversies in the party.
Professor Mike Oquaye’s comments come on the back of recent attacks from Mr. Agyapong on the Minister responsible for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama Constituency, Francis Asenso Boakye, over the Minister’s alleged collusion with the Judicial Service to sell state lands to private developers.
Mr. Agyapong further called on delegates to reject Mr. Asenso-Boakye in the party’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
Questioned in an interview with 3News’ Beatrice Adu on what he would say to Kennedy Agyapong, Professor Oquaye said it is imperative for the party to bring all to order.
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“Kennedy Agyapong made a public statement that the elections were free and fair. In the interest of the party, I will think that the elders, of which I am one, and the National Executive must put it on their agenda to ensure that everybody is put in a certain order…not him alone,” the former speaker of the legislature stated.
Touching on the decision by the Electoral Commission to discontinue the use of indelible ink in elections conducted in the country, Prof Oquaye expressed concern over possible negative outcomes of the upcoming general elections if this policy is carried through.
He said the Commission must tread cautiously.
The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa in a press conference said that her outfit is considering abolishing the use of indelible ink, because the Commission can vouch for the verification systems it has put in place.
Both the governing NPP and the opposition NDC have asked the EC not to implement this proposal.
In a debate on the floor of Parliament for instance, the MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor said that per the 1992 Constitution, the use of the indelible ink was necessary for the smooth conduct of elections, and its removal is a breach, citing article 51.
Article 51 of Ghana’s 1992 constitution states “51 The Electoral Commission shall, by constitutional instrument, make regulations for the effective performance of its functions under this Constitution or any other law, and in particular, for the registration of voters, the conduct of public elections and referenda, including provision for voting by proxy. 52 There shall be in every region and district a representative of the Electoral Commission who shall perform such functions as shall be assigned to him by the Commission“.
In an exclusive interview with 3News’ Beatrice Adu, Professor Michael Oquaye said that it is imperative for the Electoral Commission to tread cautiously on this because nobody is above the law.
“Definitely, when we are used to something and you want to change it, you must change it cautiously….and in fact, I have had the opportunity to tell the Electoral Commissioner this and that is a personal feeling and especially in an atmosphere where we don’t trust each other very much, I will go cautiously….otherwise people might think that there is something untoward being planned,” he explained.
Professor Oquaye cited a similar case before the 2016 general election when the then EC Chairperson, Charllotte Osei was in charge of affairs and said he warned her that she could go to jail if she tried re-counting votes against the provisions in the law.
By Beatrice Adu
