The Minority in Parliament Caucus has called for the immediate resignation of Honourable Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga (MP for Bawku Central) and Honourable Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Este Kwami Dafeamekpor (MP for South Dayi) for agreeing to withdraw their private members’ bill, which sought to scrap the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The minority claimed that their call for the resignation of the two leaders follows their failed attempt to abolish the OSP, in direct contradiction to President John Dramani Mahama’s stated policy.
Mr Ayariga and Mr Dafeamekpor had sponsored a bill seeking to scrap the OSP on grounds that it has failed to deliver its core mandate.
However, President John Dramani Mahama requested they withdraw the bill after publicly opining that the call for scrapping the OSP was premature and defending the need to keep the office, arguing it was the only institution that could help deal with corruption cases regardless of who was involved.
The minority raised concerns over the president’s request, describing it as interference in the work of the legislature, which is independent of the executive.
A statement issued and signed by Honourable Habib Iddrisu, First Deputy Minority Whip, said the action by the two leaders proved the bill was ill-conceived and done without authorisation.
“Hon Ayariga and Hon Dafeamekpor are not backbenchers exercising legislative discretion. They are the President’s principal parliamentary lieutenants, charged with translating his policy into legislative action. Their attempt to dismantle an institution the President was simultaneously praising represents either spectacular incompetence or deliberate insubordination – possibly both.
That they apparently did so in reaction to a political ally’s arrest, and possibly as part of a coordinated assault on prosecutorial independence, demonstrates fundamental unfitness for the offices they hold.
The presidential intervention requiring withdrawal confirms this initiative was unauthorised, ill-conceived, contradicted government policy, and was potentially driven by partisan loyalty to an arrested individual over national interest.”
The statement also claimed that by this action, “prosecutorial independence has been undermined by the establishment of a dangerous precedent that lawful prosecutorial action may provoke coordinated legislative and judicial retaliation from aggrieved political interests.”
He added, “Hon Ayariga and Hon Dafeamekpor have lost the President’s confidence, as evidenced by his public repudiation. They can no longer credibly represent his interests or prosecute government business. Their continued occupation of these offices is untenable.
We call upon them to resign from the leadership of the House immediately to:
Restore coherence between presidential policy and parliamentary leadership.”
According to him, “The NPP protected the OSP even when politically painful. The NDC’s apparent coordinated response to one arrest – attempted legislative abolition and constitutional challenge – represents a dangerous assault on institutional independence and the rule of law.
When parliamentary leaders lose presidential confidence through unauthorised conduct apparently driven by partisan loyalty to an arrested individual, resignation is not optional; it is imperative.”
Read the full statement below
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
