The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu says President Nana Akufo-Addo has made no efforts to build consensus with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) after the 2020 polls.
President Nana Akufo-Addo faces a hung Parliament in his second term in office which will begin on January 7, 2021.
In contrast to 2016 where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secured a record majority with 169 seats in Parliament, the governing party’s representation dropped to 137 seats in Parliament.
The NDC matched the NPP by also winning 137 seats in Parliament in the December 7 polls.
Speaking at a press briefing organised by the leadership of the 7th Parliament ahead of its dissolution tonight, January 6, 2021, Mr. Iddrisu said “the President, after the elections said he will reach out and compromise, but I ask today, what has he done as at now to reach out to the NDC and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama? In the Spirit of building this consensus, I have not seen the President take any such step”.
“It is important that he does that because when he takes even 40% of the ministers, the Majority Leader will lack numbers on the Floor of Parliament. And he will appreciate what it is to lack members in the chamber to form the quorum required to take a decision in Parliament.”
Ghanaians want NPP, NDC to work together – Akufo-Addo
During his victory speech in December 2020, President Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians “have made it loud and clear that the two parties, the NPP and NDC, must work together especially in Parliament for the good of the country.”
“Now is the time for each and every one of us to unite, join hands, stand shoulder to shoulder and work hard to place Ghana where she deserves to be,” he added.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah also agreed with the President’s sentiments.
While addressing the media, Oppong Nkrumah said: “The people want to see the NPP and the NDC work together in Parliament. What that means is that for a lot of the petty partisan debate and unnecessary jostle to win political points.”
He stressed that “parties will have to tone down on that and focus more on delivering for the agenda of the Ghanaian people. The Minority is there to see that the county moves forward. The Majority is there to do same,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said.
