Let’s accommodate each other – Akufo-Addo pleads

With the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) having an equal strength in the next parliament, President Akufo-Addo is calling for consensus building for a successful business in the House.

It is only by the flexible stance that the next parliament could function effectively; hence the President wants a truce in the House which commences on January 7.

For the first time, both sides have a shoe-string number in Parliament, a departure from the norm of wide numerical differences enabling the incumbent party to push its agenda.

Both sides have 137 members with Andrew Asiamah, the independent MP for Fomena opting to join the NPP side to form a Majority.

Delivering his last State of the Nation Address at a temporal venue at the premises of Parliament on January 5, The President stated.

“Mr Speaker, the next Parliament is not going to be anything like this one that ends today. I do not suggest that the House might not be as busy, but the sitting arrangements, the source and decibel levels of sound from the House would certainly be different.

“We have no choice but to work with the consequences of the desires of the people,” he said. “The House would have to be more accommodating of each other’s views, and, probably, devise new ways of conducting its affairs in the interest of the good governance of our people”.

The NPP has outlined its leadership in parliament just as the NDC with both hoping to have the next Speaker from their ranks.

With the NDC yet to overturn the EC decision to declare the Techiman South seat to the NPP, the ruling party has the edge to elect a Speaker.

The NPP has endorsed the incumbent Speaker, Prof Mike Oquaye to continue. At the same time, the NDC, among other names, is expected to nominate the current Second Deputy Speaker, Alban S. Bagbin, to contest the role.

Responding after the address, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said President Akufo-Addo “is compelled” to make the appeal.

In his view, President Akufo-Addo has “lost parliament” which was not the expectation of the NPP but the wish of Ghanaians.

He said he used to respect Mr Akufo-Addo but disappointed in his conduct for seeking to hold on to power.