Ablakwa’s resignation politically incorrect – Affenyo-Markin

Deputy Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Alexander Affenyo-Markin has described the North Tongu MP’s resignation from the committee as a politically incorrect move. 

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin announced his decision to resign from the committee.

The letter was to take effect with immediate effect.

Mr. Ablakwa did not state specific reasons for his resignation but said it was based on personal reasons and principles.

Many have expressed concern with the manner in which the resignation was done.

Effutu MP, Affenyo-Markin is one of those to raise concerns with the process used by Mr. Ablakwa.

According to him, the resignation was “unfortunate” and “miscalculated”.

“I think that with the experience Mr. Ablakwa has, he should have chosen another route because I think he has miscalculated [his decision]. What happens to him if he becomes a leader someday and his members decide to break ranks. We have a system that when you disagree, you use and move on. It is really some strange things we are seeing now. It is quite unfortunate.”

“I don’t disagree with an individual having a principle but marry it with the principle of the body you subscribe to be a member of. Your principle must interlock with the principle of the collective [good]. It is a constitutional imperative. A member of a committee can’t just get up and say I am resigning. You can do it, but these things are done with the leadership, so they can be resolved and handled. So it will be politically incorrect within the principle we work with”, he told Accra-based Citi TV.

There has been uneasy calm among some NDC MPs after the approval of some ministerial nominees of President Akufo-Addo.

After the NPP and NDC split the seats in the House, a section of the public was optimistic the NDC would put the government on its toes to ensure accountability.

But the approval of the 2021 budget and ministers-designate flagged by the NDC, dented the party’s ability to ensure scrutiny in the house.

The latest incident to rock the boat of the NDC leadership in parliament is the unanimous approval of Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Mr. Ablakwa’s resignation has sparked concerns among the party.

Some party members have called for an overhaul of the NDC leadership in parliament, a move the party’s General Secretary has hinted could happen soon.

National Communications Director of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, took the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu; Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohamed Mubarak; and the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to the cleaners, accusing them of betraying the party for allowing some of the nominees to be passed.