They can never be trusted – Majority Leader criticizes NDC over referendum u-turn

The Majority leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has described opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a group that can never be trusted.

“NDC is a group of people who can never be trusted,” he said on Accra based Okay FM Wednesday.

Photo: Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu

According to him, parliament comprising of both divide agreed on a Yes vote for the December 17 referendum that seeks to allow political parties to sponsor candidates in district assembly elections.

He said the opposition a few weeks to the referendum made a U-turn, campaigning for a ‘No’ vote.

“Which dignified fellow would agree with a brother on something and a few weeks to the voting day turn around and do otherwise…we discussed with the NDC about the referendum in a meeting, then five months after they come and tell us, they did not agree to whatever was discussed at the meeting…..are these a credible?” he wondered.

The NDC, according to the Majority leader, is just a group of individuals he endures in decision making just to build a consensus.

“There are a lot of things the NDC do that we do not agree with, we just engage them just to build consensus, I don’t want to describe them as dishonest but they are not to be trusted,” he said.

Photo: Majority leader and Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu

BACKGROUND

The government needs at least 40 percent of eligible voters turning out to vote and at least 75 percent voting in favour for its ‘Yes’ campaign to succeed.

The constitutional requirement underscores the need for the government to gather bi-partisan support and form a coalition of stakeholders in civil society, traditional authorities and religious groups to back the YES campaign.

But there are fractures among stakeholders. The National House of Chiefs appears divided.  The NDC which during the consultative stages pledged support for political party participation in local polls now says it will campaign against it.

The opposition party wants some concerns addressed if it is to change its stance.