Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey Constituency and elder daughter of Jerry John Rawlings says the late founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would have exhausted all attempts to find out NDC MPs who broke party ties to approve ministerial nominees.
In her view, Mr. Rawlings would have probably challenged the Minority caucus to swear on Antoa or dared them to take a lie-detector test.
This comes on the heels of the outcome of secret balloting in Parliament on Friday which saw about 40 NDC MPs voting to approve all six ministerial nominees, contrary to caution by the NDC leadership.
The outcome infuriated a section of Ghanaians who had trusted the main opposition party to reject the ministers from joining the already ‘elephant size’ Akufo-Addo government.
In a Facebook post on Monday, March 27, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings said her father “would probably have challenged all of us [NDC MPs] to go and swear on Antoa or dared us to take a lie-detector test!”
“If you disagree with a position the party and leadership have taken, have the courage of your convictions and speak up! It is cowardice and treachery to hide within the collective to pursue your individual parochial agenda!!! For the first time, I was forced to keep evidence of my votes to protect my integrity and my name,” she said.
“I must admit that I was still shocked by the results. I was crestfallen! But even the knowledge of my evidence of how I voted, did not bring me the relief I had hoped for. People were looking up to us, and we had let the side down.”
“As I’ve enquired about the possible reasons for what happened, I’ve concluded that we are looking at a situation of different interests converging in a single outcome. So, what is the solution to this wicked problem?”
“As a party, we have been drifting from our principles and values not-so-slowly, and I guess this is a wake-up call that this drift can no longer be ignored or brushed under the carpet. It took a handful of people and a single iceberg to sink the titanic and with it, many innocent persons drowned or froze to death.”
“As I type and share this, I’m cognisant of the usual abuse that some people are happy to hurl at anyone who dares, however, I know that my reticence on this matter will be even more damaging!”
