A member of the New Patriotic Party’s communications team, Ellen Ama Daku, has criticised the governing National Democratic Congress, accusing it of abusing power and selectively applying the rule of law.
Speaking in reaction to comments made by Rev. Stephen Yanusom Wengam at last week’s Parliamentary Carols Service, Ms Daku said the cleric’s warning against the misuse of authority should be directed at key figures in government.
During the service, Rev. Wengam urged those in positions of authority to act with restraint and avoid abusing the power entrusted to them. Ms Daku said that message raised serious questions about recent actions taken by the executive and Parliament.
She accused President John Dramani Mahama of abusing his authority by removing Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Tokornoo from office and replacing her with what she described as a disputed Chief Justice.
According to her, the manner in which the Chief Justice was removed was questionable and undermined confidence in the independence of the judiciary.
Ms Daku also criticised Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, drawing a comparison between his handling of the Assin North parliamentary seat and the current situation involving the Kpandai seat.
She recalled that about a year ago, the Speaker declined to declare the Assin North seat vacant, arguing that all court processes had to be exhausted before such a decision could be taken. In contrast, she noted that the Speaker has now indicated that the Kpandai seat should be declared vacant.
For Ms Daku, the differing approaches amount to an abuse of power and inconsistency in the application of parliamentary authority.
She said Rev. Wengam’s call against the misuse of power was not only a general moral message, but one that should resonate directly with the President and the Speaker of Parliament.
