[ 2015-03-26 ]

Opposers Of NPP NEC's Affirmative Action Have Political Ambitions - Kwaku Baako
“It’s the fact. They won’t tell you. Some
will come and tell you [I mean] put the thing in a
nice way of democracy. We want competition. We
want equity. We want justice. Bottom line is that
they want to have the opportunity to compete,”
says Abdul Malik Kweku Baako.


The National Executive Council (NEC) of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) has proposed that female
Members of Parliament in certain constituencies
must not be contested against by any male aspirant
in the party.

This pro-feminine agenda approach by the NPP is
intended to empower lots of women to represent
their constituencies in Parliament.

Per the proposal adopted by the NEC, only female
aspirants are to contest the 16 female Members of
Parliament (MPs) in their respective
constituencies.

Similarly, the party agreed that a number of
coastal constituencies in the Greater Accra Region
should be contested by Ga indigenes, except in
exceptional circumstances.

The constituencies are Ngleshie Amanfrom, Ablekuma
South, Odododiodoo, Korle Klottey, La Dade Kotopon
and Ledzokuku.

The rest are Krowor, Tema East, Tema West, Kpone
Katamanso, Amasaman and Obom Domeabra.

It was also agreed that women, the youth and
people with disability should be given 50 per cent
rebate on both the filling and the development
fees.

But despite what some NPP bigwigs say it's an
affirmative decision by the party leadership,
there have been several critics who have argued
that the decision will mar the NPP's chances of
winning the 2016 general elections.

Pollster Ben Ephson believes the NPP is only
bracing itself to lose more seats in Parliament
should it go by the decision.

Some NPP leading members have also kicked against
the decision.

However, reacting to the numerous criticisms
against the NPP Executive Council, the
Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Kwaku
Baako says those opposing the new order in the NPP
are themselves eyeing the Parliamentary seats won
by the female Members of Parliament.

According to him, it is very obvious that the NPP
members who have been so critical about the NEC
decision have a personal stake in those seats
occupied by the women in the party.

Kwaku Baako noted that "those challenging it,
it’s obvious that it’s because they have
ambition to run as well. That is the bottom line.
They are ambitious. They have interest in running
and I suspect it means they’re men…The truth
is that apart from that they’re men in the main
sense; they want to go to Parliament. It’s their
ambition."

In his conviction, the critics are hiding behind
the veil of democracy to champion their own
interests.

“It’s the fact. They won’t tell you. Some
will come and tell you [I mean] put the thing in a
nice way of democracy. We want competition. We
want equity. We want justice. Bottom line is that
they want to have the opportunity to compete.”

Source - Peacefmonline

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