PROF YAW GYAMPO SHARES HIS OPINION ON PRESIDENT’S NOMINATIONS

I advocated for John Mahama to go beyond the constitutional provisions to consult party leaders and other key stakeholders in appointing Charllote Osei.

Around that time, key NPP personalities and very well respected people who sympathizes with the NPP supported me.

When I criticized Mahama for ignoring my advise, my NPP friends supported my criticism.

I was therefore expecting the President to also go beyond the constitutional provision to consult more before nominating the EC bosses.

But the NDC response to the President’s nominations show that he didn’t consult, even though his party people favored more consultations when they were in opposition.

What will happen to the powers of a President who reaches out to the opposition in making major appointments? Will his powers go away? Will that make him cheap?

Not too long ago, the President held a meeting with all former Presidents and I thought it was a good initiative. He was not obliged to hold that meeting but there was wisdom in that initiative.

In my view, this initiative has contributed to the peace of our President by silencing Jerry Rawlings. Yes, Rawlings is not too hard against Akufo Addo, partly because of the respect accorded him by the current government.

One way to silence the opposition and get some peace in government is to consult them not all the time, but on major national decisions. Politicians must learn this!

Interestingly, the NDC in opposition is now criticizing the President for not consulting broadly before nominating the EC bosses.

I am per this post drawing attention to the hypocrisy of partisan politicians in Ghana. They are saints when in opposition, and demons when in power. The hardships of opposition drives them to their political holiness and the corrupting tendencies of power makes them behave differently from how they behaved in opposition.

“Pay back time politics” is bogus, and counterproductive.

The President didn’t err in following the constitution just as Mahama never erred too. But they both believe, whether overtly or covertly, that we must deepen consultations and sometimes go beyond what the laws say to ensure acceptance and legitimacy of certain appointees.

I have no qualms with the competence of the EC nominees. But doing consultations behind the scenes, particularly among key party leaders, in addition to following what the constitution say, would have expanded the frontiers of inter-party dialogue, consensus building, tolerance, and accommodation.

Let us all learn to do the kinds of overtures that keeps us together as a people and prevent us from fighting. In this regard, let us eschew political hypocrisy and do away with “pay back time” politics.

Yaw Gyampo
Saltpond.