Parliamentary Impasse: This is the Worst Possible Time for this Trauma- Asantehene
The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has condemned the ongoing parliamentary impasse, which has led to the House’s indefinite adjournment since last month.
His Majesty discerns that the timing of the “trauma” is inappropriate.
Speaking at the 58th Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on November 30, 2024, the Monarch who doubles as the Chancellor of the noble institution adduced three solid reasons the timing is inappropriate.
Among them, Otumfuo highlighted the country’s immature democracy and the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the worst possible time to put our nation through this trauma. In the first place, our democracy has not developed the resilience which can sustain a prolonged political crisis. Secondly, like many countries in the post-COVID war, our economy is not in the best shape. Whoever wins this election is going to have a battle on his hands to rejuvenate the economy.
“Thirdly the world is in turmoil and the most powerful nations have been consumed by domestic priorities with little to spare for others. The shoulder we cry on may be overloaded with its own domestic cries to be able to care for others, especially in this ‘America First’ era. So we must be clear in our minds that countries like Ghana cannot afford the luxury of any prolonged fruitless litigation in the years. The tide of history is against that. ”
The Asantehene also drew attention to the negative precedence this trail the Parliament has taken would have on subsequent Parliaments as he is of a firm view that no political party is in the position to win such an absolute majority to administer the affairs of the country comfortably.
He noted that the happenings are eroding partisan cooperation.
“On the evidence of our Fourth Republic, it should be known to all our political protagonists that no party is in the position to win such an absolute majority. It cannot administer its first policies without the cooperation of the other party. The successful administration of this country under a political party will require a large dose of bi-partisan cooperation. Tragically the current impasse has so ruptured the bi-partisan spirit that it threatens to spill over into the future, trashing the prospering of a bipartisan cooperation in the next Parliament.”
Meanwhile, he affirmed that whoever wins must be able to hit the ground running by working alongside the Parliament and therefore called for a unified voice from citizens in condemning the current happening to make way for the smooth running of the country.
“This has to be unacceptable to every Ghanaian who cares about our common destiny. Let us join together. It beats on us as a people from the villages to cities across Ghana and invoke the cardinal spirit of reconciliation to urge our political leaders to step back from that path and step on the path of partisan cooperation to restore our hopes for future progress and prosperity.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fusieni
