Disingenuous ingenuity in opposition
The charge was led by the Minority Member of Parliament (MP),Ras Mubarak.
Their case? A press release from the Ministry of Health (MoH) updating all on the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and assuring us of the efforts by our duty bearers in ensuring that the country was ready to manage any case, when it did occur.
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The release also came with ‘precautionary measures’ for all to follow and one of them, which was at the heart of the case of the Minority was: “If you have recently arrived from any of the countries that have reported a case, we advise you stay away from crowd (self-quarantine) for at least 14 days.”
Thus they wanted President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo to quarantine himself for the prescribed 14 days after his 12-day working visit to five European countries, Scotland, Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Belgium.
Some emphasised the principle of a leader leading by example and going by the advice of the government agency.
So, for 14 days, those leading the charge wanted President Akufo-Addo to be out of sight, out of hearing and, perhaps, out of minds!
For 14 days, they did not want to see the President ‘strutting’ about; campaigning and working on his second comeback bid activities.
They did not also want to hear him speak on politics, social challenges, economic difficulties and his government’s skill and acumen in getting us all on track.
Somehow, did those leading the charge really believe that their demands would be fulfilled? And how much of an impact would 14 days of 'no showing' by the President would have made on any of their intentions? Would the country not have been in a sort of hiatus for that period?
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Unless the Vice President took over (Section 8 (60)(8) 1992 Constitution), but there would have been no guarantee of the incumbency advantage not being taken advantage of to stamp their ideals, policies and work in the hearts and minds of Ghanaians for the battle at the end of the year!
Somehow, those demanding that the President quarantine himself, perhaps are disingenuous, but right.
What better way to lend support to a governmental agency, as critical as the MoH, than to act in line with measures they have detailed in their press release?
It would have boosted the morale of the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, and his technocrats there.
He would have been elated that the releases from the ministry were taken seriously, even by the President.
That, subsequently, would have made them die in any cause to protect Ghanaians.
For citizens, the act by the President would have been great, ensuring adherence to any directive on CORVID 19 from the MoH, as the President had shown.
However, the cost and benefit analyses of the Presidential quarantine would have shown that the call was impracticable.
In all this brouhaha, the lucidity of politicians in opposition is stark.
If the tables were turned and those making the call were in power, they would not have budged.
In his take on the Auditor General's probe on the GETFund, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa lucidly explained that audit reports, like what had been published, were necessary to bring to light some of the acts of the Fund, most of which could not have been in the purview of the ministry.
He did not mince words in condemning the actions of the MPs, who appropriated funds meant for the poor, to pay for elite courses.
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While the spokespersons, various commentators and high ranking MPs, strove to throw dust into our eyes, giving preposterous explanations, the opposition were clear: the funds should not have been accessed by MPs.
A turn of tables again! And the minority would have been lucid, while those lucid now sounding incomprehensible and preposterous.
Why are those in opposition so lucid?
Writer's E-mail caroline.boateng@graphic.com