The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has expressed confidence in the party’s policy to promote affirmative action with its parliamentary primaries.
According to him, agitations from party members following the decision to protect 16 NPP female Members of Parliament from being challenged by male contestants in the upcoming primaries to select candidates for the 2016 elections was something that the party would overcome.
Speaking to Accra based Joy FM at the sidelines of Tuesday’s lecture on the IMF bailout delivered by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the Central University College (CUC), Nana Addo said the disagreements in the party would not affect his chances negatively in the 2016 elections.
He said it was a decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC). “I’m a loyal party man, I support it. Of course I was there [NEC meeting] and supports it.”
Asked if the decision would not break the party apart, Nana Addo said, “I don’t see it breaking the party apart. I don't believe, I think this party is much stronger than that”
“It’s not always that everything that the party will do that will be to the dictates of every single member, some people have to take the responsibility for decisions, that’s what has been done, let’s move on,” Nana Addo told Accra based Joy FM.
Listen to Nana Addo in the attached audio below
{mp3}nanaaddo_supports_affirmative_action{/mp3}
The National Executive Committee of the NPP met on Monday and slated May 24, 2015 to select parliamentary aspirants for the 2016 general elections.
The meeting adopted a proposal for only female aspirants to contest the 16 female Members of Parliament in their respective constituencies.
Similarly the NEC also agreed that coastal constituencies in the Greater Accra Region should be contested by Ga indigenes except in exceptional circumstances and named those constituencies as Ngleshie Amanfrom, Ablekuma South, Odododiodio, Korle Klottey, La Dade Kotopon, Ledzokuku, Krowor, Tema East, Tema West, Kpone Katamanso, Amasaman and Obom Domeabra.
Some party supporters have been protesting the move arguing that it was unconstitutional and that it would affect the party negatively if it was not reversed.
On Tuesday some party members stormed the headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra to protest the move.
On Wednesday morning, party members from Lower West Akyem constituency at Asamankese in the Central region travelled to Accra to register their disapproval at the national headquarters. The Lower West Akyem constitutency seat is occupied by a female, Gifty Klenam.
The party’s Communications Director, Nana Akomea on Tuesday said it will only encourage male aspirants not to contest the female MPs explaining that the affirmative action will not be forced down anybody’s throat.
“The important point is that, nobody will be barred from contesting a sitting female MP.....Nobody will be barred on the basis of gender” Nana Akomea said.
He said the policy was a “proposal” but was “adopted” by the National Executive Committee which will “try and make compromises” with aspirants bent on contesting female sitting MPs.
Admit backlash
Firebrand Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong speaking on Okay FM said he was present at the NEC meeting where the decision was taken.
He revealed that there were disagreements when the motion of affirmative action was tabled but at the end of the day, the majority view ruled.
He disputed accusations that Nana Akufo Addo was the one who initiated the policy and said it indeed originated from the NPP parliamentary caucus and was rather supported by Nana Addo at the NEC meeting when it was tabled.
He said at the NEC meeting, the party’s Chairman, Paul Afoko, Youth Organiser Sammy Awuku and National Organiser John Buadu cautioned against the move in their arguments.
He said even though he [Kennedy Agyapong] personally felt it was a good policy to encourage females, if the larger members of the NPP thinks otherwise, it makes sense for the party to consider it.
He said he supported the move when the parliamentarians decided on it but when at the NEC meeting last Monday, Chairman Afoko, Sammy Awuku and John Buadu advanced their arguments, he felt it made sense and there was the need for a second look since it can bring problems for the NPP.
“I am not going to condemn the committee because I was part of it…if there was a mistake we have to admit that the backlash is too much, you cannot ignore it and ignore majority of the people against 16.”
He said the national council can throw the NEC decision away. “Somebody must appeal it.”
Adding, he said the idea to empower female MPs was not wrong but if the majority of party members think otherwise, then the move has to be looked at again.
