Private legal practitioner, Samuel Atta Akyea has said the the governing National Democratic Congress has “blatantly’ violated the 1992 constitution by appointing a chief to serve on its economic committee.
He indicated that the situation has place Togbe Afede XIV in a constitutional crisis and the party must take the needed steps to “cure this mischief.”
The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV has been appointed by the NDC to serve on the party’s economic committee.
His appointment has raised eyebrows with many accusing the NDC of breaching Article 27.6 Clause 1 of the nation’s constitution which states dictates that “a chief shall not take part in active partisan politics and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.”
Also, the NDC is thought to have breached Article 27.6 Clause 2 of the constitution which also indicates that “notwithstanding clause 1 of this Article, and paragraph C of Clause 3 of Article 94 of this constitution, a chief may be appointed to a public office for which he is otherwise qualified.”
The party has defended its decision to include him despite being a non-member of the governing party.
The NDC’s National Organizer said Togbe Afede XIV based on his business expertise which they believe is much needed to help the party’s strategy to develop the country.
He also mentioned that the NDC is not a private institution so no law has been broken.
But according to Atta Akyea who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South constituency, “there is a distinction between a public office and a political office and I believe that when you marry the two, my good friend Togbe is in a constitutional crisis already – for him to accept anything which is so clear an NDC political packaging for electioneering campaign or whatever.”
He also debunked the party’s claim that it is not a private institution saying, “NDC cannot be a public institution. It’s not subvented by the state…NDC is a political party and with all due respect, they appoint their own officers and the rest of it so for anybody to say that NDC is a public institution is an abuse of our understanding of what politics is about.”
He continued saying, “all the cars driven by the judiciary and officers of the judiciary are paid for by the state; those of the Ministers are paid for by the state but all the vehicles of the NDC, are they paid for by the state? So how can you elevate or confuse a political party with a public institution?”
He said it will be in the interest of the party to listen to the concerns which have been raised and advice themselves accordingly.
“They don’t need to be a hauled before a court of law for a declaration that a chief of such stature is in violation of the constitution…the mischief must be cured.”
Source: citifmonline
