Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni, the renowned investigative Ghanaian journalist who is known for sharing his point-blank views on political affairs in Ghana without fear or favour, has yet again penned his analysis on the behaviour of the main minority group in parliament and what they should be doing to make themselves attractive and useful in the country's political space.
Below is the full write-up in his own words......
Read the pidgin version this write-up-click here
The NPP minority caucus is becoming a nuisance, if it has not already become. And the group risks reducing itself to a comic monument in our democratic architecture if its leadership does not sit up and rethink the strategy to adopt and remain relevant.
Every honest Ghanaian will agree that our nation was run down in the eight years of the Akufo-Addo administration. Even some members of the NPP, including persons who servedin that administration, are openly speaking up about it--some doing so to serve their parochial interests.
John Mahama's re-election injected some freshness, order and sanity into our national life. There is some semblance of stability and positive predictability in our country. The presidency appears to be listening and wanting to do right by the people. The young administration has its own shortfalls, but the general outlook is positive, at least for now.
As a minority whose number has been reduced to a mocking insignificance in parliament, one does not expect the NPP caucus to shut up. If the NPP lacks the votes, it has the voice. But that voice must be used both responsibly and strategically.
The minority can warm its way into the hearts of Ghanaians by holding the government in check. It can achieve this by taking up tangible causes and setting an agenda in the public space. Speaking up on issues, such as Goldbod losses, and helping Ghanaians understand what the government may be doing wrong is welcome.
However, standing before the cameras every day and screaming unintelligible calls only invites scorn and ridicule to the minuscule minority. For journalists who do not understand that not every noise spewed into a microphone by a so-called "honourable" must be reported, the NPP minority will continue to have their daily impotent press conferences reported.
But this is what that does. When the minority has something important to say, it may not get the attention of some of us who have made it a point to scroll past the nuisance news items from parliament's minority.
When the minority organises a press conference to call for the dismissal of the foreign affairs minister because the U.S. has revised its immigration policies that affected 75 nations of the world, that call indicts the minority more than the foreign affairs minister.
It is still early days yet, but the NDC still has some goodwill. Each milestone this administration chalks up reminds Ghanaians of the depth of the mess from which the nation is still emerging. This already makes it difficult to convince Ghanaians that they chose a worse alternative in the last election.
A woman who left a man because he could not perform in bed will liken that man to a joker if her current man satisfies her and the previous one keeps reminding her of the asset she lost.
So, NPP minority, rethink your strategy. Ghana needs your oversight, so don't blow it up. As with every administration, the NDC and its appointees will soon start faltering. Some of the faults that have already occurred will soon emerge as the regime grows. Being in parliament and being privy to crucial documents and information on the MMDAs puts you in a good position to hold the government's feet to the fire of accountability.
We still remember what you defended yesterday, and it will be difficult to take you seriously if you continue to make your caucus a nuisance.
