Opposers Of NPP NEC's Affirmative Action Have Political Ambitions - Kwaku Baako

“It’s the fact. They won’t tell you. Some will come and tell you [I mean] put the thing in a nice way of democracy. We want competition. We want equity. We want justice. Bottom line is that they want to have the opportunity to compete,” says Abdul Malik Kweku Baako. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has proposed that female Members of Parliament in certain constituencies must not be contested against by any male aspirant in the party. This pro-feminine agenda approach by the NPP is intended to empower lots of women to represent their constituencies in Parliament. Per the proposal adopted by the NEC, only female aspirants are to contest the 16 female Members of Parliament (MPs) in their respective constituencies. Similarly, the party agreed that a number of coastal constituencies in the Greater Accra Region should be contested by Ga indigenes, except in exceptional circumstances. The constituencies are Ngleshie Amanfrom, Ablekuma South, Odododiodoo, Korle Klottey, La Dade Kotopon and Ledzokuku. The rest are Krowor, Tema East, Tema West, Kpone Katamanso, Amasaman and Obom Domeabra. It was also agreed that women, the youth and people with disability should be given 50 per cent rebate on both the filling and the development fees. But despite what some NPP bigwigs say it's an affirmative decision by the party leadership, there have been several critics who have argued that the decision will mar the NPP's chances of winning the 2016 general elections. Pollster Ben Ephson believes the NPP is only bracing itself to lose more seats in Parliament should it go by the decision. Some NPP leading members have also kicked against the decision. However, reacting to the numerous criticisms against the NPP Executive Council, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Kwaku Baako says those opposing the new order in the NPP are themselves eyeing the Parliamentary seats won by the female Members of Parliament. According to him, it is very obvious that the NPP members who have been so critical about the NEC decision have a personal stake in those seats occupied by the women in the party. Kwaku Baako noted that "those challenging it, it’s obvious that it’s because they have ambition to run as well. That is the bottom line. They are ambitious. They have interest in running and I suspect it means they’re men…The truth is that apart from that they’re men in the main sense; they want to go to Parliament. It’s their ambition." In his conviction, the critics are hiding behind the veil of democracy to champion their own interests. “It’s the fact. They won’t tell you. Some will come and tell you [I mean] put the thing in a nice way of democracy. We want competition. We want equity. We want justice. Bottom line is that they want to have the opportunity to compete.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline/Ghana