Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu should be circumspect and show respect to authority

The NDC Professionals Forum – North America by this statement wish to caution Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to be circumspect in his utterances against Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin. While recognizing his position as leader of government business in the august house, he should show respect to authority.

The Proforum is forced to call him to order following his yet another vile and loose talk in the media concerning the appointment of Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nkestia to the Parliamentary Service Board. We deem it as unfortunate that Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu would want Ghanaians to believe that the wisdom of the Rt. Hon. Speaker in appointing the NDC General Secretary impugns on the integrity of parliament.

We further wish to remind Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu that, ironically, his misgivings about the appointment of NDC General Secretary Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketsia to the Parliamentary Services Board is rather destructive to Ghana’s parliamentary culture.

It is rightly fair that Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu shows utmost respect to Gen. Asiedu Nkestia and desist from ranting and denigrating his personality and abilities. As he Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu rightly admits in his interview; a video of which is in circulation on social media, Hon. Asiedu Nketsiah is an intelligent person and has been a Member of Parliament before. Therefore, it would not be out of place of him to bring his experience to enrich the business of parliament.

As an experienced Member of Parliament whom we expect should understand parliamentary proceedings, if Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has any concern about how the speaker is conducting business on the floor of parliament, he should follow the laid down procedures. Ranting, casting insinuations and intimidations in the public domain is what undermines the legislature and defeats the essence of cohesion and the strength of our democracy, and not the appointment of Hon. Asiedu Nkestia.

It is obvious that Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is not being professional, he is peeved and bitter for whatever reason we cannot fathom. But we expect him to rise above his personal grudges and show maturity and leadership. He should express his concerns using the appropriate parliamentary channels and procedure.

Inasmuch as we acknowledge constructive criticism to build a strong parliament, we will not countenance any attempt to denigrate the authority of the Speaker and parliament as a whole; because the house represents the spirit and aspirations of all Ghanaians and not personalities like a Suame MP who represents just a constituency.

We wish also to remind him that Ghanaians have not yet gotten over the actions of one of his own Mr. Carlos Ahenkro on the election night that saw the Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin emerge victorious. Carlos Ahenkora’s snatching of ballot papers was more than an attempted coup d’etat, but the leader of government business in parliament has not yet seen any wisdom to do anything about it.

To add salt to injury, Ghanaians saw the military invade the floor of parliament during that democratic exercise but Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu feigns ignorance about its repercussions on our democracy; but would rather call out the Rt. Hon. Speaker for appointing his party man with vast political and legislative experience to serve on the Parliamentary Service Board.

We caution him to stay off the NDC General Secretary and stop the unfortunate prejudice even before he assumes his role as a member of the Parliamentary Service Board.

God Bless our homeland Ghana…fill our hearts with true humility; make us cherish fearless honesty.

Signed

Arnold Appiah

President