Accusing NDC of similar happenings during your past tenure worrying

Chairman of the South African Council of Elders for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has expressed disappointment over the recent violence surrounding the Council of State elections, describing it as "very unfortunate."

Speaking as a panelist on Joy Prime’s Newspaper Review on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Mr. Quashie emphasized that the Council of State elections should not be politicized. However, he lamented that partisanship has taken root. "We've had situations where the NDC or the NPP have claimed victory in such elections," he revealed, urging Ghanaians to re-evaluate the roles and selection processes of the Council and consider amending the Constitution to better reflect the country’s governance needs.

Concerns Over Politicization of the Council of State

According to Mr. Quashie, the current election process undermines the purpose of the Council, which was originally established to provide nonpartisan advice to the President. He argued that allowing political influences into the body contradicts the vision of the framers of Ghana’s Constitution. "We need to revisit the Council of State issues to ascertain how we can remove the politics to focus on national issues," he stressed.

Rejecting Claims That the NDC Instigated Violence

Responding to allegations that the NDC was responsible for the violence, Mr. Quashie dismissed such claims, accusing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of double standards. He insisted that wrongdoing should be condemned universally, rather than selectively blamed on political opponents.

He pointed out past incidents where members of the NDC were subjected to attacks under the NPP administration, recalling that Mr. Agyenim Boateng, Dr. Ayine, and others had their homes raided. He criticized the NPP’s selective outrage, saying, "When the NPP does anything, it's okay, but once it's done by the NDC, it's wrong. Anything that benefits them is right, but once it doesn't, it's wrong."

A Call for Consistent Accountability

Mr. Quashie urged both parties to take a principled stance against actions that violate the Constitution, emphasizing that nation-building requires fairness and objectivity. He acknowledged that there are actions within the NDC that he and others do not condone, but stressed that selective condemnation is unacceptable.

"But to pick and choose which actions to condemn just because it suits you cannot be encouraged moving forward. The NPP needs to stop that posturing," he concluded.