North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has admitted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) minority group in the 8th Parliament, demonstrated weakness in some past decisions in the house. Notable among these decisions he said, has to do with confirmation of some ministerial nominees who were hitherto, have been rejected.
“It breaks my heart when I hear these assessments about our work when some of us came to this job with a lot of commitments. We didn’t come to encourage wrong doing when we decided to embark on this journey. Some of us are worried and wishing a lot needs to be done but as it is now, we need to accept when people expressed disappointment in the minority of which I am part”
Mr. Ablakwa said there is the need for him and the minority group to know that their works will be criticized one day by their children that is why it is important when the public is talking about their failures, they must accept it in good faith.
“There was a lot of expectation and hope reposed in us especially because of our numbers in parliament but we don’t seem to be delivering as expected of us, but the question is when our children look at our work tomorrow, what will they say” he wondered.
“The Speaker once admitted Parliament is failing and this must not be dismissed or treated lightly. It has been expectations of the public and our party, to hold government’s feet to the fire but is that what we see. We are not special than those sent us there that is why we need to accept it when we are wrong”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also hinted about the reasons why he resigned from the Appointment Committee but was quick to say that he will soon come out with the full fact or probably put it in his yet to be released memoir.
“Parliament has to do more to redeem its contaminated image. It must sit up and perform its checks and balances role. Parliament doesn’t have full freedom to operate and issues of constitutional constraints as well as overburdening powers of the president and it was issues like this that made me walk away from the appointments committee. The nitty gritty I’ll make available may be in my memoir to serve as a guide for future Parliament to have the teeth that can bite”
On the issues of Frontier Healthcare Services, the North Tongu MP noted that “I can tell you frontier issue, you have not seen last of the Minority. We must use this to redeem our image. I don’t think we have an excuse looking at our numbers, we have an opportunity to hold government”
“It appears the hope and aspirations following appointment of speaker is dwindling so we must be mindful of that. Let’s pursue national interest and some of us will not relent until the right thing is done in this case” he concluded.
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