It is rare to see politicians coming out openly to endorse the candidature of their political opponents.
But in a show of comradeship that stretches beyond the political divide, the Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, overwhelmingly endorsed the candidature of Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, a veteran lawmaker who is seeking re-election as the NDC’s parliamentary nominee for the Nadowli Kaleo constituency in the Upper West Region.
[contextly_sidebar id=”1ixN3lWQfCiVf7DqnNQchxUSxxkbiaMx”]Speaking to Citi News’ Richard Dela Sky, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained that very knowledgeable members like Alban Bagbin should be allowed to go unopposed since they have a lot to offer parliament as an institution.
Coincidentally, Mensah Bonsu also faced a stiff competition in the New Patriotic Party’s primaries held earlier this year but managed to win with some support from Mr. Bagbin.
“We should be looking at experience, intelligence, wisdom and who is better positioned to perform the functions of a member of parliament in these things. That should be the consideration. If you want to contest your majority leader, the question is, are you able to discharge these functions better than the majority leader?”
The Minority Leader lamented that “…I’ve seen that, the political parties in Ghana are not helping much to protect the established and knowledgeable members of the party in parliament.”
He argued that every party prides itself that it “has good materials in Parliament so why do you peel them off to substitute with people who don’t measure up to the standard set by those people. I believe we have to continue with the people with the requisite experience, knowledge, intelligence and the requisite charisma for Parliament.”
“We don’t open the loose gate at the end of every term to allow entry to everybody, it’s not done anywhere. That is why I think my colleague, Hon. Bagbin, who is embattled and beleaguered will be liberated to come back because Parliament would lose out tremendously in a very profound manner if we should lose the Hon. Alban Bagbin,” he added.
Mensah Bonsu pledged his unflinching support for Mr. Bagbin, saying he will “fast and pray” to see him given the nod to lead the people of Nadowli-Kaleo in the 2016 general elections.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana