Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the National Democratic Congress NDC Members of Parliament have bid the agenda of “consensus-building” to rest in perfect peace.
The MP wrote on his Facebook wall, indicating the logic their colleague MPs on the NPP side have shown them in the Mahama Ayariga private member’s motion on the suspension of tertiary fees.
The Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga wrote to the office of the Speaker of Parliament requesting parliament to suspend the payment of admission fees for tertiary students in the 2020/21 academic year. Mr. Ayariga argued that as a result of the hardship imposed on Ghanaians by Covid-19, the government should absorb the school fees for this year. He noted that the development necessary as the country is still trying to recover from the pandemic.
However, on 29th January 2021, MPs on the NPP side of the house voted against the motion.
Ablakwa cited this development as an eye-opener and emphasized that “In the circumstances, I can only convey deepest sympathies to all tertiary students. You know we (NDC MPs) did our best. At this point, may we proclaim: fare-thee-well consensus building. Rest in perfect peace.
Explaining further why they have arrived at this conclusion, the Lawmaker said ”
The Mahama Ayariga private member’s motion on the suspension of tertiary fees was significant in testing two variables:
1) What is the extent of commitment and sincerity by both sides of the current hung parliament to build consensus and work together in the national interest especially having regard to the strenuous efforts the Speaker made to get both sides to agree to a consensual motion and after multiple backroom bi-partisan meetings with leadership?
2) What is the extent of commitment and sincerity in fulfilling campaign promises, particularly the specific time-bound ones made to tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year to alleviate their plight due to the adverse economic impact of COVID-19?
By the extreme bad faith and filibustering exhibited by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle leading to all NPP MPs voting against the Ayariga motion, the test results of the two variables are now known to all.” He further added.
He concluded by stressing that “as the leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu asserted on the floor soon after the rather sudden and unprincipled U-turn by our NPP colleagues, the developments have injured our side’s faith in consensus building. In the circumstances, I can only convey my deepest sympathies to all tertiary students. You know we (NDC MPs) did our best. At this point, may we proclaim: fare-thee-well consensus building. Rest in perfect peace.
Read his full post below;
The Mahama Ayariga private member’s motion on the suspension of tertiary fees was significant in testing two variables:
1) What is the extent of commitment and sincerity by both sides of the current hung parliament to build consensus and work together in the national interest especially having regard to the strenuous efforts the Speaker made to get both sides to agree to a consensual motion and after multiple backroom bi-partisan meetings with leadership?
2) What is the extent of commitment and sincerity in fulfilling campaign promises, particularly the specific time-bound ones made to tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year to alleviate their plight due to the adverse economic impact of COVID-19?
By the extreme bad faith and filibustering exhibited by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle leading to all NPP MPs voting against the Ayariga motion, the test results of the two variables are now known to all.
As the leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu asserted on the floor soon after the rather sudden and unprincipled U-turn by our NPP colleagues, the developments have injured our side’s faith in consensus building.
In the circumstances, I can only convey my deepest sympathies to all tertiary students. You know we (NDC MPs) did our best.
At this point, may we proclaim: fare-thee-well consensus building. Rest in perfect peace.
Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah / awakenewsroom.com